Author: Jess Harter

Espiritu, a new but yet to be revealed concept from Chiwas Tacos owners Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin, is taking over the short-lived Herb n Smoke space on the south side of Main between MacDonald and Robson in downtown Mesa.

After making its long-awaited return the Valley with restaurants in Gilbert and east Mesa this year, Tucson-based Eegee’s will open a third location on the northwest corner of Peoria and 35th Avenue in west Phoenix this spring.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, a Japanese chain featuring dishes displayed on a conveyor belt, has made its Arizona debut in the former Smashburger space at the Camelback Colonnade on the southwest corner of Camelback and 20th Street in Phoenix. A

By the Bucket, a Payson-based concept that sells spaghetti and meatballs by the bucket to go, has opened its second East Valley location in the former Papa John’s Pizza space on the southeast corner of Cooper and Warner in Gilbert.

Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a California-based chain known for its signature ‘‘crispy curly’’ pepperoni, will make its Arizona debut in the former Rosati’s Pizza space at Mesa Riverview on the southeast corner of Dobson and the 202 in Mesa.

Tempe Eats – a ‘‘drive-thru food hall’’ featuring Yogis Grill, Oh Sushi Burrito, Wing Station, Sobremesa Gastrobar, Pour My Beer, and Cafe X Robotic Coffee Bar – is coming to the former Pet Club building on the southeast corner of

Cava, a Washington, D.C.-based Mediterranean fast-casual chain that bought Zoës Kitchen in 2018, has opened its first Arizona location in the former Zoës space on the southwest corner of Indian School and 44th Street in Phoenix.

Rice Paddy, a small Vietnamese restaurant offering pho, banh mi, and rice dishes, has opened on the northeast corner of Seventh Street and Rose Lane in uptown Phoenix.

At My Place Cafe, a family-run Filipino restaurant that closed in May after four years in south Mesa, has reopened in the former Pastries N Chaat bakery space near the northwest corner of the 101 and Chandler – across the

Aftermath Bar & Kitchen, a modern American restaurant from Hush Public House co-founder Charles Barber Jr. and former Zinc chef Dave Bowman, has opened in the former Rehab Burger Therapy space on the northwest corner of 16th Street and Bethany

Gilbert-based Uncle Bear’s Brewery has opened its fourth Grill & Tap location in the former Kovo Modern Mediterranean space on the northeast corner of Tatum and Shea in Paradise Valley.

Chicago-based Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria plans to open its seventh Valley location (and third in the East Valley) for takeout and delivery only near the northeast corner of Alma School and Queen Creek in south Chandler in May.

Fire & Fury Brewing, a new craft brewery that originally was called Furious Beer & BBQ before a last-minute name change, has opened in the former Joe’s Grotto space on the northeast corner of 32nd Street and Thunderbird in Phoenix.

Thai Chili 2 Go, an East Valley-based chain of to-go Thai eateries, opens its 12th location at noon Saturday on the southeast corner of Bell and 75th Avenue in Peoria. The first 50 guests will receive a free entrée; after

Enjoy free drinks from 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday when Oregon-based Black Rock Coffee celebrates the opening of its second Tempe location  – and 22nd in Arizona –  behind McDonald’s on the northeast corner of 56th Street and Ray.

Three years after making its Arizona debut in Glendale, Pennsylvania-based Bruster’s Real Ice Cream has launched its first East Valley location on the northeast corner of Arizona and Warner in Chandler. Bruster’s features 150 flavors of handcrafted ice cream, yogurt, Italian

Sottise, a modern French bistro and restaurant from chef TJ Culp and Esther Noh, the duo behind Restaurant Progress and The Montecito, opens Thursday in the historic Knipe House, a 112-year-old building on the southeast corner of Portland and Second

Chicago-based Lou Malnati’s has launched its sixth Valley location – an 1,800-square-foot space offering takeout and delivery only – on the northeast corner of Val Vista and Pecos in Gilbert. It’s the second East Valley location; the first opened at Mesa’s

Cinnaholic, a California-based chain of vegan cinnamon roll bakeries that made its Arizona debut in Gilbert in July, has opened a second Valley location on the northwest corner of the 101 and Via de Ventura in Scottsdale.

Santé, a high-end organic-focused restaurant and ‘‘grab-and-gourmet’’ marketplace from EVO founder Nick Neuman and longtime friend Nico Doniele, has opened in the former Brunch Cafe space near the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Greenway in north Scottsdale.

Shinko Sushi House, a Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi and ramen, has opened the former Perfect Pear space in the Foothills Park Plaza on the southeast corner of Chandler Boulevard and Desert Foothills Parkway in Ahwatukee.

