Highlights
- Filthy Animal, operated by Pretty Decent Concepts near Mill Avenue and University Drive in Tempe, ranked No. 1 on Yelp's Best New Restaurants of 2026 list.
- The restaurant occupies the former P.F. Chang's location near Arizona State University and is led by Chef Rene Vargas.
- Society Swan, inside Scottsdale Fashion Square, placed No. 14 on the same list with a French-inflected modern American menu.
- Yelp's ranking evaluated restaurants that opened between January 1, 2025, and June 11, 2026.
Filthy Animal, the jungle-themed concept near Mill Avenue and University Drive in Tempe, claimed the top spot on Yelp's Best New Restaurants of 2026 list, as Arizona's Family, KTAR, and Phoenix New Times all reported Monday. The restaurant is operated by Pretty Decent Concepts, the group behind Roman God of Fire, Cleaverman, Wren & Wolf, and Chico Malo.
Chef Rene Vargas leads the kitchen with a global-inspired menu built around live fire. The room sits in the former P.F. Chang's location near Arizona State University and features curved leather booths, an opulent bar, jungle plants, taxidermied animals, and an open kitchen with fire-charred meats. Yelp's ranking evaluated restaurants that opened between January 1, 2025, and June 11, 2026.
For Scottsdale readers, the more actionable data point is Society Swan, tucked inside Scottsdale Fashion Square, which came in at No. 14 on the same list. The menu puts a spin on French classics and modern American cuisine, with wagyu pigs in a blanket drawing particular attention from Yelp reviewers.
Who is behind Filthy Animal?
The restaurant is operated by Pretty Decent Concepts, which also runs Roman God of Fire, Cleaverman, Wren & Wolf, and Chico Malo, according to Phoenix New Times. Chef Rene Vargas leads the kitchen; no prior postings for Vargas appear in the background research pack beyond his current role.
The full Yelp Best New Restaurants of 2026 list is available via the Arizona's Family report. Society Swan's reservation availability at Scottsdale Fashion Square is worth checking now that the national ranking is public.
Where to find them
- Filthy Animal · thisisfilthyanimal.com · Instagram
- Pretty Decent Concepts · prettydecentconcepts.com
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 29/09/2026 22:10
- Phoenix New Times retrieved 29/09/2026 22:10
- Filthy Animal (official site) retrieved 29/09/2026 22:10
- Pretty Decent Concepts (official site) retrieved 29/09/2026 22:10
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 29/09/2026 22:10. Every claim traces to a source.
