🌮 Sibling fast-casual concepts Taqueria Factory and Frutilandiaopen their latest dual location today on the southeast corner of Country Club and University in Mesa. It’s the fourth Taqueria Factory in the Valley and the eighth Frutilandia.
What’s on the menu? Taqueria Factory serves quesabirrias, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, vampiros, mulitas, birria ramen, margaritas, and micheladas. Frutilandia specializes in fruit-based treats, including raspados, milkshakes, aguas frescas, and shaved ice.
Grand opening specials (in-store only):
Two free al pastor or chicken tacos and free 20-ounce aguas frescas from 5-8 p.m. today (while supplies last).
$5 margaritas and $1 off tacos today through Sunday.
20% off entire bill (up to $20) on Saturday and Sunday.
Receive a raffle ticket for a Louis Vuitton handbag for every $5 spent today and every $10 spent Saturday and Sunday.
Enter to win $100 gift card giveaways.
If you go
📌 Taqueria Factory & Frutilandia, 351 N. Country Club Drive, Mesa, 480-474-4772. Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday.
🍺 Pinnacle Brewing Company, a family-owned and -operated craft brewery, opens at noon today at the Corner Center Square near the northeast corner of Hayden and Raintree (just east of Scottsdale Airport) in north Scottsdale.
What’s on tap from brewmaster Wyatt Wilson (pictured):
Borealis (New England hazy IPA)
Cathedral (German Kolsch)
Camino (Mexican lager)
Coast Game (West Coast IPA)
Grodzuation Day (Groziskie Polish smoked lager)
Haydenweisse (German Hefeweizen)
Illumination (Munich Helles)
Rupert’s Tower (English ESB)
Valleybock (German Maibock)
The space: The 4,300-square-foot brewery and taproom features sight lines into the brewery, 10 televisions, and glass garage doors that open onto a covered patio. There is no kitchen, but food trucks will be scheduled.
Today’s grand-opening festivities: Free special-edition T-shirts for the first 200 customers, live music (noon-9 p.m.), a mobile pizza oven (6-9 p.m.), and a raffle for Arizona Diamondback tickets.
⚾️ DTC Sports Grille, the six-month-old sports bar in downtown Chandler, has launched a second location in the former Badlands Bar & Grill space in Tempe.
The glass-walled building is located on the north end of the Hilton Garden Inn on the west side of the Loop 101 between Guadalupe and Elliot.
What’s on the menu? Highlights include the Diablo Smash Burger (with signature Diablo hot sauce), Diablo Chicken Sandwich (ditto), Trifecta chicken wings (grilled and baked, then fried), and Funnel Cake Fries dessert.
Name check: The owners elected to use the same name for the new location although the ‘‘DTC’’ originally stood for ‘‘Downtown Chandler.’’
If you go
DTC Sports Grille, 7192 Price Road, Tempe, 602-900-1694. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Sunday.
☕️ Hidden Gem, a Japanese-influenced coffee shop with a small brunch menu, has opened at the Papago Motor Hotel (formerly known as Sonder at Mariposa) near the southwest corner of Scottsdale and McDowell in south Scottsdale.
What’s on the menu? Siggi’s yogurt with granola and fruit, Arai Bakery milk bread toast with house-made jam, cinnamon toast with honey miso butter and togarashi, avocado toast with ramen-style Jidori egg, and Kewpie egg salad sandwich.
Beverages include miso latte, black sesame latte, and yuzu lemonade and tea.
Family relations: Hidden Gem is a sister concept to Hai Noon, acclaimed chef Nobuo Fukuda’s recently opened eatery at the hotel, and Welcome Diner in Phoenix.
If you go
📌 Hidden Gem, 7017 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale, 480-947-7335. Open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Mondays.
🐓 Nashville Hot Chicken, a California-based chain with locations in six states, has made its Arizona debut in the Sprouts Farmers Market plaza on the northwest corner of McClintock and Southern in Tempe.
What’s on the menu? Nashville-style chicken tenders and sandwiches (seven heat levels and flavors), Nashville-style shrimp, fries, jalapeño poppers, and mac-and-cheese bites.
If you go
📌 Nashville Hot Chicken, 1628 E. Southern Ave., Tempe, 602-654-2138. Open 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday.
🍔 Angie’s Burger, the latest concept from the owners of Angie’s Lobster and Angie’s Prime Grill, debuts at 10:30 a.m. today in the Angie’s Prime Grill building near the southwest corner of Central and Thomas in central Phoenix.
What’s on the menu?
Classic Burger: 8-ounce USDA prime steakhouse burger with lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, and a house-made burger sauce ($7.99).
Cheeseburger: With sharp cheddar cheese. ($8.99).
Bacon Cheeseburger: With sharp cheddar and bacon ($9.99).
Burger with Egg: Topped with over-medium egg ($9.99).
Make it a meal: Add fries and a drink (soda, lemonade, or iced tea) for $2.
The space: This location has indoor seating but no drive-through.
Did you know? Owners Tony and Roushan Christofellis also founded the popular drive-through concept Salad and Go, which they sold in 2020.
If you go
📌 Angie’s Burgers, 53 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix. Open 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
☕️ Shaghf Cafe, a Dubai-based chain of Arabian coffee shops, has opened its first Arizona location (and just its third in the U.S.) in the former Pho Bamboo space on the northwest corner of Apache and Dorsey in Tempe.
What’s on the menu? Specialty coffees, hot and cold coffee drinks, frappucinos, carrot cake, banana cake, tiramisu tarts, brownies, and more.
If you go
📌 Shaghf Cafe, 1250 E. Apache Blvd. #116, Tempe, 480-590-4909. Open 8 a.m.-midnight Sunday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday.
🍺 Brews Burger Joint, which opened in 2019 as the Valley’s first location of Wisconsin-based Mr. Brews Taphouse before going independent, has opened a second location.
It recently purchased Hop Central on the southwest corner of Rural and Ray and has converted it into Chandler’s second Brews Burger Joint.
What’s on the menu? 14 specialty burgers and 24 beers on tap.
If you go
📌 Brews Burger Joint, 5055 W. Ray Road #2, Chandler, 480-284-6320. Open 11 a.m .-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
🐓🐖 Full Speed Chicken & Ribs, the new concept from Little Miss BBQ owners Scott and Bekke Holmes, has soft-opened in the former Trapp Haus BBQ space on the southeast corner of Roosevelt and Fifth Street in downtown Phoenix.
What’s on the menu? Fried chicken thighs and tenders (Southern, medium hot, or hottie hot hot), pork ribs, chicken and pork sandwiches, buttermilk biscuits, pimento cheese and crackers, and strawberry shortcake biscuits.
Wet your whistle: The house beer is Full Speed Red Chili, a slightly spicy collaboration with Wren House Brewing. Cocktails include the Don’t Be a Chicken made with pineapple jalapeño tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and simple syrup.
The space: The 1,700-square-foot building has a small indoor dining area, a back patio, and a walk-up window for to-go orders.
If you go
📌 Full Speed, 513 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, 602-237-5292. Soft opening hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Mondays.
