Author: Jess Harter

iThai Bistro has opened in the strip-mall space formerly home to Ah-Wok-Tukee Asian Cuisine on the northeast corner of Chandler and Desert Foothills Parkway in Ahwatukee. The menu features curries, wok dishes, noodle dishes, rice dishes, barbecue chicken and

Tired of paying nearly $20 for a burger and fries? Head over to El Camino, a new bar and grill in Old Town Scottsdale (of all places!) where you can get a double cheeseburger and fries for just $9.45.

Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop, a Scottsdale-based sandwich chain, has opened its seventh Valley location in the Safeway center on the southeast corner of Chandler and 40th Street in Ahwatukee. Founded by Frank and Michele Fagundes in San Mateo, Calif.,

Edo Japanese Grill, a Canadian chain of Japanese fast-casual restaurants, has made its Arizona debut in Chandler. It’s opened in the former Pasta 78 space on the northeast corner of the Loop 101 and Chandler Boulevard. Edo’s core menu

French Toast Cafe, a neighborhood breakfast and lunch eatery, has opened on the southeast corner of Sossaman and Guadalupe in southeast Mesa. The namesake menu item comes in three varieties – berry, cinnamon, and Nutella ($10.99 alone or $13.99

Cocina 10, the Mexican restaurant and bar at Crescent Ballroom in downtown Phoenix for the past 13 years, has opened a new restaurant nearby and changed its name to Condesa. The new location is above Valley Bar on the

Tatemados Tacos al Carbon, a two-year-old Sonoran-style taco shop in west Phoenix, has launched a second location on the east side of Seventh Street about halfway between McDowell and Thomas in midtown Phoenix. Tatemados’ specialty is Angus carne asada

Round1 Bowling & Arcade, a Japanese-born chain of family-friendly entertainment centers, has opened its third Arizona location at Chandler Fashion Center. The facility – which has cosmic bowling, professional-grade billiard tables, private party rooms with karaoke machines, and hundreds

The Public Grill, a family-run restaurant offering a unique fusion of American, Caribbean, and New England cuisine, has opened in east Mesa. It takes over the strip-mall space formerly home to Mama Linda’s on the south side of Main

 Cheba Hut, the Valley-born chain of cannabis-themed sub shops, has opened its 10th Arizona location on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Bell in north Scottsdale just in time for the nearby Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament. Cheba Hut’s

Blanco Cocina & Cantina, the Sonoran-style Mexican concept from restaurateur Sam Fox, opens its seventh Valley location today near the northwest corner of Rural and University in Tempe. It joins Fox siblings Italia North, which also opened today, and

North Italia, the upscale-casual Italian restaurant from Fox Restaurant Concepts, opens its fifth Valley location today at Novus Place, the new entertainment district near the northwest corner of University and Rural on the east side of ASU’s Tempe campus.

Feta Cowboy, a new concept from the founders of Pita Jungle, has opened on the northeast corner of McClintock and Warner in south Tempe. The counter-service restaurant, which takes over a strip-mall corner space formerly home to CoreLife Eatery,

Flower Child, a fast-casual healthy concept, opens its eighth Valley location today at Novus Place, the new entertainment district near the northwest corner of University and Rural on the east side of ASU’s Tempe campus. The menu features salads

The Melt, a San Francisco-based chain specializing in cheeseburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and mac and cheese, has made its Arizona debut at PV, the redevelopment of the former Paradise Valley Mall on the northwest corner of Cactus and Tatum

San Jose, Calif.-based chain Nick the Greek, which made its Arizona debut in downtown Phoenix in 2023, has opened a second location in the Target plaza on the southeast corner of Gilbert and the Loop 202 in south Gilbert. The

Neon Spur, a 1970s-themed western dive bar, has opened in the former Handlebar space near the northeast corner of Mill and Seventh Street in downtown Tempe. The bar is a joint venture by Clive Collective (Cala, Tell Your Friends)

Tikka Shack, a Texas-based chain of fast-casual Indian restaurants, has opened its fourth Valley location in front of Whole Foods on the southeast corner of the Loop 101 and Ray in Chandler. It takes over the space formerly home

