Blog > Nobu, Catch, Élephante & Din Tai Fung: Fashion Square's New Culinary Lineup, and What It Means for 85250
Nobu, Catch, Élephante & Din Tai Fung: Fashion Square's New Culinary Lineup, and What It Means for 85250
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When buyers ask me what makes living in 85250 different from any other Scottsdale zip code, I usually start with the same answer: you can walk or drive five minutes and eat at restaurants that rival anything in Los Angeles or New York. Scottsdale Fashion Square's luxury dining lineup has exploded in the past few years, and it's reshaping how people think about the neighborhoods around it.
Here's a look at the headline restaurants now anchoring Fashion Square, and why their presence matters for anyone considering a home in 85250.
Nobu: The One That Started It
Nobu arrived at Scottsdale Fashion Square as part of the mall's original luxury wing expansion, joining an elite roster that includes Dior and Saint Laurent. The globally recognized Japanese restaurant — known for its signature black cod miso and a sushi program that draws comparisons to its sister locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York — was one of the first signals that Fashion Square intended to compete at a national level for luxury dining, not just luxury retail.
For 85250 homeowners, Nobu represents the kind of destination dining you'd otherwise have to fly somewhere for. It's a five to ten minute drive from most of the Chaparral Park area.
Catch: Splashy, Spendy, and Worth It
Catch joined Fashion Square's south wing dining expansion and quickly earned a reputation as one of the most talked-about openings in the Valley. Step inside the opulent dining room and you'll likely see well-heeled customers still toting Louis Vuitton shopping bags from their day at the mall, pulled up to tables filled with sushi and steak. The menu builds from snacks and crudo into heartier entrees, with the herb-roasted branzino served over lemon rice standing out as a signature dish.
Catch was recognized among Phoenix New Times' best new restaurants, and it's exactly the kind of buzzy, see-and-be-seen spot that 85250 buyers mention when describing why they want to live near Fashion Square instead of further out in the suburbs.
Élephante: Coastal Italian With a Scottsdale Twist
Élephante brought its Santa Monica-born concept to the Fashion Square dining corridor, and it's become a daytime and nighttime staple. The coastal Italian-inspired restaurant offers brunch, lunch and dinner from an airy, upbeat space replete with modern decor and desert plants. Expect housemade pastas, wood-fired pizza, and a build-your-own signature cocktail program that's become one of the most Instagrammed drink menus in Scottsdale.
The adjoining Bar Bambino offers a more intimate late-night option for guests who want small plates and craft cocktails without committing to a full dinner.
Din Tai Fung: The Most Anticipated Opening in Years
If you've driven past Fashion Square recently and wondered about the lines, Din Tai Fung is almost certainly the reason. The internationally acclaimed Taiwanese chain — famous worldwide for its handcrafted soup dumplings — opened its first Arizona location on the mall's lower level in spring 2026, and reservations sold out within hours of going live.
The Scottsdale location spans roughly 10,000 square feet with 340 seats, a dumpling-expo viewing kitchen where guests can watch chefs at work, and a full bar. It's part of a new culinary cluster on the mall's lower level alongside Élephante and Catch.
For 85250 residents, having a globally recognized destination restaurant — one with lines and reservation backlogs in cities like Los Angeles and Seattle — open minutes from home is the kind of amenity that doesn't show up on a standard real estate listing, but absolutely shows up in quality of life.
Why This Matters If You're Buying in 85250
Buyers relocating from major metros consistently tell me the same thing: they don't want to give up access to world-class dining when they move to the desert. Fashion Square's transformation into a legitimate culinary destination — anchored by names like Nobu, Catch, Élephante, and now Din Tai Fung — answers that concern directly.
It also signals something about the trajectory of the surrounding neighborhoods. Restaurant groups and luxury retailers don't make multi-year, multi-million dollar commitments to a location unless the surrounding demographics and growth support it. Fashion Square's continued investment is, in part, a bet on the buying power and growth of zip codes like 85250 that surround it.
Living Near the Best Restaurants in Scottsdale
If proximity to destination dining is high on your list — and for many of my move-up and luxury buyers, it is — Chaparral Park and the broader 85250 area put you minutes from this entire restaurant lineup, plus easy access to Old Town Scottsdale's restaurant row.
I'd love to show you what's available right now.
Elizabeth Vijan | eXp Realty Chaparral Park Resident & 85250 Real Estate Expert
Search homes for sale near Scottsdale Fashion Square in the 85250 zip code at chaparralparkhomes.com.
