There are a lot of great restaurants in Omaha, and they all need our help. With COVID-19 restricting restaurants to takeout and causing many diners to stay home, local restaurants aren’t getting near the business they usually do.
That’s why I’ve been eating out lately—a lot. I’m not rich by any means, but God has blessed my wife and I with good jobs, savings, and few other expenses, so we’ve tried to patronize several local spots.
I highly encourage you to support any Omaha restaurant. For the most part, they’re owned and staffed by hard-working people who were hit with an unexpected hurdle they don’t deserve. If you’re trying to find a delicious meal, here are some of my favorites (in no particular order) from eating out over the past month (and just in general) in Omaha.
1. Homakase
Yoshitomo
What if I told you that you could have one of the best chefs in the Midwest come to your home and personally serve you a 14 courses of the best sushi you’ll find in the region, much less Omaha?
OK, so this isn’t quite that. But it’s close!
Omakase roughly translates to “I leave it in you hands” in Japanese, as a select few diners entrust a sushi chef to use the best and freshest ingredients to serve them one of the best meals of their lives. Dave Utterback, the James Beard-nominated chef/owner at Yoshitomo, typically does a couple omakases a month, but COVID-19’s restrictions forced him to adjust. You can still can the omakase experience, just with social distancing.
The meal, typically offered on Saturdays (watch Yoshitomo’s Facebook page) comes with 13 pieces of sushi and sashimi (with scoop of Ted & Wally’s ice cream for dessert), along with a detailed menu and a link to a YouTube video in with Dave walks diners through each cut of fish, what makes it special, and how to best consume it. The experience is different and fun, and the flavors are delicious. You won’t find fish close to this fresh or flavorful anywhere else in Omaha, and each bite is a completely new adventure of flavors. There’s limited availability, so be sure to keep your eye out for this special dish. It’s not to be missed.
2. Wagyu Burger
j coco
The only faster way to start an office brawl than asking, “Is Nebraska-Iowa a rivalry game?” is to discuss what the best burger in Omaha is. Everyone has a favorite, and they’d rather die with their preferred patty than admit another is superior.
While I’m not quite that extreme, I have a favorite that simply never lets me down—the Wagyu Burger at j coco.
It’s as simple as a burger can get; just a patty with special sauce; other items such as bacon, cheese, and caramelized onions can be added for a minor upcharge. But simplicity is what makes the burger so brilliant. Because it’s not covered in a bed of toppings, the highly-marbled beef really gets to sing. The cooking process causes the beef’s fat to melt into every bite, resulting in one of the most juicy and flavorful patties I’ve experienced. Adding bacon just sends the dish over the top.
With all respect to the delightful Croque Garcon at Block 16, this burger holds a special place in my heart.
3. Par-Baked Pizza
Dante
There are many reasons I find Dante‘s pizza to be my favorite in Omaha: the freshness of the ingredients, the pleasant fatty pops of mozzarella cheese, and the tangy San Marzano tomato sauce, to name a few.
But what really sends Dante’s pizza over the top is its chewy crust, littered with pleasurable dough bubbles. Though I’ve never experienced any issues carrying out from Dante, the restaurant feared its pizzas might steam themselves in the box during the drive home, deflating that wondrous crust.
Enter the partially baked pizza. Dante starts the cooking process, then has diners finish it in their home ovens (500 degrees for 3 minutes). This ensures the pizza is not only warm upon serving, but also that the crust maintains its chewy brilliance.
4. Cassoulet
Le Bouillon
Of all the cuisines you’d expect to thrive in a to-go container, classic French likely wouldn’t be near the top. I don’t know how Le Bouillon manages to deliver flavors of this level, but I don’t care. I don’t want the secret. I just want more of this cassoulet.
For this dish, Le Bouillon layers duck confit, pork belly, and pork sausage atop a bed of tender white beans. The beans absorb the fattiness of saltiness of the meat, creating a harmonious and downright delicious dish.
Added bonus: each order comes with a crusty-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside baguette, a wonderful accompaniment to sop up any leftover juices at the end of the meal.
5. New York-Style Pizza
Virtuoso Pizzeria
The first few times I had slices from Virtuoso Pizzeria, I struggled to put my finger on what it was exactly that made these slices so wonderful. Then I got to see chef/owner David Losole craft a pie, and I witnessed the care and personal touch he puts into each pizza and I understood; it’s love.
Sure, roll your eyes. That cliché is better served on a Hallmark card than a New York slice. But I dare you to taste a Virtuoso slice and tell me there isn’t something just different about it. From the charred, foldable dough to the fresh, well-dispersed ingredients, these are some of the best slices I’ve encountered. In fact, the Pepp Pepp Pepp slice (that’s right, pepperoni three ways!) is my single favorite pizza slice in Omaha.
6. Poutine Burrito
Block 16
Block 16‘s Poutine Burrito is already my single favorite food item in Omaha. It’s a beautiful monster, crafted with shaved steak, cheese curds, tater tots, gravy, and malt vinegar. It’s the perfect mix of salt, fat, and acid, all tightly wrapped up in a firm tortilla.
I never considered the importance of that tortilla before COVID-19, but it’s that outer shell that allows this to be an upper echelon to-go item. Block 16 finishes the burrito on the grill, sealing the tortilla shut and trapping the heat inside. This ensures your burrito will remain warm and delicious, regardless of your commute. It was nearly as fresh after my 20-minute commute as it normally is if just brought to my table in the restaurant. This is a MUST get item.
