This is the summer of the shopping center taqueria. You know, that spot next to the Safeway with the little counter and the rotating spit of al pastor? Orthe one that makes bomb quesabirria tacos that you'vehit up once a week since you discovered them. These taquerias arethe Valley's specialty, and during the month of September we welcomed not one, but eight more casual Mexican spotsserving everything from chile relleno burritos to freshoctopus tostadas.
Besides the luxury foodmarket Gastromé, we haven't see manybig name openings in the last month, but that's okay, itmeansthe little guys have a chance to shine.
There's counter service Korean fried chicken, Cuban sandwiches at a gas stationand — perhaps the most intriguing — Turkish cuisinein the retirement community of Sun City.
Boba is also big this month with two trendy Taiwanese chains debuting inMesa. Stylish coffee shops are proliferating and things are heating up over at Epicenter in Gilbert.
Here's your guide to the new bars, restaurants and gourmet markets that opened recently in metro Phoenix.
Ay Chabela
The historic Garfield bungalow that most recently held the sleek wine bar Chez Gregory is now a Mexican mariscos spot. Chubasco Tacos owners Nick and Andrew Renteria serve seafood delights like tostadas de pulpo with sliced octopus tentacles as well as an array of aguachiles and swordfish tacos.
Details:719 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix.instagram.com/aychabelaphx/?hl=en.
Bamboo Asian Kitchen
This casual Chinese restaurant in the Target plaza at Christown Spectrum serves a big menu of classics like sweet and sour pork, beef with broccoli, chop suey andchow mein.
Details: 1818 W. Montebello Ave., Suites 106-108, Phoenix.602-242-2578,bambooasiankitchenaz.com.
Belly
From the founders of Welcome Diner — Belly is known for its playfulSoutheast Asian co*cktails and Vietnamese inspired fusion dishes. The team behind the trendyMelrose restaurantopeneda long-awaited second location at Epicenter in Gilbert.
Details: 3150 E. Ray Road, Suite 180, Gilbert.480-500-6464,bellyphx.com.
More on Belly:Owners of thePhoenix restaurant announce plans for 3 new concepts
Birrieria Don Jose
Quesabirria tacos are the name of the game at this casual Mexican spot in the former home of Los Portales near downtown Chandler. The menu also has a decent selection ofMexican baked potatoes called papas locasstuffed with melted cheese andmeats like barbacoa and carne asada.
Details:691 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler.480-912-1879,facebook.com/birrieriadonjose.
By the Bucket
Thisrapidly expanding businessserves popcorn buckets filled withspaghetti and meatballs that you take home and eat family style. The Payson-based mini chain now has close to a dozen locations across the Valley. This is its first in Glendale.
Details:5930 W. Greenway Road, Suite 19, Glendale.602-237-5825,bythebucket.com/location/by-the-bucket-glendale.
More about By the Bucket:You can get literal buckets of spaghetti and meatballs here
Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers
ThisScottsdale-based sport bar is taking over theFriday's Front Row space at Chase Field. Guests can watch the baseball game as they chow down on Buffalo wings, sliders and Hell Fire chips with blue cheese.
Details:401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix.602-354-8607,coldbeers.com/cheeseburgers/ballpark-downtown-phoenix/game-day-menu.
More on Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers:It's opening soon at Chase Field
Cubanitas
From the looks of their Instagram page, Cubanitas makes one heck of a Cuban sandwich. The West Valley food truck now has a permanent spot inside a 76 gas station next to Sky Harbor airport. Theirpage also advertises Cuban tacos and Cuban pizza, which is most definitely a thing.
Details:3001 E.Washington St., Phoenix.480-925-5840,cubanitaskitchen.com.
More about Cuban pizza:Find it and other nostalgic snacks at this West Valley bakery
Culinary Gangster
Not to be confused with Culinary Dropout, this Scottsdale restaurant does breakfast as well as a healthful menu of salads, sandwiches, quinoa bowls and a large list of burgers. The Chi Town burger with white American cheese and secret sauce is inspired by the owners' time in Chicago where they operated a food truck.
Details:14891 N.Northsight Boulevard, Scottsdale. 480-572-1857,culinarygangsteraz.com.
Gastromé Market
Modeled after high-end food markets like Eataly, this Scottsdale superstore has what looks to be the best cheese counter in the state of Arizona. It's also got a specialty wine section, a big selection of luxury pantry items and will soon have afull restaurant serving fresh pasta dishes.
Details:7704 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Suites 140 and145, Scottsdale.602-909-3445,gastromemarket.com.
