Author: Jess Harter

Gilbert-born drive-through concept Salad and Go has launched its 49th Valley location on the southwest corner of Baseline and 36th Avenue in southwest Phoenix. The food: 10 chef-designed salads (also available as wraps), soup, and breakfast burritos. The drinks: Lemonades,

Marely’s Mexican Kitchen, a family-run eatery that also serves burgers and wings, has opened on the northeast corner of 24th Street and Roeser in south Phoenix. The food: Breakfast combos, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, asada fries, nachos (pictured), burgers, and

Vietnamese restaurant Goc Saigon has replaced Max Saigon, which closed earlier this month after six years in business, on the northwest corner of Arizona and Ray in Chandler. The food: Phở, mi, bún, rice dishes, hot pots, snails, and

Macayo’s Mexican Food, a local chain that will celebrate its 77th anniversary in September, has opened its 11th Valley location on the southeast corner of Indian School and Jackrabbit in Litchfield Park. The background: Founded by Woody and Victoria

Buqui Bichi Brewery, a Mexican craft brewer based in Hermosillo, Sonora, has opened its first U.S. taproom on the southeast corner of Arizona and Frye in downtown Chandler. The background: Buqui Bichi, founded in 2016, was named the country’s

Cafe Rio Mexican Grill, a Utah-based chain of fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurants, has opened its 20th Valley location near the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Thomas in south Scottsdale. The space: The building, formerly a Boston Market, was the chain’s

JoJo’s Shake Bar, a Chicago-based concept known for over-the-top shakes, onion ring towers, and milk-and-cookie flights, opens at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Scottsdale Quarter on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Greenway/Butherus in north Scottsdale. The concept: A

Island Fin Poke, a Florida-based fast-casual chain founded in 2017, makes its Arizona debut Monday at Verde at Cooley Station on the southwest corner of Williams Field and Recker in Gilbert. Free food: As a preview, Island Fin will

The Boyer Bakery, a two-year-old family-run business in Surprise, has launched a coffee shop, The Boyer Cafe, on the southwest corner of 99th Avenue and Bell in Sun City. The space: Formerly the home to Starbucks, which built a

Samsara, a Persian retaurant that lay claims to being the first hookah lounge in downtown Phoenix, has opened on the northeast corner of Fourth Street and Garfield. The space: Formerly the home of Bliss Rebar, which closed in May 2022

King Donuts, a 24-hour independent doughnut shop, has opened on the northwest corner of 19th Avenue and Bell in north Phoenix. The food: 40 kinds of doughnuts, bagels, croissants, and ice cream-filled doughnuts. Plus, breakfast and lunch sandwiches. The

El Chullo, a 9-year-old Peruvian restaurant and bar in Phoenix, has opened a long-in-the-works second location on the northwest corner of Seventh Avenue and Turney in Phoenix’s Melrose district. The space: The former home of Los Compadres Fine Mexican Restaurant,

Las Vegas-based Sugar Factory – a celebrity-favorite restaurant, bar, ice cream bar, and candy store – has made its Arizona debut at Westgate Entertainment District in Glendale. The space: With 9,400 square feet indoor and 1,275 outdoor, the restaurant

Level One Arcade Bar, which opened in downtown Gilbert in 2019, officially opens its second location at 11 a.m. today on the north side of Main, between MacDonald and Drew, in downtown Mesa. The space: The two-story Mesa location

OG’z – The Original Empanada Shop, a Mexican restaurant specializing in sweet and savory empanadas, has opened on the northwest corner of Ellsworth and Ocotillo in Queen Creek. The space: Formerly the home of Chairez Authentic Mexican Restaurant and, before

Seven Brothers Burgers, a Hawaii-based chain started by (as you might guess) seven brothers, has made its Arizona debut near the northwest corner of Ellsworth and Riggs in Queen Creek. The chain: Launched in Oahu in 2009 by the