Hearsay Social Kitchen and Perks Café, two new concepts from Chicago-based Episcope Hospitality, have opened at the Esplanade on the southeast corner of 24th Street and Camelback in Phoenix. Episcope is helmed by David Morton, whose father Arnie Morton

 A Modo Mio Cucina Italiano, a family-run Italian restaurant, deli, bakery, and coffee shop, has opened on the southwest corner of Higley and Brown in northeast Mesa. It’s a sister concept to owner Domenico Cavallo’s celebrated Mimi Forno Italiano in Laveen. The

 Top One Hot Pot & Asian Cuisine, a well-regarded restaurant that opened in September at Superstition Springs in east Mesa, has launched a second location in south Chandler. The restaurant takes over the former Hong Kong Bistro space in the Bashas’ shopping

 Tacos Chilango, a locally owned concept specializing in Mexico City street food, has opened its third location in the Legacy Village Plaza on the northwest corner of 24th Street and Baseline in downtown Phoenix. The menu features al carbon and

Main Burgers, a new eatery from the team behind highly regarded Espiritu in downtown Mesa, has opened a few doors down in the former Subway building on the southeast corner of Main and Robson. The concept is another joint

Dodo Bird Kitchen & Cocktails, a locally owned gastropub inspired by ‘‘the distinctive charm and playful spirit’’ of the extinct bird, has opened on the southwest corner of Hayden and Thomas in south Scottsdale. The heart of the menu are

Steadfast Diner has opened in the vintage red-and-white Valentine diner formerly home to The Handlebar Diner at the master-planned Eastmark community in southeast Mesa. The restaurant, located on the north side of Ray halfway between Ellsworth and Signal Butte,

 The Kolache Cafe, a locally owned bakery specializing in its namesake Czech pastries, has opened its third location on the northwest corner of Alma School and Guadalupe in southwest Mesa. Owners Jose and Bebe Leal introduced their concept in Ahwatukee

 Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken and Wings, a national chain of quick-serve Cajun chicken restaurants, has opened its second Valley location on the southwest corner of Indian School and 27th Avenue in west Phoenix. The concept, which made its Arizona debut

Blue Sushi Sake Grill, an Omaha, Neb.-based chain of polished Japanese restaurants, has opened its first Arizona location at Novus Place next to the ASU campus near the northwest corner of Rural and University in Tempe. Dinner prices range

 Daruma, a chef-driven Japanese restaurant offering sushi and noodles, has opened a second Mesa location focused on ramen. The well-regarded flagship restaurant debuted on the northwest corner of Dobson and Southern in 2020. The ramen shop is on the northwest

 Elvira’s, an award-winning Mexican restaurant in Tubac, has opened a second location at Market Street at DC Ranch on the southeast corner of Pima and Thompson Peak Parkway in north Scottsdale. The new location is a joint effort between Elvira’s

 Eggstasy, a Scottsdale-based breakfast and lunch concept, has opened its eighth Valley restaurant on the southeast corner of Ellsworth and Rittenhouse in Queen Creek.. The breakfast menu offers traditional items like omelets, pancakes, and skillets, but also has fun with

 Mensho, a Tokyo-based chain of award-winning ramen restaurants, has opened its second Valley location near the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Bethany Home in Phoenix. The concept made its Arizona debut last June at Mesa Riverview. Founded in 2005

Asian Buffet, an all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant, has opened on the southwest corner of Gilbert and Southern in Mesa. For adults, lunch is $11.55 Monday-Thursday, $12.99 Friday-Saturday, and $16.99 Sunday. Dinner is $15.99 Monday-Thursday an $16.99 Friday-Sunday. For children ages

Sizzle Korean Barbecue, a popular restaurant from Scottsdale-based HL Concepts, has opened its third location at Arrowhead Towne Center on the northwest corner of Bell and 75th Avenue in Glendale. The menu offers a dozen different cuts of beef

