New flavors in Gilbert, AZ

Friday, 02 Jan, 2026 0

Gilbert, Arizona is blossoming into a vibrant culinary destination where global flavors meet local flair.

From Asian fusion and Latin-inspired fine dining to Mediterranean and farm-fresh favorites, this new Greater Phoenix culinary hub is serving up bold bites and new foodie experiences you won’t forget in 2026.

It was big news when The Mission announced its third location at Epicenter at Agritopia, bringing its fusion of flavors from Spain, Mexico, and Central and South America to an even wider audience. The most recent outpost echoes the vibe of the original with its glowing salt block wall and cozy ambiance. The smoked pork shoulder tacos, slow-roasted for 12 hours and topped with a pineapple-habanero glaze, are a must-order. The margaritas, sipped alongside tableside guacamole built to order, are the perfect way to kick off your fiesta.

At Gilbert’s newest retail and lifestyle destination, Verde at Cooley Station, an upscale steakhouse with Latin soul, Origen celebrates the flavors of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Fresh seafood and meats such as a hefty 40-ounce tomahawk take center stage, but there’s also magic in the unexpected. A bowl of sugo de carne-deep, rich, and fortified with beef drippings-is a sleeper too good not to share; while charred cabbage, in pistachio crema and Parmigiano-Reggiano, proves that even the sides are deserving of a spotlight.

Seafood and Latin flair also make a compelling combination at Origen’s coastal counterpart next door, BLU Seafood, where the flavors of Sonoran cuisine merge with modern techniques. Fan favorites include creamy risotto topped with tender adobo-marinated grilled octopus or salmon en nogada, which reimagines Mexico’s stuffed poblano dish with a splash of the ocean. For a true feast, the BLU Shareable platter for four piles the table with a bounty of land and sea – juicy ribeye, lobster tail, plump shrimp, and golden-crusted crab cakes.

The farmhouse-turned-modern diner, Joe’s Farm Grill, embodies farm-to-table dining in the most authentic way possible. Housed in owner Joe Johnston’s former 1960s family home, its breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus source herbs, fruits, and vegetables plucked straight from the surrounding 11-acre Agritopia Farm. That means kicking off your day with warm apple fritters rolled in cinnamon sugar or ending it with a bacon-wrapped, jalapeño-stuffed Sonoran Dog with farm beans, cotija cheese and fresh pico de gallo.

Pair a send-off to the day by catching sunset (and vibes!) at Gilbert’s first rooftop restaurant, which offers more than just panoramic downtown views. Sotol Modern Cocktail Kitchen also celebrates regional dishes such as Nopales Fritas (crispy strips of fried cactus) and yucca fries drizzled with cilantro crema or the AZ Roots Salad combining beets, citrus, goat cheese, and walnuts. Naturally, agave spirits star in craft cocktails, but you’ll also want to try the namesake spirit, sotol (derived from the desert spoon plant), in drinks like Sotol So Good, a refresher bolstered by butterfly RIOBAGELA pea flower, coconut rum, and pineapple.

While bagels and pizza may not be the first things that come to mind when thinking Arizona cuisine, at Barrio Bagel and Slice, James Beard Award winner Don Guerra’s Sonoran-style bagels, pizzas, and Barrio breads are baked on-site with heritage grains grown and milled in Arizona. Bagels come in a variety of flavors, pizza is made with Sicilian-style focaccia dough, and signature sandwiches feature a choice of a Sonoran bagel, torta roll, or sourdough focaccia.

With quality and creativity, Gilbert’s newest restaurants defining its blossoming culinary identity.



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TravelMole Editorial Team

Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.



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