Taco Girls, a small New Mexican eatery, has opened inside the Phoenix Premium Outlets mall near the southwest corner of I-10 and the Loop 202 in west Chandler. The food: Carne asada, chicken, and birria plates, tacos, flautas, quesadillas,

Chick-in Waffle, a Missouri-based concept offering global twists on chicken and waffles, has made its Valley debut on the southeast corner of Guadalupe and the Loop 101 in southwest Mesa. The concept: Dennis and Sara Alazzeh launched Chick-in Waffle

Brooklyn V’s Pizza, a locally owned group of New York-style pizzerias, opens its fifth East Valley location today on the southwest corner of Gantzel and Ocotillo in San Tan Valley. The history: Chef-owner Vito LoPiccolo – who operated Italian

Hash Kitchen, one the Valley’s favorite brunch spots, opens of its seventh location today at Verde at Cooley Station on the southwest corner of Williams Field and Recker in Gilbert. The concept: Hash Kitchen was created by the Scottsdale-based

Cryin’ Coyote Barbecue, a family-run business that pays homage to several regional styles, has opened in the recently closed Bryan’s Black Mountain Barbecue building near the northwest corner of Cave Creek and Basin in Cave Creek. The history: When

East Valley-based Thai Chili 2 Go, a chain of to-go Thai eateries, has opened its 15th Valley location near the northeast corner of the John Wayne Parkway and Hathaway in Maricopa. The food: Traditional Thai dishes like pad prig

Pronto, the long-awaited fast-casual concept from Serrano’s Mexican Restaurants, has opened on the southwest corner of Rural and Guadalupe in south Tempe. The space: The former sit-down Serrano’s, one of five for the family-run East Valley chain, has been

Krispy Dogz, a Korean corn dog pop-up eatery that originated in a backyard in Santa Rosa, Calif., during the covid pandemic, has moved into a bricks-and-mortar space on the southeast corner of Chandler and 32nd Street in Ahwatukee. The food:

California-based Birrieria Xolos, a chain of self-described ‘‘authentic Tijuana-style birria restaurants,’’ has made its Arizona debut near the southwest corner of Stapley and Main just east of downtown Mesa. The food: Birria tacos, birria quesa tacos, birria burritos,

Poke Paradise, a new build-your-own poke bowl concept, has opened in the Fountain Square shopping center on the northwest corner of Bell and Seventh Street in north Phoenix. The food: The soft-opening menu features two- ($13.50), three- ($15.50), and

Canelas Placita, a small, family-owned Mexican restaurant, has opened next to PetSmart on the southwest corner of Peoria and 91st Avenue in Peoria. The food: Street-style tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, chilaquiles, and seven kinds of elote. Also: Menudo on

 Angie’s Lobster, a drive-through-only concept offering $9.99 lobster meals, has opened its fifth Valley location on the southwest corner of Waddell and Litchfield in Surprise. The concept: Roushan and Tony Christofellis, founders of Salad and Go, sold the successful drive-through

The Kickin Crab, a chain of seafood boil restaurants that originated in Southern California in 2010, has made its Arizona debut at the east end of the 99 Ranch Market plaza on the northeast corner of Chandler and Dobson

Claypot Kitchen, a Hong Kong-style cafe, has opened next to H Mart (and across the street from Mekong Plaza) on the southeast corner of Dobson and First Avenue in west Mesa. The space: The 1,600-square-foot strip-mall space formerly was home

After three years in Peoria, Mexican restaurant Mochilero Kitchen has opened a second location in front of the Safeway shopping center on the southwest corner of Frank Lloyd Wright and Thompson Peak in north Scottsdale. The space: Next to Barro’s

Via 313 Pizza, a Texas-based chain offering Detroit-style pizzas, makes its Arizona debut today at Cornerstone on the northeast corner of Rural and University in Tempe. The space: The former Cafe Rio Mexican Grill, which closed last year, next