The Genuine Concepts restaurant group announced it will close its 11-year-old The Vig Uptown on the northeast corner of 16th Street and Bethany Home in Phoenix on Sunday, Dec. 19. The space will be remodeled and reopened in February as

Tucson-based Eegee’s opens its second Valley restaurant (the first debuted in Gilbert in July) at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday on the northwest corner of U.S. 60 and Crismon in east Mesa. Every customer will get a free sticker, and the grand opening

Florida-based Another Broken Egg Cafe, a French-countryside-meets-the-Deep-South concept, has made its Arizona debut behind Sandbar Mexican Grill on the southwest corner of Williams Field and Santan Village Parkway in Gilbert.

Scottsdale-based Mesquite Fresh Street Mex, formerly known as Mr. Mesquite, will open its ninth Valley location – and its first drive-through-only location – on the southeast corner of Val Vista and Queen Creek in Gilbert in February.

Big news for Portillo’s fans who’ve been waiting for the Chicago-based fast-casual chain to open a second East Valley location: It has submitted a design review for a new restaurant to be built on the southeast corner of Williams Field and Santan

Lake Pleasant Brewing,  family-owned craft brewery that’s been in the works for five years, is expected to open in January on the southwest corner of 19th Avenue and Rose Garden in northwest Phoenix.

The Mexicano, a Mexico City-inspired concept from Valley restauranteur Joey Maggiore (whose family’s restaurant group is best known for Tomaso’s, The Sicilian Baker, and Hash Kitchen), opens today in the former Salty Sow space near Cactus and Tatum in Paradise

Queen Creek’s newest craft beer bar – BrüCo Taproom – has opened near the northeast corner of Power and Germann with 30 beers on tap plus wines by the glass. Plans call for a small food menu featuring pizza and

The Sugar Bar, a new hybrid concept combining a taproom with a candy store, has opened on the northwest corner of McQueen and Warner in Chandler. There are 29 beers and two wines on tap (plus many more in bottles

My Kitchen Chinese Cuisine, specializing in dishes like General Tso’s Chicken, Seafood King, and Walnut Shrimp, has opened in the year-old Fry’s Marketplace plaza on the southeast corner of Williams Field and Recker in southeast Gilbert.

Kasai Japanese Steakhouse, the 20-year-old north Scottsdale restaurant known as Sapporo before changing its name three years ago, plans to open a second location at the Park West shopping complex in Peoria by next fall.

Foch Café & Bistro, an all-day restaurant and bar offering crepes, burgers, and sandwiches, has opened at the Orchid House at the Brickyard southeast of the Sixth Street circle west of Mill in downtown Tempe.

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

Chico Malo owners Teddy and Katie Myers have partnered with chef Jesus Figueroa (Tarbell’s, Cafe Monarch) and others to launch Wren & Wolf, an all-day restaurant and bar, in the short-lived Condesa space on the northwest corner of Central and

Jason Bell, the owner of Crown Public House in downtown Phoenix, has snapped up the recently closed Switch on the northeast corner of Central and Virginia in midtown Phoenix for a new concept – Hutch Kitchen & Cocktails – scheduled

Waldo’s BBQ & Catering has closed and sold its 4-year-old Gilbert location on the northwest corner of Val Vista and Williams Field. Humble Bistro, a ‘‘neighborhood wine parlor’’ concept at High Street in northeast Phoenix from the owners of the

Calitacos, a 20-month-old Tolleson restaurant specializing in street-style tacos (especially birria tacos), has opened a second location on the southwest corner of Arizona Avenue and Warner in Chandler.

Garden Bar, a garden-to-glass cocktail experience (think fresh ingredients, artisanal spirits, and socially-responsible practices) from James Beard-honored mixologist Kim Haasarud, opens at 5 p.m. today in a 1914 bungalow on Sixth Avenue south of Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix.

High Tide Seafood Bar & Grill, which made its debut on the southwest corner of Val Vista and Williams Field in Gilbert in 2014, has opened its second location, High Tide at The Steelyard, on the southeast corner of Gilbert

NoRa Fresh Asian, a fast-growing chain of fast-casual Asian fusion restaurants, has launched its eighth Valley location – and fourth this year – on the southeast corner of Cooper and Baseline in Gilbert.

Christopher Collins, the chef-owner of the Common Ground Culinary restaurant group, has opened his latest concept, Neighborly Public House, built by Valley-based Laurshan Construction, in the former Stock & Stable space at The Colony on Seventh Street, between Camelback and Bethany

Teriyaki Madness, a Denver-based chain of fast-casual Asian restaurants, opens its fourth Valley location – and third in the East Valley – Wednesday near the northwest corner of Ray and 48th Street in Ahwatukee.

