Author: Jess Harter

Chilte, a much-anticipated Mexican restaurant from Valley chef Lawrence “L.T.” Smith and his fiancée, Aseret Arroyo, soft-opens at 5 p.m. today at the just-restored Egyptian Motor Hotel on Grand Avenue in downtown Phoenix. Menu highlights: Chef’s choice tacos, chocolate aguachile,

Papago Brewing, one of Arizona’s most influential craft beer taprooms until its closure in 2017, begins its second life at 3 p.m. today at Mesa Riverview. The history: Papago was founded in 2001 as a bottle shop, home-brew supply store,

How much would you pay for a great burger? Then Burger, a speakeasy-style eatery with craft burgers and cocktails that just opened on the northwest corner of Glendale and 91st Avenue in Glendale, may test your limit. The highlight of

Pop Pot & Tea, a California-based chain of Taiwanese hot pot and tea shops, has soft-opened in the Lee Lee International Supermarket plaza on the northeast corner of Dobson and Warner in Chandler. The space: The former China Magic Noodle

Tatemados Tacos al Carbon, a taco shop specializing in meats grilled over mesquite charcoal, has opened in the Su Casa Shopping Center on the northeast corner of Thomas and 59th Avenue in west Phoenix. The location: The former Mariscos Ensenada

Mochinut, a Los Angeles-based chain that offers mochi doughnuts and Korean rice flour hot dogs, has opened its third Valley location inside the 99 Ranch Market on the northeast corner of Chandler and Dobson in Chandler. The space: In the

DEZ Burrito Company, a Valley food truck that shut down last August, has reopened as a bricks-and-mortar restaurant on the southwest corner of Cooper and Ray in Chandler. The space: The former Central Pop gourmet popcorn strip-mall space next to

Cartel Roasting Co., the Tempe-born craft single-origin coffee roaster, has opened its eighth Valley location at Desert Ridge Marketplace in northeast Phoenix. The space: Between Slices and Cold Stine Creamery in The District. The menu: Coffee, espresso, tea, breakfast burritos,

Great American Cookies, a Los Angeles-based chain offering gourmet cookies and brownies, has made its Arizona debut at the Tanger Outlets on the southeast corner of Glendale and the 101 in Glendale. The space: The former Nestle Toll House Cafe

The Sandwich Spot, a California-based chain that also has locations in Nevada and Texas, has made its Arizona debut on the southeast corner of 12th Street and Glendale in north Phoenix. The space: The former end-cap home of Fleur de

Tacos Chilango, an authentic Mexico City-style taqueria in Avondale, has opened a second location on the southeast corner of Indian School and Jackrabbit Trail in Buckeye. The space: Next to Ebb & Flow Coffee in Verrado. The menu: Tacos, quesadillas,

SunSet Wine Bistro, a new wine bar from former Salut Kitchen Bar owner Romain Lauro, has opened on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Doubletree Ranch in central Scottsdale. The space: It takes over the 1,513-square-foot space that formerly housed

Federal American Grill, a refined-but-not-stuffy restaurant with four locations in the Houston area, has opened its first out-of-state location on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and the 101 in northeast Phoenix. The space: It takes over the 7,600-square-foot building that formerly

The Liar’s Club, the third creative cocktail concept in downtown Phoenix from the team behind Baby Boy and Khla, has opened on the southwest corner of Central and Monroe. The space: It takes over the former Downtown Deli space between Valley Bar

Knockout Cafe, a hybrid of a sandwich shop and a Thai restaurant, has opened in the former Knuckle Sandwiches space on the southeast corner of Elliott and Kyrene in south Tempe. The owners formerly operated Thai Time Kitchen in Mesa.

California-born Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shops has opened the first of six planned Arizona locations in the next 18 months on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Shea in central Scottsdale. The menu: Hot and cold sandwiches on 10 types of

Barro’s Pizza, a family-owned business with 47 Arizona locations, will open a new south Chandler pizzeria next Tuesday, Jan. 24, on the northeast corner of Alma School and Queen Creek. The new restaurant replaces its longtime location about a mile

Quench Taps & Tapas, an upscale-casual craft beer and wine bar with a small-plates menu, has opened near the northwest corner of Waddell and Litchfield Park in Surprise. The menu: Shareable items like charcuterie boards, bread baskets, hummus and crudité

Mici, a Denver-based chain of fast-casual pizza and pasta restaurants, has opened its second Arizona location on the northwest corner of Ellsworth and Riggs in Queen Creek. The menu: 16- and 10-inch pizzas, pastas, and salads. The history: Mici made

California-based microbrewery chain BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse has opened its fifth Valley location near the northwest corner of McDowell and Bullard in Goodyear. The menu: A huge selection of salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, tacos, and other entrees. BJ’s brews

Decadent Macaron, a locally owned bakery specializing in French macarons, has opened a second location at Verde at Cooley Station, a new development on the southwest corner of Recker and Williams Field in Gilbert. But the bakery also announced it

Brunch concept Hash Kitchen, perhaps best-known for its build-your-own Bloody Marys, has opened its sixth Valley location in Peoria’s P83 Entertainment District. The menu: Popular dishes include Cannoli Donuts, Hangover Hash, Tiramisu French Toast, and Chicken Tinga Frittata. The bar

The Craftsman Cocktails & Kitchen, a creative but comfortable neighborhood restaurant in north Scottsdale, has opened its second location in the former Cotton & Copper space on the northeast corner of Rural and Warner in south Tempe. The background: The Craftsman

