Author: Jess Harter

Los Favoritos Taco Shop, an East Valley chain of no-frills Mexican eateries, has opened its 10th location in front of Sam’s Club on Market Street at San Tan Village Marketplace in Gilbert. The all-day menu offers eight kinds of

Toka Cafe & Grill, a restaurant specializing in dishes from southeast Europe, has opened on the northwest corner of Greenway and 77th Street at the Scottsdale Air Park. It takes over the space formerly home to Lucy’s Cafe &

The Eleanor, a new mid-century-modern-inspired brunch concept from the owners of Fate Brewing, has opened near the southeast corner of Hayden and Osborn in south Scottsdale. The 3,700-square-foot space formerly was home to Scottsdale Dry Cleaners. The menu ranges

Bobby’s Burgers, the fast-casual burger chain co-founded by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, has opened its first Arizona location inside Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. You’ll find it in a post-security dining area called The Crystals in the

Buck & Rider, an upscale seafood restaurant with locations in east Phoenix and north Scottsdale, has opened its third at Epicenter, the mixed-use development at Agritopia on the northwest corner of Higley and Ray in Gilbert. The space: Epicenter’s

Myesha Harris, a civil engineer who began selling red velvet cakes and cupcakes on the side about 12 years ago, has opened her first bricks-and-mortar space, Red Velvet Bakery, on Central, about a half-mile north of Baseline, in south

The Boozy, a 3-year-old brunch restaurant at High Street in north Phoenix, has opened a second location on the northwest corner of Raintree and Northsight in north Scottsdale. The space: The former home of Fired Pie, which closed in

Donabe, a Japanese steakhouse offering rare and imported wagyu, has opened inside the W Scottsdale on the southeast corner of Camelback and Brown in Old Town Scottsdale. The space: A small seating area on the second floor of the

Hawaiian Bros. Island Grill, a chain actually based in Kansas City, Mo., has opened its second Valley location at the Tempe Food Court on the northeast corner of Perry Lane and Fifth Street just south of Tempe Marketplace. The

Chow’s Ramen & Hibachi, a locally owned Japanese restaurant, has opened on the southwest corner of McClintock and Elliot in south Tempe. The space: Formerly home to Li’s Asian, which closed earlier this month, at the opposite end of

Holiday Toast & Tap, a locally owned restaurant and bar, has soft-opened in the former Copper & Logs space on the southwest corner of Greenfield and Warner in Gilbert. The space: Copper & Logs, which opened in February 2020,

Philly’s Sports Grill, a longtime East Valley sports bar, has opened its fifth location on the southeast corner of McClintock and Baseline in south Tempe. The space: It takes over the strip-mall space that previously was home to 5

Cava, a Washington, D.C.-based Mediterranean fast-casual chain, has opened its fourth Valley location at Cornerstone on the northeast corner of Rural and University in Tempe. The space: It takes over the ground-floor space formerly home to ASU fave Sushi

Portillo’s, the Chicago-based fast-casual chain, has soft-opened its sixth Valley location near the southwest corner of Ellsworth and Queen Creek in Queen Creek. The space: Designed with a ‘‘Southwest garage’’ theme, the 7,800-square-foot restaurant has seating for 180 inside

Uncle Panda Dumpling & Noodle House, a family-run Chinese restaurant specializing in handmade dumplings and noodles pulled in-house, has opened on the northeast corner of Bell and 57th Avenue in Glendale. The food: Dumplings, steam buns, wontons, soups, noodles,

Spitz, a Los Angeles-based Mediterranean street food concept that made its Arizona debut at Desert Ridge Marketplace in May, has opened a second location near the southwest corner of Rural and Apache in Tempe. The food: Inspired by street

Breakfast Kitchen Bar, a locally owned brunch concept that debuted at Phoenix’s Desert Ridge Marketplace in 2020, has launched a second location on the northwest corner of Hayden and Northsight in north Scottsdale. The food: Highlights include a huevos

