Author: Jess Harter

Detroit Coney Grill has opened in the former Killer Burger space on the southeast corner of Hayden and Indian Bend in Scottsdale. Detroit Coney Grill offers a number of Motor City favorites, including its namesake Detroit-style coneys, Better Made chips,

ComicX, a Mexico-based chain of comic book-themed restaurants, finally has opened its first U.S. location at Desert Ridge Marketplace in northeast Phoenix. The family-friendly restaurant, bar, and store is located between Sweet Tomatoes and Majerle’s Sports Bar. It originally was scheduled to

Marauders, a pirate-themed gastropub originally intended to be called Smugglers, has opened in the Changing Hands-Trader Joe’s plaza on the southwest corner of McClintock and Guadalupe in south Tempe. It takes over a portion of the space formerly home to

Suns and Diamondbacks fans have a new place to have dinner before a game or a nightcap after one: Condesa has opened in downtown Phoenix. The 12,000-square-foot concept takes over the former Tom’s Tavern, plus a couple other neighboring spaces,

Nook Kitchen, a 6-year-old Arcadia restaurant that temporarily closed in September, has reopened in the former High Dive bar and restaurant space. Its journey was only a half-mile – from the southeast corner of 36th Street and Indian School to

Bibio Modern Korean Kitchen, a fast-casual Korean restaurant, has opened on southwest corner of Power and the Loop 202 in southeast Gilbert. It takes over the strip-mall space formerly home to Pita Pit. Bibio’s menu features build-your-own bowls in which

Sharetea, a Taiwan-based chain of black tea and pearl milk cafes, has opened in the Overstreet development on the southwest corner of Arizona and Chandler in downtown Chandler. The chain, which has nearly 500 stores in 18 countries, made its

Poppy, an upscale restaurant at the new Cambria Hotel, opens today in the Roosevelt Row Arts District in downtown Phoenix. The hotel is located on the northwest corner of Third Street and Portland. Executive chef Nate Cayer’s ‘‘globally inspired’’ menu

Canada-based OEB Breakfast Co. opens its first U.S. location today on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Chauncey Lane, just south of the Loop 101 (map). The breakfast concept, created by Italian-Canadian chef Mauro Martina, promises a ‘‘creative and upscale

Los Sombreros, a popular Mexican restaurant in Scottsdale for the past 25 years, opens a second location today at SunUp Brewing in Phoenix. The brewpub closed its kitchen in April to concentrate solely on brewing. Los Sombreros takes over the western-most of

Blast & Brew, a California-based fast-casual pizzeria and pub, opens its first Arizona location today on the southwest corner of Scottsdale Road and the Loop 101 in northeast Phoenix. Besides build-your-own pizzas, the menu offers appetizers, salads, and sandwiches. For

California-based Dog Haus will be giving away free gourmet hot dogs from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, to celebrate the  grand opening of its newest eatery at SanTan Village in Gilbert. Saturday’s guests are invited to enjoy a free

Cap’n Ron’s Fish & Chips, a family-run fast-casual restaurant, has opened on the northeast corner of Recker and Main in east Mesa. A combo meal with two pieces of fish, fries, and coleslaw is $6.95. One piece of fish with

El Taco Santo, a popular food truck that serves Sonoran-style grilled tacos and quesadillas, has opened a bricks-and-mortar restaurant on the southeast corner of 40th Street and Chandler in Ahwatukee. As first reported by MXSW in August, owners Cesar Martinez

Potato Corner, a Philippines-born concept that bills itself as the home of the ‘‘World’s Best Flavored French Fries,’’ has opened at Chandler Fashion Center. Potato Corner debuted in 1992 but didn’t reach the U.S. until 2010, when it arrived in

Scottsdale-based breakfast and lunch concept Over Easy has opened its sixth Valley location in the Overstreet development on the southwest corner of Arizona and Chandler in downtown Chandler. It joins East Valley locations in Gilbert and east Mesa. Popular menu

Toh Zan Nagasaki Grill, a family-run Japanese restaurant on the northwest corner of Dobson and Southern in west Mesa that closed in August after 36 years, has found a new home. Owners Yoshito and Yuko Eguchi had a soft reopening

PK Shabu & Grill, an all-you-can-eat hot pot restaurant, has opened in the strip mall in front of the AZ International Marketplace on the northeast corner of Dobson and Broadway in west Mesa. It’s the East Valley’s second shabu-shabu eatery

Whole Foods Market finally opens its much-anticipated 40,000-square-foot store on the northwest corner of Ash and University in downtown Tempe at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov 5. The celebration will include free refreshments, food bites, and music before the store opens.

