August was a time of big changes for the Valley’s restaurant scene. At the beginning of the month, one of the biggest Arizona-born fast-food chains suddenly closed all of its stores. In happier news, toward the end of the month, nineteen Arizona spots were honored in the Southwest’s first-ever Michelin Guide. And in between it all, Valley restaurateurs found the time to open over two dozen new restaurants in metro Phoenix.
For the second month in a row, coffee shops dominated the list of new openings, with seven new cafes opening in August alone — a quarter of the total list of new restaurants. Among the new coffee shops were a movie-themed cafe and film club, a morning addition to a Tempe bar and the state’s first-ever dog cafe.
Some of the most anticipated new restaurant openings included an upscale Italian restaurant from a lauded restaurant group and chef collaboration, a three-story restaurant and lounge led by an active NFL player, a boozy downtown ice cream shop and the long-awaited return of one of Phoenix’s favorite bagel shops.
Here are 28 new restaurants, cafes and bars that are now open in metro Phoenix.
New restaurants in Phoenix
Ace of Wingz
Cult favorite Ace of Wingz has opened its fifth location in south Phoenix. They are well known for their unique sauce options such as strawberry hot and sour cream and onion.
Details: 825 W. Southern Ave., Phoenix. @aceofwingz_ on Instagram.
Bagelfelds
After closing due to a fire a few months ago, Bagelfeld’s Phoenix location has finally reopened. The shop opens at 6 a.m. every day and is open until sellout, so make sure to show up early if you have a specific bagel craving in mind.
Details: 2940 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix. bagelfeld.com.
Better Buzz Coffee Roasters
Better Buzz Coffee Roasters opened its latest location on Shea Boulevard in Phoenix. Their signature Best Drink Ever comprises an iced Americano with creamy vanilla. They also offer a handful of food options including pastries, egg bites, acai bowls, toasts and sandwiches.
Details: 4626 E. Shea Blvd., Phoenix. betterbuzzcoffee.com.
Eggbred
California-based breakfast sandwich hotspot Eggbred made its Arizona debut in central Phoenix. In addition to breakfast sandwiches, they also serve some lunch sandwiches, breakfast burritos, benedicts and potato dishes.
Details: 544 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix. 480-674-4781, eggbred.com.
Harry & Izzy’s
Harry & Izzy’s, an Indianapolis-based steak and seafood restaurant, made its Arizona debut at the reimagined PV mall site. Menu highlights include traditional escargot, crab cakes, lobster chopped salad, sliced prime rib sandwich and sweet tea fried chicken. The Paradise Valley location also includes a few Arizona-inspired lunch combos.
Details: 12770 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. 623-473-6834, harryandizzys.com.
Showtime Cafe
Showtime Cafe is a brand-new film-inspired coffee shop located inside There Space in Phoenix. Signature drinks named after famous movie directors include the S. Coppola strawberry matcha and the Del Toro cafe de olla. They also serve pastries by Fiore.
Details: 2431 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix. phxshowtime.com.
Stray Cafe
You’ve probably heard of cat cafes. Now, Arizona’s first-ever dog cafe is open in Phoenix. Guests can make a reservation to spend an hour hanging out with adoptable dogs from Rockstar Rescue while enjoying a coffee or tea.
Details: 710 E. Virginia Ave., Phoenix. straycafe.org.
Tipsy Scoop
New York-based Tipsy Scoop has made its Arizona debut in downtown Phoenix. The “barlour” serves alcohol-infused ice creams inspired by cocktails and spirits, with flavors like vanilla bean bourbon, strawberry white sangria sorbet and cake batter vodka martini.
Details: 355 N. Central Ave., Suite 102, Phoenix. 623-249-8266, tipsyscoop.com.
Transfer Station Food Stand
The Wandering Tortoise bar recently upgraded its Transfer Station food wagon to a brick-and-mortar food stand. The food stand is run by 2322 Phoenix, a private dining and catering company. The food stand and bar’s most popular offering is the Monday Happy Meal, including a burger, any side and either a pint of draft beer or glass of wine for $15.
Details: 2417 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. @thewanderingtortoise on Instagram.
New restaurants in Tempe
Culinary Gangster
Culinary Gangster opened its third location in downtown Tempe. Menu options include handcrafted burgers, breakfast burritos, wraps, bowls, sandwiches and salads.
Details: 501 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. 480-207-1978, culinarygangsterusa.com.
Daydreamer Coffee
Daydreamer Coffee opened its second Arizona location inside the Rambler Tempe apartment complex. They serve a straightforward menu of a few signature coffee and matcha lattes, plus coffee classics and pastries.
Details: 1020 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe. daydreamer.coffee.
French Toast Cafe
Mesa’s French Toast Cafe opened a second Valley location in south Tempe. The restaurant’s claim to fame is its French toast, with topping options such as Nutella, raspberry white chocolate, Biscoff and Dubai chocolate. Other menu items include pancakes, waffles, crepes, omelettes, burgers and wings.
Details: 1245 W. Elliot Road, Suite 101, Tempe. thefrenchtoastcafe.com.
Motherboard
Motherboard is a brand-new vegan deli inside Green New American in Tempe. They offer Italian-inspired hoagie sandwiches made with their own Motherboard brand of vegan “meats”.
Details: 2240 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 113, Tempe. 480-941-9003, motherboardvegan.com.
Roman God of Fire
Roman God of Fire is the latest restaurant from Pretty Decent Concepts and chef Scott Conant. The new restaurant’s basis is woodfired Italian cooking. Menu highlights include rigatoni alla carbonara, pizza bianca and 12-ounce New York strip steak.
Details: 52 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. 480-520-4242, romangodoffire.com.
