This past year has been a busy one in Omaha for restaurants openings, perhaps even topping the excitement of all the restaurants that opened in 2021. The following list are the city’s newest restaurants that A) opened in 2022 and B) survived that tough first year. You’ll want to check out and support these new restaurants in 2023!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
UPDATED: This post was updated in December 2023 following a few restaurant closures and name changes. Please let me know if you know of any additional changes needed!
New restaurants in downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha didn’t have nearly as many restaurants openings as, say, West Omaha, but the ones that did open caused a stir in Omaha, particularly when Texas de Brazil opened in the Capitol District in October at 1110 Capitol Ave. Reservations to the Brazilian steakhouse chain are still suggested if you want to dine there.
The most unique concept to open in 2022 was CTRL Coffee & Cereal Bar, which opened in June at 1016 S. 10th St., Suite 100. The interior design is as much fun and nostalgic as all the tasty, sugary cereals.
Other new restaurants in the neighborhood includes Phyl’s Deli, a small sandwich shop at 1006 Howard St., and Saro Cider, a Lincoln-based cider that opened a taproom and lounge at 1012 S. 10th St.
New restaurants in midtown Omaha
It was a busy year for Blackstone District, Countryside Village and the Aksarben Village. Let’s start with the breakfast spots that opened. Good Evans opened its first Omaha location at 1040 S. 74th Plaza, and Hurry Bird, a quick-service version of Early Bird, at 3824 Farnam St.
If coffee is on you radar, check out Lucy Ethiopian Coffee, which opened in July at 421 N. Saddle Creek Road. You can experience an Ethiopian coffee ceremony there.
Several restaurants serving food from around the world opened up in Midtown, including El Muchacho Alegre at 6222 N. 72nd St. and the Lincoln-based restaurant, Hacienda Real, opened in Omaha at 425 N. 78th St. The Asian Market opened a food course inside its store in May at 321 N. 76th St. The South Korean bakery chain, Tous Les Jours, opened in June at 7538 Dodge St.
Dining options expanded at Countryside Village with the opening of Koji at 8718 Pacific St. in Countryside Village and the custard shop, Countryside Cones, opened at 8721 Countryside Plaza. Koji is run by the same chef of Yoshitomo, one of Omaha’s best restaurants.
Additional restaurants that opened in the Blackstone District include Get Real Sandwiches in the at 3901 Farnam St. (Tip: kids eat free on Thursdays there), and Kamp. Kamp is sort of a food hall concept though considers itself an immersive bar experience. Its first restaurant to open is Single Double, a burger restaurant, and three more food spots should open in the next few months.
Sofra Kitchen, which opened at Midtown Crossing in August at 220 S. 31st Ave., Suite 3101. It’s a sister restaurant to Sofra Creperie and is focused on breakfast and lunch.
New restaurants in West Omaha
Following the nationwide explosion of pickle ball popularity, Blue Sky Patio & Pickleball opened in September. Blue Sky also includes new locations of Noli’s Pizzeria and Cheeseburgers – A Take-Out Joint at 10730 Pacific St., Suite 180.
In the spring, Star Indian Cuisine opened at 2429 S. 132nd St. and Capri opened at 17330 West Center Road. Later in 2022, the first Nebraska location of Bawarchi Indian Cuisine opened at 179043 Pierce Plaza, the Vietnamese restaurant Phở 79 opened at 631 N. 114th St., and Rib Shack Smokehouse opened at 10841 Q St.
Cookie fanatics celebrated when Omaha got not one, but two locations of Crumbl Cookie in 2022: 3606 N. 156th St. and 2883 S. 168th St.
New food trucks in Omaha
I’m sure there were several new food trucks opening in 2022 with much less fan fare, but there were two new additions that made foodie headlines: Three Kids Lobster and Izzy’s Pizza Bus, which serves up Detroit-style pizza. You’ll find both of them frequently at Trucks & Taps, 5402 S. 108th St.
New restaurants near Omaha
While I tend to lump towns like Papillion, La Vista and Elkhorn as all part of the greater Omaha metro, they are their own entities. So, here are a few new restaurants that have opened in 2022 in their part of the metro:
In the first half of 2022, Papillion welcomed Sauced by Alfaro at 115 N. Washington, Papillion, Neb. Additional restaurants to open that year include Talus Spirits & Sustenance at 10914 Cumberland Drive, Papillion, Neb.; Bomb Taco at 120 Olson Drive, Papillion, Neb. (owned by the same people of the restaurant it’s replacing, El Chicano); Lux American Grill at 9839 S. 96th St., Suite 105, Papillion, Neb.; and the chain restaurant, On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, at 8810 S. 71st Plaza, Papillion, Neb.
The sports bar Hurrdat Sports Bar & Grill opened at 12744 Westport Parkway, LaVista, Neb., and in Gretna, Heavy Brewing Co. opened in November at 20333 Patton St. It’s family-owned brewery and taproom also serves prepared food.
El Arepon Venezuelan Food reopened in June at 1021 W. 23rd Ave., Bellevue, Neb., following the closing of the Blackstone food hall location.
Our neighbors across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, had a few notable openings, including Home Team Cookout at 3150 24th Ave., Council Bluffs, Iowa; the Cajun seafood chain, Red Anchor Seafood, at 3515 Metro Drive, Council Bluffs, Iowa; and J’s Coffee & Donuts opened at 149 W. Broadway, Council Bluffs, Iowa. A little further away from Omaha, Weekend Lakeside Bar & Grill opened at 339 Thomas Lake Road, Ashland, Neb.
Local restaurants with additional locations opened in 2022
It’s always good to see local restaurants supported enough that they’re able to expand. Here are some of the restaurants that opened new locations in 2022:
- Copps Pizza opened a second location in July at 2829 S. 181st St.
- Mouth of the South opened a second location at 1111 Harney St.
- Ashton Building in North Downtown’s Millwork Commons district is the site of new locations for Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop, Coneflower Creamery and Clean Slate (a Lincoln-based healthy meals delivery service).
- Legacy Gyros opened a second location at 6307 Center St.
- Jojo’s Diner opened new location at 13110 Birch Drive
- Dragon Wok Express opened at Nebraska Crossing, 21275 Nebraska Crossing Drive, suite 101, Gretna, Neb.
- SinfulBurger opened a second location at 14544 West Center Road
- Mercy Thai Restaurant opened its second location at 4104 Rivers Edge Parkway, Council Bluffs, Iowa
- Noli’s Pizzeria opened a new location at 11832 Standing Stone Drive, Gretna, Neb.
- IkaSan Ramen & Izakaya opened at in Village Pointe, the eatery’s fourth location
- Zen Coffee opened a drive-thru at 10309 Pacific St.
- Stories Coffee Co. opened new locations at Midtown Crossing (or will…it’s supposed to open by December 2022) and 10520 S. 204th St., Gretna, Neb.
- Early Bird Brunch opened a new location at 10730 Pacific St., Suite 108.
Torey
Friday 2nd of December 2022
The Beanery also opened an additional location at 168th and Giles (this is their 4th shop, adding to their locations in Gretna, Papillion and Ashland).