Tempe’s Filthy Animal Tops Yelp’s Best New U.S. Restaurants List
· 50-word read
In 50 words
Filthy Animal in Tempe, Arizona, has taken the No. 1 spot on Yelp’s 2026 Best New Restaurants list. The lavish Mill Avenue restaurant combines jungle-inspired interiors, an open-fire kitchen and globally influenced dishes drawing from Asian, Mexican and tropical cuisines, helping transform Tempe’s evolving dining scene.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights Tempe’s shift beyond its traditional college-town nightlife toward more ambitious dining concepts. Yelp compiled its nationwide list using ratings and reviews for restaurants that opened between January 2025 and June 2026.
What's next
The national recognition could bring increased attention to Filthy Animal and Tempe’s broader restaurant scene as Mill Avenue continues attracting higher-end dining and hospitality concepts.
Key dates
- 2025–26: Filthy Animal opens on Mill Avenue
- 30 Sept 2026: Yelp’s annual Best New Restaurants ranking gains national attention
- Next: Increased national visibility for Tempe’s emerging dining scene.
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Sources
- phoenixnewtimes.comView original →
