10 Metro Phoenix Restaurant Openings to Look Forward to in the Second Half of 2016

Since we rang in the new year six months ago, the metro Phoenix area has seen a slew of new restaurant openings, including chef Gio Osso's Nico Heirloom Kitchen, the highly anticipated new gastropub Stock & Stable, and The Great Australian Bakery in Old Town Scottsdale. But the onslaught of new dining spots isn’t over yet.

As we approach the midpoint of 2016, Valley chefs and restaurateurs have even more new restaurant openings in store. Here are 10 new restaurants that are still yet to come in the latter half of 2016. 

Binkley's Midtown
2320 East Osborn Road

The Binkley's Restaurant Group closed Bink's Midtown (one of four Binkley locations) for remodeling earlier this month and plans to reopen the site in October as an entirely new restaurant. “Chef Kevin Binkley is getting back to the kitchen and pushing new culinary boundaries,” Angelina Gonzales of NThreeQ Media told New Times in an e-mail. Arizona Culinary Institute graduate Wesley Castle will be Chef Kevin Binkley’s right hand chef, who will assist in new restaurant concepts, including “on-the-spot feedback of dishes.”

Chou's Kitchen
1250 East Apache Boulevard, Tempe

It’s been in the works for about a year, and soon the well-known Chou's Kitchen in Chandler is opening a second location in Tempe. Owners Sunny Zhau and Lulu Zhou plan to open at the end of July or early August. The former Copper Kettle spot will feature more seating, and an expanded menu of Chinese fare, adding even more options to accompany orders of beef pies, siau lung bao, and xiaolongbao.

Clever Koi Gilbert
Heritage Marketplace

Downtown Gilbert has been hit with some good news: Owners Nicholas Campisano, Joshua James, and Jared Porter will be opening a second location of Clever Koi in the Heritage Marketplace. The 150-seat Gilbert location will be larger than the midtown Phoenix location, yet will still feature the same sleek design and signature menu items, including soft-shell crab steamed buns and aesthetically pleasing cocktails. Clever Koi Gilbert is set to open this summer.

Cornish Pasty Phoenix
Monroe Street and Central Avenue

With three east Valley locations – and one in Las Vegas to boot – Cornish Pasty Co. has set its sights on Phoenix proper with a four-years-in-the-making fifth location. An opening date is still in the works, as construction is still in progress over at Monroe Street and Central Avenue, but Cornish Pasty Phoenix will feature three floors, three bars, and its usual menu of unique soups, wings, and of course, pasties.

Hot Noodles Cold Sake
15689 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale

Hot Noodles Cold Sake is the upcoming permanent eatery that will serve chef Josh Hebert's popular ramen. The ramen was originally introduced to Valley diners through Tuesday Ramen Nights at POSH, Herbert's Scottsdale fine dining spot, which will continue for now on Tuesdays from 5 to 9 p.m. The new north Scottsdale ramen restaurant, housed in a former Philly cheesesteak joint, will feature the shoyu, miso, goma, and shrimp ramen that made Tuesdays such a success for the chef.

MATCH Cuisine + Cocktails
1100 North Central Avenue

Some places are as Arizona as it gets, and MATCH Cuisine + Cocktails sounds like it’s going to be one of them. Soon to be open within the new FOUND: RE Phoenix hotel, this breakfast, lunch, and dinner spot will be manned by Scottsdale Culinary Institute-trained chef Akos Szabo, and a good amount of what you’ll be eating will come from a Forno Bravo wood oven. The eatery will also feature a grill lit with northern Arizona wood, Arizona craft beer, and ingredients from local spots like Cochise Cattle Company, Crow’s Dairy, Mediterra Bakehouse, Noble Bread, and Orchard Community Farm.

Ruze Cake House
7033 East Main Street, Scottsdale

Consisting of mother-and-daughter team Jessica Rose Boutwell and Joyce Boutwell, Ruze Cake House, known for its locally sourced and desert-inspired cakes, is coming to Old Town Scottsdale. The duo has operated by appointment only for two years, but a brand-new, 17-seat bakery and tea shop will be opening in July. Ruze Cake House will take cake orders, serve fresh croissants and pastries, and be partnering with Teaspressa Tea for its coffee and tea options – including an afternoon tea service. The younger Boutwell explains the atmosphere will be “very white and bright without being sterile … allowing the cakes to stand out.”

Snoh Ice Shavery
Second and McKinley streets

Downtown Phoenix may cool off faster than other parts of town in early fall when the second location of Snoh Ice Shavery opens at Second and McKinley streets. Tony Chanthavong will be blessing the central Valley with a 1,300-square-foot eatery and patio offering the popular boba beverages and southern Chinese-style shaved ice, plus some exclusive menu items and specials. The new location will be more of an adult- and college-student-driven atmosphere — in contrast to the nerd-themed original location at Seventh Street and Camelback Road.

SoSoBa Phoenix
214 West Roosevelt Street

Otherwise known as the Nonstop Noodleshop, Flagstaff's SoSoBa has had a Phoenix location in the works for a while now. But like a bowl of good ramen, these things take time. The “in-authentic” ramen shop is set to open its full-service restaurant at Third Avenue and Roosevelt Street with its concept of “uniquely inspired noodle-dishes that incorporate authentic ingredients” sometime this summer.

Welcome Diner
10th and Pierce streets

Garfield Historic District will soon see a 2,600-square-foot location of Welcome Diner at 10th and Pierce streets. Chef Michael Babcock and Sloane McFarland are using Dinermite Diners, Inc. – known for those stainless-steel 5 & Diners around town – and architect/new Garfield District neighbor Christoph Kaiser to create the new space. There will be more indoor seating, a patio area, a larger kitchen, and an expanded menu, all coming in the late fall.