Openings
7 Garden Dumpling & Noodle House
Look for clay pot rice, congee, rice noodle rolls, soups, Hong Kong-style drinks and more at this new spot in the former Alfonso’s Tacos space.
1818 W. Baseline Rd., Mesa, 7gardenhouse.com
Arizona Distilling Co.
This local distillery, which has a location in Tempe, has opened a new production facility and tasting room in Mesa sans kitchen.
155 W. Main St., Mesa, azdistilling.com
Bang Bang
The former Gordon Biersch Brewery is now home to Bang Bang, an Asian fusion restaurant and techno club out of San Diego that features “sushi, sake, music.”
420 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, bangbang-tempe.com
Café 86
Filipino tea, coffee and desserts headline the menu of Café 86, a new-to-Arizona concept based in California.
1100 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler, cafe-86.com
Copper & Sage
The recently shuttered Los Sombreros building at Third Street and Camelback Road is now home to Copper & Sage, a restaurant and separate bar, Blue Stave, owned by Westside Concepts. The menu includes a variety of choices from mussels to pork osso buco to smash burgers.
322 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, copperandsageaz.com
The Global Ambassador
Local restaurateur Sam Fox’s highly-anticipated hotel, The Global Ambassador, has opened four restaurants: Le Âme, a Parisian steakhouse with traditional French fare and cocktails to match; Le Market, a Parisian patisserie replete with indulgent pastries and espresso drinks by day and cheese and wine in the evening; Lobby Bar, a comfortable spot to sip classic and craft cocktails with live music; and Pink Dolphin, a poolside indoor-outdoor bar and restaurant serving Mexican and Peruvian-inspired dishes and lush cocktails. A fifth restaurant, Thea, will open on the hotel’s rooftop in January.
4360 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, globalambassadorhotel.com
Gordo’s Tacos
Chef Albert Hernandez has opened a second location of Gordo’s Tacos in Ahwatukee serving up a full menu of tacos, bowls, burritos, birria ramen and nachos.
4332 E. Chandler Blvd., Phoenix, tacosgordos.com
Hooked Boil House
The Crawfish Café is now Hooked Boil House (same owners) and features seafood boils, Cajun classics, po’boys, wings and an ample selection of fried fish platters.
28 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa, hookedboilhouse.com
Huarachis
Bacanora chef and co-owner Rene Andrade has opened a taco joint in Downtown Phoenix that also serves cocktails, beer and wine.
814 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, huarachis.com
Kembara
Celebrated chef Angelo Sosa has opened a second signature restaurant at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa with restaurant developer Mark Stone, featuring food inspired by travels to Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Tokyo, Penang and beyond.
5350 E. Marriott Dr., Phoenix, kembaradesertridge.com
Maple House
Restaurateur Gavin Jacobs has opened a fourth restaurant in downtown Chandler (in a 1940s house), showcasing craft cocktails and beers, coffee and tea drinks and wines by the glass along with a small food menu.
198 W. Boston St., Chandler, maplehouseaz.com
Perch Brewing Co.
Perch Pub & Brewery, a popular Chandler spot for beer and pub grub, has opened a second location in Gilbert, taking over the Flying Bassett Brewing space.
720 W. Ray Rd., Gilbert, perchpubbrewery.com
The Rosticceria
The Maggiore Group’s newest concept features wood-fired meats with an Italian twist, Neapolitan fried pizza, calzones, paninis and a build-your-own gelato shake bar with more than 40 toppings.
12811 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, therosticceria.com
The Salted Knot
Pretzel makers Chad Day and Maria Vassett have opened a brick-and-mortar store in downtown Mesa. You can also find their pretzels at Uptown and Gilbert Farmers Markets.
23 W. Main St., Mesa, saltedknoataz.com
Skoden Coffee & Tea
Skoden Coffee & Tea, a shop from the Navajo Nation, serves coffee, tea, lemonade and some creative pastries, including blue corn croissants. In the former Kream Coffee space.
5102 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, @skodencoffee
Urban Cookies
An outpost of this popular cookie shop has made its way to Scottsdale, where the bakers also whip up luscious cupcakes, dessert bars and cakes.
8776 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, urbancookies.com
Closing
Aioli Burger on Seventh Street and Bell Road has closed, but the 32nd Street and Shea and the Litchfield Park locations are still open.
Vegan Mexican restaurant Dos Pink has closed after 10 months in downtown Phoenix due to the owner selling the restaurant.
Jeff and Amanda Ward’s Fuego Bistro at The Clarendon Hotel has closed after 18 years. In 2020, the Latin-inspired restaurant moved from its original Seventh Street location to Downtown Phoenix.
Kream Coffee inside For the People shop in Phoenix has closed, but Skoden Coffee & Tea has taken its place.
Gilbert’s Mug N Shot sports bar, part of HL Concepts — which includes Sizzle Korean BBQ, Shin Bay and Nori — called it quits after a short seven months.
Gio Osso’s Piccolo Virtu has closed after one year, but Virtu Honest Craft and Pizzeria Virtu, both in Old Town Scottsdale, remain open.
After more than nine years, Southern Rail, helmed by chef Justin Beckett, has been sold and closed on December 23. You can still enjoy his cooking at Beckett’s Table.
Teddy’s Preserve, a Teddy Roosevelt-inspired cocktail bar, has closed after less than a year in business. Watch for a new concept (under new ownership) to open in that space in 2024.
Glendale’s Then Burger, which opened in January 2023 and featured a $36 marrow and mushroom burger, shut its doors in December.
Parrish’s, a family-run, neighborhood restaurant and bar in Mesa, has shut its doors.