Kuko’s Nest, a fast-casual Greek grill and sandwich shop, has opened in the Planet Fitness center on the southeast corner of Mountain View and Via Linda in Scottsdale. The owners: The Tompras family also operates Old World steakhouse Feeney’s in

Valley-based brunch concept Over Easy will open its 11th Arizona location at 6:30 a.m. Saturday at the Shoppes at Casa Paloma on the southeast corner of I-10 and Ray in west Chandler. The concept: Launched in 2008 in Arcadia, Over Easy

Well, we almost went an entire week without a new hot chicken restaurant opening in the Valley … until Hot Chicken Alley debuted on the southwest corner of Tatum and Thunderbird in Paradise Valley. The space: The former home of

Fabio On Fire Panini & Gelateria, a spinoff of  owner-chef Fabio Ceschetti’s popular Fabio on Fire, has opened on the southeast corner of Happy Valley and Lake Pleasant Parkway in Peoria. The space: The 1,500-square-foot space, formerly home to

The Hub Grill & Bar, a popular east Mesa sports bar whose original location has been closed since a fire on New Year’s Eve 2020, finally reopens at 11 a.m. Wednesday on the northeast corner of Sossaman and Baseline. The

 Fluffy Cakes, a husband-and-wife-run eatery specializing in Japanese souffle pancakes, has opened at the food court at Chandler Fashion Center. The space: A stand-alone kiosk at the food court entrance near the Crayola Experience. The food: Unlike traditional pancakes, Japanese pancakes

Cooperhead Bistro, a neighborhood Italian restaurant and bar, has opened on the southwest corner of Tatum and Bell in Paradise Valley. The space: Formerly home to Pizza Lucci, which closed earlier this year, and, before that, Italian restaurant Luccicare. The

Prep & Pastry, one of Tucson’s most popular brunch destinations, continues to make inroads into the Valley with the opening of its fourth restaurant in downtown Gilbert. The space: The ground floor, formerly home to The Brass Tap, in the

Rito’s Mexican Food, a group of family-run restaurants known for its green chile burritos, has opened its fourth location in the former Matta’s space at Mesa Riverview on the southeast corner of the Loop 202 and Dobson in Mesa. The

Legendary Memphis-based chain Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken has opened its fourth Valley location in the former Keegan’s Grill space on the southwest corner of Ray and 48th Street in Ahwatukee. The food: Hot and spicy chicken sold in

Outcast Doughnuts, a new concept from the owners of Level 1 Arcade Bar in downtown Gilbert, has opened on the northwest corner of Main and MacDonald in downtown Mesa. The menu: Outcast specializes in layered croissant doughnuts, of which

California-based Roll-Em-Up Taquitos, the nation’s first taquito-focused franchise, makes its Arizona debut today on the southeast corner of Arizona and Frye in downtown Chandler. The food: Roll-Em-Up offers five kinds of taquitos – braised shredded beef, seasoned ground beef, citrus-marinated chicken,

An ambitious new Japanese restaurant, Icho Izakaya Sushi & Grill, has soft-opened on the southeast corner of Broadway and Dobson in west Mesa. The food: 34 six-piece maki and eight-piece specialty rolls ($4-$20) and 24 sashimi selections  ($7-$17). Fish

SKNY Pig, an Asian restaurant focused mostly on Thai dishes, has opened next to the Asiana Market on the northwest corner of Union Hills and 43rd Avenue in Glendale. The food: Soups (ranging from tom yum to pho), curries

Los Angeles-based Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf opened its eighth Valley location at 5 a.m. today on the northwest corner of 90th Street and Via Linda in Scottsdale. The space: The new full-service location has a drive-through. The menu: Coffee,

Ghett Yo Wings, a new sibling of Ghett Yo Taco in Chandler, will open its second Valley location at 10:30 a.m. Saturday on the northeast corner of Ironwood and Ocotillo in San Tan Valley. The history: Ghett Yo Wings made