Author: Jess Harter

Fast-expanding Maskadores Taco Shop, a local chain of Mexican wrestling (lucha libre) themed eateries, has opened its 18th Valley location on the southeast corner of the Loop 101 and Cave Creek Road in north Phoenix.

Barrio Cosita, a new fast-casual Mexican concept from the owners of Barrio Queen, has debuted on the northeast corner of the Loop 101 and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard in north Scottsdale.

Poke & Ramen – a family-run eatery specializing in … well, you can pretty much guess – has opened in the former Sushi Kee space on the southeast corner of Main and Power in east Mesa.

Chandler sports bar Third Base, which closed in June after losing its lease at Dobson and Ray, is reopening in the former Rick’s Pub & Grub space on the northeast corner of Rural and Ray.

Japanese restaurant Shinko Sushi House is moving into the former Perfect Pear space in the Foothills Park Plaza on the southeast corner of Chandler Boulevard and Desert Foothills Parkway in Ahwatukee.

Kazu Ramen, an eatery specializing in the Japanese noodle soups, is coming to the At Home strip mall on the southwest corner of Williams Field and Santan Village Parkway in Gilbert this winter.

Slangin’ Birdz, a Los Angeles-based concept specializing on Nashville hot chicken, is coming to the former Fatburger/U.S. Fries space on the southwest corner of Mill and Fourth in downtown Tempe.

Zona Cantina + Cocina, a family-friendly Mexican restaurant offering ‘‘a modern take on traditional Mexican fare,’’ is coming to the short-lived El Autentico space on the southeast corner of McKellips and Alta Mesa in northeast Mesa.

Florida-based I Heart Mac & Cheese, which made its Arizona debut in Tempe in April, opens it second Valley location Wednesday on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Bell in north Scottsdale.

Wingstop, a Texas-based chain of aviation-themed restaurants specializing in chicken wings, has opened its 17th Valley location on the southeast corner of the 101 and Frank Lloyd Wright in north Scottsdale.

Haldi Indian Cuisine, a well-regarded 3-year-old restaurant in Surprise, has launched a second location in the former Rogue Tomato space on the southeast corner of Union Hills and 59th Avenue in Glendale.

El Fogón Taqueria in the Chandler Fashion Center food court is moving into the former Uno Mas Cantina space on the southeast corner of Chandler Boulevard and Desert Foothills Parkway in Ahwatukee.

Twisted Chef Cantina – a sports bar offering burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and pastas – has opened in the former Panda Libre (later known as Kung Pow) building on the southwest corner of Gilbert and Guadalupe in Gilbert.

Romey’s Sandwich Bar, an artisan sandwich shop with a liquor license, has opened in the former Wild Elk Den space just east of the Hoosier Cafe on Warner, about a quarter-mile west of Arizona, in Chandler.

The Stillery, a Nashville-based restaurant and bar concept that made its Arizona debut in downtown Chandler last October, is opening a second Valley location this winter near the southwest corner of Happy Valley and 23rd Avenue in north Phoenix.

Terra Tempe Kitchen & Spirits, a modern American restaurant on the ground floor of The Westin Tempe, and Skysill Rooftop Lounge, the Valley’s highest rooftop bar, have opened on the northeast corner of Mill and Seventh Street.

KimThao’s Bakery & Food to Go, a family-owned Vietnamese restaurant offering rice rolls, banh mi, tofu, and snacks, has opened in on the northwest corner of Alma School and Warner in Chandler.

Dallas-based Look Dine-In Cinemas has opened in downtown Chandler, taking over the nine-screen Flix Brewhouse, which was closed by the covid-19 pandemic in 2020, on the southwest corner of Chandler and Arizona.

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, a legendary Memphis-based chain that made its Arizona debut in downtown Mesa in January, has opened a second Valley location on the southeast corner of Van Buren and Fourth Avenue in downtown Phoenix.