Deep inthe sweaty depths of summer, I wasn't expectingto find more than two dozen new barsand restaurants across the Valley.But Arizona's bustling food and drink scene kept me busy this month.
While conducting my research, I dug intoWest African peanut soup in a shopping mall near downtown Phoenix. I readaboutthe health benefits of drinking sugarcane juice, and fawned over pictures of fantastical Alice and Wonderland co*cktails at The Rose Garden. I haven't been able to hit up all the spots on this list of new July openings, but I can tell you what I'm most excited about — a Blooming Onion.
Yeah, you heard that right. Thebulbous friedbehemoth we all tore into atOutback Steakhouse in the 1990sis back in a gourmet wayand I found a particularly interesting one on the menu of Doshi Chicken,a new Korean restaurant in southern Chandler. I also can't wait to get to Lola's Tacos for a chilaquile breakfast burrito. Maybe afterwards I'll hit up JT Prime Steakhouse for a $75 margarita.
Here's a giant list of every new bar, cafe, restaurant and food market that opened recently in metro Phoenix.
Beirut Market
This Middle Eastern grocery store carries an array of snacks and jarred sauces as well aspita andfresh cheeses and yogurts. In coastal Lebanese style, the market also has a stand that prepares desserts like baklava and fresh fruit co*cktails to order.
Details:21043 N. Cave Creek Road, SuiteA13, Phoenix.602-675-0647,facebook.com/beirutmarketphoenix.
Berdena's
This snazzy Scottsdale coffee shop is all about the matcha lattes and sweet almond croissants from local bakeryJL Patisserie. It justopened a long awaited second location inside The Frederick on Missouri, a redeveloped midcentury modern building with an array of fancy flower and clothing shops. The new cafewill serve natural wines in addition to coffee and a wide range of teas.
Details:Berdena’s at The Frederick,1215 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix.berdenas.com.
Read about Berdenas:The long awaited Phoenix coffee shop is finally opening
Bobazona
Boba culture tightens its sweet grip on the West Valley with the second location of thisboba shop, originally from Goodyear. Bobazona is big on the customizations. Guests can order any flavor as a boba drink, a slush, an energy drink, milk tea, cheese tea and more. They even have purple ube gelato. This format seems to be pretty popular as the storehas a third location plannedin Peoria across from the Harkins Theatre.
Details:20283 N. Lake Pleasant Road, Suite 109,Peoria.623-440-3767,bobazona.com.
Caffe Vita
This Seattle-based coffee shop is for serious coffee loversas it's been roasting its own beans since 1995 and has one of America's best baristasrunning its coffee program. It also has a sense of humor, as videos from the grand opening showpeople pouring fancy lattes directly into the palms of theirhands. The website advertises something called a cookie milk latte with mini pieces of chocolate chip cookies inside the drink. Nom nom nom.
Details:509 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix.caffevita.com.
Chick-A-Dee
Chick-A-Dee is the first Arizona restaurant to specialize in Thai chicken rice, but it was the Cluckets that keptme coming back.Piping hot and dusted with a lemon-grassy chile spice mix, the tom yum chicken nuggetsdon't even need dipping sauce.
Details:49 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix.623-440-4750,chickadeeaz.com.
More on Chick-A-Dee:You need these Thai chicken nuggets in your life.
Chula Seafood
Almost a year after the initial announcement, the third location of Chula Seafood is now open at the Hayden Peak Crossing shopping center in Scottsdale. This seafood centric restaurant and market is a favorite of Phoenix foodies and makes one of the best fish burritos in the state that evenmade the top five of my burrito bucket list.
Details:20581 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale.480-597-9125,chulaseafood.com/grayhawk.html.
More on Chula:It's opening a third location in north Scottsdale. Here's what we know
Cider Corps
For the second location of their craft ciderhouse, veteran ownersJosh and Jason Duren are partnering with a TV chef.Adam Allison won a 2018 episode of The Food Network's "Chopped," and now he's doubling down on a food truck called Brightside Burgers, which makes some serious behemoths of beef and cheese. The Gilbert location is located next to the cidery's new production facility on Gilbert and Warner roads.
Details:685 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert.cidercorpsaz.com.
More about Cider Corps:This TV chef is cooking at thenew Gilbert spot
Coco Shack
Popular in Southeast Asia, fresh sugarcane juice is considered a nutritious drink that's said to boost energy and the immune system. Coco Shack is bringing that tradition to the West Valley though its mobile delivery service. (You can also get fresh sugarcane juice atWinglee market by the HMartin Mesa.) Check Coco Shack's Instagram page for the latest flavors of coconut water and sugarcane juice, including mango, Thai tea and lychee kiwi mojito.
Details:623-250-2556,cocoshackaz.com.
