Over 30 new restaurants and bars opened recently in metro Phoenix: Tacos to mac and cheese

Some of Phoenix's dining scene's most notable names opened new concepts in December, like Chris Bianco's second location of Bar Bianco, the long-awaited Rosticceria from chef Joey Maggiore and Sam Fox's new food-first hotel The Global Ambassador, including four brand new restaurants and a fifth opening soon.

The West Valley welcomed a number of new restaurants like Angie's Prime Grill and The Beestro in Glendale and Barrio Queen and Firebirds in Surprise. In the East Valley, new restaurants include Viet Fusion in Chandler, Perch Brewing in Gilbert and The Salted Knot in Mesa.

Here are 31 new restaurants to try in metro Phoenix.

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Angie's Prime Grill

Angie's Prime Grill, a new chain serving steak and lobster meals at fast-food prices, opened its second location at 43rd Avenue and Thunderbird Road. The space was previously an Angie's Lobster. It is the first drive-thru location for Angie's Prime Grill.

Details: 4326 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale. angiesprimegrill.com.

Arizona Distilling Co.

Arizona Distilling Co. soft-opened a second production facility and tasting room in December in downtown Mesa. There is no kitchen. Soft opening hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Details: 155 W. Main St., Mesa. azdistilling.com.

Avec Amoore

A new gluten-free and dairy-free bakery is now open in Gilbert. Avec Amoore offers cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies and pies in a variety of flavors. Walk in and pick up a treat, or preorder a custom cake for a special event.

Details: 2556 S. Val Vista Dr., Suite 101, Gilbert. 480-937-8280, avecamoore.com.

Bang Bang

Bang Bang, a San Diego-based Asian fusion restaurant and nightclub, is now open on Mill Avenue in Tempe. The restaurant offers sushi, warm dishes like bao buns and chicken katsu, along with sake and cocktails.

Details: 420 S. Mill Ave., Suite 201, Tempe. 480-500-5562, bangbang-tempe.com.

Bar Bianco

Bar Bianco is now open adjacent to Pizzeria Bianco's Town & Country location. The concept is meant to serve not just as a place to wait for a table at the pizzeria, but as an extension of the restaurant with seasonal cocktails, wines, craft beers, artisanal spirits and a selection of bar snacks.

Details: 4743 N. 20th St., Phoenix. 602-368-3273, pizzeriabianco.com/bar-bianco.

Barrio Queen

Barrio Queen, a Phoenix-based Mexican restaurant chain, opened a new West Valley location in December at Village at Prasada in Surprise. It is the restaurant's eighth location in metro Phoenix.

Details: 13434 N. Prasada Parkway, Surprise. 623-352-2481, barrioqueen.com.

The Beestro

The Beestro is a new concept from Bagel Daddies and Twisted Bee Farms. The cafe menu includes bagel sandwiches such as the Notorious BEC with bacon, egg, cheddar cheese, greens and chipotle aioli and The Birdman made with turkey, tomatoes, cucumber, cheese and your choice of schmear flavor. They also sell jars of honey and other packaged goods.

Details: 14021 N. 51st Ave., Suite 106, Glendale. @thebeestroaz on Instagram.

Biscuits Cafe

Biscuits Cafe opened its seventh Valley location at Westgate Entertainment District in Glendale. The breakfast and lunch restaurant serves pancakes, waffles, scrambles, omelets and breakfast tacos and burritos. For lunch, the restaurant serves burgers, sandwiches and salads.

Details: 9220 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale. 623-328-9388, biscuitscafe.com.

Cafe 86

California-based chain Cafe 86 made its Arizona debut in Chandler in December. The cafe specializes in drinks and desserts made with ube, like milkshakes, teas and churrochi — a grilled mochi dough coated with cinnamon, sugar and caramel. Cafe 86 also offers a large selection of coffee, teas and sandwiches.

Details: 1100 N. Alma School Road, Suite 14, Chandler. 480-935-0242, cafe-86.com.

Copper & Sage

Copper & Sage is the newest restaurant from Westside Concepts and chef Evan Profitt. Menu highlights include cast iron duck, house-made tagliatelle and pork belly tacos with kimchi, Fresno chiles and sriracha aioli. The connected speakeasy Blue Stave offers artisan cocktails.

