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Author: Jess Harter

Independent coffee shop Little Jupiter Cafe launches in Gilbert

Little Jupiter Cafe, an independent coffee shop and community space, has opened in the strip mall on the northwest corner of McQueen and Guadalupe in Gilbert. The menu: In addition to a variety of coffee drinks (including seasonal specials), Little

Yama Sushi House opens 4th Valley location at Park West in Peoria

Yama Sushi House, a popular Japanese restaurant that debuted in central Phoenix in 2016, has opened its fourth Valley location at the Park West shopping center on the northeast corner of Northern and 99th Avenue in Peoria. The menu: 25

California Pizza Kitchen closes after 15 years at Tempe Marketplace

California Pizza Kitchen, one of the first restaurants to open at Tempe Marketplace in 2007, has closed. It was the troubled chain’s last remaining East Valley location. The history: CPK, which was forced into bankruptcy in 2020, has closed two

Look Dine-In Cinemas in downtown Chandler to offer $3 specials Saturday

The occasion: Saturday is National Cinema Day. Theaters nationwide will be charging just $3 for admission. Other specials: In addition to $3 admission, Look will have $3 small popcorn and $3 soft drinks. Did you know? Look offers a full menu of appetizers, entrees,

Modern Margarita lounge opens 2nd Valley location today in south Chandler

The space: The former Grubstak space in front of EOS Fitness near the southeast corner of Gilbert and Ocotillo. Grubstak closed in June 2021. The menu: The same as its other location in northeast Phoenix. The focus is on Mexican small plates and margaritas.

Floridino’s in Chandler unveils green chile chicken as pizza muffin of month

What’s in it? Chicken carnitas, green chiles, sauteed onion, cheddar, and mozzarella. Served with a queso dipping sauce. The history: Seven varieties of pizza muffins ($7.99-$9.29 per half-dozen) are the signature menu items at Floridino’s, which has a pizza muffin food truck and

Tacos Chisco, a small casual Mexican eatery, launches in Glendale

The space: The former Subway near the southeast corner of Union Hills and 51st Avenue in Glendale. The menu: Breakfast burritos and tacos in the morning, with the addition of quesadillas, bowls, and street corn for lunch and dinner. Five- and 10-taco platters are

Ghetto Yo Pizza in Ahwatukee offering slice & soda for price of gas

Inflation Buster Combo: For a limited time, get a slice of cheese pizza and soda (usually $6) for just $4. (The price will be reset every Sunday when AAA Arizona announces the latest statewide average for gas.) You can add pepperoni for

Albuquerque-based Little Anita’s makes Arizona debut in Chandler

The space: The former Juan Jaime’s Tacos & Tequila near the northeast corner of the 101 and Chandler Boulevard. Juan Jaime’s closed in May. The menu: Mexican and New Mexican cuisine, including tacos, burritos, burgers, and seafood. But the signature menu items are the

Birrieria Don Jose, specializing in quesabirria tacos, opens in Chandler

The space: The bright yellow building (just north of Bosa Donuts) that’s been home to several short-lived Mexican restaurants on the northeast corner of Arizona and Galveston. The menu: Breakfast burritos and plates, tacos, tortas, papas loca, and quesadillas. Most tacos are

Belly Kitchen & Bar to open 2nd location in Gilbert next Thursday

The space: Epicenter is a new mixed-use development at Agritopia on the northwest corner of Higley and Ray in Gilbert. The menu: Southeast Asian cuisine. Specialties include jackfruit and mustard green fried rice, pork belly and egg claypot, and shaking beef. The team: Belly, which debuted in Phoenix

Tucson-based Eegee’s breaks ground on 2nd Mesa location

The space: The former Sizzler building on the northwest corner of Country Club and Southern. Sizzler closed in 2020. The menu: Sub sandwiches, fries, salads, and its signature frozen fruit drinks. Opening: Spring 2023. The chain: It will be sixth Valley location for Eegee’s,

