Tacos, crab legs, Korean fried chicken, craft beer: 16 new restaurants to try in Chandler

The East Valley has been booming in recent years, with Chandler emerging as an entertainment and dining hot spot. In the last six months alone, over a dozen exciting new restaurants have opened in the city, from sports bars to dessert shops and everything in between.

Local businesses like Piefection and Taqueria Factory opened new locations alongside international chains like bb.q Chicken, Buqui Bichi and a handful of California-based chains that made their Arizona debuts in Chandler this year.

If you live on the east side, you're options just got even tastier. Here are 16 new restaurants to try in Chandler.

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Acqua di Mare

This new seafood restaurant in downtown Chandler offers a taste of French, Italian and Greek cuisine. The menu includes lobster bisque, Karageorge schnitzel, Tuscan veal chops and octopus.

Details: 106 S. Oregon St., Chandler. 602-885-8782, acquadimare.us.

bb.q Chicken

The popular South Korea-based chain bb.q Chicken made its Arizona debut at the 99 Market Ranch plaza in Chandler. The Korean fried chicken comes in 13 flavors including Golden Original, the extra spicy Wings of Fire, "Gangnam Style" with black pepper sauce, garlic and onions and the signature sweet, savory and smoky Galbi flavor. They also sell other Korean favorites like ddeok-bokki and kimchi fried rice.

Details: 1900 W. Chandler Blvd., Suite 21, Chandler. 480-687-5302, bbqchicken.com.

Brekky Brunch

The former Biscuits Cafe on the southwest corner of Alma School and Germann roads in south Chandler is now home to Brekky Brunch. The menu includes burgers and sandwiches like a bacon cheeseburger and a Reuben, plus benedicts, omelets, waffles and breakfast burritos. There are also many gluten-free options.

Details: 2040 S. Alma School Road, Suite 3, Chandler. 480-899-0758, facebook.com/people/Brekky-Brunch.

Buqui Bichi

Award-winning Mexican brewery Buqui Bichi opened its first-ever U.S. taproom in Chandler. Their most popular beers are the hoppy Sahuaripa India pale ale, Banquetera Kolsch style ale, Chucuta amber ale, chocolatey Talega Mexican coffee stout and the fruity Bitachera hazy IPA. The Chandler location also serves food, including burgers and fries, aguachiles, tostadas, tacos and sopes, pizzas and pastas.

Details: 325 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. buquibichi.com.

BYOV

BYOV, which stands for Bring Your Own Veggies, opened recently in Chandler. The menu is 100% vegan and offers Mexican and sushi dishes such as Cali and Philly rolls, birria tacos, loaded nachos and wings tossed in honey hot, BBQ, buffalo, lemon pepper, Korean BBQ or Jerk sauce.

Details: 777 N. Arizona Ave., Suite 3, Chandler.

Fluffy Cakes

Fluffy Cakes grew a fan base at the Downtown Chandler Farmers Market, where owner Kristi Jones has been serving fluffy Japanese cheesecakes and pancakes since October 2022. In late May, her small business held a grand opening for its first brick and mortar location at Chandler Fashion Center.

Details: Chandler Fashion Center, 3111 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. @fluffy_cakes_az on Instagram.

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Gen Korean BBQ

A second Arizona location of Gen Korean BBQ is now open in Chandler, offering all-you-can-eat meats, seafood and vegetables served with traditional banchan Korean side dishes.

Details: 1852 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. 480-597-9379, genkoreanbbq.com.

Goc Saigon

Goc Saigon, a new Vietnamese restaurant, is now open in Chandler, serving pho, hot pot, bun bo hue, pork egg rolls and crispy calamari. To drink, there's Vietnamese coffee and salty lemonade.

Details: 1018 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. 480-722-1668, @gocsaigon_az on Instagram.

The Kickin' Crab

California-based chain The Kickin' Crab made its Arizona debut in Chandler this summer. They offer bags of seafood priced by the pound, plus smaller appetizers like oysters, fish or shrimp tacos, Cajun fries and garlic noodles.

Details: 1840 W. Chandler Blvd., Suite 5, Chandler. 480-666-6868, thekickincrab.com.

K-Monster Chicken

A new Korean fried chicken restaurant has opened inside the 99 Ranch Market in Chandler. Guests can first choose what type of chicken they'd like — wings, breast, thigh or tenders — then, choose one of five sauces (original, Korean sweet and spicy, spicy mayo, soy garlic or bulgogi) and one of three toppings (walnuts, almonds or mozzarella cheese).

Details: 99 Ranch Market, 1920 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. @kmonsterchicken on Instagram.

Piefection

Piefection has opened its third location in Chandler. The local, independent pie shop offers over 30 flavors of pie, including coconut almond bliss, peanut butter brownie, pumpkin dream, cherry cheesecake, Georgia peach, caramel apple and apple pecan spice cheesecake.

Details: 2100 W. Chandler Blvd., Suite 33, Chandler. 480-218-7437, piefectionaz.com.

R&B Tea

Chandler's newest bubble tea shop is R&B Tea, an international chain named after the owners' initials. They offer a large selection of teas, from fruity milk tea frosts to fresh fruit teas to teas topped with cheese foam, plus coffee and matcha.

Details: 2081 N. Arizona Ave., Suite 125, Chandler. 623-287-6245, rbteausa.com.

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Roll Em Up Taquitos

Southern California-born Roll Em Up Taquitos made its Arizona debut in June with a new location in Chandler. The restaurant is known for its namesake taquitos, but they also serve street corn, chips with house-made guacamole and churro doughnuts.

Details: 301 S. Arizona Ave., Suite 2, Chandler. rollemup.com.

Sr. Ozzy's Tacos y Mariscos

A third Valley location of Sr. Ozzy's Tacos y Mariscos is now open in Chandler. The restaurant offers Sonoran hot dogs, sushi and seafood in addition to the namesake tacos.

Details: 5865 W. Ray Road, Suite 6, Chandler. 480-825-7665, srozzys.com/chandler.

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Taqueria Factory

Taqueria Factory, a local, family-run Mexican food concept from the family behind Fruitilandia, held a grand opening celebration for its second Chandler location on June 22. The food menu includes street-style tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, birria ramen and quesabirrias. Wash it down with a michelada or margarita.

Details: 1155 W. Ocotillo Road, Suite 1, Chandler. 480-672-5000, taqueriafactory.com.

The Trophy Bar

A new "car lover's sports bar" soft opened in south Chandler. The small food menu includes nachos, street tacos, pizza and burgers.

Details: 2551 W. Queen Creek Road, Chandler. facebook.com/thetrophybar.

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

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: New restaurants in Chandler, AZ: Breweries, Mexican food, brunch, pie