Atashi Yokocho: A Japanese Alleyway Food Hall Is Coming to Scottsdale in 2028

Picture a narrow alley in Tokyo. Small restaurants line both sides, each one with its own look, its own counter, and its own smell of something you want to order.

Now picture that in Scottsdale.

That’s the idea behind Atashi Yokocho, a Japanese dining destination planned for The Sydney, near Loop 101 and Pima Road. I think it could end up being one of the most unusual places to eat in Arizona.

Here’s what’s been reported so far.

What a yokocho is

“Yokocho” is the Japanese word for alleyway. In Japan, these alleys are packed with tiny restaurants and bars, and you wander from one to the next.

Atashi Yokocho is built on that model. It spans 14,000 square feet and is planned to hold 15 to 20 separate restaurants.

It’s a food hall, but not the kind you’re picturing. In a typical food hall, you order at a counter and carry your tray to a big shared seating area. Here, each restaurant has its own seating. You walk the pathway and pick the spot you want.

What’s on the menu

The reported lineup includes ramen, sushi, and tempura. It also includes cuisines most people in Arizona haven’t had much access to, like yakitori (grilled skewers), yakiniku (Japanese-style grilled meat), and kaiseki, the traditional multi-course dining style.

The goal is to bring in small Japanese restaurants that don’t have U.S. locations yet.

Who’s behind it

Restaurateur Huy Truong is leading the project. He’s also the person behind the Valley locations of Mensho Ramen, Xing Fu Tang, and Udon Shin.

Reporting from Phoenix New Times says he’s wanted to build something like this for a long time.

Where it’s going

Atashi Yokocho will sit at The Sydney, a 26-acre development at Loop 101 and Pima Road in Scottsdale. The address listed is 7339 E. McDonald Drive.

The Sydney is a mixed-use project with office space, shops, restaurants, and a 195-room hotel, REVERB by Hard Rock Scottsdale.

What we don’t know yet

This is early. The specific restaurants haven’t been announced, and reporting says those conversations are still happening.

The 2028 opening is an estimate from the developer, so treat it as a target and not a promise. Plans like this can shift.

Why I’m watching it

Projects like this change how an area gets used. A destination that pulls people in for dinner, plus the hotel, offices, and shops around it, adds a new reason to spend time in that part of North Scottsdale.

I’ll keep sharing updates as the restaurant lineup and timeline firm up. If you’re curious how developments like The Sydney could shape the neighborhoods around them, or you’re thinking about a move in this part of town, reach out to me, Alec Lebeck.