June 2026 Restaurant Openings and Closings

June ushered in more than 20 new Valley restaurants – and bid adieu to some longtime favorites, including a Tempe institution that was in business for 47 years.

 

Bourbon Jim’s

Chandler’s newest neighborhood bar boasts 15 big screen TVs and sports bourbon and beer options aplenty, along with a small menu of burgers, sandwiches, bowls and fries. Live music on the weekends. 5945 W. Ray Rd., Chandler, bourbonjims.com

 

Brooker’s Founding Flavors

The Utah-based ice cream shop has opened a branch in Chandler, featuring a large selection of flavors named after America’s founding fathers, e.g. Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Cookie Dough and Patrick Henry’s Give Me Chocolate or Give Me Death. 2560 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, brookersicecream.com

 

Buc-ee’s

This Texas-based, 24-hour travel superstore has finally made landfall in Arizona. Besides gasoline and assorted fissile products, this one-stop shop features a beef jerky bar; Beaver Nuggets (caramel corn); hot brisket and pulled pork; house-made fudge and the “world’s cleanest restrooms.” 1001 N. Bullard Ave., Goodyear, buc-ees.com

 

Buffables Café

Brothers Craig and Grant Logan have opened a healthy café showcasing smoothies, bowls, breakfast burritos, waffles and other nutritious items alongside a large selection of coffee and matcha drinks. 1325 W. University Dr., Tempe, buffables.com

 

CAP Pizza & Wings

CAP stands for “cheap ass pizza,” and the skate-culture-inspired fast-casual also has bone-in and boneless wings. 1617 N. Granite Reef Rd., Scottsdale, 480-764-3646

 

Chula Seafood

Valley favorite Chula has opened a fourth location, this time in Downtown Phoenix at the newly renovated Arizona Center. 455 N. Third St., Phoenix, chulaseafood.com

 

Churrasco de Brasil

Choose your own adventure at this Brazilian steakhouse. The Full Experience ($58.95 per person) will give you unlimited access to the salad bar and hot sides, along with all the churrasco meats you can consume in one sitting. 2460 W. Happy Valley Rd., Phoenix, churrascodebrasil.com

 

Copper State Barbecue Co.

All the usual suspects are here, from ribs and brisket to pulled pork and chicken breast, and a nice array of sides, including mac and cheese and hand-cut fries. See our review in this month’s Four Corner at phoenixmag.com/category/food-drink. 14884 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale, copperstatebarbecue.com

 

DZO BBQ

A Vietnamese BBQ with tabletop grilling has opened in Mesa. 4503 S. Power Rd., Mesa, @dzobbq

 

Head Right Brewing Co.

Founded by a trio of lifelong friends with more than 70 years of combined brewing experience, including former Four Peaks brewer Andy Harden, this new taproom serves up a slew of beers and has a small food menu of appetizers, burgers, fries and salads. No food is available Mondays and Tuesdays during the summer. 14312 W. Waddell Rd., Surprise, headrightbrewing.com

 

Nadu

The Michelin-starred, Chicago-based restaurant from acclaimed chef Sujan Sarkar has opened an outpost at Desert Ridge Marketplace, serving regional Indian cuisine in a beautifully designed space. 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, naduphoenix.com

 

One Sixth

Chef Christopher Collins (Grassroots, The Neighborly) has opened One Sixth in the Bond office building, recently vacated by Mark Tarbell’s Cultivate. Designed to offer something for everybody, without the common-denominator dullness of a typical office-building eatery, the restaurant offers six distinct menus: Bobo Jefe’s Vecina Cocina; SBK Pizzeria; a Mod-Med concept called Perissa; sushi bar Saltwater Saint; barbecue and sandwich specialist Misfit Cowboy; and Sweet Provisions, which covers dessert. Set in the building pleasant, barside atrium, One Sixth is open Monday through Friday. 3200 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, onesixthaz.com

 

Paper Bag

Sandwich lovers will swoon over this new spot at Uptown culture hub The Frederick, where six different sandwiches on fresh, housemade schiacciata are on offer until the kitchen runs out. Roast beef with provolone and caramelized onions? Yes, please. 1215 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, paperbagsandwich.co

 

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

This Houston-based steakhouse, known for its 7-inch high porkchop, has staked out its first Arizona location, offering a large menu of beef (prime rib, tomahawk ribeye, etc.) and a decent selection of seafood. 1865 S. Santan Village Pkwy., Gilbert, perryssteakhouse.com

 

Pinky’s

The Angel’s Trumpet Ale House space is now an unpretentious pool bar with an all-day menu of American classics, cold drinks and “games for days.” Gotta love the 99 cent coffee and $5 waffles, too. 810 N. Second St., Phoenix, pinkysdowntown.com

 

Ponderosa House

The former Frank and Lupe’s space is now home to Ponderosa House, featuring scratch-made American and Mexican cuisine. Jacob Finley of Karsen’s Grill in Old Town Scottsdale is the owner. 4121 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, ponderosahouseaz.com

 

Sazónova Taqueria

Get tacos, ramen, quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas and more at this new spot in Chandler. 5865 W. Ray Rd., Chandler, @sazonovataqueria

 

Seattle Fish House

East Mesa now has a family-run seafood restaurant offering fish and chips with a choice of pollock, salmon or clam strips, fish tacos and seafood chowder. 4419 E. Main St., Mesa, seattlefishhouse.com

 

Someburros

Family-owned Someburros has been serving Arizona for 40 years with Sonoran-style Mexican food. It’s newest location is in north Peoria, offering beloved house specialties such as pollo fundido and borracho burritos. 25700 N. Lake Pleasant Pkwy., Peoria, someburros.com

 

STK

This buzzy, high-energy international steakhouse has opened a second Arizona location in Downtown Phoenix near the Stadium District, offering not only steaks but lively iterations of sea bass, rack of lamb, lobster linguine and more. 201 E. Washington St., Phoenix, stksteakhouse.com

 

Wayward

Following an ownership fallout, Old Town upstart Liquor Pig has officially rebranded as Wayward, with executive chef CJ Kahley at the helm. He’s launched a Western-inspired, global-fusion menu. Favorites include a bone-in short rib taco board and birria kushiyaki (beef skewer and flour tortilla). 7217 E. Fourth St., Scottsdale, waywardscottsdale.com

 

Closing

 

12 West Brewing in Mesa has closed for the summer and will reopen as a new concept, according to a social media post.

 

Grand Avenue coffee shop and art gallery Aftermarket has called it quits after an eight-year run.

 

Arizona Stronghold Vineyard has closed its Old Town Scottsdale tasting room after four years, but the Cottonwood tasting room remains open.

 

Family-owned Italian restaurant Bell’ Italia said goodbye to Ahwatukee after more than two decades.

 

Mark Tarbell’s Cultivate in the Bond office building at 32nd Street and Camelback Road has closed after less than a year.

 

Kobe Japanese Steakhouse has shuttered after 22 years in south Tempe.

 

Native Grill and Wings in Tempe has gone dark after 47 years, but the Mesa location is open.