More on Gastromé:What to expect at this new luxury grocery store in Scottsdale
Gogi
This tasty Korean fried chicken spot inChandler just opened another location near the I-10 freeway inAhwatukee. In addition to the K.F.C. theydoa large menu of bibimbaps, soft tofu soups and Korean barbecue dishes like bulgogi.
Details:4905 E. Ray Road, Suite 2, Phoenix.gogichandler.com.
Gordo's Tacos
This Mexican counter spot goes the extra mile with beautifully presented soups, aguas frescas and what look to be housemade corn tortillas. They also serve a Nashville crispy chicken taco,the holy grail of Instagram hybrid cooking.
Details:9015 E. Via Linda,Suite 105, Scottsdale.480-398-8132,tacosgordos.com.
Hidden Track Bottle Shop
This adorable downtown Phoenix wine shop opened a full wine barearlier this summer, where theyserve Alsace-style flammekueche flatbreads along with a curated selection of natural wines.
Details: 4700 N. 12thSt.,#118, Phoenix.602-314-6476,hiddentrackbottleshop.com.
Houston's Hot Chicken
Houston, we have a problem. That's the name of the spiciest heat level at this hot chicken franchise in Tempe. Their hottest sandwichgoes up to two million Scoville units and requires a waver to eat it. The restaurant also serves an array of hot chicken sandwiches and more tolerable levels of spice, tenders, loaded fries anda waffle milkshake.
Details:927 E. University Drive, Tempe.480-745-2286,houstonshotchicken.com.
Ike's Love and Sandwiches
Let them eat Ike's. This San Francisco-based sandwich shop has locations across the Valley, with the latest opening on Camelback Road and the 51 freeway.Choose between sammies named after Pee-wee Herman, Maya Angelou and Adam Richman, the longtime host of"Man v. Food."
Details:1743 E. Camelback Road, suite A-2, Phoenix.480-500-8008,ikessandwich.com.
Joy Lush Club
This new beer bar and bottle shopfrom owners Kate and MichaelFasel has 16 beers on tap as well as wine and activities like shuffleboard. With the cheeky (some maysay problematic) nameyou might assume an Asian theme, but the vibegoes in a different direction with a Dia de Muertoscowgirl mural from Tucson artist Danny Martin.
Details:24 W. Camelback Road, suite D & E, Phoenix.602-314-5989,thejoylushclub.com.
KP Cuisine
Turkish food in Sun City? Sign me up. KP Cuisine sports an interesting menu of regional specialties like jajeek yogurt salad and tashreb, which is lamb shank with bread and red okra soup. I'm most intrigued by the beyti kebabs, which are ground beef skewers that are wrapped in flatbread before being sliced and served with chile pepper.
Details:10050 W. Bell Road, Suite 8, Sun City.602-740-9959,kpcuisine.com.
Little Anita's
Little Anita's specializes in the fiery cuisine of New Mexico, with green chile cheeseburgers, saucy enchiladas and savorysopaipilla dough pockets. The chain hails fromAlbuquerque and opened its first Arizona location in Chandler.
Details:2510 W. Chandler Blvd., Suite 1, Chandler.480-866-8226,littleanitasrestaurants.com.
Little Jupiter Cafe
This cafe brings some high styleto a Gilbert shopping center with its ceremonial grade matcha lattes and sleek minimalist space punctuated by a colorful Keith Haring rug.
Details:876 N. McQueen Road, Suite 102, Gilbert.602-717-6028,littlejupitercafe.com.
Matty G’s Steakburgers & Lobsta’ Rolls
New to downtown Chandler: This spinoff of the popular Matty G'schain offers several varieties of lobster rollwith extras like blue crab and shrimp. The steakburger portion of the menu is huge with almost 30 different options.
Details:55 W. Chicago St., Chandler.480-699-9104,matty-gs.com.
Paco's Tacos N' Sip
The owners ofThe Bread and Honey Househave converted their Van Buren location into a taqueria that serves quesabirria tacos, carne asada and some delicious looking burritos with epic smears of glistening guacamole.
Details:4700 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix.602-275-6996,instagram.com/pacostacosnsip/?hl=en.
Peixoto
My favorite coffee shop in the whole dang state, Peixoto is a stylish retreat in downtown Chandler. The family behind it justopened their second location at Epicenter in Gilbert where theyservethe same quality beanssourced from their own family farm inMinas Gerais, Brazil.
Details:3150 E. Ray Road, Suite 100, Gilbert.480-597-7584.peixotocoffee.com.
