Author: Jess Harter

The Nook, a breakfast and lunch eatery, has debuted on the southeast corner of Higley and Queen Creek in south Gilbert. Since opening in 2013, the restaurant was The Egg & I, but the owners have decided to cut franchising

Four months ago, MXSW broke the news that Board & Brew, a California-based chain of surfboard- and skateboard-themed sandwich shops, was coming to the East Valley. Today, the concept makes its Arizona debut. Board & Brew opens at 10 a.m.

Jollibee, a fast-food chain known as ‘‘the McDonald’s of the Philippines,’’ will make its Arizona debut on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Germann in Chandler later this year. It’s moving into the former Slim Chickens building just west of

Clay Dawgs, an eatery specializing in mesquite-fired hot dogs, holds its grand opening at 11 a.m. today on Gilbert Road just north of downtown Gilbert. It takes over a stand-alone building on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Juniper that

Original ChopShop, a health-focused fast-casual concept, opens its eighth Valley location at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, on the northeast corner of I-10 and Warner in south Tempe. Ryan Jocque, Caitlin Jocque, Chad Landau, and Brooks Holcomb launched the original

Tacos N More, a local family-owned Tex-Mex grill and salsa bar, has opened its third Valley location on the southwest corner of Alma School and Queen Creek in south Chandler. It’s just one of many options on the restaurant-rich corner

Mr. Pancho Mexican Food, a new restaurant from the longtime head cook at Restaurant Mexico, has opened on the north side of Main Street, just west of Stapley, in Mesa. The standalone building has been home to a series of

Mezquite’s Cafe, a family owned and operated restaurant specializing in Southwestern sandwiches and salads, has opened on the north side of Chandler Boulevard just east of Arizona Avenue near downtown Chandler. The menu also offers popular Mexican street foods like:

AZ Wings, a fast-casual restaurant offering chicken wings in more than 20 flavors, has opened on the southeast corner of Arizona Avenue and the Santan Freeway in Chandler. It takes over a former Subway that closed last year in the

Prep & Pastry, a popular brunch spot in Tucson, opens its third location – and first in the Valley – today at the Scottsdale Waterfront. “After six years in Tucson, it just felt like the right time and the perfect

Ted’s Refreshments, the latest concept from Mill Avenue nightlife entrepreneur Julian Wright, opens at 11:06 a.m. today in downtown Tempe. The self-described Chicago-style dive bar takes over the former Blasted Barley Beer Company, which closed in February, at Hayden Square.

Yatai Ramen, which has operated as a food truck for the past five years, has opened a classic 20-seat Japanese ramen shop on the south side of University, between Beck and Hardy, in Tempe. Owner and chef Mark Kondo, who

Tikka Bistro, a new Indian restaurant from the owners of 2-year-old Curry & Scoop, opens today on the northwest corner of Dorsey and Apache in Tempe. It takes over former Middle Eastern restaurant and hookah bar Tasty Kabob, which closed

Back in June, MXSW broke the news that Mr Brews Taphouse, a Wisconsin-based chain of burger-and-beer eateries, would be making its Arizona debut on the southwest corner of Alma School and Germann in south Chandler. It officially opens today in

Poke Bar, an 18-month-old restaurant on the southeast corner of Price and Ray in Chandler, has been sold and renamed Gosan Poke & Roll. Gosan offers build-your-own poke bowls with your choice of two scoops ($8.95), three scoops ($10.95), or

Eat Smart, a cafe-like concept with a wide-ranging all-day menu, has opened on the southeast corner of Chandler Boulevard and Desert Foothills Parkway in Ahwatukee. It takes over a former Jack in the Box restaurant. The 75-item breakfast offerings range

Deez Buns, a restaurant offering Asian-inspired sandwiches in steamed buns, has opened on the northeast corner of Priest and Washington in north Tempe. The concept is a partnership between the owners of Korean restaurant Drunken Tiger in Mesa and Filipino

PHX Beer Co., which bought out and replaced Phoenix Ale Brewery this month, has opened a second location of its restaurant (formerly known as Central Kitchen) on the west side of Hayden, just north of Via de Ventura, in Scottsdale.