The Womack, a 1960s-themed cocktail lounge that’s been closed since the covid-19 pandemic began in March 2020, announced it finally will reopen Thursday near the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Bethany Home in uptown Phoenix.

Angie’s Lobster, a new drive-through concept featuring $9.99 lobster meals from the founders of East Valley-based Salad and Go, opened the first of its five initial locations today – albeit as a food truck (the bricks-and-mortar building behind it won’t ready

BrüCo Taproom – offering 30 craft beers on tap, wine, and a small food menu including pizza and wings – is set to open in December near the northeast corner of Power and Germann in Queen Creek.

El Fogón Taqueria, formerly located in the Chandler Fashion Center food court, has moved into the former Uno Mas Cantina space on the southeast corner of Chandler Boulevard and Desert Foothills Parkway in Ahwatukee.

Santé, a high-end organic-focused concept from EVO founder Nick Neuman and longtime friend Nico Doniele, is opening Dec. 14 in the former Brunch Cafe space near the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Greenway in north Scottsdale.

Cornish Pasty Co., a Tempe-based eatery that’s been introducing diners to the British pocket sandwiches since 2005, is opening a sixth Valley location on the northeast corner of 32nd Street and Union Hills in Paradise Valley.

By the Bucket, a Payson-based concept that sells spaghetti and meatballs by the bucket to go, is opening a location on the southeast corner of Cooper and Warner in Gilbert. Its first East Valley location debuted in Ahwatukee in May.

First-time bar owner Jennifer Gallego has opened Tap Dragon Craft Beer & Wine Bar, an indoor-outdoor venue with 32 craft beers on tap and 15 rotating wines, on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Warner in Gilbert.

Valley Taproom, a bar offering more than two dozen craft beers on tap, is moving into the former Grabbagreen space at the Rivulon mixed-use development near the northeast corner of Gilbert and the 202 in south Gilbert this winter.

Hope Peshlakai, who operated a food stand on Power Road for the past decade, is launching a bricks-and-mortar Navajo restaurant, Hope’s Frybread, on the northwest corner of Mesa and Second Avenue near downtown Mesa.

Gravity, a Washington-based coffee and premium drink drive-through concept, is planning to enter the Arizona market in 2022 with four locations, including one on the northeast corner of Val Vista and Germann in Gilbert.

Oregon-based Black Rock Coffee celebrates the grand opening of its 100th location on the southeast corner of Arizona and Frye in downtown Chandler with free 16-ounce drinks from 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19.

Colorado-based Ziggi’s Coffee will celebrate the grand opening of its second Chandler store on the southwest corner of Arizona and Ocotillo with free 16-ounce drinks from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20.

Provision, an east Phoenix coffee roaster, cocktail bar, and eatery, is opening a second, larger location on the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Missouri in uptown Phoenix in early 2022.

Gypsy Cup, a self-described ‘‘boutique cafe on wheels,’’ is opening a bricks-and-mortar location around the end of this year at Heritage Marketplace near the northwest corner of Gilbert and Vaughn in downtown Gilbert.

Tempe-based Pedal Haus Brewery, which launched its first satellite location in downtown Chandler last year, opens a second one today in the historic MonOrchid building on the northeast corner of Roosevelt and Second Street in downtown Phoenix.

Gilbert-based Uncle Bear’s Brewery plans to open its fourth Grill & Tap location in the former Kovo Modern Mediterranean space on the northeast corner of Tatum and Shea in Paradise Valley by the end of this year.

Tacos Calafia, which began as a Peoria food truck but has become a fast-growing chain of restaurants specializing in Tijuana-style tacos, has opened its sixth bricks-and-mortar location on the southeast corner of Chandler and 48th Street in Ahwatukee.

Mario Rana, owner of Italian eatery Osteria Mia and State 48 Brewery, will debut a new Mediterranean-influenced concept, The Stetson Social, next summer at the new 83 Marketplace on the southeast corner of Happy Valley and 83rd Avenue in Peoria.

Miami-based music producer DJ Khaled has partnered with Reef, the world’s largest ghost kitchen operator, to launch the virtual chicken-wing concept Another Wing, including three locations in Tempe and another in Phoenix.

K-38 Beach Mex Cantina, the Mexican eatery that postponed last week’s official launch at the last minute due to ‘‘staffing issues,’’ is scheduled to finally open today on the southwest corner of Alma School and Ocotillo in south Chandler.