Social Bean
Social Bean is a brand-new coffee shop inside Tempe’s Social Hall restaurant and event space. The cafe offers lattes, pastries and breakfast burritos.
Details: 715 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe. @socialbeantempe on Instagram.
Urban Hip-E
Urban Hip-E, a family-owned healthy eatery based in Colorado, made its Arizona debut near ASU. Menu highlights include a traditional lamb gyro, hot honey chicken bowl, brie and berry toast, urban veggie dumplings, chicken and bacon spinach artichoke flatbread and a steak and bleu salad.
Details: 950 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. 480-307-6989, urbanhipetempe.toast.site.
New restaurants in Scottsdale
Cafe Collibri
Cafe Collibri is a new woman-owned coffee shop in Scottsdale. They use beans from Sedona Red Rock Coffee. Specialty lattes include the namesake Collibri with vanilla and pistachio, or the creme brulee latte with caramel cold foam. Food offerings include a bagel with cream cheese, caprese sandwich and avocado toast.
Details: 3370 N. Hayden Road, Suite 116, Scottsdale. cafecolibriaz.com.
Hef’s Haus
Hef’s Haus coffee shop is now open in Scottsdale. House specialty lattes include birthday cake, brown sugar banana and strawberry. The food menu includes whipped ricotta toast, Boursin stuffed bagel, breakfast sliders and a French ham and cheddar sandwich.
Details: 14305 N. 79th St., Suite G, Scottsdale. @hefshaus on Instagram.
Problem Lounge
Problem Lounge, a three-story restaurant, hookah lounge and rooftop bar from NFL player Deebo Samuel and chef Cleaz Hill is now open in Old Town Scottsdale. Starters include lobster deviled eggs, surf and turf frites and grilled stuffed oysters. Main highlights include crab and shrimp pappardelle, blackened chicken penne, king crab-stuffed salmon, rack of lamb and the 48-ounce Titan cut signature tomahawk. For dessert, there’s peach cobbler, Basque cheesecake and butter cake.
Details: 7345 E. Sixth Ave., Scottsdale. 480-297-2525, problemlounge.com.
Smiling Moose Sandwich Grill
Smiling Moose Sandwich Grill recently made its Arizona debut in Scottsdale, thanks to backing from NBA star James Harden. Signature sandwiches include the Southwest Mo with chopped sirloin, melted American cheese, avocado mash, romaine, salsa fresca, jalapeños and chipotle aioli; and the Hiker’s Harvest sandwich with grilled chicken, dried cranberries, candied pecans, red onions, romaine and rosemary dressing.
Details: 2765 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 602-844-9996, smilingmoosedeli.com.
New restaurants in Avondale
Luna Grill
San Diego-based Luna Grill, a fast casual Mediterranean restaurant, opened its third Arizona location in Avondale. Menu highlights include a roasted garlic lemon chicken kabob plate, a chicken kabob and gyro meat plate, the “Medi macro” bowl and classic pita.
Details: 9750 W. Indian School Road, Suite B-100, Phoenix. 623-259-5867, lunagrill.com.
New restaurants in Chandler
Cien Agaves
Popular Old Town Scottsdale Mexican restaurant Cien Agaves opened its second Valley location in Chandler. Menu highlights include sea bass tacos, tinga taquitos, Sonoran burrito, mini chimis and the new Tampiqueña comprising grilled arrachera steak, poblano rajas, a cheese enchilada, guacamole, Mexican rice and refried beans.
Details: 900 N. 54th St., Suite 1, Chandler. 480-935-8100, cienagaves.com.
Lomos Cocina de Mexico
Lomos Cocina de Mexico is a trendy new Mexican restaurant with an unusual location: inside Padeland, a padel and pickleball club in downtown Chandler. Menu highlights include salmon al limon, chile relleno, pork belly guacamole, shrimp tostadas and ribeye steak tacos.
Details: 1 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. @lomascocinademexico on Instagram.
New restaurants in Gilbert
Fogo de Chao
Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chao has opened its second Arizona location in Gilbert. The Churrasco experience includes steak carved tableside with side options such as a butter-bathed lobster tail, jumbo lump crab cake, black truffle butter and roasted bone marrow.
Details: 2134 S. SanTan Village Parkway, Gilbert. 480-712-6400, fogodechao.com.
Matsu Sushi
Matsu has opened in the former Sakura Sushi space in Gilbert, offering a large menu of sushi rolls, nigiri, sashimi and hand rolls plus other Japanese dishes such as wok-fired udon, noodle soups, fried rice, teriyaki dishes and bento boxes.
Details: 825 S. Cooper Road, Suite B6, Gilbert. 480-214-5230, order.matsusushigilbert.com.
Rosewood
Rosewood is a new restaurant and bar in downtown Gilbert from the team behind Aftermath. Menu highlights include crudo carpaccio, lobster linguini, bison short rib, bone-in mole, radicchio salad and coconut cake for dessert.
Details: 366 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert. 602-908-9112, rosewoodaz.com.
New restaurants in Glendale
Paquimex
The Tortas Paquime team have opened Paquimex Street Eats & Drinks in Glendale. Menu options include torta sandwiches, street tacos, vampiros and slow-braised meats served on house-made breads and tortillas.
Details: 5149 W. Olive Ave., Glendale. @eatpaquimex on Instagram.
Yogurtland
Yogurtland is now open in Glendale. They offer over a dozen flavors of frozen yogurt that rotate daily, including some seasonal exclusives like pumpkin pie.
Details: 6952 N. 95th Ave., Suite 1020, Glendale. 623-552-7500, yogurtland.com.
Reporting by Eddie Fontanez, Arizona Republic