Texas-based Torchy’s Tacos to launch 2nd Valley location Wednesday

Austin, Texas-based Torchy’s Tacos, which made its Arizona debut in Phoenix in June, officially opens its second local location at 10 a.m. Wednesday on the northeast corner of Tatum and Shea in northeast Phoenix. Menu highlights: 14 creative specialty tacos and nine

Angie’s Lobster opens 1st drive-through location today in southeast Mesa

Long-awaited Angie’s Lobster, the new drive-through concept from the founders of Salad & Go, opens its first drive-through restaurant at 10 a.m. today near the southwest corner of Signal Butte and Guadalupe in southeast Mesa. The menu: $9.99 Maine lobster meals, which include a warm or

Modern cantina & margarita bar Anoche Cantina opens in Tempe

Anoche Cantina, the first Arizona concept from Bellevue-Wash.-based Ascend Hospitality Group, has opened in the former El Hefe space on the southwest corner of Mill Avenue and Sixth Street in downtown Tempe. What: A Latin-inspired modern cantina with a build-your-own margarita bar.

Cider Corps’ 40 Myke Myke takes silver medal at Honey Beer Competition

Cider Corps’ 40 Myke Myke has won the silver medal in the cider category at the eighth annual Honey Beer Competition, a BJCP-sanctioned contest hosted by the National Honey Board. The cider: 40 Myke Myke is a collaboration with Myke’s Pizza, the pizzeria

Modern Margarita to open 2nd location in south Chandler on Sept. 2

Modern Margarita, a stylish northeast Phoenix lounge focused on Mexican small plates and margaritas, will open a second location in front of EOS Fitness near the southeast corner of Gilbert and Ocotillo in south Chandler on Friday, Sept. 2 The

AZ Wilderness Brewing to test new brunch menu at Phoenix beer garden

Gilbert-based Arizona Wilderness Brewing will test out a new brunch menu at its downtown Phoenix beer garden from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: Chicken & Waffles: Oatman Farms White Sonora Wheat buttermilk waffles, chicken, whipped honey butter, Arizona microgreens, and maple syrup

Patent 139 Brewing in Chandler to celebrate anniversary on Saturday

Patent 139 Brewing, which opened in January on the southeast corner of Dobson and Ray in Chandler, will host a One-Year Anniversary and Patent Approved Day celebration from 11 a.m.-close Saturday. The backstory: Owner Tim Hass’s family once held the patent –

Weekly food truck roundup organizer to launch San Tan Feastival

AZ Feastivals, the organizers of weekly food truck roundups in Mesa, Gilbert, and Queen Creek, will launch a fourth – San Tan Feastival – in San Tan Valley. When: The roundup will take place 5-9 p.m. Saturdays beginning Sept. 24. Where: Central

Family-run Eh Güey Tacos opens inside Mobil gas station in Glendale

Continuing a growing trend in the Valley, Eh Güey Tacos, a family-run Mexican restaurant, has opened in the Mobil gas station on the southwest corner of Union Hills and 35th Avenue in Glendale. The menu: Tacos (birria, asada, pastor, chicken, cabeza, cactus,

Friday: Hot Wing Throwdown at Patent 139 Brewing in Chandler

As a precursor to its one-year anniversary celebration Saturday, Patent 139 Brewing in Chandler will host a Hot Wing Throwdown involving eight Valley chefs Friday. What: All day, you can get eight wings (each with a different sauce by a

Phoenix Vegan Restaurant Week set to return for 2nd year Sept. 11-18

After a successful launch last year, Phoenix Vegan Restaurant Week will return Sept. 11-18. The event raises awareness for all things vegan and gives diners an affordable opportunity to explore the growing plant-based food scene in the Valley. What: Breakfast,

AZ Women in Food selling Labor Day collaborative packages of products

AZ Women in Food, a group created last year to support woman-led local food businesses, is offering a Labor Day package of shelf-stable sweets, recipe kits, seasonings, snacks, and more from its members. Included: Gwen’s Granola from FnB Potato chips

