Author: Jess Harter

🐓 Zaxbys, a Georgia-based fried chicken concept, makes its Arizona debut Wednesday at the Vineyard Towne Center on the northwest corner of Combs and Gantzel in Queen Creek. The fast-casual restaurant and drive-through offers chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, and salads. You

🍕 Federal Pizza, which debuted in uptown Phoenix in 2012, launches a second location at 11 a.m. Tuesday at PV, the revitalized former Paradise Valley Mall, in northeast Phoenix. The Upward Projects concept – a sibling to Postino Wine Café,

🇮🇳 Veda Indian Cuisine, an elevated restaurant offering regional classics and contemporary dishes, has opened in the Best Buy plaza on the southwest corner of the 101 and Frank Lloyd Wright in north Scottsdale. Menu highlights include chicken malai kebobs,

🌍 Mercy’s Kitchen, a restaurant offering West African cuisine prepared by Ghanaian chefs, has opened in Gilbert. It takes over the former Thai Chili space on the southeast corner of Val Vista and Baseline. Signature dishes include: Jollof, a dish

🥥 New Jersey-based Playa Bowls celebrates the grand opening of its fifth Valley location Saturday on the southeast corner of I-10 and Verrado Way in Buckeye. Doors open at 8 a.m. and the first 50 guests receive a free bowl

🍳 Scottsdale-based brunch concept Over Easy is celebrating the opening of its 18th location Saturday near the southeast corner of I-10 and Verrado Way in Buckeye with two days of specials. Saturday and Sunday, diners can enjoy a penny mimosa

🧋 Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea, a global chain with more than 1,500 locations, has made its Arizona debut in the former Taiwan Mama space, just north of Silver Lake Ramen, on the northeast corner of Rural and University in Tempe.

🧁 Sweet Impastries – a gluten-free gourmet bakery inspired by Chök, a well-known chocolate kitchen and pastelarîa in Barcelona, Spain – has opened on the southwest corner of Val Vita and Elliot in Gilbert. Owner Dana Scott was so impressed by

🥙 Mediterranean restaurants generally are viewed as healthier (and often more affordable) options for diners, so it’s no surprise that several new ones have launched in all areas of the Valley. Caroun Restaurant, which has been serving Mediterranean and Middle

🥟 Uncle Bao – a sibling of Uncle Panda, a popular dumpling and noodle house that debuted in Glendale in 2023 – has opened in Ahwatukee. The casual Chinese restaurant takes over the space formerly home to Japanese restaurant Tabe-Mono