Arizona’a newest brewery, Front Pourch Brewing, opens at 3 p.m. today near 19th Avenue and Happy Valley Road – just north of the Deer Valley Airport – in north Phoenix. The owners are Randy and Diana Bolstrom, general contractors and

The East Valley’s newest gastropub, The Parlay Kitchen & Cocktails, opens at 11 a.m. today on Price Road, just south of the 202, in south Chandler. It takes over the building that formerly housed Meridiem Kitchen & Lounge, which closed

Peacock Wine Bar, Gilbert’s newest nightlife venue, opens at noon Saturday, Aug. 24, and – shocker! – it’s not downtown or at SanTan Village. Instead, Tracy Schoenley and fiancé Richard Wallace are making their first foray into the food and

While most Arizonans are familiar with Chicago-style deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs, few probably are aware of Chicago-style fried chicken. Chicago’s Chicken Shack is hoping to change that. The storefront eatery has opened in a well-worn strip mall on

George’s Wildberries, a breakfast and lunch cafe, has opened in the recently vacated Beaver Choice strip-mall space on the southeast corner of Extension and Baseline in south Mesa. Prior to Beaver Choice, Mesa residents may remember the space as the

Tempura Takeover, one of the East Valley’s more unusual restaurant concepts, has opened in a former Gilbert gas station on the southeast corner of Baseline and Burk, about a half-mile east of Gilbert Road. The menu features Japanese tempura –

Lomi Poki, a poke bowl restaurant that opened last year in south Scottsdale, has expanded by opening a second location on the northeast corner of McClintock and Warner in south Tempe. It takes over a space that formerly housed a

After seven months of delays and several days of soft openings, The Hidden House in downtown Chandler finally is open to the public. The 8,500-square-foot venue takes over a refurbished 1939 bungalow and its lot on Commonwealth, a block behind

The Valley’s newest Japanese noodle shop, Azusa Ramen, has opened in the Fry’s shopping center on the northwest corner of Mill and Southern in Tempe. It takes over the former Papa Murphy’s space next to DaYung’s Tea on the north

Maple & Ash, a high-end surf-and-turf restaurant out of Chicago, opens its second location at 5 p.m. today at the Scottsdale Waterfront on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Camelback. It takes over the former Wildfish Seafood Grille, which closed

California-based chicken concept The Buffalo Spot has opened its second East Valley restaurant on the southeast corner of Val Vista and Williams Field in Gilbert. It takes over the former Bush’s Chicken, which closed in July 2018. The building has

Khazana Indian Bistro, a family-run Indian buffet restaurant, has opened on the northwest corner of Hayden and Via de Ventura in north Scottsdale. It takes over the building that formerly was home to Tandoori Times Indian Bistro, which closed in

Meño’s Place, a family-owned restaurant serving Mexican street food, has opened on Southern just east of Dobson, across from Mesa Community College, in west Mesa. It takes over the former Uncle Monkey’s Bar & Grill, which closed last year. The

Mama Baer’s Scones, Jams & Treats, a 2-year-old small business specializing in jams and baked goods, has opened a bricks-and-mortar location on the northeast corner of Val Vista and Guadalupe in Gilbert. The small cafe and bakery takes over a

La Esquina Argentina, a restaurant featuring empanadas and other Argentinian favorites, has opened on Broadway, a half-mile east of Val Vista, in east Mesa. Beef, spicy beef, and corn empanadas ($3.25) are the signature menu items. Sandwiches include choripan (grilled

Tucked Away Craft Kitchen & Bar, a new concept from the owners Tipsy Cactus TapRoom, celebrates its grand opening today in the Safeway plaza on the northeast corner of Val Vista and Southern in east Mesa. Sean Hayes and Jo

LokoPuff Donut Holes & Coffee, a shop specializing in Turkish/Greek stuffed doughnut holes, has opened at Arizona Mills shopping center in Tempe. It takes over the former Sweet Daddy Cupcakes shop, which closed in late 2018. Customers can customize their

Fresh Alley, an Asian fusion eatery and boba tea shop, has opened on the northeast corner of Rural and Apache in Tempe. For small bites, there are crispy chicken wings ($6.50), popcorn chicken ($5.50), Cajun fries ($4), Alley fries with