Scottsdale-based Tequila Corrido now available in 38 U.S. states

Scottsdale-based Tequila Corrido has begun selling its agave spirit in Tennessee, expanding the U.S. footprint for its Tequila Corrido Blanco, Tequila Corrido Reposado, and Tequila Corrido Añejo to 38 states. The company plans to launch in Texas and New Mexico next, although no dates

East Valley chain Backyard Taco opens 5th location in Queen Creek

Backyard Taco, an award-winning chain of East Valley taco shops born in a Mesa backyard, has opened its fifth location near the northwest corner of Ellsworth and Riggs in Queen Creek. Its fast-casual menu offers tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tostadas, gorditas, and loaded

Dutch Bros. Coffee to launch newest location Tuesday in north Phoenix

Oregon-based Dutch Bros. Coffee will open its newest Valley location at 5 a.m. Tuesday near the southeast corner of Bell and Seventh Avenue in north Phoenix. The chain will donate $1 from every drink sold on Tuesday to the Ryan House, which helps

Local coffee shop chain Bikini Beans to open 5th location in Goodyear

Bikini Beans, a local chain of coffee shops featuring bikini-wearing baristas, has begun building its fifth Valley location on the northwest corner of McDowell and Pebble Creek in Goodyear. The concept, which debuted in 2014, currently has locations in Phoenix, Tempe,

Rockin’ Taco Street Fest returns to downtown Chandler on Sept. 24

The 11th annual Rockin’ Taco Street Fest, featuring creative tacos from more than 20 local restaurants and food trucks, will return to downtown Chandler from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. Ozomatli and Everclear will be this year’s music stage

Queen Creek Olive Mill to host annual Garlic Festival from Sept. 16-25

Queen Creek Olive Mill will host its ninth annual Garlic Festival from Friday, Sept. 16, through Sunday, Sept. 25. The event will feature a variety of organic garlic, cooking demos, fun and games in the grove, a beer and wine garden, Garlic 101 classes,

Mediterranean-Arabic breakfast eatery Rayoog Cafe opens in Gilbert

Rayoog Cafe, a family-run Mediterranean-Arabic breakfast and brunch eatery, has opened on the northwest corner of Cooper and Elliot in Gilbert. It takes over the former Brooklyn Mike’s Subs strip-mall space. The menu mostly offers egg dishes, toasts (pictured), and salads, but also

Tucson-based Eegee’s submits plans for 2nd West Valley restaurant in Peoria

Tucson-based fast-food chain Eegee’s has submitted plans to build a 2,300-square-foot drive-through restaurant on the northwest corner of 83rd Avenue and Cactus Road in Peoria. If the plans are approved, the restaurant likely would open in 2023. Eegee’s opened its fourth Valley location – and first in

Lou Malnati’s Pizza , Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers coming to Surprise center

Lou Malnati’s Pizza (pictured) and Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers are the latest restaurants announced coming to the Village at Prasada, a huge indoor-outdoor shopping center opening this fall off the Loop 303 near Waddell Road in Surprise. They join previously announced OHSO Brewery &

SodaRush spinoff CookieRush by SodaRush to debut in south Chandler

SodaRush soda shop has won numerous awards for its giant, made-from-scratch gourmet cookies, so it’s not surprising a pair of franchisees from Chandler are launching a cookie store, CookieRush by SodaRush, on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Chandler Heights. They hope to

Forno 301 launches 2nd location to replace Eat Slice in Scottsdale

Forno 301, a 7-year-old well-regarded Italian restaurant in downtown Phoenix, has opened a second location on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Thomas in south Scottsdale. It takes over the space formerly home to Eat Slice, a drive-through concept launched by Forno 301

Barro’s Pizza to move south Chandler restaurant about a mile south

Barro’s Pizza is planning to move its current restaurant on the northwest corner of Alma School and Germann in south Chandler. Its new home will be the former Village Inn building next to Macayo”s Mexican Food on the northeast corner of Alma School and

