If there is something we love in the Coachella Valley, it’s food.

And this year brought many new restaurants, flavors and concepts to the desert.

The restaurant scene in the desert is ever changing, and it can be difficult to keep track of all the openings and closings going on from west to east.

So, let's take a look back at some of the exciting local restaurants that opened in 2017:

1. A fast, casual take on Mediterranean cuisine

The shopping centers around El Paseo in Palm Desert are becoming home to many local and chain restaurants.

One of the most recent additions is Luna Grill.

The fast, casual and affordable Mediterranean eatery opened in October and offers delicious dishes in big portions (plus wine and beer). Some highlights include the falafel as an appetizer, the ground sirloin kabob (around $11) for an entree, and the mini cupcakes for dessert.

Luna Grill Palm Desert is the chain’s 39th restaurant and the company is growing fast. So, don’t be surprised if you see more locations popping up in the near future.

Luna Grill is located at 73-405 Highway 111, Suite 105 in Palm Desert. For hours and more information go to lunagrill.com

More:A closer look at the new Mediterranean restaurant in the valley everyone is talking about

2. People can’t stop raving about this one

New Mediterranean-style restaurants were a theme this year in the valley, and Evzin Mediterranean Cuisine made its way into the hearts of many desert foodies.

The restaurant’s first location in Palm Desert opened last December and the small eatery quickly became a valley favorite. The menu at Evzin constantly changes, but the motto to “live and eat well,” as well as the delicious flavor, stays the same.

Evzin fans from Palm Springs were delighted when news broke of the restaurant opening a second location and taking over the kitchen at the Caliente Tropics Resort Hotel earlier this year.

Evzin is located at 72695 Hwy. 111, Ste. A6 in Palm Desert and 411 E Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. For hours and more information on both locations, visit evzincuisine.com

More:Take a look inside the delicious Mediterranean restaurant, Evzin, in Palm Springs

3. Not one, but two new eateries at the new downtown hotel

When the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs opened its doors to the public in November, locals and tourists rejoiced.

The rooftop views, the majestic lobby and its two restaurants elevated what is the crown jewel of the downtown Palm Springs redevelopment to new heights.

Downstairs, Juniper Table offers a fast and casual counter-service experience with fresh breakfast and lunch shareable items. Items like the avocado flatbread ($13) and the JT Burger with white cheddar, smoked onion aioli and a sesame bun ($18) are some highlights on the menu.

On the roof, 4 Saints provides a more sophisticated menuthat complements the great aerial views of the valley patrons can experience. You can’t leave 4Saints without trying the Wild Boar entree, with Boudin Noir, Apple, Parsnip, Braised Radish, Pickled Red Pearl Onion, and Red Wine-Grain Mustard.

The Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs is located at 100 W Tahquitz Canyon Way in Palm Springs. For hours and more information on both locations, go to rowanpalmsprings.com

More:Two new restaurants coming to the Kimpton hotel in downtown Palm Springs

More:I got to tour The Rowan Palm Springs and spoiler alert: It's pretty darn cool

4. Handcrafted cocktails, shareable foods and giant Jenga

Three words to consider about Moxie Palm Springs: Toasted. Brie. Bread.

If the bar on top of Broken Yolk in downtown Palm Springs has anything going for it, it’s the toasted brie bread shareable food item ($12). The dish consists of a french loaf, melted brie cheese, dried cherries, macadamia nuts, chili flakes and balsamic glaze.

Owner Oscar Babb’s dream before opening Moxie at the beginning of this year was to own a bar that would offer patrons handcrafted cocktails and a really fun time. With Moxie’s delicious cocktails, many food items, live entertainment and games like giant Jenga in their patio, the dream has become a reality.

Moxie Palm Springs is located in the second floor of 262 S Palm Canyon Dr in Palm Springs. For hours and more information go to moxiepalmsprings.com

More:Broken Yolk valley owner opens rooftop bar Moxie in Palm Springs

5. An intimate setting you better Instagram

Boutique hotels in Palm Springs house some of the desert’s greatest food gems.

Azúcar Restaurant and Bar at La Serena Villas is the latest of these restaurants, and you’ll want to snap some photos of the interior decor while you’re there. The menu consists of crafted cocktails, as well as Mediterranean-influenced tapas and shareable food items that can’t be missed.

And the white-framed Frida Kahlo portraits decorating the dining room walls will provide an eclectic background for your latest Instagram post.

For more information, business hours or to make a reservation, call 844-932-8044 or visit laserenavillas.com

More:You and your Instagram need to get to this Palm Springs restaurant

6. It all started with a tamale

Old Town Indio has a culinary hit in its hands with Casa de Silvia.