Collins Bros. Chophouse
This Scottsdale steakhouse is the latest venture by chef Christopher Collins of Common Ground Culinary, who's also behind The Macintosh and Grassroots Kitchen and Tap. It's located in the former Twisted Groveat The Village at Hayden. A press release touts a "warm, dark and masculine vibe" that's “the most polished of all of the Common Ground concepts.” Also, they serve crispy Brussels sprouts in a jar, which I didn't know Ineeded, but am intrigued by nevertheless.
Details:8220 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale.480-699-0811,collinsbrosaz.com.
Dosa Biryani Chaat Cafe
This Chandler restaurant is the latest in a recent boom of South Indian biryani spots in North Phoenix and the East Valley. Dosa held its grand opening in May, serving a wide range of colorful chaat snacks as well as rare biryani dishes like mutton pulao, Amaravathi goat biryani and the dum pot biryani traditionally made by sealing the lid with dough.
Details: 955 W. Chandler Heights Road,Suite #1, Chandler.480-699-4455,dosabiryanichandler.com.
Doshi Chicken and Cupbop
Korean barbecue in a cup. That's the motto for this new Chandler restaurant, which also serves Korean fried chicken and several varieties of bap, which are rice dishes customized with clear glass japchae noodlesand various meats and green salads. And in what could be a harbinger of Phoenix food trends, the restaurant also serves a Blooming Onion, the '90s chain restaurant phenomenon that'sgetting a gourmet makeover in food cities across the country.
Details:4960 S. Alma School Road, B10, Chandler.480-687-4112,doshichickencupbop.com.
Eegee's
The iconic Tucson sandwich joint is bringing its ranch fries and cheeky slush drinks to Phoenix after opening astream of locations in the East Valley. Judging by the rapid fire of openings —this is the fourth Valley location in the past year —the concept seems to be working. But is it good? Even though I might be banned from Tucson for doing so,I gave it a "meh" ratinglast June, so read it and tryfor yourself.
Details:3510 W. Peoria Ave., Phoenix.602-960-0960,eegees.com/hey/phoenix.
Fly Bye
Originally a walkup window inside the Yard, this Fox Restaurants pizza joint just openeda brick and mortar location at the Desert Ridge Marketplace. (Another location is expected to open in Arcadia this fall.) Fly Bye serves hand-tossed Detroit style pizza,known for its rectangular shape and thick chewy crust. In addition to the pizzas, the restaurant is also doing hoagies, salads and fried chicken.
Details:21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Suite 74-1557, Phoenix.602-351-5150,flybyetogo.com/locations/scottsdale-az-desert-ridge.
More about Fly Bye:This popular Detroit-style pizzeria is coming to north Phoenix
Goji Berry Cafe
Cute vegan cafe alert! The owners of Earth Plant Based Cuisine on Grand Avenue just expanded to the space next door with this large and airy coffee shop. Judging from their Instagram, they're leaning into the oat milk and going hard oncolorful lattes and refreshers. They also serve acai bowls, salads, paninisand a shockingly legitvegan version of smoked lox on toast.
Details:1325 Grand Ave., suite 8, Phoenix. 480-876-0850,gojiberryphx.com.
JT Prime
The upscale steakhouse JT Prime started out as a popup inYuma and now chef Alex Trujillo brings his conceptto Old Town Scottsdale with a second location. The menu is lavish with ahi tuna served on sizzling hot rocks and a special reserve Australianwagyu filet. I don't know about you, but I'm going for the $75 margarita, or at the very least, the $45 Cxosmoco*cktail made with very fancy vodka, Grand Marnier and pomegranate juice.
Details:4216 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale.480-597-5864,jtprimekitchen.com.
Loco Style Grindz
Loco Style Grindz was a Hawaiian foodgem indowntown Phoenix. Now it's moved into a kiosk inside the AZ International Marketplace in Mesa. In addition to the hearty plate lunches, they're most well known for their towering shaved ice treats andHawaiian tacos.
Details:1920 W. Broadway Road, Mesa.instagram.com/locostylegrindz/?hl=en.
Lola's Tacos
This popular, woman-owned food truck just opened as abrick and mortar and has some interesting items on themenulike a torta and a breakfast burrito stuffed with chilaquiles. The tacos featured on their Instagram made me hungry, especially the one with anentire roasted jalapeño underneath a slab of carne asada, on what looks to be a homemade corn tortilla.
Details:880 E. Lone Cactus Drive, Phoenix.instagram.com/lolas_tacos/?hl=en.
Ni Hao Tea
This Tucson-based boba shop just opened its first Valley location in Chandler. Ni Hao Tea touts its use of ceremonial grade matcha from Japan in its tea drinks and lattes. This higher quality variety gives the matcha a brighter green hue as it's made from younger, fresher tea leaves. I also love me a cheese tea, and Ni Hao does them well.
Details:2080 N. Dobson Road, Suite 4, Chandler.480-597-7097,nihaoteausa.com.
