Category: New Restaurant Alert

Jinya Ramen Bar, a Los Angeles-based chain of contemporary Japanese restaurants that made its Arizona debut two years ago in downtown Chandler, has opened its second Valley location near the northwest corner of Central and Camelback in central Phoenix. The

California-based Nick the Greek, a chain of quick-service Mediterranean eateries, has made its Arizona debut at CityScape on the southwest corner of Central and Washington in downtown Phoenix. The space: Formerly was home to Pizza Studio, which closed in 2019.

🌮 Taqueria Factory, a family-run Mexican restaurant that debuted in Chandler last June, has opened a second location on the southwest corner of Alma School and Ocotillo in south Chandler. The space: Formerly the home of K-38 Beach Mex Cantina, which closed

Midwest Wings, an eatery specializing in chicken wings and tenders, has opened in the Kings Beer & Wine strip mall on the southeast corner of Thomas and Central in midtown Phoenix. The menu: Meaty wings are $9.49 for six, $17.49

🥧 Piefection, an independent pie shop with locations in northeast Mesa and central Scottsdale, celebrates the grand opening of its third location on the northwest corner of Chandler and Dobson in Chandler from 9 a.m.-1 p.m Saturday. The menu: More than 30 varieties

Los Angeles-based Spitz Mediterranean Street Food makes its Arizona debut at 11 a.m. today near the splash pad at Desert Ridge Marketplace on the northeast corner of Tatum and the Loop 101 in northeast Phoenix. The concept: Borrowing from street carts popular

Course, a modern American fine-dining restaurant offering prix fixe seasonal menus, opens at 5 p.m. today in the former Baked Bear space on the east side of the Harkins theaters on the northeast corner of Scottsdale and Shea in Scottsdale.

Brunch Problems, a breakfast and lunch eatery from Valley caterer and chef Jerome Greene, has opened in the former Switch space on the northeast corner of Central and Virginia in midtown Phoenix. The space: Switch occupied the space for more

K-Monster Chicken, a fast-casual Korean chicken concept, has opened inside the 99 Ranch Market on the northeast corner of Dobson and Chandler in Chandler. The menu: For the soft opening, $9.99 lunch boxes or $12.99 dinner boxes. You choose: The

Pocha 54, a Korean-style pub that offers soju and sake along with small plates of shareable food known as anju, has opened at High Street near the southwest corner of the Loop 101 and 56th Street in northeast Phoenix. The

Upscale neighborhood tavern The Vig launches its sixth Valley location today in Peoria’s Park West shopping center on the northwest corner of Northern and the Loop 101, about a mile-and-a-half north of the Arizona Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium. The food:

🌮 Urban Margarita, a Mexican restaurant on the southeast corner of Beardsley and 67th Avenue in Glendale, has been sold to Sky Restaurant Concepts, which has renamed it Urban Agave. Sky Restaurants also owns Squid Ink Sushi Bar and Highball Cocktail Bar.

Portillo’s, the Chicago-based fast-casual chain, has opened its fifth Valley location near the southeast corner of Williams Field and Santan Village Parkway in Gilbert. The grand opening officially is Friday, but the doors quietly opened Wednesday. The new 7,800-square-foot building

🥯 Bagel Daddies, an independent bagel shop that shares a storefront with Spce Coffee, has opened on the northwest corner of McDowell and 18th Street in Phoenix. Bagel Daddies has been a popular vendor at Valley farmers markets. Open 6 a.m.-noon

🥯 Panera Bread, the St. Louis-based chain of fast-casual bakery-cafes, has opened its 15th Valley location on the southeast corner of Power and the Loop 202 in southeast Mesa. It includes a drive-through lane – but only for orders placed through

🇯🇲 Island Grill AZ, a Caribbean restaurant and cocktail bar, has opened on the northwest corner of Indian School and Ninth Street in Phoenix. Entrees include Jamaica’s national dish, ackee and saltfish, as well as curry goat (pictured), brown stew chicken,

🥬 Lowdown Vegan, a late-night 100% vegan drive-through, has opened on the southwest corner of McDowell and 15th Street in Phoenix. The menu offers a half-dozen chicken sandwiches – pesto (pictured), Italian, buffalo, barbecue, Jamaican, and classic – made with Tindle

🍩 Mochidot, a locally owned shop specializing in mochi doughnuts made with Japanese rice flour, has opened on the northeast corner of Camelback and Ninth Street in Phoenix. The concept is not associated with similarly themed Mochinut, which has locations in

🥞 Brunch Kitchen & Cocktails has opened next to its sibling concept, Cowboy Pizza, in the former Binkley’s buildings on the northeast corner of Cave Creek and Vermeersch in Cave Creek. Menu highlights include bacon pancakes with maple bourbon ricotta, crab Benedict, pork

🍷 Sauvage, a natural wine shop that opened in a shipping container at The Churchill in 2018, has moved to the historic Helen Anderson House on the southeast corner of McDowell and Third Avenue in downtown Phoenix. A bar offers wines