On September 15, the City of Surprise told the city council that The Cheesecake Factory had signed for Village at Prasada. It has been residents' most-wanted restaurant for six straight years. The opening is expected in late 2027, so it is still about a year away. Most of the coverage stopped at the wish list. The same 2026 survey that ranked The Cheesecake Factory first also asked residents for their favorite local restaurants. Three of those ten favorites already operate on the row the new restaurant is joining.
The 2026 survey drew 4,165 responses, and 85% of respondents said they live in Surprise. The Cheesecake Factory sits at the top of the survey's wish list, and its new neighbors at Village at Prasada appear on the survey's favorites list.
The row it's joining is already on the favorites list
According to the developer announcement from SimonCRE, The Cheesecake Factory will take about 7,500 square feet on the existing restaurant row at Village at Prasada. That's the 1.3-million-square-foot power center at Loop 303 and Waddell Road. Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant, Barrio Queen, Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers, and O.H.S.O. Brewery already share that row.
Now compare that row with the survey's Top Ten Favorite restaurants. O.H.S.O. Brewery ranked fifth, Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers sixth and Barrio Queen eighth. Explore Surprise lists O.H.S.O. at 13448 N. Prasada Parkway and Barrio Queen at 13434 N. Prasada Parkway. It describes O.H.S.O. as a dog-friendly craft-beer restaurant and points to Barrio Queen's tableside pomegranate guacamole and Cochinita Pibil.
The changes on the row go beyond one new tenant. The project adds a family-oriented splash pad and updated marquee signage for the restaurant row. It also adds about 21,100 square feet of new shop and restaurant space at the southeast corner of Prasada Parkway and Alexandria Way. ABC15's report on the announcement confirmed the same pieces and the late-2027 target.
How a No. 7 request climbed to No. 1
The Cheesecake Factory didn't arrive at the top of the list all at once. The city's announcement lays out the climb:
- 2017: It first appears on the Top 10 Most Desired Restaurants list, at No. 7.
- 2020: It reaches No. 2.
- 2021 through 2026: It holds No. 1 every year.
- July 2024: On National Cheesecake Day, the city holds its first "Bring Your Cheesecake to Work Day" and fills its social channels with employees posing with cheesecakes.
- Later in 2024: More than 500 residents vote on an Official Cheesecake Flavor of the City of Surprise and pick White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle.
- National Cheesecake Day 2025: The city releases "Mission: Cheesecake," an action-movie-style video about covert agents sent to bring the restaurant to Surprise.
- September 15, 2026: The announcement at city council.
In the same release, Economic Development Director Jeanine Jerkovic said that "behind every silly cheesecake video, zany social media post and crazy idea was a serious commitment to our community to advocate for what they want." The city also said more details on construction and the opening timeline will come later. Until then, late 2027 is the only timeframe anyone has published.
The other seven favorites are on Bell, Waddell and 145th Avenue
Most of the favorites list isn't at Village at Prasada. Seven of the ten are along Bell Road, Waddell Road and 145th Avenue. Addresses come from the Explore Surprise dining directory.
| 2026 favorite rank | Restaurant | Address | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spencer's Place | 15341 W. Waddell Rd., B101, and 15116 N. Cotton Ln. | Coffee bistro |
| 2 | Rio Mirage Café | 13863 W. Bell Rd. | Mexican food from Sonoran-style recipes |
| 3 | The Toast | 17058 W. Bell Rd., Suite 104 | Breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner |
| 4 | Bonfire Craft Kitchen & Tap House | 15332 W. Bell Rd. | Sports bar with wood-fired pizza, burgers and barbecue |
| 7 | Vogue Bistro | 15411 W. Waddell Rd. | French-American, upscale setting |
| 9 | Pita Kitchen Mediterranean Grill | 16853 N. 145th Ave. | Gyros, shawarma, kabobs, bowls and hummus |
| 10 | Saigon Kitchen | 14071 W. Bell Rd. | Traditional Vietnamese with a modern touch |
The top spot went to a coffee shop. Spencer's Place serves coffee and treats and provides work opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In July 2026, ABC15 reported that founder Karin York received a $15,000 Scripps Howard Fund award and noted the business now runs two Surprise coffee shops.
Several of the other favorites are locally owned. Explore Surprise describes Bonfire and Vogue Bistro as locally owned and The Toast as owned by a husband and wife. The Arizona Republic called Rio Mirage Café family-owned in November 2025, when it covered the restaurant breaking ground on a third Valley location in Goodyear.
The survey also explains why the favorites list matters. When it asked what residents leave Surprise to find, "Restaurants/Bakery/Cafe" ranked second, behind concerts and plays and ahead of clothing. The most-wanted dining experience was "Unique Foodie Eats," ahead of fine dining and "Eat-ertainment." Those answers are about demand that still goes elsewhere. The favorites list shows the local places respondents ranked above everything else.
What the wish list is still waiting on
The Cheesecake Factory takes the top spot off the wish list. Nine names remain below it. In 2026, the most-wanted restaurants after it were El Pollo Loco, Cracker Barrel, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, Postino, White Castle, Pita Jungle, P.F. Chang's, Wildflower and Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen. On the retail survey page, the city says its Economic Development team is in discussions with many of the brands residents want, but it doesn't name which ones.
The city's September release named two other announced arrivals.
- Flower Child is planned for Village at Prasada, with the Surprise location expected in late 2027, according to QSR Magazine.
- Whole Foods Market ranked No. 2 on the 2026 most-wanted retailers list, behind IKEA. The Daily Independent reported that it will anchor SimonCRE's Prasada East, a development planned for the southeast corner of Sarival and Waddell roads, across Sarival from Village at Prasada. No firm opening date has been published.
That puts new activity on both sides of Sarival. Village at Prasada is getting a new restaurant, a splash pad and a new retail pad. Prasada East is planned around a grocery anchor that residents ranked second among the retailers they want most.
The survey has a track record. In a 2024 release, the city said Costco and In-N-Out were once most-desired businesses that later opened in Surprise. It said HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Total Wine and More, and Oregano's Pizza Bistro also opened after appearing among the top-10 requests. Portillo's, which that release listed as under development, opened at 16320 W. Waddell Road with a grand opening on May 7, 2024, according to the Surprise Independent. ABC15's September coverage listed Dick's Sporting Goods and Hobby Lobby among the retailers now operating at Village at Prasada.
When the next list takes shape
KTAR reported that the 2026 survey ran from February 14 to March 15. The city hasn't said when the next survey will open. The record above shows that a name can stay on the list for years before a deal is announced. The Cheesecake Factory first appeared in 2017 and was announced in 2026.
The Cheesecake Factory and Flower Child are both expected in late 2027, and Whole Foods has no published date. The restaurants residents ranked highest in the 2026 survey are on Waddell Road, Bell Road, 145th Avenue and Prasada Parkway.
If you're settling into Surprise or helping family get to know the West Valley, I'm always happy to talk through which new spots are coming to which part of town. Stephanie White keeps track of openings at Village at Prasada, Prasada East and along Bell Road. Schedule a Consultation whenever you'd like a local read on what's changing near you.
