Massive Japanese Food Hall Coming to Scottsdale

Good morning, Scottsdale. You’re reading Scottsdale Scoop, your insider pass to what’s fun, fresh, and worth checking out around town. Every issue features hand-picked events, local business spotlights, and hidden gems that make our city great..

I'm currently in Sayulita, enjoying the amazing Mexican food and some surfing 😎

There's some pretty cool updates coming to Scottsdale, which I covered below. Enjoy!

Mark your calendars for 2028 because Scottsdale is getting something seriously cool. Atashi Yokocho, a 14,000-square-foot Japanese food hall inspired by Tokyo's famous yokochos, is headed to The Sydney development at Loop 101 and Pima Road.

If you're picturing a typical food court, think again. This concept recreates those cozy Japanese alleyways lined with intimate food stalls, each with its own seating rather than one big communal area. We're talking 15 to 20 different restaurants ranging from eight-seat counters to 50-seat spots, featuring ramen, tempura, sushi, yakitori, yakiniku and kaiseki.

Restaurateur Huy Truong (the guy behind Mensho Ramen and Udon Shin) is working to bring small Japanese restaurants that don't have U.S. locations yet. He's even keeping a couple stalls open for rotating monthly pop-ups from Japanese restaurants testing American waters. Basically, you won't be able to do it all in one visit!

Old Town's Liquor Pig served its last drinks on Saturday, but don't mourn too long. The space is coming back this Friday as Wayward, pivoting from cocktail bar with snacks to a food-first dining destination.

Executive chef CJ Kahley is building a menu around creative contemporary American cooking with global influences, describing it as a "melting pot philosophy." The vibe? Elevated but casual with a come-as-you-are attitude. Sounds like my kind of spot.

The Mayo Clinic is looking to expand in a pretty unexpected way. They've submitted an application to build 122 residential lots on nearly 50 acres behind their Scottsdale campus near Shea and 136th Street.

Before you worry about water and traffic, their pitch claims the homes would use 90% less water than a commercial project and create 90% less traffic than if a business went there instead. The estimated investment? $300 million. The project still needs to go through Planning Commission and City Council, so we'll keep you posted!

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If you're the type who reads ingredient labels and gets mad about what's in your latte, Firefly Organic Coffee & Market was literally built for you.

Husband and wife team Patrick and Ashley started this spot because they were tired of getting their afternoon coffee fix from places serving non-organic espresso and milk loaded with hormones. Their solution? Build the coffee shop they wished existed.

The beans are shade-grown on a small family farm in Honduras, then put through a 10-step filtration process before roasting. Everything gets pulled on a La Marzocco espresso machine they've affectionately named the "Queen Bean." Pro tip: try the Firefly Glow Latte with honey, vanilla, cinnamon, sea salt and collagen.

But here's where it gets really interesting. They've got a mini market inside stocked with raw milk from Golden Rule Dairy, farm fresh eggs, grass-fed ground beef, and grab-and-go meals that are completely seed oil-free. The sourdough cinnamon rolls from Ethel Lane Bakery in Fountain Hills? Those alone are worth the trip to Pima Center Parkway.

If you haven't been to Uchi Scottsdale yet, put it on your list. This is James Beard Award winning chef Tyson Cole's take on sushi, and it's one of those places where you walk in expecting good food and leave wondering why you waited so long.

The whole concept is built around making the experience feel personal. They've designed the space so every seat feels like you're at the sushi bar, even if you're not. The menu blends Japanese tradition with some creative twists that actually work, not just for the sake of being different.

It’s also nice and chill. Nobody's rushing you. You can do the omakase if you want to let them guide you, or build your own experience from the menu. Either way, you're in good hands.

Their happy hour is solid too if you want to try it out without going all in on a full dinner. The spot is right on Scottsdale Road, so it's easy to get to from pretty much anywhere in town.

PS - if you have the Amex Platinum you get a $100 food credit

Wednesday, June 10

😂 Taylor Williamson | Desert Ridge Improv | 7:30 PM

Thursday, June 11

🎸 Banda La Confidente | Casino Arizona | 7:30 PM

🧘 Revival Yoga in the Park | Scottsdale Civic Center | 6:00 PM

Friday, June 12

😂 Michael Yo | Desert Ridge Improv | 7:00 PM (multiple days)

🎻 Candlelight: Tribute to Carlos Santana | Phoenix Art Museum | 6:30 PM

Saturday, June 13

🧘 Saturday Sweat Series: Platinum Pilates | Caesars Republic Scottsdale | 11:00 AM

🍷 Pinyon Presents: Southern France Wine Brunch | Pinyon Restaurant | 12:00 PM

🎻 Candlelight: Tribute to Drake | Phoenix Art Museum | 6:30 PM

🎻 Candlelight: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles | Phoenix Art Museum | 8:30 PM

🧘 Morning Rise Floating Sound Journey | Sanctuary Camelback Mountain | 7:30 AM

🍷 Saturday Wine Dinner | Classic Cooking Academy | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Sunday, June 14

🤘🏼Foreigner Concert | Talking Stick Resort | 8:00 PM

🧘 Sunset Pilates & Prayer | Mountain Shadows Resort | 6:00 PM

Featuring the most expensive home sold in Scottsdale this week at $5.85M. This one was built by Sonoran West in Silverleaf and is a beauty.

Here’s the link if you want to check it out.