As fans of cronuts and cake pops can attest, food trends come and go. So how can you tell which tastes are trending right this minute?
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to discover which eateries have been in the limelight this month.
To find out who made the list, we looked at Phoenix businesses on Yelp by category and counted how many reviews each received. Rather than compare them based on number of reviews alone, we calculated a percentage increase in reviews over the past month and tracked businesses that consistently increase their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance.
Read on to see which spots have the momentum heading into summer.
Tocaya
Open since November, this Mexican spot is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Mexican" on Yelp.
Citywide, Mexican spots saw a median 2.2 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, but Tocaya saw a 22.9 percent increase, maintaining a sound 4.5-star rating throughout.
It's not the only trending outlier in the Mexican category: Cocina Madrigal has seen a 12.3 percent increase in reviews.
Located at 7012 E. Greenway Parkway, Suite 100 in Paradise Valley, Tocaya offers a variety of fare including salads, bowls, tacos, burritos, soups and more. This spot also offers seasonal offerings featuring its specialty ingredient — coconut. Try the coconut churro bites or opt for the gluten-free burrito with Spanish cauliflower rice, black beans, tri-color peppers, jalapeño cabbage and vegan chipotle crema in a gluten-free coconut and cassava flour tortilla.
(Check out the full menu.)
Taphouse Kitchen
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Paradise Valley's Taphouse Kitchen, the New American spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "American (New)" on Yelp saw a median 2.2 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, Taphouse Kitchen bagged an 18.1 percent increase in new reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a mixed 3.5-star rating. It significantly outperformed the previous month by gaining 1.3 times more reviews than expected based on its past performance.
Open at 3131 E. Shea Blvd. since January, Taphouse Kitchen offers brunch, lunch and dinner options, serving up challah French toast, honey chipotle chicken wings and pan-seared salmon. When it comes to dessert, the restaurant offers a variety of sweet treats, from key lime tarts to chocolate torte. (View the full menu here.)
The Refuge Coffee & Wine
Central City's The Refuge Coffee & Wine is also making waves. Open since March at 4000 E. Sky Harbor Blvd., the wine bar and breakfast and brunch spot, which offers coffee, tea and more, has seen a 9.8 percent bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 2.3 percent for all businesses tagged "Breakfast & Brunch" on Yelp. Moreover, on a month-to-month basis The Refuge Coffee & Wine's review count increased by more than 400 percent.
The Refuge Coffee & Wine offers a variety of coffee drinks, espresso and tea. Also on the menu are breakfast burritos, oatmeal, yogurt and smoothies like the green machine, with kale, apples, bananas, strawberries and apple juice. (Check out the full menu here.)
Over the past month, it's maintained an impressive five-star rating among Yelpers.
This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
