Endia FontanezArizona Republic
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Metro Phoenix welcomed over 30 new restaurants in August, including a highly anticipated ice cream shop in Old Town Peoria, an East Valley location of a Hollywood-famous donut shop, a cookie shop started by two Grand Canyon University students and a beloved University of Arizona Wildcats hangout.
Nearly a third of August's new openings were Asian restaurants, from omakase sushi to Thai cuisine to Korean corn dogs and Americanized Chinese food. With such a variety of cultures and flavors, there really is something for everyone.
Here's a look at 33 new restaurants, bars, bakeries and cafes now open in metro Phoenix.
Achiote Latin Cuisine
Achiote Latin Cuisine is a new family-owned Latin restaurant in Chandler. They offer arepas, empanadas, classic and Don Achiote tacos, which are made with fried cheese on a corn tortilla.
Details: 1929 E. Ray Road, Suite 6, Chandler. @achioteaz on Instagram.
Arizona Rebel Republic
Arizona Rebel Republic is a new neighborhood sports bar and grill in Mesa. The menu includes wings, flatbreads and smash burgers. The drink list includes mules, margaritas, martinis, specialty co*cktails and draft beers.
Details: 4425 S. Mountain Road, Suite 111, Mesa. 480-590-7009, facebook.com/people/Arizona-Rebel-Republic-Mesa.
Cafe Zupas
One of the latest restaurants to open at Village at Prasada in Surprise is Cafe Zupas, a national fast-casual chain offering salads, soups and sandwiches.
Details: 13260 Prasada Pkwy., Surprise. 602-732-4057, cafezupas.com.
Cajun Breakfast Joint
Cajun Breakfast Joint is a new restaurant in Chandler offering exactly what the name suggests: Cajun-style breakfast and brunch items such as grit cakes, crawfish gravy, alligator and grits, po'boys and praline cornbread bananas foster.
Details: 3016 N. Dobson Road, Suite 9, Chandler. 480-209-8964, cajunbreakfastjoint.com.
Camelback Pho
Camelback Pho is a new Vietnamese restaurant in uptown Phoenix in the former PT Pho Express space. Menu highlights include pho, pork vermicelli, spring rolls, egg rolls, orange chicken and banh mi.
Details: 702 W. Camelback Road, Suite A1, Phoenix. 602-358-7037, @camelbackspho on Instagram.
Caramba
Caramba, a local family-owned chain of Mexican restaurants, opened its sixth Valley location at the Citadelle in Glendale. The restaurant is known for its margaritas, machaca and house made salsa.
Details: 19420 N. 59th Ave., Glendale. 623-878-4444, carambamex.com.
Chewk's Cookies
Chewk's Cookies, a popular Phoenix-based food trailer that got its start at GCU, opened as a brick-and-mortar at The Frederick in Phoenix. Chewk's is known for its chocolate chunk cookie, but other options include red velvet, snickerdoodle and a gluten-free chocolate chunk.
Details: 1215 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix. @chewkscookies on Instagram.
Curate Cafe
Curate Cafe is a new coffee shop and bakery from Curate Cuisine chef Joseph Lerner. The cafe serves fair-trade Mexican Chiapas coffee, sandwiches and bakery items.
Details: 20851 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 103, Scottsdale. 480-912-4023, curatecafe.co.
Dirtbag's
Dirtbag's, an iconic University of Arizona hangout in Tucson, opened its first Phoenix location in August. The menu offerings include salads, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas and burgers, including the Famous Dirtburger. Order beers on tap, by the bottle or can, by the pitcher or bucket.
Details:4801 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 480-546-8696,dirtbagsphx.com.
Dairy Queen Grill & Chill
Dairy Queen's latest Grill & Chill location is now open in Mesa. In addition to the iconic Blizzards that the ice cream shop is known for, the Grill & Chill also offers burgers, chicken strip baskets and hot sandwiches.
Details: 1320 E. McKellips Road, Mesa. 480-798-0450, dairyqueen.com.