Details: 322 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-566-8129, copperandsageaz.com.

Fazoli's

Drive-thru Italian chain Fazoli's is now open in Mesa. It is the chain's first Arizona location outside the airport after all previous stores in the state closed in 2008.

Details: 953 N. Dobson Road, Mesa. 480-906-2001, fazolis.com.

Firebirds

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is the newest restaurant to open at Village at Prasada in Surprise. Firebirds offers steaks, seafood and chicken dishes, half-pound burgers, signature salads and cocktails.

Details: 13388 N Prasada Pkwy., Surprise. 602-922-9899, firebirdsrestaurants.com.

The Global Ambassador

Sam Fox, the iconic Phoenix restaurateur known for Fox Restaurant Concepts, recently opened his biggest project yet: The Global Ambassador, a 141-room hotel with five restaurants that are open to both hotel guests and the public.

Four out of the five restaurants opened on Dec. 6.: Le Âme, Le Market, Pink Dolphin and the Lobby Bar. Le Âme is a Parisian steakhouse that offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and a weekend brunch, with highlights including steak frites and French onion soup. Le Market is a casual, grab-and-go style cafe that offers breakfast pastries, coffee and light lunch fare. Pink Dolphin is a fusion restaurant with a focus on Mexican and Peruvian flavors. The Lobby Bar serves cocktails and an all-day snack menu, including chips served with an onion dip made with caviar and champagne.

Details: 4360 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 480-800-2211, globalambassadorhotel.com.

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Gordo's Tacos

Family-owned Mexican restaurant Gordo's Tacos opened a second Valley location in Ahwatukee. They offer 13 taco options including quesa birria, pork al pastor and tequila lime shrimp. Other menu items include burritos, bowls and classics like birria ramen and carne asada fries.

Details: 4232 E Chandler Blvd., Phoenix. 480-840-1039, tacosgordos.com.

Huarachis

The newest restaurant from chef Rene Andrade, who is known for his acclaimed restaurant Bacanora, opened in downtown Phoenix on Dec. 12. Huarachis serves tacos, cocktails and platters of grilled meat and fish that can feed groups of two to four people.

Cocktails range from $14 to $16 and include Finikera Nights made with made with Mexican rum, Hennesy, lime, amaro bitters and Mexican Coca-Cola; and In The Moment made with mezcal, carrot, orange, lemon, bell pepper, bitter aperitif and Jarritos mandarin soda.

Details: 814 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. @huarachis.phx on Instagram.

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Ichiro

Ichiro is a new Japanese restaurant in Tempe offering nigiri, sashimi and sushi rolls. Other menu items include katsu curry, tonkatsu ramen and appetizers like takoyaki and gyoza dumplings.

Details: 1900 E. 5th St., Tempe. 909-791-0375, ichiroaz.com.

I Heart Mac & Cheese

Florida-based chain I Heart Mac & Cheese opened its newest location in Glendale. The restaurant offers build-your-own mac and cheese bowls and grilled cheese sandwiches, with plenty of gluten-free and vegan options.

Details: 17045 N. 59th Ave., Suite 106, Glendale. 602-607-5425, iheartmacandcheese.com.

Kembara

Kembara is the newest restaurant from 'Top Chef' alum Angelo Sosa, located at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort. The menu is Asian-inspired, featuring dim sum, lo mein, Malaysian fried rice, vegetable curry and wagyu beef.

Details: 5350 E. Marriott Dr., Phoenix. 480-293-3936, kembaradesertridge.com.

Loco Patron

A fourth location of Loco Patron Mexican Brewery is now open in uptown Phoenix. The restaurant offers tacos, taquitos, quesadillas and nachos. Drink options include margaritas, well drinks, wine by the glass and pints of Loco Patron's own beers.

Details: 5538 N. 7th St., Suite100, Phoenix. 602-612-4028, locopatron.com.

Loco Style Grindz

Loco Style Grindz, a local Hawaiian barbecue pop-up, opened a permanent location inside the Churchill in downtown Phoenix. The menu includes chicken katsu, barbecue steak and barbecue chicken. And every Tuesday is Taco Tuesday, featuring Hawaiian style tacos.

