If you’re looking for something a little different in Scottsdale, Starfish Scottsdale is worth putting on your radar.

The Orange County-born restaurant made its Arizona debut this spring, bringing its version of Asian Coastal Cuisine to McCormick Ranch. And this isn't a restaurant built around just one Asian cuisine. The menu pulls flavors and techniques from Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, China, and Japan, with more than 70 dishes designed for sharing. (Starfish Hospitality Group)

For Scottsdale diners who like a little variety on the table, that's where Starfish gets interesting.

You can go raw bar and sushi, order dumplings and small plates, wander into Thai curries and noodles, or go bigger with seafood, steak, and wok-fired dishes. There is also a full bar with cocktails, sake, beer, and wine.

In other words, this isn't a sushi restaurant pretending to be something else. It's a full Asian-inspired menu built around coastal dining and sharing.

Starfish Hospitality Group was founded in 2011 by husband-and-wife team Archie and Gretchen McConnell.

The couple already operates Starfish locations in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, California, and Scottsdale represents the company's first step outside California. The group says the brand was inspired by the McConnells' travels throughout Asia and their desire to bring together different regional flavors rather than being locked into one particular cuisine. (Starfish Hospitality Group)

Scottsdale also makes sense for the concept.

The restaurant sits at the northwest corner of Hayden Road and Vía de Ventura, in McCormick Ranch. It was formerly home to Agave del Scottsdale and, briefly, Okay Maguey.

The 5,200-square-foot restaurant includes approximately 3,800 square feet indoors and a 1,400-square-foot patio. The patio is designed with a lush, tropical feel, while the interior uses custom artwork, colorful details and booth seating to create a Southeast Asian coastal vibe. (Scottsdale)

It feels intentionally different from the typical Scottsdale dining room.

This is where Starfish really spreads its wings.

The current menu covers everything from raw seafood and sushi rolls to dumplings, wok-fired dishes, curries, noodles, rice, and larger seafood and meat entrées. (Starfish Hospitality Group)

There is sashimi, ahi poké, and sushi rolls, including:

The Lobster Macadamia Roll is one of the dishes that has been highlighted since the Scottsdale opening, combining lobster, avocado, mango, cucumber, cilantro and roasted macadamia nuts.

And if you're not necessarily looking for sushi, don't worry. There's plenty more coming out of the kitchen.

This is the part of Starfish's menu that I think makes the most sense for Scottsdale groups.

Instead of everyone ordering one entrée, the menu encourages the table to order several things and share.

Think Braised BBQ Pork Buns, Korean Tacos, Wok-Fired Edamame, Mixed Herb Calamari, Wok-Fired Mussels, and several varieties of dumplings and wontons.

There are also lettuce wraps with your choice of chicken, shrimp, pork, or tofu.

And then there are the rolls.

Lots of rolls.

That's intentional. Starfish's philosophy is to create a menu where the table can explore several flavors instead of committing to one dish.

One thing that caught my attention while looking through the current menu is how far it goes beyond sushi.

You can order Pad Thai, Chow Mein, Star Fried Rice and Thai Crab Fried Rice.

There are curries.

There are Vietnamese-inspired dishes.

There are wok-fired specialties.

And then you've got seafood dishes like Chilean Sea Bass, Wild Thai Halibut in Banana Leaf, Grilled White Miso Black Cod and Seafood Thai Curry. (Starfish Hospitality Group)

The Candy Dragon Prawns are another signature-style dish worth knowing about — crispy prawns tossed in a honey-citrus glaze with candied walnuts and dragon fruit. (Starfish Hospitality Group)

On the meat side, there's everything from Cambodian Black Pepper Filet and Mongolian Beef to Thai Spicy Beef with Basil and two different preparations of baby back ribs.

That's a pretty big menu.

Starfish isn't treating the bar like an afterthought.

The restaurant offers cocktails, sake, wine, Asian beers and local beers, with drinks designed to complement the food.

The current cocktail menu includes the Wild Lychee Martini, Starfish Cooler, Enlightenment, Ginger Pinch, Zen Tea, Pornstar Martini, Cantaloupe Martini, Espresso Martini and Yokohama, among others. (Starfish Hospitality Group)

And if you're more of a sake person, there are both hot and cold sake selections.

For a restaurant built around sharing food, that's a pretty good setup.

Here's something Scottsdale diners should know.

Happy Hour runs daily from 3–6 p.m.

Starfish says the happy-hour menu includes more than 30 bites and rolls, along with specials on beer, wine, sake and specialty cocktails. The restaurant says the happy hour is available throughout the restaurant, not just at the bar. (OpenTable)

Current offerings start at around $13, making this an especially interesting option for an afternoon meetup, early dinner or a few drinks and small plates before the evening gets going. (OpenTable)

And yes, 3 p.m. is an unusually early happy hour for Scottsdale.

We're not complaining.

The restaurant's approximately 1,400-square-foot patio is designed to feel tropical and lush, with roughly 90 seats.

That's important because the patio isn't just a few tables stuck outside the front door.

It's part of the experience.

The combination of tropical landscaping, colorful artwork and the Asian coastal theme is designed to transport the restaurant away from the Arizona strip-mall look and into something that feels more like a vacation.

And in McCormick Ranch, where the neighborhood has plenty of outdoor dining potential, that works.

Starfish is positioned to work for all three.

Lunch: Daily, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Happy Hour: Daily, 3–6 p.m.

Dinner: Daily from 3 p.m. until closing. Current listed hours are 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday–Saturday. (Starfish Hospitality Group)

The restaurant also offers group dining, catering and takeout.

Reservations are available, and given the restaurant's popularity since opening, they're not a bad idea — particularly if you're planning to go during peak dinner hours or happy hour.

Starfish Scottsdale isn't trying to be the newest white-tablecloth steakhouse in town.

And that's a good thing.

It's bringing something different to McCormick Ranch — a colorful, energetic restaurant where sushi can sit next to Thai curry, Vietnamese flavors, Korean-inspired dishes, and wok-fired seafood.

The menu is broad enough that a group can come in several times and still have plenty left to explore.

And the atmosphere is part of the appeal.

It's lively. It's colorful. It's tropical. And it has enough going on that this feels like a restaurant where you could come for a quick happy hour and accidentally stay for dinner.

That's probably exactly what Starfish wants you to do.

For Scottsdale, this California import feels like a pretty natural fit.

And after making the jump from Orange County to the desert, Starfish has officially planted its flag in Scottsdale.

We'll be watching this one.

8390 E. Vía de Ventura
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
480-305-0441

Cuisine: Asian Coastal / Sushi / Thai
Lunch: Daily 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Happy Hour: Daily 3–6 p.m.
Dinner: Daily from 3 p.m. to close
Patio: Yes
Reservations: Available
Website: Starfish Hospitality Group

Bottom line: If you like seafood, sushi, Asian flavors and sharing a bunch of different things around the table, Starfish Scottsdale deserves a spot on your Scottsdale dining list.

Information and menus checked September 9, 2026; menu items and pricing can change. (Starfish Hospitality Group)