Vitality Bowls makes AZ debut at Verde at Cooley Station in Gilbert

Vitality Bowls Superfood Café, a California-based fast-casual health food concept, has made its Arizona debut at Verde at Cooley Station, a mixed-use development on the southwest corner of Recker and Williams Field in Gilbert. The menu offers acai bowls, salads,

Coming to downtown Phoenix this fall: Coabana & Teddy’s Preserve

The owners of popular nightspots Pigtails and Rough Rider are planning two new concepts in downtown Phoenix. Coabana, a 50-seat bar offering Cuban-inspired cocktails and tapas, is scheduled to join Pigtails at Cityscape in October. Teddy’s Preserve, a 350-seat indoor-outdoor

Bonfire Craft Kitchen & Tap House finally opens 2nd location in Tempe

After a false start last week, Bonfire Craft Kitchen & Tap House, a 2-year-old restaurant and sports bar in Surprise, has opened its second location in the former 11,000-square-foot Tilted Kilt building just south of IKEA near the southwest corner

Scottsdale’s Crust Brothers Pizza to open 2nd location in south Tempe

Crust Brothers Pizza, a 2-year-old independent pizzeria in central Scottsdale, is opening a second location on the northwest corner of Baseline and McClintock in south Tempe. Crust Brothers makes what its calls ‘‘Midwest-style’’ square-cut pies that are ‘‘crispy on the

Colombia-based Sushi Green makes U.S. debut at Chandler Crossroads

Sushi Green, a Colombia-based Asian fusion concept, has made its U.S. debut by the Harkins Theatres on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Germann in Chandler. It’s taken over the space formerly home to YC’s Mongolian Grill, which closed in 2020.

Tempe-based Spinato’s Pizza named official pizza of Suns & Mercury

Tempe-based Spinato’s Pizzeria, which is preparing to open its seventh Valley location at Epicenter at Agritopia in Gilbert in November, has reached an agreement to become the official pizza of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. Its Chicago-style pizza will be

SomiSomi Soft Serve & Taiyaki makes Arizona debut in Chandler

SomiSomi Soft Serve & Taiyaki, a Los Angeles-based chain of Korean-inspired dessert shops offering soft-serve ice cream and taiyaki (fish-shaped waffles with a choice of fillings), has made its Arizona debut on the northeast corner of Chandler and Dobson in Chandler.

Tucson-based Fuku Sushi opens 4th restaurant in south Tempe

Fuku Sushi, a favorite hangout of University of Arizona students in Tucson for the past decade, has opened its fourth restaurant on the northeast corner of McClintock and Warner in south Tempe. It opens at 3 p.m. daily. Fuku, which

OHSO Brewery in downtown Gilbert opens The Park today

OHSO Brewery in downtown Gilbert opens The Park, a half-acre multi-use recreation area on the north side of the brew pub, today. The family- and dog-friendly venue includes a grass lawn, a retail shop made from a recycled shipping container,

The Vine Tavern may soft-open new Ahwatukee location this weekend

The Vine Tavern & Eatery, which closed its original Valley location on Apache Boulevard in Tempe last month, is planning to soft-open its new Ahwatukee location Friday – assuming it passes all of its final inspections. It’s taking over the

Car crashes through glass storefront at MOD Pizza in Gilbert

A car crashed through the glass front wall of the MOD Pizza on the northwest corner of Cooper and Warner in Gilbert this morning. The driver accidentally stepped on the gas instead of the brake, police told Channel 3. No

Food for thought: David Bickford of PHX Rail Food blog

David Bickford was looking for a unique angle for a new food blog in 2007 at the same time construction was underway on the Valley’s initial light rail line. Thus was born PHX Rail Food, a collection of Bickford’s reviews

Korean street food eatery Hanshin Pocha coming to Mesa this fall

Hanshin Pocha, a California-base chain of quick-casual Korean street food taverns, will make its Arizona debut this fall near the southeast corner of Alma School and Southern in Mesa. It’s taking over the space that formerly was home to Draft