 Hao Hao, a Chinese restaurant from the former team behind Nee House Chinese Restaurant in Phoenix, has opened on the northwest corner of the Loop 101 and Via de Ventura in central Scottsdale. The menu features both authentic Cantonese and Americanized Chinese dishes. Highlights

 Yod Thai Eatery, a small, family-run restaurant, has opened in the former BK Lobster space on the northwest corner of Scottsdale and Thunderbird in north Scottsdale. The menu features traditional noodle and rice dishes, such as pad Thai ($11), drunken

 Phoenix-based Angie’s Food Concepts launches its latest Valley multi-location – the first to feature its newest concept, Angie’s Chicken – at 10:30 a.m. today at Indian School and Jackrabbit Trail in Buckeye. Angie’s Chicken offers $3.99 fried or charbroiled chicken sandwiches and

 Peacock Indian Bar & Grill, an Indian fine-dining restaurant already drawing rave reviews, has opened on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Bell in north Scottsdale. It takes over the strip-mall space formerly home to Famiglia Modern Italian Trattoria and,

 Paris Baguette, a South Korea-based chain of bakery cafes, has opened its third Valley location just south of Postino near the southwest corner of Central and Colter in uptown Phoenix. The menu offers a wide variety of breads ($3.89-$7.99), pastries

Shish kebabs or pizza for dinner? You don’t have to choose one or the other at Shish & Slices, a new fast-casual eatery offering Mediterranean food and Italian-style pizzas on the northwest corner of Apache and McClintock in Tempe. During

 Wine Down Lounge, whose elevated menu features a clever twist on charcuterie boards it calls ‘‘jarcuterie,’’ has opened in the former Peacock Wine Bar space on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Baseline in Gilbert. The signature starter features small jars

 85°C Bakery Cafe, a Taiwanese chain with more than 1,000 locations worldwide, has soft-opened its second Valley location at Arrowhead Ranch near the northeast corner of Bell and 75th Avenue in Glendale. Best known for coffee, tea, bread, and cakes,

 Patricia’s Pizza, a new restaurant from The Italian Daughter owner Melissa Maggiore Meyer, has opened in the Safeway/Target shopping center on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Ashler Hills in far north Scottsdale. The wood-fired pizzeria takes its name from

 Better Buzz Coffee, a San Diego-based chain that opened its first out-of-state locations in north Phoenix and south Tempe last year, has expanded with two more Valley shops. One is near the southeast corner of Bell and Bullard in Surprise;

Tiki Taka, a shared-plates restaurant inspired by flavors from Japan and Spain but incorporating Southwest ingredients, has opened at the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort near the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Doubletree Ranch roads. The 138-seat venue is the

 Mixela, a globally inspired tapas bar from owner and chef Gian Franco Brugaletta, has opened on the northwest corner of 24th Street and Osborn in Phoenix. The seasonal menu from Brugaletta, whose roots are in Venezuela and Italy, ranges from

 Industry Standard, a neighborhood small-plates restaurant and upscale craft cocktail lounge, officially opens today on the northwest corner of Second and Roosevelt streets in downtown Phoenix. The new concept from Scapegoat Beer & Wine owner Mike Cheathem, along with DashTrack founder

Rollin Smoke Barbeque, which has four restaurants in Las Vegas, has made its Arizona debut at Gateway Pavilions on the northwest corner of McDowell and 99th Avenue – just off I-10 – in Avondale. The menu features what it

 Postino WineCafé, the Valley’s pioneering wine bar concept, has opened its first West Valley location adjacent to the Peoria Sports Complex on the southeast corner of Bell and the Loop 101. A dozen kinds of bruschetta are the centerpiece of

Electric Pickle, a pickleball-themed entertainment complex from California-based Eureka Restaurant Group, has opened near the northeast corner of I-10 and Warner Road, just south of IKEA and Main Event, in south Tempe. The 4.5-acre venue soft-opened over the weekend

In roughly chronological order:  Élephante: The upscale coastal Italian restaurant from Santa Monica, Calif., opens a second location in the former Crate & Barrel space at Scottsdale Fashion Square. (see story)  Three Thirty Three: The high-end Asian-inspired concept is the