Author: Jess Harter

The Stone Korean Tofu House, which opened across the street from H Mart in west Mesa in 2020, is adding a second location near the southeast corner of Power and Southern in east Mesa this summer. The Stone, which makes

Flagstaff-based Firecreek Coffee Company, which opened its first Valley location inside The Marilyn office-rental space in Arcadia in December, will open a second, much larger location on the northeast corner of McDowell and 16th Street in Phoenix this summer. It

Little Jupiter Cafe, an independent coffee shop, is coming to the northwest corner of McQueen and Guadalupe in northwest Gilbert. The shop also will offer a selection of locally sourced pastries, some baked in-house. The cafe is expected to open

Wayback Burgers, a Connecticut-based fast-casual chain formerly known as Jake’s Wayback Burgers, will open its first Arizona restaurant in an 1,807-square-foot space between Orangetheory Fitness and Chipotle at Gilbert Town Square on Gilbert Road between Warner and Ray. Wayback’s menu

California-based Roll-Em-Up Taquitos, the nation’s first taquito-focused franchise, will make its Arizona debut with two locations by the end of this year. One will be near the northeast corner of the 101 and 90th Street in central Scottsdale, the other

The Parlay Kitchen & Cocktails, a modern American gastropub that opened in Chandler in 2019, will open a second location on the southwest corner of the 101 and Via de Ventura in central Scottsdale this fall. Owners Kyle and Erica

Good news for Japanese candy lovers: Daiso is coming! The Japanese discount store chain, which has nearly 6,000 locations worldwide, will make its Arizona debut later this year next to 99 Ranch Market on the northeast corner of Chandler and

Louisville, Ky.-based Green District Salads will make its Arizona debut with a pair of Valley locations late this year. The fast-casual concept offers salads, wraps, and grain bowls. One location will be on the southwest corner of Power and Ray

Green Corner Restaurant, one of the Valley’s top Mediterranean eateries, is launching a third location at the end of this month. The locally owned, fast-casual concept, which has current locations in Mesa and Chandler, is putting the final touches on

Naughty Tacos, a Valley food truck that launched last year and quickly became popular for its quesabirria tacos, is taking over the former Shawarma King space on the northwest corner of Cactus and 43rd Avenue in west Phoenix. A summer

New Jersey-based Bubbakoo’s Burritos, a fast-casual Mexican fusion eatery, will make its Arizona debut next month in front of Sam’s Club at SanTan Village in Gilbert. The menu offers standard build-your-own burritos, bowls, quesadillas, and tacos, but unusual protein choices

California-based Ono Hawaiian BBQ, known for its island-inspired plate lunches, will add to its three East Valley locations with a new one in front of the Cardenas Ranch Market on the northwest corner of Stapley and Southern in Mesa. It’s

Dave’s Hot Chicken, a Los Angeles-based fast-casual chain specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken, is taking over the former Burger King on the southeast corner of Stapley and Baseline in Gilbert. The 5-year-old concept, which began as a Hollywood parking lot

A Japanese izakaya bistro called Pyro is the first restaurant to commit to The Grove, a new $300 million mixed-use development on the northwest corner of 44th Street and Camelback in east Phoenix. Pyro – from the same group behind

Sid’s Garage, an Idaho-based concept that MXSW first reported in February was coming to Desert Ridge Marketplace, has announced its first Arizona location will open May 15. The menu features 10 specialty burgers, including a $24.50 three-patty Godzilla Burger, and eight

Artichoke Basille’s Pizza, a New York City-based pizza chain with one of the ‘‘10 NYC Slices You Have To Try Before You Die’’ according to Buzzfeed, is expanding its Valley footprint with a third location coming to Desert Ridge Marketplace

A new Japanese restaurant, tentatively called J-Town, is coming to the old Barney’s Boathouse building near the southeast corner of Drinkwater and Sixth Avenue in Old Town Scottsdale this summer. The owner is Eddie Chow, who also owns Nanaya Japanese

Instrumental Hospitality Group – which opened its first restaurant, Belly, in Phoenix in 2020 – is preparing to launch a second concept, Sin Muerte, next to Matt’s Big Breakfast on the southeast corner of First Street and Garfield in downtown

Gogi, a casual Korean-Japanese eatery that opened in Chandler in 2014, is launching a second location next to the AMC theaters on the southwest corner of I-10 and Ray in Ahwatukee. Gogi owner Euijong Chung’s sister, Jin Chung, and niece,

Ghett Yo Wings, a sibling concept to Ghett Yo Taco in Chandler and recently reopened Ghett Yo Pizza & Sliders in Ahwatukee, is coming to Christown Spectrum mall on the southwest corner of 15th Avenue and Bethany Home in Phoenix.

