MOUTH BY SOUTHWEST

Paquimex brings new chapter of Tortas Paquimé to Glendale

Jess Harter — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 12:40:52 +0000

🌮 TPQ Foods, the team behind the beloved Tortas Paquimé, is opening its newest concept, Paquimex, on Friday, Aug. 28, on the southwest corner of 51st Avenue and Olive in Glendale. Owner Omar Alvarez first brought the flavors of Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, to Phoenix in 2002 with Tortas Paquimé, growing it into a five-location favorite […]

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Maynard James Keenan’s empire adds Cottonwood sushi spot

Jess Harter — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 21:12:35 +0000

🍣 Old Town Cottonwood is getting another reason to linger past dinner. The team behind Queen B Vinyl Café and Merkin Vineyards – musician Maynard James Keenan (pictured) and his wife, Jennifer – is opening a sister restaurant called Queen B Sushi. A grand opening is set for Sept. 4. The new spot lands at […]

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Bourbon & Bones sibling Bistecca & Bones coming in 2027

Jess Harter — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 21:10:12 +0000

🥩 Barrett Rinzler isn’t slowing down. The Scottsdale restaurateur behind local staples like Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers, Bourbon & Bones Chophouse, and Nook Kitchen is breaking ground on two new locations of his latest concept: an Italian steakhouse called Bistecca & Bones. Think of it as the Italian cousin to Bourbon & Bones. The menu […]

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Phantom Fox, Goat & Ram set Oct. 8 grand opening in Tempe

Jess Harter — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 21:07:36 +0000

🍺 Downtown Tempe’s newest beer-and-pizza pairing finally has an opening date. Phantom Fox Beer Co. and its in-house pizzeria Goat & Ram will hold their grand opening on Oct. 8 in the former Illegal Pete’s space just south of Fifth Street, with a soft-opening week leading up to it. It’s the third act for owners […]

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Smiling Moose Sandwich Grill makes AZ debut in Scottsdale

Jess Harter — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:57:12 +0000

🫎 The Valley has a new sandwich spot to line up for. Smiling Moose Sandwich Grill opened its first Arizona location Monday on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Thomas roads in Scottsdale And the launch came with a hometown twist: the local ownership group includes former Arizona State University basketball standout and current NBA […]

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Lomas Cocina de México serves up retro cool in Downtown Chandler

Jess Harter — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:56:50 +0000

🌮 There’s a new reason to work up an appetite in Downtown Chandler, and it comes with a serve. Lomas Cocina de México has opened on the southwest corner of Arizona and Chandler Boulevard, tucked into Padeland, the padel and pickleball club that celebrated its grand opening last Thursday. You actually walk through Lomas to […]

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Restaurants & bars opening soon in Scottsdale & NE Valley

Jess Harter — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:44:58 +0000

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2 Valley spots land on NYT’s 41 best Mexican restaurants list

Jess Harter — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:14:20 +0000

🌮 The New York Times spent over a year crisscrossing the country in search of the best Mexican food America has to offer, and when the dust settled, the paper’s food team published ‘‘41 of the Greatest Mexican Restaurants Across the United States.’’ The Valley landed two spots on the list. One was completely predictable. […]

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Matsu brings all-you-can-eat sushi to former Sakura space in Gilbert

Jess Harter — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:14:02 +0000

🍣 Gilbert has a new all-you-can-eat sushi spot: Matsu has opened on the southeast corner of Cooper and Warner roads, taking over the space formerly occupied by Sakura Sushi. That location closed abruptly last December, along with two other Sakura Sushi locations, after the chainlet’s owner and two managers were arrested on federal charges alleging […]

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Restaurants & bars opening soon in East Valley

Jess Harter — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:46:46 +0000

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Restaurants & bars opening soon in West Valley

Jess Harter — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:46:00 +0000

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Restaurants & bars opening soon in Phoenix

Jess Harter — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:43:38 +0000

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Pizzicata in northeast Mesa has new name: Scarpetta on the Green

Jess Harter — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 18:14:50 +0000

🍕 Change is in the air at Painted Mountain Golf Resort in northeast Mesa. Pizzicata, near the northeast corner of McKelllips and Recker, has officially rebranded as Scarpetta on the Green, though it remains part of the Pizzicata family under the same ownership, David and Stefany Pope. The kitchen, the pastas, and the wood-fired pizzas […]

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In the works: Don José, Cava, Pier 88, Krazy Cajun, Spinato’s & more

Jess Harter — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 17:44:41 +0000

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Lovebite Dumplings moving to bigger space in downtown Phoenix

Jess Harter — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 18:13:17 +0000

🥟 Lovebite Dumplings – the acclaimed dumpling shop that opened in 2024 as Lovesack Dumpling before a lawsuit threat from furniture company Lovesac forced a name change – is moving to a bigger space. Owner Angel Gould is relocating from her original 400-square-foot storefront at 116 E. Roosevelt St. to the Ten-O-One building a couple […]

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MXSW guide to the top sushi spots in the Phoenix metro area

Jess Harter — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:23:43 +0000

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Angie’s announces 9 new Valley locations will open by end of year

Jess Harter — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:30:10 +0000

🥗 If you’ve been mourning the loss of your regular Salad and Go run, there’s finally some good news. Angie’s, the fast-food concept from the husband-and-wife team behind Salad and Go, just announced nine new locations. Angie’s dropped the news Wednesday with a social post that read like a direct answer to fans who’ve been […]

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Craft Kitchen Cafe closes after 6 months in north Scottsdale

Jess Harter — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:29:28 +0000

🚫 Craft Kitchen Cafe has closed its doors on the west side of the Hayden-Northsight roundabout in north Scottsdale, with last Friday marking its last day of service. The comfort-driven brunch spot was opened by John and Marilyn Utter just six months ago, in February, building its menu around scratch-cooked American classics like Nutella and […]

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Funky Frida’s closing after less than a year, will shift to events

Jess Harter — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 01:49:21 +0000

🚫 Funky Frida’s, the Frida Kahlo-inspired Mexican restaurant that opened next to OHSO Brewery on the northeast corner of Indian School and 49th Street in Arcadia last fall, is closing as a walk-in restaurant. The team announced regular restaurant service will run through Sunday, after which the space will transition into a private event venue […]

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Summertime blues: 4 more Valley restaurants call it quits

Jess Harter — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:39:01 +0000

🚫 August is shaping up to be the worst month for restaurant closures in Valley history, and it’s not particularly close. The big driver is Salad and Go, which filed for bankruptcy and has been shuttering roughly 70 locations across the Valley. Add in high-profile closures like Old Town Tortilla Factory and Sel Bistro in […]

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