Food

The fair is back on weekends through October, and the food game is exactly why I go. Some bites are pure chaos, but that’s the fun.

J. Alexander’s is set to open in Gilbert this November, giving the chain a second Arizona location.

Scott's Generations will close on Oct. 25 after 37 years in Phoenix, and owner Scott Snyder says the response has been overwhelming.

October in Scottsdale brings wine dinners, Oktoberfest energy and a few more reasons to plan a night out.

I’m calling this a smart move: La Hamburguesa’s food truck has finally landed a permanent Phoenix home, and the menu is set to grow.

I think the Arizona State Fair food is the part that actually earns the hype: it’s tradition, it’s novelty, and it gives people a reason to wander the midway hungry.

I like this one. A new all-you-can-eat spot taking over a familiar West Phoenix address feels like the kind of change that can actually work.

Stage 12 West has opened in downtown Mesa, pairing a restaurant menu with live entertainment and a Friday peek at Jolie’s Secret Speakeasy.

I’m into this one: Vivid “Gabby” Chu’s new Homme Thai Supper Club feels like a more personal next chapter for one of downtown Phoenix’s standout chefs.

Mill Avenue keeps changing, and nine more restaurants and bars are set to join the mix in downtown Tempe.

Porta Via will open its first Arizona restaurant at Scottsdale Fashion Square in early 2027.

I’m into this one: Salta feels like the kind of downtown Phoenix opening that actually adds heat, not just hype.

I’m into this trio: Southern smokehouse, rooftop Mexican, and Mediterranean by the pool all give Scottsdale a fresh reason to make a reservation.

I think this is exactly the kind of follow-up Phoenix should want: a chef with momentum, a new Thai concept, and a softer, more intimate vibe.

Christopher Collins’ new Cowboy Seafood brings slow-smoked meats, oysters and martinis to Park Central.

I think Rosso Italian is exactly the kind of downtown Phoenix opening that makes sense: polished, lively, and a little ambitious.

Maricopa County inspectors found a range of problems in Valley kitchens in June, including food stored in trash bags.

September brought another round of restaurant goodbyes around the Valley, including one longtime spot that had been around for 30 years.

Filthy Animal, the luxe jungle-themed Tempe spot on Mill Avenue, was named Yelp’s best new restaurant in the U.S.

Saint Urban is done as a public restaurant after nearly two years, and I’m reading that as a practical reset, not a dramatic flop.

I think this one hits hard: after 15 years near ASU, Tempe Tavern is gone, and the Valley just lost a familiar hangout.

Yelp putting Filthy Animal at No. 1 is a bold call, but Tempe’s open-fire newcomer has the kind of menu that makes noise.

Verrado Marketplace is rolling out more restaurants, shops and entertainment in Buckeye, with several big names on the way.

I’m calling it: this Phoenix sandwich love is deserved. Pane Bianco’s porchetta got a national shoutout, and that tracks.