San Diego’s top-rated pizzeria Ambrogio15 coming to Phoenix

Ambrogio15, which has been voted the best pizza in San Diego by several publications, is bringing its Milanese-style pies with paper-thin crusts to Biltmore Fashion Park in Phoenix. Its name refers to Ambrogio, the patron saint of Milan, and the

Walter Station Brewery, no-kill shelter collaborate on Ale Wagger beer

For the second straight summer, Walter Station Brewery in east Phoenix is collaborating with the Arizona Animal Welfare League, Arizona’s largest and oldest no-kill shelter, to raise money for AAWL’s life-saving pet programs. The brewery is making a special beer, Ale Wagger, available for

Hush Public House owners to open Fire at Will in north Phoenix this fall

Hush Public House chef-owner Dom Ruggiero and his wife, Holly, are opening another restaurant, Fire at Will, this fall in the former Little Cay space on the northeast corner of Tatum and Shea in north Phoenix. Although it will borrow several menu items from its

Sushi 101 moving from Cornerstone in Tempe to former Salut Kitchen space

Sushi 101 Bar & Grill, a popular Tempe eatery for ASU students for two decades, is moving this fall from Cornerstone on the northeast corner of Rural and University to the former Salut Kitchen Bar (and short-lived McKinley Brewing) space near the northwest corner

Spitz Mediterranean Street Food coming to Desert Ridge Marketplace this fall

Los Angeles-based Spitz Mediterranean Street Food will make its Arizona debut at Desert Ridge Marketplace in north Phoenix around the end of this year. Borrowing from street carts popular in Europe, Spitz’s menu features doner wraps, bowls,  ‘‘doquitos’’ (described as Mediterranean taquitos), and

The Hub Grill & Bar to open 4th E.V. location today in northeast Mesa

The Hub Grill & Bar, an East Valley chain of mega-sized sports bars, opens its fourth location today in the short-lived GOAT Sports Grill space on the southwest corner of Power and McDowell in northeast Mesa. Menu specialties include a Giant Green

Chula Seafood opens 3rd location in ex-Hi-Health space in north Scottsdale

Chula Seafood, a family-owned seafood restaurant and market with locations in uptown Phoenix and south Scottsdale, has opened a third location in the former Hi-Health space on the east corner of Hayden and Thompson Peak Parkway in north Scottsdale. The fish market

New York Butcher Shoppe to make Arizona debut in Cave Creek this fall

South Carolina-based New York Butcher Shoppe, which has 20 locations in five states, will make its Arizona debut in Cave Creek this fall. It’s under construction next to 3 Regions Vietnamese Kitchen on the northeast corner of Tatum and Dynamite. The

Peoria Artisan Brewery seeks information on damage to windows

Peoria Artisan Brewery is offering a reward for information leading to the identification of the individual or individuals who significantly damaged several windows at the brewery Saturday or Sunday night. The windows appeared to have been shot with a pellet or

Chicago-based JoJo’s Shake Bar coming to Scottsdale Quarter

JoJo’s Shake Bar, a Chicago-based concept known for over-the-top shakes, onion ring towers, and milk and cookie flights (pictured), is coming to the Scottsdale Quarter on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Greenway/Butherus. The menu also offers sandwiches, burgers, and

SanTan Brewing releases annual Oktoberfest German-style lager

Sure signs of fall: Kids are back in school, the NFL begins preseason games next week, and Chandler-based SanTan Brewing has released its annual Oktoberfest beer, a German-style lager, at its brewpub and in stores Valleywide. SanTan and Pedal Haus Brewery will co-host the Downtown

La Stalla Rustica Cucina closes after 18 years in Chandler & Ahwatukee

Italian restaurant La Stalla Rustica Cucina, an East Valley fixture for 18 years, has closed. La Stalla spent 14 years in the downtown Chandler space currently home to Craft 64 across Buffalo Street from the San Marcos Resort before abruptly moving to the former Los Dos Molinos strip-mall space