Noodles & Company
Can't complain about a restaurant that serves more than two dozen types of noodles, from spaghetti and meatballs to pad Thai and even a plate of simple butter noodles with Italian seasonings and parmesan. This Colorado-based brand just opened another Arizonalocation in Goodyear. Watching your carbs? Try the Leanguini or a plate of zoodles.
Details:115290 W. McDowell Road, Goodyear,noodles.com.
Pokitrition
This local chain, started by graduates from Arizona State University, claims it's the first restaurant to serve a sushi burrito in Arizona. It just opened its first West Valley location at Westgate in Glendale. In addition to the customizable poke bowls, they also do Hawaiian barbecue lunch plates.
Details:9405 W. Glendale Ave., Suite 105, Glendale.623-688-3099,pokitrition.com.
The Rose Garden
From the creators of the experimental Phoenix co*cktail bar 36 Below, The Rose Garden is a whimsical, boozy Alice in Wonderland fantasyland. Drinks are brightly colored and studded with all manner of glass art garnishes, from edible flowers streaming down the glass in the bubblyFleur de Paradis to a co*cktail dusted with a purple powder the color of a peaco*ck. Just don't drink too many or you'll fall down the rabbit hole.
Details:101 N. FirstAve., Phoenix.therosegardenaz.com.
Rusty Taco
Originally from Dallas, this fast casual taco chain is popping up all over the Valley, with a third location now open near ASU in Tempe. According to the website,owner RustyFenton got the ideaduring a trip to Acapulco where he spotted twowomen selling "fish ceviche" tacos on the street. This is the first Rusty Taco to havea streetside window for easy taco pickup, according to a press release. And guess what, it's open daily until 2 a.m.
Details:707 S. Forest Ave., Suite 112, Tempe.480-955-2955,downtowntempe.com/go/rusty-taco.
Six Byrd
After five years, this artisanal hard cider company is opening its first taproomin Arcadia Lite’s Gaslight Square. The space will havea "Chipotle-style" ordering system where you can customize and blend your ciders together, they told the Arizona Republic. Six Byrd will also have cider-based co*cktails called Byrdtails anda menu developed by family member Christopher Constantino, who ownsConstantino’s Italian Kitchenfood truck.
Details:3619 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix.602-334-6740.instagram.com/sixbyrd_cider.
More about Six Byrd:Create your own ciderat thisnew taproom in Phoenix
Someburros
The local Sonoran burrito chain, owned by theVasquez family,just opened its first location in Goodyear. Get the Poncho Villa, a red chile beef burrito that's smothered in red enchilada sauce and melted cheese.
Details:50 N. Estrella Parkway, Goodyear.623-440-6882,someburros.com.
The Stone
This Korean restaurant specializes in a bubbling hot soft tofu soup called sundubu-jjigae and they actually make their own tofu for it, which results in a fresher, creamier taste. At therestaurant, located in the Superstition Springs area of Mesa, they willhaverobot servers.
Details:6910 E. Hampton Ave., Mesa.480-830-6705,thestonetofuaz.com.
What to order at The Stone:Skip theKBBQ and try this Mesa restaurant's tofu soup
Tiger Sugar
This Taiwanese boba chain has become a worldwide sensation due to its "unique tiger stripes"created by hand-poured syrups, according to Arizona Republic boba expert KiMi Robinson. In a separate guide to the Valley's best boba shops, she writes that Tiger Sugar is known for its caramelized brown sugar boba, which uses an eight-hour cooking method to producethesignature amber syrup and chewy boba.
Details:67 N. Dobson Road, Suite 110, Mesa. en.tigersugar.com.
Uncle Bear's Grill & Tap
Uncle Bear's, the craft brewery with a dog theme, has expanded rapidly in the past couple of months with a location in Paradise Valley and now a Scottsdale restaurant on Bell Road. Bear wasthe name of acherished black lab mix owned by foundersTodd and Liz Carey. The brewery has a full kitchen turning out burgers and Tex-Mex, so you'll have something to nibble on while you drink your Barkley's Peanut Butter Cup Porter.
Details:7077 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale.480-828-1800,unclebearsaz.com.
The Uncommon
The Uncommon is an '80s themed arcade bar in downtown Chandler that has ski ball, pinball machines and a host of other nostalgic games. There's also a food menu with dishes like the Inigo Montoya Burger with bacon and arugula on an English muffin.
Details:1 E. Boston St., Chandler.480-801-9901,uncommonchandler.com.
West Hut
At this lively West African restaurant near downtown Phoenix, you'll find"healthy, happy food" like goat pepper soup and groundnut delight. Make sure to order the meat pies with curried beef and theomo tuo, a silkenpeanut stew with bone-in chicken and a glutinous ball of white rice to soakit all up.
Details:3110 N. Central Ave., Suite D-183, Phoenix.602-595-4279,west-hut.com.
Reach reporter Andi Berlinatamberlin@azcentral.com. Follow her on Facebook @andiberlin,Instagram @andiberlin or Twitter @andiberlin.