Details: 901 N. 1st St., Phoenix. @locostylegrindz on Instagram.

Maple House Coffee & Cocktail Bar

Maple House is a new coffee and cocktail bar in downtown Chandler, housed in a 1940s cottage. The cafe offers craft cocktails, wine by the glass and beers, nitro coffees and teas on tap. Food options include a truffled egg salad sandwich, smoky brie grilled cheese and assorted pastries.

Details: 198 W. Boston St., Chandler. 480-474-4155, maplehouseaz.com.

Mimi Kitchen

Mimi Kitchen is a new Shanghai-style diner in southwest Mesa. Menu highlights include chicken and pork bone noodle soup, fried noodle dishes and rice bowls. Drink options include coconut milk, banana milk and herbal tea.

Details: 2028 W. Guadalupe Road, Mesa. 480-491-8888, mimikitchenonline.com.

Perch Brewing

Perch Brewing Company, a second location of The Perch Pub & Brewery, has opened in the former Flying Basset space in Gilbert. The brewery has 21 Perch beers on tap and a limited food menu that includes tavern burgers, wings and dips.

Unlike the original location, there are no exotic birds on site.

Details: 720 W. Ray Road, Gilbert. 480-590-2349, perchpubbrewery.com.

The Rosticceria

The Rosticceria is the latest restaurant from chef Joey Maggiore and The Maggiore Group. Menu highlights include Neapolitan-style pizza, an Italian birria sandwich and Italian pork rubbed with wild fennel pollen, cooked for six hours and served with potatoes. Happy hour is all day, every day in the bar area.

Details: 12811 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. 480-916-0116, therosticceria.com.

The Salted Knot

The Salted Knot, a regular at the Gilbert Farmers Market, opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Mesa. The store offers a variety of handmade soft pretzels, including vegan pretzel options.

Details: 21 W. Main St., Mesa. 602-688-4422, thesaltedknotaz.com.

The Scookie Bar

The Scookie Bar opened inside The Churchill in downtown Phoenix in December, offering deep-dish skillet cookies. Each "scookie" includes a choice of cookie, ice cream, toppings and drizzle. There are vegan and gluten-free options.

Details: 901 N. 1st St., Suite 100, Phoenix. scookiebar.com.

Scooter's Coffee

A new location of Nebraska-based drive-thru coffee shop Scooter’s Coffee is now open in Gilbert. Scooter’s offers coffee, tea and smoothies plus breakfast burritos, bagel and waffle sandwiches and pastries.

Details: 3038 E. Queen Creek Road, Gilbert. 877-719-1288, scooterscoffee.com.

Skoden

Skoden Coffee, a queer, Indigenous-owned coffee shop, opened inside For The People in uptown Phoenix. Skoden offers a brown sugar latte, hot chocolate, matcha lattes and herbal teas. The coffee shop also serves as a collective celebrating Indigenous artists and other creatives.

Details: 5102 N. Central Ave., Suite 5, Phoenix. @skodencoffee on Instagram.

Urban Cookies

Urban Cookies held a grand opening celebration for its newest location in Scottsdale in December. The bakery sells cookies, cupcakes, dessert bars and cakes to go.

Urban Cookies won a season 3 episode of Food Network's Cupcake Wars in 2011.

Details: 8776 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 108, Scottsdale. 480-604-5491, urbancookies.com.

Viet Fusion

Viet Fusion, a Vietnamese and Asian-fusion restaurant, is now open in Chandler. Menu items include red or yellow curry bowls, spicy chicken or seafood noodle soups and grilled pork vermicelli with Thai tea or Vietnamese coffee to drink and mochi ice cream for dessert.

Details: 393 W. Warner Road, Suite 103, Chandler. 480-590-0664, vietfusion.us.

7 Garden Dumpling & Noodle House

7 Garden Dumpling & Noodle House is a new Asian restaurant in Mesa serving dumplings, noodles, rice rolls, congee and clay pot dishes.

Details: 1818 W. Baseline Road, Mesa. 480-687-7068, 7gardenhouse.com.

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Reach the reporter at endia.fontanez@gannett.com. Follow @EndiaFontanez on X, formerly Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Chris Bianco to Sam Fox: 31 new Phoenix restaurants and bars to try