PHOENIX, Ariz. — Top Chef alumnus Angelo Sosa confirmed Thursday that the overwhelming response to his guest takeover of a Chase Field concession stand this week has accelerated plans for a second Phoenix-area restaurant, with a Scottsdale location expected to open by early 2027. Sosa, who competed on Bravo's long-running culinary competition series and operates an existing Phoenix restaurant, told local media the ballpark experience validated demand for his signature fusion approach among Arizona sports fans and casual diners alike.

The Chase Field pop-up, which ran during a recent Arizona Diamondbacks home stand, featured a condensed menu of Sosa's Southeast Asian-inflected dishes adapted for stadium service — including a Vietnamese-spiced pulled pork slider and a lemongrass chicken rice bowl that sold out in under two hours on opening night. Diamondbacks management described the collaboration as among the most successful chef-driven concession experiments the franchise has undertaken.

Sosa said the Scottsdale expansion would be a full sit-down concept rather than a fast-casual format, targeting the upscale dining corridor along Old Town Scottsdale. 'Phoenix has been incredibly welcoming,' Sosa said at a Thursday afternoon press event at his current restaurant. 'What happened at Chase Field showed me the appetite here is real. We want to build something permanent that reflects this city.'

The announcement arrives as Phoenix continues its emergence as one of the Southwest's most competitive restaurant markets, with several James Beard Award nominees operating in the metro area. Lifestyle and food media outlets including Eater Phoenix and Food & Wine have tracked the city's culinary growth closely, and Sosa's expansion is expected to draw national coverage given his television profile.

Industry observers noted that the Chase Field partnership offered Sosa a rare low-risk proving ground in a high-visibility venue, a model increasingly adopted by celebrity chefs seeking to test new markets. With the Scottsdale lease reportedly in final negotiations, Sosa's team indicated a formal announcement with confirmed address and projected opening timeline would follow within weeks.