7. Pork Dumplings
Kathmandu Momo Station
As my taste buds have evolved, I’ve found myself a sucker for dumplings over the years. Potstickers, steamed dumplings, samosas, gyozas, baos… if there’s a dough shell with meaty filling on the menu, I’m probably ordering some.
And the momos (Nepalese steamed dumplings) from Kathmandu Momo Station are the best I’ve had in Omaha.
The dumpling’s exterior is just perfect, a tender, doughy casing that keeps its integrity yet is easily cut through with the softest bite. These golf ball-sized pockets are stuffed generous of savory pork (chicken and vegetarian options are available as well). I pop these like candy on their own, but Kamthamdu’s provided hot sauces (Mild, Sherpa, and Grim Creeper) give it some extra bite.
While I highly encourage you to try the momos fresh, the Blackstone location is now selling frozen versions that can be finished at home in an Instapot or on the stove, adding an extra layer of convenience.
8. Pizza
Piezon's Pizzeria
To be very clear, what makes Piezon’s Pizzeria an elite takeout option is very simple: it’s tremendous pizza. The dough, made fresh each day, forms a brilliant base in the restaurant’s deck stone ovens. The tangy sauce perfectly complements the cheese, and the toppings are fresh and plentiful. Whether you choose from one of Piezon’s 11 signature pies or create your own (from 27 toppings, cheeses, and sauces), you’re going to have a great pizza.
But what takes Piezon’s to the next level is its customization. Let’s be honest—whether between a group of indecisive friends or picky kids, it’s difficult to decide on a style of pizza. Piezon’s allows you to divide your pie into halves, even fourths, to assure everyone in your party gets exactly what they want.
My suggestion? Try The Hos (a meat lover’s pie on steroids), an Oh Mio Dio (with Heavenly dollops of cream cheese), or a Mahalo (if you enjoy pineapple on pizza, that is).
9. Imperial Wagyu & Pork Ragu
Dolce
I’ll admit it—as much as I adored this pasta in-house, and as much as I trust chef Anthony Keuper, I was a bit skeptical this dish would survive the ride home and be as delicious as my memory served me.
How silly of me to doubt Dolce.
The fettuccine noodles are cooked just short of al dente, maintaining, in my opinion, the perfect level of tenderness. But the real star is the ragu: the fatty Wagyu beef is a natural complement to the lean TD Niche heritage pork, and the tomato adds just enough sweetness to cut through the fat. The shaved grana padano cheese actually benefits from the ride home, as the residual heat from the box causes it to melt and spread a salty note into every bite.
Who says fine dining can’t work in a takeout box?
10. Burnt Ends
Porky Butts BBQ
If you’re craving barbecue, Porky Butts BBQ is your go-to in Omaha. You really can’t go wrong with your order; the ribs; sausage, and Wagyu brisket are all tremendous. Owner Blane Hunter is such a wizard, he can even turn a turkey sandwich into a transformative experience.
But if you really want to be taken to a special place, get an order of the burnt ends. These cubed morsels are so fatty and tender that I’m forced to resort to an over-used and normally untrue cliche: they literally will melt in your mouth. Porky Butts removes the point of the brisket and smokes it for additional time, resulting in a bit of texture to the luscious interior.
Diet food this is not. But just trust me, the last thing you care about while shoveling these into your mouth is your waistline. Plus, the extra minutes of the treadmill are more than worth it.
11. Rice Bowl
Okra African Grill
Imagine the customization of Chipotle, only with a supremely talented chef placing authentic African flavors into your rice bowl.
That’s Okra African Grill in a nutshell.
Between red and white rice, 7 proteins (ranging from roasted lamb to steak kabos to grilled chicken), 4 sauces, and 13 toppings, your options are seemingly endless at this new establishment. But variety isn’t what makes Okra special. The quality of ingredients truly stands out. The rice is fluffy and tender. The vegetables are sautéed to achieve maximum flavor. The proteins are cooked perfectly, and don’t even get me started on the delicious tang of the tomato sauce.
12. California Burrito
Burrito Envy
Much like with Block 16’s Poutine Burrito, Burrito Envy‘s signature items are perfect for takeout because they’re finished on the grill, sealing in the heat and keeping the product warm. The grilling also provides a crisp texture and keeps the burrito from falling apart after a few bites.
While I’d recommend any of BE’s burritos, the California remains the best I’ve had. The steak is plentiful and juicy, the guac adds freshness, and the Envy sauce supplies just enough heat. But the MVP is the tater tots, which bring nice bursts of salt and fat.
13. Pepperone Pizza
Via Farina
Like Dante, Via Farina specializes in Neapolitan-style pizzas. The dough is so brilliant and chewy that I’d be happy to eat an entire crust without cheese, toppings, or sauce. Think of the best breadstick you’ve had, and now imagine that as the base of a pizza.
That being said, Via Farina’s pies are only enhanced by toppings, and none more so than the humble pepperone. There’s nothing special about it on paper. But Via Farina uses giant pepperonis, frisbees of salt and fat that envelop nearly the entire pizza.
These are but a few of my favorite to-go dishes in Omaha. I could go on and on listing meals from Kitchen Table, Dario’s Brasserie, Smokin Barrel BBQ, and more, not to mention family-style meals from Au Courant and The Hunger Block.
But I want to hear from you, too! Hit me with your favorite meals you’ve had to go from local Omaha restaurants in the comments below or on Twitter @danhoppen.