Dragon Wok
Gilbert Chinese restaurant Dragon Wok — temporarily closed since May when a car drove through the restaurant — finally reopened in August after the community helped raise enough money for repairs. The restaurant offers Americanized Chinese dishes like lo mein, orange chicken, Mongolian beef and sweet and sour shrimp.
Details: 727 W. Ray Road, Suite B1, Gilbert. 480-782-6889, dragonwok.biz.
Eggstasy
Scottsdale-based brunch restaurant Eggstasy opened its latest location in uptown Phoenix. The restaurant offers a large selection of omelets, benedicts and other egg dishes, plus pancakes, waffles, burgers, and sandwiches.
Details: 5538 N. Seventh St., Suite 110, Phoenix. 480-597-4810, eggstasyaz.com.
First Watch
First Watch is now open at Village at Prasada in Surprise. Classic menu favorites include The Traditional with eggs, whole grain toast, house preserves, seasoned potatoes and a choice of meat; or The Tri-fecta with eggs, either a Belgian waffle or pancake and a choice of meat.
Details: 16430 W. Waddell Road, Suite 104, Surprise. 480-852-5557, firstwatch.com.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill opened its latest location at Gateway Town Center in Gilbert. The restaurant serves Mediterranean dishes such as souvlaki, gyros, falafel and hummus in a fast-casual setting.
Details: 4972 S. Power Road, Gilbert. 480-680-4578, thegreatgreekgrill.com.
LeDu Thai
LeDu Thai is now open on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix. Menu highlights include hat-yai fried chicken marinated in coconut milk and Southern-style curry paste, tom yum shrimp soup, pad Thai and gaeng crab meat turmeric Thai curry.
Details: 915 N. Fifth St., Phoenix. 480-590-4116, leduthai.com.
Mandarin Kitchen
Mandarin Kitchen is a new Chinese restaurant in Scottsdale, offering Americanized Chinese dishes such as kung pao chicken or beef, sweet and sour chicken, lo mein, fried rice and egg drop soup.
Details: 6941 N. Hayden Road, Suite B2, Scottsdale. 480-686-8298, mandarinkitchenscottsdale.com.
Nekter Juice Bar
Nekter Juice Bar opened its newest location in Phoenix in August, offering fresh juices, smoothies and acai bowls.
Details: 1515 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. 480-219-9217, nekterjuicebar.com.
Novel Ice Cream
Novel Ice Cream's highly anticipated Old Town Peoria location is finally open. The Phoenix-based ice cream shop is known for its Dough Melt, which comprises handcrafted artisan ice cream stuffed into a warm glazed donut.
Details: 8295 W. Jefferson St., Peoria. 623-419-3680, novelicecream.com.
OHSO Brewery
OHSO Brewery made its West Valley debut at Village at Prasada in Surprise. OHSO is known for its award-winning craft beer, but the brewery also offers a large food menu including burgers, taco boards, beer braised shortribs, brisket mac and steak and fries.
Details: 13434 N. Prasada Pkwy., Surprise. 623-307-7001, ohsobrewery.com.
Otra Pizzeria
Otra Pizzeria, a popular mobile pizza popup, has settled into a brick-and-mortar location shared with Spce Coffee in Phoenix. The pizzeria is open Thursdays through Sundays after 5 p.m., when the coffee shop is closed for the day. Menu offerings include pizzas with red and white sauce, such as margherita, carnivora and bianco.
Details: 1736 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix. 480-323-5306, otrapizzeriaphx.com.
Raising Cane's
Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers has opened its latest location on Power Road in Mesa.
Details: 2161 N. Power Road, Mesa. 480-933-9506, raisingcanes.com.
Randy's Donuts
Randy's Donuts, the iconic donut chain that made its Arizona debut earlier this year, has opened a second Arizona location at a Pilot Travel Center in Chandler.
Details: 17405 S. 40th St., Phoenix. 480-716-1999, randysdonuts.com.
Shawarmaati Mediterranean Grill
Shawarmaati Mediterranean Grill is a new Jordanian restaurant in Gilbert offering shawarma wraps, gyros, chicken and lamb kabobs, falafel and hummus.