Provision
More on the stylish coffee shop front: Phoenix roaster Provision's towering second location is even sleeker than its Arcadia flagship, with three floors of industrial space lightened up with bird murals and a plant wall. In addition to coffee, they alsooffer co*cktails, brunch, sandwiches and pizza.
Details:711 E. Missouri Ave., Suite 115, Phoenix.602-704-7211,instagram.com/provisioncoffee.
Que Suave Tacos
This South Phoenix taqueria sportsa dope looking mural featuring lowriders and the Virgen de Guadalupe. Judging from their Instagram, the thing to tryis theIngasu burger with ham, bacon and a layer of crispy cheese.
Details:1855 W. Corona Ave., Suite #2, Phoenix.instagram.com/quesuavetacos/?hl=en.
Rosie's Taco Shop
Rosie's is a West Valley-based chain that justexpanded into Gilbert and has a Scottsdale location in the works. The menu sports two types of crispy tacoas well as a healthy selection of burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas and nachos.
Details:753 N. McQueen Road, Gilbert.480-256-1423,rosiestacoshop.com.
Scottsdale Meat Market
This north Scottsdale butcher shoprelocated to a larger location where you'll still find globally sourced seafood as well as a premium selection of Kobe and Wagyu beef aged for 30 days.
Details:14987 N. Northsight Blvd., Suite 110, Scottsdale.480-797-5576,scottsdalemeats.com.
Six40ty
The latest in Mill Avenue news:Anoche Cantina openedfirst and now Six40ty has opened next door. There's a10,000-square-foot patio whereguests can "enjoy their favorite sports while playing classic lawn games" and at night, the restaurant turns into a club withDJs and bottle service.
Details:640 S. Mill Ave., Tempe.480-500-5101,six40rty.com.
More about Six40ty:Tempe's Mill Avenue welcomes swanky new nightlife spots
St. Urban
St. Urban is the latest from the team behind Neighborly, The Macintosh and Collins Bros. Chophouse. The theme is French bistro with small plates like cold smoked salmon tartare and chicken liver pate with spicy tomato jam. They've also got flatbreads, salads and casual entrees for $20 and under.
Details:5538 N. Seventh St., Phoenix.682-675-1885,sturbanaz.com.
Tacos Chisco
The carne asadaat thisGlendale taqueria looks juicy as heck, but the cheesy elote cobs are even more eye-catching.On the sweet side, Tacos Chisco also serves an array of frozen paletas like chocolate, cotton candy, mamay fruit and arroz con leche.
Details:18425 N. 51st Ave., Suite G, Glendale.602-775-9688,tacoschisco.com.
The Taco Spot
The Taco Spot is an East Valley chain that opened its third location in Mesa this month. Tortas, burritos and bowls, nachos, vampiros, loaded fries and several varieties of keto tacos with a crispy cheese shell are on the menu.
Details:542 W. Baseline Road, Suite #B105, Mesa.480-687-9392,tacospotaz.com.
Tiger Sugar
The popular Taiwanesechainfinally pounced on Mesawith its unique line ofblack sugar boba. In her guide to what to order, our boba expertKiMi Robinson recommends "shaking a boba drink 15 times before sticking your straw in to get the most of the black sugar-infused pearls."
Details:67 N. Dobson Road, Suite 110, Mesa.tigersugarec.com.
More on Tiger Sugar:Milk tea, boba are just the start. How to order like a pro
Xing Fu Tang
This Taiwanesechain is known for its brown sugar-based drinks that are topped with gold foil, KiMi Robinson says in her guide to all the new boba spots hitting the Valley. The chain makes their boba pearls in front of you in big syrupy vats that are on display.
Details: 805 N. Dobson Road, Suite #116, Mesa.xingfutang.com.
All the new boba spots:Thesetea shops are now open in metro Phoenix
Yama Sushi House
Now with four locations, this Phoenix sushi chain is expanding into the West Valley. They've got a larger-than-average selection of rolls including abaked lobster roll, a Scorpion King roll and a Shaggy Dog roll with salmon, cream cheese and honey topped with a crab stick.
Details:9788 W. Northern Ave., Suite 1450, Peoria.yamasushihouse.com.
Zazu Kitchen Bakery
This order-at-the-counter gyro spot serves wraps, shawarma plates and salads.It also has a full bakery that puts out elaborate cakes and cupcakes with fillings like roasted pistachios and espresso pecan.
Details:18409 N. Cave Creek Road, Suite 3, Phoenix.480-527-5455,zazukitchenbakery.com.
Reach reporter Andi Berlinatamberlin@azcentral.com. Follow her on Facebook @andiberlin, Instagram @andiberlin or Twitter @andiberlin.
