As 2019 draws to a close, I think it’s important to look back and recognize the restaurants that entered the Omaha scene in 2019. It’s not easy to open a new joint, but these chefs and owners deserve the chance to take a bow. This isn’t a comprehensive list, as I didn’t get out to every new spot that opened this year. Of what I did get the chance to try, these were the best.
In no particular order, here are my favorite new restaurants in Omaha for 2019.
Omaha already had a very strong pizza scene when Copps entered the fray in the fall. The sheer number of great pizza options has choked out other newcomers.
But in a short time Copps has already established itself as one of the top players with its creative pizzas and ability to order personal 8″ pies. The burnt ends pizza is one of the best slices you’ll find in Omaha, and owner Kristopher Copp is constantly experimenting with new creations and ways to make his menu even more diverse. The cream cheese base on many of the Copps’ signature pies is inventive without being heavy handed.
If you’re not feeling pie, stop in for some of Omaha’s best wings. These drumsticks and flats are absolutely massive, and Copps allows diners to finish their wings in the oven, caramelizing the sauce and creating a wonderful grilled texture.
I’ve sent a lot of people to Copps over the past few months, and nearly everyone has come back enthusiastically thanking me. So join them. This newbie is slinging some of the best pizza in the city.
Ignore the goofy name, savor the awesome food. Krab Kingz specializes in seafood boils. That means giant crab clusters with sweet, tender meat, plump shrimp, boiled red potatoes, and corn on the cob, all sprinkled a deliciously salty, yet not overpowering, seasoning.
And while the restaurant stakes its reputation on seafood, don’t sleep on the andouille sausage. The casing is just perfect, producing a brilliant snap with each bite. It’s smoky with just enough heat, making this one of the best sausages I’ve had in Omaha.
The restaurant is small and a bit cramped, so I’d recommend getting it to go if you live near Midtown Crossing. Whether you eat in or at home, you’re going to get an experience unlike any other in Omaha.
It’s not easy for a competition barbecue champion to open a restaurant, as the two playing fields are completely different. But owner Blane Hunter has managed to pull it off. After a bit of a rough start, Porky Butts BBQ is really doing something right.
The restaurant makes its mark by using wagyu beef for its brisket. Wagyu beef has more marbled, which essentially bastes the meat from the inside during the smoking process, injecting it with additional flavor, juiciness, and tenderness. Other barbecue joints in Omaha use this cut occasionally as a special, but Porky Butts offers it every day.
The brisket is the standout, but Porky Butts also has very good smoked sausage, which encapsulates smoky flavors with a nice casing. The ribs are large, meaty, and tender. The pulled pork and burnt ends, on my visits, at least, could still use a little work, but Porky Butts is already one of the best BBQ restaurants in Omaha.
The Inner Rail
When the Inner Rail Food Hall opened in Aksarben Village in the fall, it introduced several new restaurants to Omaha while providing a new home for a few others.
Kathmandu Momo Station is the true standout. The original location is in the Blackstone district, and this spot simply exposes more people to the wonders of steamed dumplings. These tender half-moons of goodness are stuffed with chicken or pork, and the result is a tender explosion of flavor.
Noli’s Pizzeria is another Blackstone resident to move into the Inner Rail, but I recommend going to the original location, where I’ve found the quality to be higher and pizza can be ordered by the slice (vs. an entire pie). I absolutely love Noli’s, and it’s not bad at the Inner Rail. But go to Blackstone and get the full experience.
B Squared Burger has very flavorful patties, but they’re undersized (just get the double). The Farine+Four bun is fluffy and soft, the perfect delivery vessel, and adding bacon is a must. But the “B2 sauce” is lacking in flavor, and these burgers aren’t quite worth the high price. B Squared is worth visiting, but not seeking out.
The offerings at Sofra Creperie are creative as they are delicious. The restaurant stuffed thin, folded pancakes with both sweet and savory flavors. I highly recommend the Chicken Pesto option.
Whichever restaurant you order a main dish from, consider stopping by Maharani Indian Kitchen for some of its fantastic naan bread. Don’t get me wrong, the entrees are great here—especially the Chicken Tikka Masala—but the soft, tearable naan is a real treat, especially when dipped in the mint chutney.
If you need to get your caffeine fix, Briggs Bean is a great place to do so. I thoroughly enjoy their black coffee, and their lattes and more elegant creations are fantastic as well.
Forno originally opened as a second location for Dante Pizzeria, but the owners pivoted in early 2019. While the overall cooking style and some of the menu options are similar, the vibe at Forno is very different from its parent restaurant. Whereas Dante is an elegant sit-down pizzeria, Forno is an order-at-the-counter joint with a fast-paced vibe.
The pizzas remain fantastic, highlighted by the brilliant charred, bubbly crust that Dante fans are familiar with. Forno just delivers pies faster, often within minutes of ordering, and provides them in a much more casual setting. As great as the pizza is, don’t sleep on the pasta. The handmade noodles help produce some of the better pasta dishes I’ve had in Omaha.
Again, this isn’t a complete list, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t shoutout the reopenings of Omaha staples The Drover and Rivera’s Mexican Food.
But if you’re looking to get out of your established restaurant routine and try some new spots, these are great options.
Happy eating, and a very happy New Year to you!