Details: 5498 S. Power Road, Suite 102, Gilbert. 480-634-6335, shawarmaati.com.
Silo
Silo, a popup sushi restaurant and coffee shop, has put down roots at Hayden Ferry Lakeside in Tempe. They offer sushi rolls, hot and cold sandwiches and breakfast items. The drinks menu ranges from drip coffee and classic americanos to cinnamon toast crunch or cinnamon vanilla lattes.
Details: 74 E. Rio Salado Pkwy., Suite 100, Tempe. @silotempe on Instagram.
Simply Shroom Cafe
Simply Shroom Cafe is a new coffee shop in Scottsdale specializing in coffee and teas made with mushrooms. There are also food options such as a mushroom melt, a portobello sandwich and salads served in mason jars.
Details: 7077 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale. 480-275-8126, simplyshroom.com.
Sushiholic
Sushiholic, a popular Japanese restaurant in Arcadia, opened a second location in Scottsdale. The restaurant offers a large selection of nigiri, sashimi and sushi rolls. Other menu options include rock shrimp, squid leg and chicken curry katsu.
Details: 1455 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 115, Scottsdale. 480-809-6783, sushiholicscottsdale.com.
The Taco Spot
Fast-growing Mexican restaurant chain The Taco Spot opened its 11th location in Gilbert just a month after opening its 10th location in downtown Phoenix. The restaurant specializes in birria everything, from tacos and burritos to ramen and pizza.
Details: 835 S. Gilbert Road, Suite 104, Gilbert. tacospotaz.com.
Taiwan Mama
Tempe-based Taiwan Mama opened a second location in Phoenix. Menu highlights include braised pork belly and popcorn chicken bento, black pepper beef and stir-fried pork belly with dried tofu. To drink, there are milk and fruit teas with boba.
Details: 822 E. Union Hills Dr., Suite D16, Phoenix. 623-204-0919, ustaiwanmama.com.
Tradiciones Mexican Grill
Tradiciones Mexican Grill is now open in Tempe in the former Pronto space. The menu includes soft and hard shell tacos, burritos, tortas and quesadillas.
Details: 6440 S. Rural Road, Tempe. 480-265-9144, @tradicionesmexicangrill on Instagram.
Two Hands Corn Dogs
A new location of Two Hands Corn Dogs, a Korean corn dog restaurant, is now open in Phoenix. Corn dog varieties include spicy, potato, crispy rice, classic and injeolmi rice cake. Pair it with a side of elote or kimchi fries and boba tea to drink.
Details: 8115 N. 19th Ave., Suite A101, Phoenix. 602-216-1124, twohandsus.com.
Valle Luna Lunatics Mexican Cantina
Valle Luna Lunatics Mexican Cantina is a new, smaller concept from the owners of Valle Luna Mexican, offering tacos, burros, fundidos, quesadillas and Mexican pizza.
Details: 25155 N. 67th Ave., Phoenix. valleluna.com.
Yuzu Omakase
Yuzu Omakase is a new sibling concept to chef Yusuke Kuroda's Origami Ramen Bar in Phoenix. The omakase dinner is $85 and includes 13 pieces of premium sushi and temaki. Reservations should be booked in advance, and all dietary restrictions should be noted ahead of time. Or you can also choose to order specific items to-go from the large menu of sushi rolls.
Details: 4727 E. Bell Road, Suite 59, Phoenix. 602-291-5610, yuzu.toast.site.
5 R Cha Thai Bistro
5 R Cha Thai Bistro opened its second location in Chandler in the former Thai Basil space. Menu options include tom yum and glass noodle soups, noodle and rice wok dishes, curries, pho and other traditional Thai entrees.
Details: 4929 W. Chandler Blvd., Suite 8, Chandler. 480-705-9061, 5rchathaibistro.com.
The west side is known for chains. But this city might, well, surprise you
Reach the reporter atendia.fontanez@gannett.com. Follow@EndiaFontanezon Twitter.
