Tempe eatery named the best new restaurant in the U.S.

When Filthy Animal opened along Mill Avenue, it brought a luxe jungle feel to Tempe. Now, it’s been named the best new restaurant in the country.

On Tuesday, review site Yelp released its annual list of the 25 best new restaurants nationwide. The site tallied reviews and ratings of restaurants that opened between January 1, 2025, and June 11, 2026.

Filthy Animal took the top spot. The large restaurant took over the former home of P.F. Chang’s at the bottom of the Mill Avenue entertainment district near Arizona State University. It made a splash and marked a milestone in the evolution of Tempe from a college town filled with rowdy bars serving cheap beer to a more elevated dining destination.

Filthy Animal sports curved leather booths, an opulent bar, jungle plants, taxidermied animals and servers in vintage-style tailored dresses. Its open kitchen gives diners a front-row view of the fire, where slabs of meat char over the flames. The menu doesn’t focus on one region, and rather pulls inspiration from Asian, Mexican and generally tropical cuisines.

On our first visit, we found the restaurant to be more style than substance. The space is gorgeous and theatrical. The food left us confused. Either way, Yelp’s reviewers are captivated. The list calls it a “thrilling culinary experience” and a “serious dining destination.”

The Yelp list shouts out “pillowy soft” Milk Bread with miso tomato butter, tuna pineapple ceviche, and beef tartare, which we agree is excellent.

Filthy Animal is one of many Valley restaurants from Pretty Decent Concepts. The company also runs the freshly opened Roman God of Fire just up the street, along with downtown Phoenix eateries Cleaverman, Wren & Wolf and Chico Malo, and cocktail bars Carry On, Trophy Room, Drop Dead Gorgeous and more.

Another Arizona restaurant makes the list

While Filthy Animal took the top spot, Arizona has two restaurants on Yelp’s list. Out of 25 nationwide, that’s a showing to celebrate. The No. 14 spot went to Society Swan. Located at Scottsdale Fashion Square, the American brasserie comes from prolific restaurateur Sam Fox. According to Yelp, “it feels more like a tucked-away supper club than a mall restaurant.”

The customers struggling to fit their shopping bags into the booths are a bit of a giveaway. Otherwise, sure. The menu delivers on the theme, with French staples mixed among classic American gastropub eats.

The Yelp list shouts out fresh oysters, French Quarter Salmon, steak fries and lobster carbonara. We’re partial to the classic, warming and cheesy French onion soup. Stop by for a crisp martini and a bowl to fuel your shopping day.

If you’d rather skip the hoards of students on Mill Avenue or crowds of shoppers at the mall, Phoenix has plenty of exceptional restaurants that flip the switch, favoring substance over — or at least as much as — style. Check them out on our list of the top 50 restaurants in the Valley.