New Phoenix dumpling spot
Phoenix’s food scene just picked up a new dumpling house alongside a pizzeria, with local coverage flagging the openings as fresh neighborhood options. (x.com).
Phoenix got a new dumpling draw in March, when Din Tai Fung began serving its first Arizona customers at Scottsdale Fashion Square. (phoenixnewtimes.com) The Taiwanese chain started its reservation-only soft opening on March 12 at 7014 East Camelback Road in Scottsdale, inside a 10,000-square-foot restaurant with 340 seats. Its grand opening is set for April 20, when walk-ins, takeout and delivery begin. (dtf.com) Phoenix New Times said online reservations “quickly became the hottest ticket in town,” a sign of how long the Valley had waited for the brand’s Arizona debut. The paper traced that wait back to August 2024, when the project first surfaced through mall owner Macerich. (phoenixnewtimes.com) Din Tai Fung built its reputation on xiao long bao, the soup dumplings folded with broth and filling inside thin dough. The Scottsdale menu also includes noodles, fried rice, wontons, cucumber salad and steamed bao. (phoenixnewtimes.com) The opening lands as metro Phoenix keeps adding destination restaurants in suburban retail hubs as well as neighborhood spots. In January, New Times highlighted Ni Hao Bao Dumpling House in Scottsdale, a fast-casual newcomer that opened on January 16 at 9301 East Shea Boulevard. (phoenixnewtimes.com) Ni Hao Bao was launched by childhood friends Darrell Ngo and Arin Finger, and Ngo brought 20 years of kitchen experience after serving as senior culinary innovation chef at P.F. Chang’s. The restaurant serves handmade dumplings, bao, rice bowls, salads and boba teas. (phoenixnewtimes.com) Pizza is part of the same expansion story. Phoenix New Times reported on March 23 that Otra Pizzeria and Better Days are planned for a summer opening near Chase Field in the Warehouse District, in the historic Gerardo’s Building at Third and Buchanan streets. (phoenixnewtimes.com) Otra Pizzeria is led by Cesar Velasco, whose Neapolitan-style pop-up built a following over the last three years, while Better Days will be run by Kell Duncan and Stephen Allen, the team behind The Churchill. The two businesses will share the building but operate as separate concepts across two floors. (phoenixnewtimes.com) For diners, the immediate change is simple: Scottsdale now has Arizona’s first Din Tai Fung, and downtown Phoenix is still waiting on its next big pizza opening this summer. (dtf.com)