The Giving Tree Cafe – a new organic and vegetarian concept from David Warr, the founder and former executive chef of acclaimed Sedona eatery ChocolaTree – has opened in Phoenix. The 3,200-square-foot restaurant is located on the west side of Seventh

The Drowning Taco, a Mesa-based Mexican food truck, has moved into a bricks-and-mortar space near the southeast corner of Arizona and Ray (map) in Chandler. It takes over a strip mall suite that once was home to Nana’s Mexican Cafe,

Master Taco, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant, has opened in the strip mall on the southeast corner of Broadway and 56th Street in west Tempe. It’s the concept’s second Valley location. The original opened in Surprise in March 2018. Master Taco’s

Ojos Locos Sports Cantina, aka ‘‘the Mexican Hooters,’’ makes its Arizona debut tonight in the former Old Chicago Pizza building on the southwest corner of Alma School and U.S. 60 (map) in southwest Mesa. Coincidentally, there’s an actual Hooters right

In what’s arguably the Valley’s most-anticipated restaurant opening of 2019, White Castle makes its Arizona debut at 8 a.m. Wednesday. The chain’s largest-ever restaurant is located near the northwest corner of Via De Ventura and the Loop 101, just north

Taco Culture, a Mexican fast-food restaurant and caterer, has opened on the southeast corner of 32nd Street and Chandler Boulevard in Ahwatukee. It takes over the strip-mall space that had been occupied by Francisco’s Mexican Food since 2017. Taco Culture’s

Toca Madera, a modern Mexican concept out of Los Angeles, makes its Arizona debut today on Goldwater Boulevard in the new luxury wing of Scottsdale Fashion Square. The 8,000-square-foot restaurant is located next to its sibling concept, Tocaya Organica, which

Sunbar – a nightclub, patio garden, and live-music venue – opened a few weeks ago for music shows in downtown Tempe. Now its organic kitchen is up and running. Sunbar took over the two-story building, on the north side of

From the Roots Up, a concept offering vegetarian soul food, has opened in the Bubble Noodle strip mall space on Alma School between Southern and U.S. 60 in west Mesa. In a somewhat confusing situation, Bubble Noodle debuted earlier this

Flint by Baltaire, a wood-fired contemporary American restaurant that’s a spinoff of the world-class Los Angeles steakhouse Baltaire, opens today at the Esplanade on the southeast corner of 24th Street and Camelback in Phoenix. Chef-partner Travis Strickland and executive chef

Mama Thai Kitchen, a restaurant offering more than 70 Thai dishes, has opened on the northeast corner of Alma School and Chandler Heights in south Chandler. It takes over the stand-alone building formerly occupied by Silk Thai, which closed in August.

The Screamery, a Tucson-based ice cream concept, has opened its first East Valley store at Overstreet on the southwest corner of Arizona Avenue and Chandler Boulevard in downtown Chandler. Arizona’s first ice cream pasteurizer makes its ice creams from scratch

Thai Mint Cafe, a family-run Gilbert mainstay for more than three decades, has been sold to new owners and renamed Café de Bangkok. The restaurant, located in an aging strip mall on the east side of Gilbert Road about halfway

Sizzle Mongolian Grill, a fast-casual restaurant where diners create their own dishes, has opened on the northwest corner of Alma School and Chandler Boulevard in Chandler. The strip-mall space formerly was home to Sweeties Candy, which moved two miles north

Two months ago, Chicago’s Chicken Shack opened in Tempe and introduced Valley diners to Chicago-style chicken (see MXSW story). Now, the Windy City’s most famous fried chicken restaurant – Harold’s Chicken Shack – has opened a location near the southeast

Sauce Pizza & Wine, a Valley-based fast-casual chain, opens its fourth East Valley location today near the northeast corner of Mill and University in downtown Tempe. Besides its signature 12-inch pizzas, Sauce’s menu offers pastas, paninis, and salads. Valley restaurateur

East Valley-based Thai Chili 2 Go, a fast-growing chain of quick-casual Thai eateries, opens its ninth location at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, in the Discovery Business Campus on the northwest corner of the 101 and Elliot in south Tempe.

Culture Clash, a family-run Greek yogurt shop and cafe, has opened on the southeast corner of Val Vista and Ray in Gilbert. It takes over a strip-mall space formerly occupied by Midday Gourmet catering, which closed in 2017. Culture Clash

Heaven on a Spoon, a family-owned gelato shop, has opened on the northwest corner of Gilbert and University in Mesa. The Lombardo family previously operated Lombardo’s Gelato stands at several Valley malls, including Fiesta Mall in Mesa and Arizona Mills