The Paleta Bar, a New Mexico-based chain of Mexican dessert shops with three East Valley locations, soon will open its first West Valley store on the southwest corner of the 101 and Union Hills in Glendale. Its menu offers customized

Chicago-based fast-casual chain Portillo’s has confirmed it will open its much-anticipated Gilbert location – first reported by MXSW last December – by the end of this year. Featuring a retro automotive garage theme, indoor seating for 180, and a patio,

Chicago-based Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria announced its seventh Valley location will open Monday, April 25, in the former T-Mobile space near the northeast corner of Alma School and Queen Creek in south Chandler. Like Lou Malnati’s other East Valley locations in

Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey – a 4-year-old restaurant in Palm Spring, Calif., headed by owner-chef Engin Onural, a former World Sushi Cup qualifier – is opening a second location on the southwest corner of Seventh and Glenrosa avenues in Phoenix’s

Cork Crush, a neighborhood wine and beer bar, is coming to the southeast corner of Ellsworth and Ray in southeast Mesa. The 1,600-square-foot venue plans to feature mostly domestic wines, including those from lesser-known wine-producing states like Texas and Michigan.

Two Hands Seoul Fresh Corn Dogs, a chain of Korean street food eateries that made its Arizona debut in west Mesa in 2020 and added an Avondale location last year, is preparing to open a third location near the food

Taiwanese boba chain Xing Fu Tang will make its Arizona debut this summer at Mesa Riverview on the northeast corner of Dobson Road and Rio Salado Parkway in northwest Mesa. The company has been called ‘‘the Hermes of bubble tea’’

Taqueria Factory, a family-owned Mexican restaurant specializing in quesabirrias and micheladas, is coming to the southeast corner of Arizona and Ray in Chandler. Pastor meat will be cooked on a trompo (rotating vertical spit), and diners will be able to

Fire Tiger Dessert Cafe, an international chain with locations in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, will make its U.S. debut in the former Pho Winglee strip-mall space just south of H Mart near the southeast corner of Main

Federal American Grill, an informal steak and seafood restaurant with four locations in the Houston area, is expanding to Arizona. It’s taking over the former Denny’s space on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and the 101 in northeast Phoenix and

Three Thirty Three, a new Asian-inspired concept, has leased the last available restaurant space at The Watermark, the $150 million mixed-use development along Scottsdale Road on the north side of Tempe Town Lake. The 11,300-square-foot restaurant from Washington-based WGE Capital

Gilbert-based Uncle Bear’s Grill & Tap, which opened its first non-southeast Valley location in Paradise Valley in December, is adding another in the former Tipsy Coyote space on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Bell in north Scottsdale. No opening

Cory Oppold, a former executive chef at Tarbell’s and Atlas Bistro, is opening Course, a modern American restaurant offering prix fixe seasonal menus, in the former Baked Bear space next to the Harkins theaters on the northeast corner of Scottsdale

Scottsdale-based Square One Concepts’ Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers and Bourbon & Bones Cocktail Lounge are taking over the former Friday’s Front Row space at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. The 12,000-square-foot location spans multiple levels and includes a suspended patio

Italian-American fast-casual chain Fazoli’s, which closed its last Valley locations in 2008, is coming back. Mesa-based Kind Hospitality has signed a deal to open nine stores by the end of 2024. The first is scheduled to open this fall, although

Jimmy G’s, a build-your-own pasta concept, will open in the former Desi Fusion space near the southeast corner of Alma School and Southern – across the street from defunct Fiesta Mall – in west Mesa. A 10-ounce portion of pasta

Ugolicious, an international chain of dessert cafes specializing in frozen Greek yogurt and Italian gelato, is coming to Chandler Fashion Center. Look for it to open this summer directly across from Hollister Co. on the mall’s second level.

Josh Katz, co-creator of Phoenix martini bar 36 Below, is working on a new concept – Rose Garden Cocktail Lounge – in the US Bank Center (pictured) on the southeast corner of First Avenue and Monroe in downtown Phoenix. A