Author: Jess Harter

🌮 Sazónova Taqueria has opened in the former Dos Victorias space on the southeast corner of Kyrene and Ray, bringing a cactus-flanked, street-food-meets-buena-vida vibe to the neighborhood. The menu runs deep: tacos and bowls in asada, chicken, pastor, and birria;

🍖 The former Dickey’s Barbecue Pit on the northwest corner of the Loop 101 and Raintree in north Scottsdale has gone independent as Copper State Barbecue Company. Now locally owned, the smokehouse is taking a community-first approach, slow-smoking small-batch meats

🦀 South Chandler seafood lovers, your Thursday just got a whole lot messier – in the best way possible. Angry Crab Shack officially opens its newest Arizona location at 3 p.m. today on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Queen

🍨 Brooker’s Founding Flavors – the Utah-born ice cream concept that blends a love of American history with super-premium scoops – opened Saturday in Chandler, making it the brand’s first Arizona location. The shop is tucked between Dave’s Hot Chicken

🥪 Florence called. Midtown Phoenix picked up. Paper Bag quietly opened its doors last Friday on the southeast corner of Missouri and 12th Street, and it’s exactly the kind of place that makes you feel guilty about your sad desk

🥩 A Texas institution just became an Arizona one. Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille officially opened Monday at Northside at SanTan Village, marking the brand’s first Arizona location after more than 40 years of feeding steak lovers across the country. The

🌎 As I previewed last week, Wayward opened its doors Friday in the former Liquor Pig space near the southeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Fourth Avenue in Old Town Scottsdale. The refocused food-forward concept from co-owner Christina Foster and

🍺 The West Valley has long been thirsty for craft beer options. Enter Head Right Brewing, a just-opened Surprise taproom founded by Tom BoBo, Rocky Arredondo, and former Four Peaks brewer Andy Harden. The lager-forward tap list includes the titular

🥗 The California-based sandwich and salad chain that made its long-awaited Arizona debut earlier this year has opened a second Valley outpost. Mendocino Farms, known for its fresh salads, sandwiches, and soups, first landed in the Valley at The Shops

🥩 STK Steakhouse, the “vibe dining” concept from The One Group, has opened its second Valley location on the southeast corner of Washington and Second Street in the heart of downtown Phoenix. The expansive venue seats up to 500 guests

🍽️ May delivered several notable new food and drink spots, including a French bakery built on a Gilbert native’s obsession, a century-old Buffalo legend nine years in the making, and Tokyo’s most viral noodle shop landing in Mesa: Sablé Boulangerie