BEST NEW RESTAURANTS IN OMAHA: 2023 EDITION
Coming into the year, I expected 2023 to be the year of pizza in Omaha. The openings of several heavily anticipated pizza joints were announced, and I anticipated Omaha’s already robust pizza scene to get even better.
But while the pizza didn’t disappoint (and you’ll see several of those joints on this list), Omaha’s newcomers serve far more than just slices. We gained an Italian space with pasta that rivals any in the city, a Texas BBQ joint with brilliant brisket, and a brand new food hall with creative takes on classic Chinese and tailgate classics.
I’ve been doing this exercise for five years now, and Omaha’s new roster list might have been most impressive this year. Keeping this list pared down to 10 was truly difficult, but you don’t have 3 hours to read my food ramblings, so I had to keep my list slim and trim.
Here are, in my opinion and in no particular order, the best 10 new restaurants in Omaha in 2023.
2022 edition | 2021 | 2020 | 2019
Top 10 New Restaurants in Omaha
Mission Ave BBQ
Location: 900 W Mission Ave (Bellevue)
Owner Scott Fogle cut his teeth cooking at some of Texas’ most beloved BBQ restaurants, and he brought that fantastic Texas flavor to Omaha in 2023. At Mission Ave BBQ, the brisket, with a simple salt and pepper rub, is ridiculously juicy and has a tremendous, crusty bark; it’s the best in Omaha. And the ribs are large, meaty, and have a spectacular smoke ring.
All the ‘que is great, but what really sets Mission Ave BBQ apart is the tacos. The restaurant will nestle any of its meats, including the tender, savory pulled pork or the surprisingly juicy turkey, inside a chewy griddled tortilla. But don’t pass on the Brisket Taco, complete with guacamole, mild salsa, and cotija cheese—in my opinion, it’s among the best tacos in Omaha.
Semo Pasta + Wine
Location: 414 N Main St (Fremont)
Chef/owner Drew Statz is obsessed with pasta, as you’ll experience from the first bite at Semo Pasta +Wine. Every noodle is is mixed, kneaded, rested, and extruded in house, resulting in tender yet firm noodles and shapes with just the right amount of bite.
Semo excels at pairing sauces and proteins with its various noodles, such as a rich, meaty bolognese with pappardelle or a sweet bison ragu that nestles into the corkscrews of fusilli. The menu changes weekly based on what ingredients are fresh and in season, ensuring you’re always getting peak produce at this cozy, intimate Fremont abode.
Salted Edge
Location: 110 S 243rd St (Waterloo)
The ambience alone makes Salted Edge worth a visit, as this gorgeous restaurant sits right off a lake and features an open kitchen, allowing you to catch both beautiful sunsets and the talented team hard at work creating your meal.
The menu is wide-ranging, but every item has an upgrade that’s a bit unexpected. The deviled eggs are topped with smoked tomato bacon jam and fried shrimp, the ribeye is paired with a bone marrow bordelaise, and the brick oven pizzas range from traditional (Margherita; Pepperoni) to downright fantastical (Bison Truffle Tartare; Prosciutto & Pear). Chef Joel Hassanali has been cooking all over the country for 25 years, and his varied experience is on full display.
Perhaps the best example is the Bread Board, which features four wildly different breads—honey-dipped cornbread, orange rosemary biscuits, cayenne parmesan popovers, and herb butter buns—all with unique toppings and butters to match their particular flavors.
What’s beautiful about Salted Edge is you can come in for a high end dinner of truffle risotto and a 16-oz. Dry-Aged Prime Ribeye, or you can drop in for a casual pizza and burger. Whichever route you choose, Salted Edge will product it at a high level, and with flawless service.
Mootz
Location: 8725 Shamrock Rd (Countryside Village)
What started as a food truck in 2020 graduated into a brick and mortar in Countryside Village in 2023, allowing owner Collin Adkisson to craft his pizzas in a brilliant wood-fired oven and produce them at a grander scale. And thus Mootz, already beloved by Omaha, jumped to a whole new level.
The dough is thin but firm with a crusty bite, brilliant airy bubbles, and tasty charred spots. It’s accented by a mildly sweet sauce and brilliant gobs of milky Fior di Latte Mozzarella cheese that infuses each bite with a creamy burst, and the cheese has a sweet, delicate flavor. Whether you opt for the Pepperoni with its crispy, curled-up cups or the delightfully simple Margherita, you’ll enjoy one of the best pizzas in Omaha.