Casa de Mambo, a Dominican quick-serve restaurant, has opened in the former Ike’s Love and Sandwiches space near the southeast corner of Alma School and Southern in Mesa. The menu: Popular dishes include braised chicken, roasted chicken, braised beef steak,

Buck & Rider, a 7-year-old seafood and steak restaurant in Arcadia, has opened a second location at the Shops at Chauncey Ranch on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Mayo in north Scottsdale. The menu: Daily raw bar, sushi and

World of Sourdough, a Houston-based chain of soup and sandwich eateries, has opened its third Valley location in the Sprouts shopping center on the northeast corner of Alma School and Queen Creek in south Chandler. The menu: 17 sandwiches, soups

Smoking Tiger, a new Korean BBQ restaurant from the owners of Hodori, has opened in the former Ah-So Japanese space on the northeast corner of Gilbert and Baseline in Mesa. The menu: Steak (including wagyu), pork, intestine, and seafood cooked

Sneakybird, a new fast-casual oven-grilled chicken concept from former Native Grill & Wings CEO Daniel Chaon, has debuted on the northeast corner of Frank Lloyd Wright and the 101 in north Scottsdale. The menu: Chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, and chicken

Angie’s Lobster, the new drive-through concept from the founders of Salad and Go, has opened its third location on the southwest corner of 19th Avenue and Pinnacle Peak in north Phoenix. The menu: The signature items are $9.99 Maine lobster

Carolina’s Mexican Food, a Valley favorite for more than 50 years, has opened its sixth location near the northwest corner of 59th Avenue and Greenway Road in Glendale. The menu: Burros, tacos, enchiladas, tamales, and tostadas. Carolina’s is best-known for

Source, a new ‘‘fast-fine dining’’ Mediterranean restaurant, bakery, and market, soft-opens at 11 a.m. today at Epicenter at Agritopia on the northwest corner of Higley and Ray in Gilbert. Who: Source is a joint project of Thai Chili 2 Go

Salad World, a new fast-casual build-your-own-salad concept, soft-opens at 10 a.m. today in the Safeway center on the northwest corner of Cactus and 83rd Avenue in Peoria. The menu: Diners can design their own salads (or wraps) from more than

Taproom-120, a retro movie-themed craft beer bar and bottle shop, opens at 4 p.m. today next to Mattress Firm on the northwest corner of Power and the 202 in southeast Gilbert. Grand opening weekend: The three-day celebration includes the release

Piccolo Virtù, a second spinoff of owner-chef Gio Osso’s acclaimed Virtù Honest Craft, has opened in the former Nonna Urban Eatery space on the northwest corner of Main and Brown in Old Town Scottsdale. The menu: Shareable small plates, crudo dishes,

Old Town Ski Lodge, a new mini-concept from Square One Concepts, has opened on the upper level of its Wasted Grain nightclub in Old Town Scottsdale. The concept: Decorated as a comforting winter ski lodge, the hideaway offers drinks such

Texas-based Torchy’s Tacos, which made its Arizona debut in Phoenix in June, opens its third local location at 10 a.m. today in Queen Creek Marketplace on the southwest corner of Ellsworth Loop and Riggs. Menu highlights: 14 creative specialty tacos and

Chicago-based Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria opens its eighth Valley location – and its third full-service restaurant and bar – at 4 p.m. today at Tempe Marketplace. It’s the pizzeria’s fourth straight opening in the East Valley, following carryout/delivery locations in Mesa and

Flower Child, Sam Fox’s fast-casual health-focused concept, has opened its sixth Valley location at The Shoppes at Casa Paloma on the southeast corner of I-10 and Ray in west Chandler. The menu: Salads, bowls, entrées, wraps, and sides, nearly all

California-based chain Ike’s Love & Sandwiches has opened its 12th Valley location in the Fry’s shopping center on the northeast corner of Ellsworth and Riggs in Queen Creek. The menu: More than 800 sandwiches, many named for celebrities, featuring its

The Brass Tap, a Florida-based chain of craft beer bars, has returned to the Valley after a three-week absence with a new location on the southwest corner of Williams Field and Recker in Gilbert. The menu: Pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, tacos,

Pitch, an Italian restaurant launched in Nebraska 15 years ago, has opened its second Valley location on the northwest corner of Hayden and the 101 in north Scottsdale. The menu: Coal-fired pizzas and handmade pastas are the focus, but the

Ah-Wok-Tukee Asian Cuisine, a new wok restaurant, has opened next to Anytime Fitness on the northeast corner of Chandler and Desert Hills Parkway in Ahwatukee. The menu: Americanized Chinese wok dishes, including orange chicken, sweet and sour pork, General’s chicken,

The Green Woodpecker, a new beer hall concept from the founders of Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup, has opened at Park Central on the west side of Central about a quarter-mile north of Thomas in midtown Phoenix. Who’s behind it: Phoenix

Texas-based chain Whataburger has soft-opened its ninth East Valley location next to Dutch Bros. Coffee near the southeast corner of Power and Ray in southeast Mesa. Limited service: Only the drive-through is open; the dining room will open and delivery

First Watch, a Florida-based breakfast and brunch concept, has opened its 10th Valley location on the northwest corner of Signal Butte and U.S. 60 in east Mesa. The menu: Omelets, pancakes, waffles, salads, sandwiches, and more. ⏰ Open: 7 a.m.-2:30

Tipsy Chicken, an Asian fusion bar specializing in Korean fried chicken, has opened next to H Mart on the southeast corner of Dobson and Main in west Mesa. The menu: Korean fried chicken and Asian-inspired street foods. ⏰ Open: 5-11