Chico Malo to Open in CityScape

Photo by: Chico Malo

Looking at an April opening, Chico Malo is set to open in Downtown Phoenix in the former spot of The Corner at 50 W. Jefferson St. Phoenix, AZ 85004 just behind the Grabbagreen.  According to Chico Malo,

"Chico Malo, a lively take on Mexican cooking, opens at CityScape this spring. Culture Shock Hospitality will bring the heat in DTPHX with breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch with an array of flavor combinations from all over South America. Expect highlights including ceviche, street corn, chilaquiles and tiraditos, a Peruvian crudo. Diners can also build their own guacamole or choose from a lengthy lineup of taco options." 

This is Culture Shock Hospitality's first restaurant and it will be interesting to see how the location does after The Corner's struggles.  One of the big draws is certain to be the fact that this will be the only restaurant in the area offering South American fare.

An additional note, if you are looking for work, Chico Malo is starting interviews tomorrow, March 9, where they will be hiring 125 employees.

Four More Restaurants Coming to Same Arcadia Shopping Center

Along with the new Uberrito set to open this month in the Arcadia Gateway Shopping Center, in what has to be the most booming foodie corner in the state, Doughbird and a new Smashburger are nearing completion with a new Hash Kitchen location as well as a Zoe's Kitchen not far behind at the southwest corner of  Indian School Rd. & 44th St.

First, while no date is yet set for Smashburger, it looks to be heading for a late March or April opening.  This will put the Colorado-based burger shop's presence in Arizona to over 20 locations.

If you've never been to one, check out a menu and find a location close to you.  While also offering chicken sandwiches, sides, and salads, Smashburger states, "Our smashed burgers are always made-to-order, never frozen, smashed and seared to perfection on our grill. Our menu is also kid-friendly, vegetarian-approved and topped off with frosty milkshakes."

Secondly, Doughbird, another highly anticipated concept by Sam Fox focusing on pizza and chicken, will be opening on March 28th in the same center at 4385 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85018. From Doughbird's website:

"Doughbird is the latest Sam Fox restaurant. The menu, created by Sam Fox and Chef Clint Woods, combines our two favorite styles of cuisine – pizza and rotisserie. It’s a friendly place to indulge in savory creations like crispy pastrami pizza with Gruyere cheese, or slow-roasted rotisserie chicken lightly brushed with house-made marinades like lemon rosemary herb or spicy Sriracha and soy. Signature comfort food sides like buttered sweet corn and cauliflower mash will leave you stuffed and satisfied. Visit Doughbird for a warm, inviting experience and break bread with the best people in your life."

You can find more details about Doughbird over at AZCentral.

Next, we have Hash Kitchen.  This will be Hash Kitchen's second restaurant as the breakfast spot first opened in Scottsdale in 2015. The popular restaurant has an extensive menu which offers items like the Hash Monkey, Cannoli Donuts, Carnitas Hash, Oreo Cookie Pancakes, and Coconut & Almond Encrusted French Toast just to name a few.  You can check out the rest of the menu here.  For now all we know is the location is coming soon with no firm opening date.

Finally, Zoe's Kitchen, already with 5 locations in the valley, will also be coming to the burgeoning shopping center.  The Mediterranean-style restaurant describes itself this way:

"...Nothing is fried and there are no microwaves! What you’ll find at Zoës Kitchen is Mediterranean-inspired food, where grilling is the predominate method of cooking along with an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs, olive oil and lean proteins; all while keeping our guests’ dietary concerns in mind-- with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options."

The menu has a variety of options ranging from hummus and pitas to salads and kabobs.  At this time an opening date is not known.

With Creamistry having just opened here back in December, the southwest corner of  Indian School Rd. & 44th St. is about to go from no food to more food than you can shake a stick at in just a few short months.

Related: Uberrito to Open in Phoenix Arcadia Neighborhood

Uberrito to Open in Phoenix Arcadia Neighborhood

Headquartered in Texas, Uberrito is set to expand with their second spot outside of the Lone Star State, which just so happens to be their second spot in Arizona.  To be located in the Arcadia Gateway Shopping Center on the southwest corner of Indian School Rd. & 44th St. near the soon to be opening Smashburger and Doughbird, Uberrito hopes to make their mark on the fresh-Mex market and beyond:

"Über is a German word that means “above” or “beyond.” Burrito is a Spanish word that means, well, “burrito.” Überrito stands for who we are and where we go—above and beyond burritos. In this land of fresh ingredients, we defy the predictable preconceptions of beans and tortillas to create bold new flavor inspirations. Cuban to Cajun, Mexican to American—we offer taste combinations you won’t find anywhere else."

At Uberrito you can create your own burritos, bowls, salads, and nachos and for those who want something pre-designed, they have their "Ten Tasty Tacos" available as well.

Wondering where that first Arizona Uberrito is? You will find it at 4912 E. Shea Blvd. #108 Phoenix, AZ 85028.

Related: Four More Restaurants Coming to Same Arcadia Shopping Center

Update 3-9-17: Along with the specials happening on opening day, Uberrito is having a free "Sneak Eat" event two days prior to the March 23rd grand opening of their new Arcadia location at 4325 E Indian School Road, #150 Phoenix, AZ 85018.  If you register here, on Tuesday, March 21st you and one other person, if you so choose, will be able to enjoy "one free burrito, bowl, salad, or nachos combo per person" between the hours of 11am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm.  Again, you must be registered at the link in order to participate.  See additional details at the registration page.