Lemon Tree Cafe
7614 Main St (Ralston)
Lemon Tree Cafe takes the homey, familiar vibes of a breakfast cafe and combines them with the creative whims of a talented chef to complete a completely unique breakfast experience.
To be clear, you can get excellent versions of breakfast staples like pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and hashes at Lemon Tree. But this Ralston joint quickly captured the hearts of locals with its inspired twists on the classics, such as Jalapeno Popper French Toast, pancakes with ham and bacon cooked inside them, and the Dawn Phenomenon, one of Omaha’s best breakfast sandwiches. And the friendly service and humble vibes make you want to slow down and savor every moment of your time in this familial hangout.
Lyle's Pizzeria
Location: 5213 Leavenworth St
For all the pizza joints in Omaha, you won’t find any that have quite the crust as Lyle’s Pizzeria. First, the dough is created by the bread baking geniuses at Lola’s, a partner restaurant. Then it’s baked to golden brown perfection in deck ovens, giving each pizza a firm, crispy base with puffy, chewy outsides and delightful charred spots.
These personal-sized pizzas only have a few ingredients, allowing the dough and the tangy sauce to be the star. But while classics like Pepperoni and Margherita will always grace the menu, Lyle’s also experiments with specials featuring peaches, pulled pork, potatoes, zucchini, and other fresh ingredients not normally found on pizza. And it’s all delivered in a cozy, welcoming Dundee wine bar, with plenty of drink options.
Gyro Kings
Location: 632 N Saddle Creek Rd
The typical Greek gyro this is not. Gyro Kings is going all in on the New York street version of the gyro—rice and beef served over turmeric rice and doused in sauces (no tzatziki here, though). The concept has blown up in the northeast, and all it takes is one bite of a rice platter to understand why.
To be clear, you can still get meat inside a pita at Gyro Kings. But the restaurant’s crown jewel is a massive bed of toothsome rice (flavored with Egyptian spices) topped with gyro beef and hunks of tender marinated chicken. Served with a spicy salad and two creamy sauces (one garlicky, the other with some heat), this bowl delivers a different flavor combination in every bite. And though the portions are massive, you won’t be able to stop yourself from eating it all.
Kamp
Location: 3618 Farnam St
Kamp is what you get might get if you let an award-winning chef into a fast food test kitchen. This food hall offers burgers, wings, chicken sandwiches, and Chinese takeout… but in an elevated manner.
The concepts are all the brainchild of Kristina Lee, the flavor genius and chef who created the uber-popular pop-up Nice Rollz. And while Nice Rollz continues to pump out some of the best fried rice and egg rolls you’ll find, Kamp also has Single Double, a burger joint slinging killing smash burgers, and Angel Wingz, a chicken wing joint that can rival just about any in the city. With multiple concepts under one roof, you can go with a group of friends, grab a round of drinks, and allow everyone to get exactly what meal they desire.
Reis' Bakery
Location: 1314 S 119th St
Reis’ Bakery is like Willy Wonka’s workshop, but for international breads and pastries. You’ll see and taste things here that you’ve never heard of before, but you’ll come back craving more.
Some of the more familiar items include the croissants, which have seemingly infinite buttery, flaky layers, and the crusty, chewy baguettes. But you should try some new treats, like the dense, pearl-sugar studded Leige Waffles. Or the Kouign-Amann, the French pastry that’s basically a cross between a croissant and a sticky bun. Just go into Reis’ Bakery, close your eyes in front of the pasty case, and point in a random direction—whatever item your finger lands on, you have no doubt it’ll be delicious.
Rotisserie Urban Bistro (R.U.B.)
Location: 1917 S 67th St (Aksarben)
It might seem odd at first to hear that the owner of Au Courant Regional Kitchen, one of Omaha’s premier fine dining restaurants, opened a fast casual joint centered on rotisserie chickens. But once you dine at Rotisserie Urban Bistro—or RUB, for short—you’ll see the same care and attention goes into the food here; it’s just presented in a different package.
The chicken, which can be ordered on the bone or shredded, is ridiculously moist and tender, and the skin adds a wonderful savory touch. You can choose to have the poultry or porchetta in a sandwich or with any combination of RUB’s sides—including saffron rice, sweet plantains, potatoes, and cucumber yogurt salad—and delicious sauces. The personalization and convenience alone make RUB worth checking out, but the chicken will make you swear off grocery store rotisserie forever.
Honorable Mention: Fig.; Zaytuna; Mexitli Restaurant; Know Good Eats; Willie Dogs; Sand Point; Williamsburg Pizza