The Mexican restaurant was born from owner Silvia Rendon’s love for sharing her food with the community around her. She and her family were inspired to open Casa de Silvia after winning Best Overall Tamale at the 2016 Indio International Tamale Festival. This year, Rendon was awarded for her cooking again.

Casa de Silvia’s signature are its tamales, but patrons can enjoy an extensive menu of authentic breakfast and lunch dishes, like the chilaquiles con salsa roja ($9.50), and you better try their dessert empanadas and their horchata iced coffee.

And if you can’t make it to the store, don’t worry. The restaurant is on UberEATS.

Casa de Silvia is located 82720 Miles Ave in Indio. For hours and more information go to their Facebook page.

More:With their award-winning tamales and Horchata Iced Coffee, this restaurant in Indio is an instant hit

7. Introducing a new food trend: Poké

With Pokéhana opening its first location in La Quinta last December, the poké trend in the Coachella Valley started and it has no intention to slow down.

Patrons became enamored with the idea of a fast, counter-service restaurant providing a healthier alternative to other fast food and chain restaurants in the area. After Pokéhana, boxer Timothy Bradley Jr. and his wife Monica opened Haus of Poké in April.

Pokéhana opened a second location in Palm Desert this fall and Haus of Poké already teased an upcoming second location in Palm Springs opening soon. So if you haven’t tried the typical Hawaiian dish yet, you will soon.

Pokéhana is located at 78742 Highway 111 in La Quinta and 73405 CA-111 Suite 104 in Palm Desert. For hours and more information go to pokehana.com

Haus of Poké is located at 42500 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage. The Palm Springs location has not been announced yet. For hours and more information go to hausofpoke.com

More:Boxer Tim Bradley and wife opened a restaurant and the style of food is taking over the desert

8. I’m sorry, did you say this food was vegan?

I’m not a follower of the vegan lifestyle in any way, but after taking a bite of Chef Tanya’s Kitchen’s “El Cubano” sandwich, I almost converted.

At Chef Tanya’s the ham for the Cubano is substituted with seitan -- a wheat protein that, marinated the “Tanya way,” provides an exquisite alternative. For owner Tanya Petrovna, the eatery represents a return to the Coachella Valley food scene after founding, and later leaving, Native Foods Cafe.

You don’t have to be vegan to enjoy this restaurant located in Palm Springs’ industrial area. Just give that Cubano a try and get back to me.

Chef Tanya’s Kitchen is located at 706 S Eugene Rd in Palm Springs. For hours and more information go to cheftanyapetrovna.com

More:You won't think of vegan food the same after trying Palm Springs' newest lunch place

9. A popular brewery gets a pop-up

Indio chef Jeshua Garza started Kuma Catering as a food blog. Once foodies got a hold of photos of Kuma’s tasty-looking dishes, the blog transitioned into a catering company.

Then, the partnership with the Coachella Valley Brewing Company happened.

Kuma Catering started a weekend pop-up restaurant at the popular brewery earlier this year, offering delicious and innovative menu items, crafted with local ingredients. The menu changes every time the pop-up restaurant is open, and it's quickly become a favorite place for food and beer fans, alike.

The pop-up wasn’t always smooth sailing, however. The Riverside County Department of Environmental Health shut down the pop-up after notifying the brewery that they didn't have the proper permits for Kuma to serve food there. However, they made a triumphant return to the brewery back in October.

To find out when Kuma Catering will be at the Coachella Valley Brewing Company next, follow them on Instagram @kumacatering. The restaurant shares their menu around the middle of the week.

The Coachella Valley Brewing Company is located at 30-640 Gunther Street in Thousand Palms. For more information on Kuma go to kumacatering.com

More:You'll never think of bar food the same after trying the pop-up at this valley brewery

10. A welcomed return to The River

Jerry and Barbara Keller’s triumphant return to The River in Rancho Mirage with Acqua California Bistro was met with joy from valley locals and tourists, alike.

The new restaurant is a successor to Acqua Pazza — the Keller’s beloved restaurant once at the same location — combined with all the glitz, glamour and food that patrons have come to know of their Palm Springs restaurant, Lulu California Bistro.

The menu is extensive and has something for every taste, but to close out the dinner, you should get Barbara Keller’s favorite dessert drink, the Chocolatini ($10.99).

Acqua California Bistro is located at 71-700 CA-111 in Rancho Mirage. For more information go to acquaranchomirage.com

Did we miss one? Tell us your favorite new restaurants from this year in the comments.

Read more about food in the desert in 2017-2018:

Farewell: These are the restaurants that closed in the Coachella Valley in 2017

See you soon: These new restaurants are coming to the Coachella Valley in 2017

Jose Alejandro Bastidas is the food and drinks reporter and producer for The Desert Sun. You can reach him at Jose.Bastidas@DesertSun.com or on Twitter @jabastidas