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, a California-based chain of microbreweries, has opened its fifth Valley location at The Shoppes at Casa Paloma on the southeast corner of I-10 and Ray in west Chandler. The space: The new BJ’s is a

Crispý Cones, an Idaho-based chain of shops specializing in Czech-style soft-serve ice cream cones known as trdelníks, has made its Arizona debut next to DC Steakhouse on the northwest corner of Arizona and Chicago in downtown Chandler. The food:

Shinme Cuisine, a Chinese restaurant and sushi bar, has opened near the southwest corner of I-17 and Cactus in west Phoenix. The food: Sushi (14 traditional rolls and 14 specialty) and sashimi, Americanized Chinese entrees such as kung pao

Elliott’s Steakhouse, an elevated steak and seafood restaurant named in honor of late restaurateur Elliott Hall, officially opens to the public at 3 p.m. today in downtown Chandler. Owners Gavin Jacobs and Jackie Hall previously teamed with Hall’s husband,

Moxies, which describes itself as ‘‘a contemporary casual restaurant offering a globally inspired menu and handcrafted cocktails,’’ has made its Arizona debut at Scottsdale Fashion Square. The Vancouver-based chain has more than 50 locations across Canada. Scottsdale is its

Point 22 Tavern, an all-day American grill and bar with a dog-friendly patio, has opened on the southeast corner of Ellsworth and Ray in the Eastmark neighborhood in southeast Mesa. Robert Webb, who has been in the industry for

Someburros, the East Valley-based chain of family-run fast-casual Mexican restaurants, officially opens its 14th Arizona location at 9 a.m. Saturday on the northeast corner of 83rd Avenue and Thunderbird in Peoria. Grand opening festivities: A live mariachi band, gift

Scottsdale-based Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers opens its 15th location at 11 a.m. Friday in the former Verrado Community Welcome Center on the northeast corner of McDowell and Verrado Way in Buckeye. The space: Approximately 5,300 square feet with an

Chicken N Pickle, a Kansas City-based indoor/outdoor entertainment concept that includes a chef-driven restaurant and a sports bar, makes its Arizona debut today on the southeast corner of Hanna and Sunrise at Westgate in Glendale. The food: Rotisserie chicken

San Francisco-based Ike’s Love & Sandwiches has soft-opened its 11th Valley location at the Crossroads Towne Center on the southeast corner of Gilbert and the Loop 202 in Gilbert. The food: More than 800 sandwiches, many named for Bay Area

Nelson’s Meat + Fish, a 6-year-old market that offers high-quality seafood and meats, has soft-opened a second location near the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Thunderbird in north Scottsdale. The space: The 1,100-square-foot, wood-paneled market (similar in size and

Dog Haus Biergarten, a California-based chain of gourmet hot dog and sausage shops, has soft-opened its fifth Valley location on the northeast corner of Chandler and the Loop 101 in Chandler. The food: Hormone- and antibiotic-free hot dogs, sausages,

Drive-thru concept Salad and Go has opened its 50th and 51st Valley locations – on the southwest corner of Yuma and Cotton in Goodyear and the southwest corner of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Loop 101 in Scottsdale. The food:

The Coffee Builders, a breakfast and lunch cafe specializing in Danish-style sandwiches and European pastries, opens at 6 a.m. today near the northeast corner of Seventh Street and Buckeye in downtown Phoenix. The space: Designed by Thomas Porter, owner

Frutilandia, a Valley-born franchise concept offering Latin and Mexican frozen treats, has opened its ninth location on the northeast corner of Bethany Home and 27th Avenue in Phoenix. The space: The 4,200-square-foot space has a walk-up counter, an ice

Saturday is National Chicken Wing Day, and the new Ghett Yo Wings in Ahwatukee is celebrating by giving away free wings for a year. The background: Ghett Yo Wings is taking over the home of its former sibling Ghett Yo

California-based fast-casual chain Burros & Fries has opened its second Valley location at the Village at Prasada on the southeast corner of the Loop 303 and Waddell in Surprise. The food: 21 different burros, 14 tacos, five tortas, six