The 5 most exciting new restaurants that opened around Phoenix in January

Throughout the Valley, dozens of restaurants open every month. A large portion of them include new fast food spots or uninspired chain restaurants. But occasionally, locally owned eateries welcome their first customers, beloved chefs open new concepts and neighborhoods get restaurants to call their own.

The first month of 2025 brought us some eateries that should be high on your must-visit list. Here are the five most exciting restaurant openings of January.

Patricia’s Pizza

32607 N. Scottsdale Road, #107, Scottsdale The Maggiore family has launched a new restaurant that pays homage to the past. Restaurateur Melissa Maggiore Meyer opened Patricia’s Pizza on Jan. 3. The new restaurant harkens back to her father, Tomaso Maggiore’s first restaurant, which he named after his wife and Melissa’s mother. The original was located in Garnerville, New York. But now, north Scottsdale is home to the revived Patricia’s Pizza. The restaurant is located at The Summit, a shopping plaza near Scottsdale Road and Ashler Hills Drive. It serves puffy square Sicilian and Neapolitan-style pizzas along with shareable appetizers, sandwiches and pasta dishes. The drinks menu includes beer, wine, cocktails and milkshakes.

Postino

8177 W. Paradise Lane, PeoriaPostino has been around a while. But even as the local chain has expanded to other cities and states across the country, it has never opened a location in the West Valley. That is, until now. Finally, West Valley residents can enjoy favorites like Postino’s famous bruschetta boards, plus other fresh, shareable eats, unique wines, cocktails and more. The new location opened on Jan. 4 at The Park at 83, a new dining destination bringing three well-loved local chains in total, including North Italia and Blanco Cocina, to Peoria.

Industry Standard

128 E. Roosevelt St. With big shoes to fill, new downtown Phoenix restaurant Industry Standard opened in the former Carly’s Bistro on Jan. 6. Carly’s had occupied the space, and been an important community hub, for almost two decades. The team behind Industry Standard was entrusted with carrying the torch and is doing so with a thoughtfully redesigned space, a globally inspired menu and craft cocktails. Hoping to offer something for everyone, the team created a menu with options for neighbors on a date night and hospitality professionals grabbing a bite after work. Casual options include chicken wings and mac and cheese for less than $15. There’s also a $32 lobster roll and a decadent lamb shoulder pasta. The plates are paired with beer, wine and signature cocktails such as the Text Your Ex, made with tequila, passion fruit and yellow bell pepper and the Naughty Colady, a purple ube-spiked twist on the tropical classic.

Mensho Ramen

5813 N. Seventh St., #140When Mensho Ramen opened its first Arizona location last summer, customers lined up around the block. It quickly became one of our favorite spots to get a steaming bowl of soup in the Valley as well. Met with such enthusiasm, the international chain has now opened a second Valley location, bringing its rich bowls of ramen to uptown Phoenix. The new restaurant made its debut on Jan. 18 and offers an expanded menu with more options than its East Valley sibling. Try the A5 Wagyu Truffle Cheese Shoyu, A5 Wagyu Lobster Miso Butter or Vegan Tantanmen bowls at this new location.

Elvira’s

20825 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale The history of Elvira’s goes a long way back, starting in Nogales, Mexico in 1927. The restaurant later moved to Tubac, where its sparkling ceiling covered in glass ornaments has become an iconic stop in the Southern Arizona town. Now, owner Ruben Monroy has partnered with sommelier-turned-restaurateur Tom Kaufman to bring a new location of the restaurant to Scottsdale. The moody, candle-lit eatery opened on Jan. 22. It serves moles made with up to 28 different ingredients, plus seafood, dry-aged beef and tacos with fresh-pressed tortillas. The cocktail menu focuses on tequila and mezcal-based drinks made with fresh juices.