Category: New Restaurant Alert

🌮🌯🥗 Pronto, the long-awaited fast-casual concept from Serrano’s Mexican Restaurants, has opened on the southwest corner of Rural and Guadalupe in south Tempe. The space: The former sit-down Serrano’s, one of five for the family-run East Valley chain, has been

Krispy Dogz, a Korean corn dog pop-up eatery that originated in a backyard in Santa Rosa, Calif., during the covid pandemic, has moved into a bricks-and-mortar space on the southeast corner of Chandler and 32nd Street in Ahwatukee. The food:

🌮 🌯 California-based Birrieria Xolos, a chain of self-described ‘‘authentic Tijuana-style birria restaurants,’’ has made its Arizona debut near the southwest corner of Stapley and Main just east of downtown Mesa. The food: Birria tacos, birria quesa tacos, birria burritos,

🍣 Poke Paradise, a new build-your-own poke bowl concept, has opened in the Fountain Square shopping center on the northwest corner of Bell and Seventh Street in north Phoenix. The food: The soft-opening menu features two- ($13.50), three- ($15.50), and

🌮 Canelas Placita, a small, family-owned Mexican restaurant, has opened next to PetSmart on the southwest corner of Peoria and 91st Avenue in Peoria. The food: Street-style tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, chilaquiles, and seven kinds of elote. Also: Menudo on

🦞 Angie’s Lobster, a drive-through-only concept offering $9.99 lobster meals, has opened its fifth Valley location on the southwest corner of Waddell and Litchfield in Surprise. The concept: Roushan and Tony Christofellis, founders of Salad and Go, sold the successful drive-through

🦀 The Kickin Crab, a chain of seafood boil restaurants that originated in Southern California in 2010, has made its Arizona debut at the east end of the 99 Ranch Market plaza on the northeast corner of Chandler and Dobson

Claypot Kitchen, a Hong Kong-style cafe, has opened next to H Mart (and across the street from Mekong Plaza) on the southeast corner of Dobson and First Avenue in west Mesa. The space: The 1,600-square-foot strip-mall space formerly was home

After three years in Peoria, Mexican restaurant Mochilero Kitchen has opened a second location in front of the Safeway shopping center on the southwest corner of Frank Lloyd Wright and Thompson Peak in north Scottsdale. The space: Next to Barro’s

🍕 Via 313 Pizza, a Texas-based chain offering Detroit-style pizzas, makes its Arizona debut today at Cornerstone on the northeast corner of Rural and University in Tempe. The space: The former Cafe Rio Mexican Grill, which closed last year, next

Kuko’s Nest, a fast-casual Greek grill and sandwich shop, has opened in the Planet Fitness center on the southeast corner of Mountain View and Via Linda in Scottsdale. The owners: The Tompras family also operates Old World steakhouse Feeney’s in

Valley-based brunch concept Over Easy will open its 11th Arizona location at 6:30 a.m. Saturday at the Shoppes at Casa Paloma on the southeast corner of I-10 and Ray in west Chandler. The concept: Launched in 2008 in Arcadia, Over Easy

Well, we almost went an entire week without a new hot chicken restaurant opening in the Valley … until Hot Chicken Alley debuted on the southwest corner of Tatum and Thunderbird in Paradise Valley. The space: The former home of

🔥🍨 Fabio On Fire Panini & Gelateria, a spinoff of  owner-chef Fabio Ceschetti’s popular Fabio on Fire, has opened on the southeast corner of Happy Valley and Lake Pleasant Parkway in Peoria. The space: The 1,500-square-foot space, formerly home to

The Hub Grill & Bar, a popular east Mesa sports bar whose original location has been closed since a fire on New Year’s Eve 2020, finally reopens at 11 a.m. Wednesday on the northeast corner of Sossaman and Baseline. The

🥞 Fluffy Cakes, a husband-and-wife-run eatery specializing in Japanese souffle pancakes, has opened at the food court at Chandler Fashion Center. The space: A stand-alone kiosk at the food court entrance near the Crayola Experience. The food: Unlike traditional pancakes, Japanese pancakes

Cooperhead Bistro, a neighborhood Italian restaurant and bar, has opened on the southwest corner of Tatum and Bell in Paradise Valley. The space: Formerly home to Pizza Lucci, which closed earlier this year, and, before that, Italian restaurant Luccicare. The

Prep & Pastry, one of Tucson’s most popular brunch destinations, continues to make inroads into the Valley with the opening of its fourth restaurant in downtown Gilbert. The space: The ground floor, formerly home to The Brass Tap, in the

🌯 Rito’s Mexican Food, a group of family-run restaurants known for its green chile burritos, has opened its fourth location in the former Matta’s space at Mesa Riverview on the southeast corner of the Loop 202 and Dobson in Mesa. The

🐓 Legendary Memphis-based chain Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken has opened its fourth Valley location in the former Keegan’s Grill space on the southwest corner of Ray and 48th Street in Ahwatukee. The food: Hot and spicy chicken sold in