Update 3-19-17: According to Uberrito the location of the "Sneak Eat" event mentioned in the previous update has been moved,"due to outside complications."  The event will now take place for anybody who signed up at the same time you signed up for, but at the existing Phoenix location at the northeast corner of Tatum Blvd. & Shea Blvd. - 4912 E. Shea Blvd. #108 Phoenix, AZ 85028. 

Smokin Fins Grand Opening in Chandler March 6th

Ready to open on March 6th at 11am, Smokin Fins is bringing the Colorado-based restaurant which is part of an Idaho-based "Fins" restaurant group to Chandler at 900 N. 54th St. #1 Chandler, AZ, 85226.  Influenced by Asian, Mexican, and Pacific Northwest cuisine, Smokin Fins describes themselves this way:

"Smokin Fins is a regional restaurant concept featuring a unique menu that blends ocean fresh seafood, sushi and house smoked specialties such as baby back ribs, turkey and slow smoked pork"

Photo by: Smokin Fins

The extensive menu according to Smokin Fins makes them a "food and beverage destination with something for everyone!" Check it out here.  Some notables:

• Key Lime Calamari - Hand-cut calamari, lightly breaded, with Fins Signature key lime aioli
• Smoked Bison Meatballs - House made Bison meatballs blended with smoked gouda cheese and baked in a tomato ragout w/ fresh arugula and shaved parmesan
• Vegas - Lobster-crab salad, habanero cream cheese, and rice rolled in seaweed and tempura fried; topped with spicy tuna, wasabi soy sauce, eel sauce and spicy aioli
• Pulled Pork - Korabuta pork slow smoked for ten hours, topped with appleslaw, red onion, and Dr. Pepper bourbon BBQ sauce. Served with fries
• Argentinian Flank Steak - Sliced American Kobe flank steak marinated and grilled, served with house charred vegetables and mashed potatoes. Covered in red and yellow Peruvian street sauce
• Lemon Caper Halibut - Alaskan Halibut over Chef’s signature risotto with a lemon caper beurre blanc, fresh Roma tomato, basil, and parmesan cheese
• Smoked Salmon Chopped Salad - Arugula, Israeli couscous, tomato, roasted corn, pepitas, house smoked salmon, and parmesan cheese. Tossed together in bacon herb dressing.

Other menu items include burgers, soups, dessert, wine and beer, of which they have five local brews. Hours for Smokin Fins will be 11am to 10pm Monday - Saturday and 11am to 9pm Sunday.  

Glendale's First Microbrewery Also Includes a Bowling Alley

Tavern+Bowl is readying for their mid/late-March opening out in the Westgate district at 6770 N. Sunrise Blvd. #G-100 Glendale, AZ 85305.  This will be the first location for the California-based microbrewery and bowling alley outside of SoCal since their founding in 2007 and the first microbrewery in Glendale.

According to ABC15, the newest spot out at Westgate will have, "12 bowling lanes, billiards tables, shuffleboard, a restaurant, and an indoor and outdoor bar, which will serve brews from Good Bad Ugly Brewing Co."  The menu includes what you would expect, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, wings, and salads, along with things like Loaded Tater Tots, Mac and Cheese Balls, Bacon Jam Sliders, and even Donuts in a Bag.

Scheduled hours are Sun-Thu - 11am to Midnight & Fri-Sat - 11am to 2am.

The Funky Monk Set to Open in Mid-March in Tempe & Tucson

I know you want to say funky monkey, but there is no monkey. While details are sparse, we do know a couple of things so far. First, The Funky Monk in Tucson will open on March 16th at 350 E. Congress St. Suite A, Tucson, AZ 85701, while The Funky Monk in Tempe will be opening the next day on March 17th at 526 S. Mill Ave. Tempe, AZ 85281.

Next, we know these two establishments are from the same folks who developed Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers, Wasted Grain, Crab & Mermaid, Bourbon & Bones, and Pacific Beach Shore Club out in San Diego.

Lastly, the locations, especially the Tempe spot near ASU leads one to believe this will be a bar-centric establishment.  As more details become available the AZFoodDude will pass them along.

El Pollo Loco Opening 3 New Arizona Restaurants

Baja Shrimp Tacos - Photo by: El Pollo Loco

Already with 23 locations in Arizona, El Pollo Loco is set to open 3 more within the next couple of months.  The locations are:

• 4302 W. Cactus Rd. Glendale, AZ 85304
• 15255 N. 64th St. Scottsdale, AZ 85254
• 7204 E. Shea Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ 85260 

For those who do not know, El Pollo Loco got its start on a pretty well known street in Los Angeles, 

"In 1980, the very first American El Pollo Loco opened on Alvarado Street in Los Angeles where El Pollo Loco quickly became a local favorite. With authentically prepared flame-grilled, citrus-marinated chicken, freshly prepared ingredients and a welcoming atmosphere customers knew they had a unique dining experience unlike any other in their neighborhood.  As word spread, so did our popularity and locations -- establishing El Pollo Loco as a true local brand throughout California."

The current promotional menu is centered around Baja style shrimp.  This includes a Shrimp Wrap, a Garlic Butter Shrimp Bowl, a Shrimp Tostada, and Shrimp Avocado Tacos.