Traffic around Higley and the U.S. 60 is likely to get even busier in 2022 with Oregon-based Dutch Bros. Coffee building its fifth Gilbert location just north of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.

Recreo – a new venue featuring two lively bars, seven globally inspired culinary concepts, and a live music stage – is scheduled to open next month in the former El Zocalo Mexican Grille on San Marcos Place in downtown Chandler.

Get a pop-up preview of Pork on a Fork‘s soon-to-open Chandler location when the north Phoenix barbecue joint brings its food truck to the former Carl’s Jr. building near the southwest corner of Alma School and Warner from 5-8 p.m.

Salt Tacos y Tequila, a 5-year-old modern Mexican restaurant and bar at Westgate in Glendale, announced it will open its second location Friday in the former Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que space at SanTan Village shopping center in Gilbert.

K-38 Beach Mex Cantina, the Mexican eatery that had a soft opening last week on the southwest corner of Alma School and Ocotillo in south Chandler, postponed its official launch Tuesday at the last minute due to ‘‘staffing issues.’’ No

Colorado-based Ziggi’s Coffee, which has two locations in Chandler, is opening two more Arizona stores on the southwest corner of Apache and Terrace in Tempe and the southeast corner of Sossaman and Guadalupe in southeast Mesa.

The father-and-daughter team behind the Cup of Joey food truck, which offers coffee and Aussie bites, is opening a bricks-and-mortar restaurant called Australian Cafe in early 2022 on the southeast corner of Ellsworth and Brown in northeast Mesa.

K-38 Beach Mex Cantina, a Mexican eatery inspired by street food vendors and taquerias in Baja California and boasting what it describes as a ‘‘world-class margarita program,’’ has opened on the southwest corner of Alma School and Ocotillo in south Chandler.

The founders of East Valley-based Salad and Go are co-launching new drive-through concept Angie’s Lobster featuring $9.99 lobster meals with fries and a drink. The first of five announced locations will open Nov. 30 on the southeast corner of Baseline and

Food and wine industry vets Pat Jasmin and Chris French have opened Far Away Wine & Provisions, a 30-seat wine bar and retail shop that also serves food, on the southwest corner of Indian School and 32nd Street in Phoenix.

Bussara “Nina” Irwin, the original owner of  the now-closed Cha Da Thai in Scottsdale, has opened a new Cha Da Thai in the former Noodles Ranch space on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Thomas in Scottsdale.

El Jefe Tacos & Sushi, an 18-month-old hybrid restaurant in Tempe, will open a second location in the former Qdoba space on the southeast corner of Chandler and 48th Street in Ahwatukee.

Bottle & Bean, a new local coffeehouse and wine bar concept, is taking over the former Press Coffee space at the Downtown Ocotillo development on Queen Creek between Dobson and Price in south Chandler.

Bap and Chicken, a popular Korean fried chicken eatery in St. Paul, Minn., has opened a second location in the former Habit Burger Grill on the southwest corner of Ray and 54th Street in west Chandler.

The Union Jack, a British pub that took over the former Skeptical Chymist Irish Pub in north Scottsdale in August, is opening a second location at Dana Park on the northwest corner of Val Vista and Baseline in Mesa.

Babbo Italian Eatery, a family-owned local chain of Italian restaurants, has opened its eighth Valley location on the southwest corner of McDowell and PebbleCreek in Goodyear.

Oakberry Açaí Bowls & Smoothies, a Brazil-based chain that made its Arizona debut this summer at the Biltmore in Phoenix, is opening two more Valley locations – at SanTan Village in Gilbert and the Arizona Center in downtown Phoenix.

Brunch Snob, a breakfast and lunch eatery with a bar, is coming to the former Irish Hare space on the southwest corner of Elliot and 48 Street in Ahwatukee in mid-December.

The team behind Murphy’s Law, Bourbon Jacks, and Black Sheep Wine Bar in downtown Chandler is opening a new bar concept – Lola’s Liquors – next to Murphy’s Law on San Marcos Place.

Beard Papa’s, a Japanese-born chain that claims to make ‘‘the world’s best cream puffs,’’ will open its second Arizona store near Macy’s at the north end of the SanTan Village shopping center in Gilbert.

Local New York-style deli chain Chompie’s has opened its fifth – and largest – location on the northeast corner of Cactus and 32nd Street in north Phoenix for fast-casual service at its cafe and deli counters, with its dining room

California-based Ono Hawaiian BBQ, known for its island-inspired plate lunches, has opened its 10th Valley location – and third in the East Valley – in the former Arby’s near the northwest corner of Rural and Ray in south Tempe.