10 GREAT WOMEN-OWNED RESTAURANTS IN OMAHA
Restaurant ownership has historically leaned more towards males, but we’ve seen an encouraging shift in recent years, and that’s certainly the case in Omaha. More and more women are launching concepts and creating something new.
You can now find restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, and businesses of all kinds that are owned and run by women. Here are 10 that stand out to me and I’d highly encourage you to support.
Okra African Grill
Owner: Nina Sodji
At Okra African Grill, Nina brings some of her home country of Togo, Africa, in a familiar form: rice bowls. Though this restaurant employs a pick-and-choose bowl approach similar to Chipotle, this is no cafeteria line cuisine.
After starting with a base of white or red (Jellof) rice, you can pack your bowl with steak, roasted lamb, steak kabobs, pulled pork, sauteed shrimp, or grilled chicken. Then you choose from a bevy of fresh toppings, from fried plantains to roasted sweet potatoes, North African black-eyed peas, cornmeal fried okra, and more. The ingredients are unique in and of themselves, and the way that Nina spices and cooks them are different than you’ll find anywhere in Omaha.
The rice bowl is Nina’s way of introducing traditional African flavors in a format familiar to American palates, but you can go more traditional if you’d like. With ablo, akpan, and Nina’s favorite peanut butter chicken also on the menu, you can take your tastebuds on a trip to another continent with a meal at Okra.
Fariner Bakery
Owner: Ashely Welch
Fariner Bakery feels like a paradise escape from the busyness of everyday life. Step inside this Ashland gem and you’ll find the light from the giant plate glass windows, cozy atmosphere, and the smell of freshly-baked goods make you want to stay awhile.
The pastries and desserts coming out of the bakery’s kitchen are a testament to its baking prowess. The turnovers have more layers of flaky, crispy dough than one can count. The chocolate cake is rich and moist. And the cinnamon roll, a dense confection that is somehow still light and airy in the center, is as good as you’ll find around Omaha.
Prefer savory baking? Fariner offers scones, turnovers, and danishes with bacon, cheese, and more on its ever-changing menu, which also includes loaves of fresh-baked bread. It might seem like a bit of a trek to Ashland for some pastries and coffee, but the vibes and baked goods here are worth every second of the drive.
The Banh Mi Shop
Owner: Chole Tran
Visit The Banh Mi Shop for the authentic Vietnamese sandwiches you won’t find anywhere else in the city, but stay for Chloe’s amazing story.
The sandwiches start with a Vietnamese baguette, with a crunchy, crisp exterior protecting soft insides. The bread gets a slather of homemade mayo before being packed with cilantro, sweet pickled carrot and daikon, and your choice of protein (I recommend the beef bulgogi and Chinese BBQ pork). They’re some of my favorite sandwiches in Omaha.
And get this: Chloe started the business after coming to Omaha from Vietnam and realizing she couldn’t find the authentic sandwich of her home town. So she made it herself—while still in college. The fact that The Banh Mi Shop not only survived, but thrived, tells you how beloved this Bellevue shop is.
Sauced by Alfaro
Owner: Michelle Alfaro
Sauced by Alfaro is best described by the word “ridiculous.” That word encapsulates the portion sizes, the restaurant’s rapid growth, and most of all, the flavor.
The Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, with massive crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside chicken tenders doused in a spicy sauce with just the right amount of heat, gets my vote for the best sandwich in Omaha. I could say the same for the Screwball Whiskey Peanut Butter Burger, or the fabled Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos. So many of Michelle’s menu items sound far too wild on paper to work, but this former home cook has such a balance with flavors, she makes every sandwich, burger, and bowl of pasta sing. I literally cannot say enough good things about this place.
Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop
Owner: Katina Talley
A lot of bakeries in Omaha crank out awesome sweet treats, and Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop can hang with the best. Katina and crew excel in baking all variety of cakes, brownies, and cinnamon rolls, and Sweet Mags’ Malted Milk Chocolate Oreo Cookie are the stuff of legend.
But what vaults this bakery over its competitors is its savory baking. Sweet Mags offers a wide variety of buttery, crumbly scones running with bacon, cheese, jalapenos and more. But the star of the show is the epic Everything Parmesan Bun. Imagine an everything bagel and a mound of fresh grated parmesan had a baby. It’s savory, cheesy, and doughy in all the right ways, and this unique good exemplifies why Sweet Mags is so beloved.
Veg.Edible
Owner: Stacie Van Cleave
Veg.Edible serves vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free cuisine, but you won’t miss meat or dairy when you eat Stacie’s food.
The confections Stacie is able to create without eggs, milk, or standard flour is downright mind-boggling, and her dense, chewy cakes steal the show. The texture is a bit different from traditional cake, but it’s not off-putting and doesn’t take away from the incredible flavor. From offerings like Cinnamon Toast Crunch to churro, pumpkin spice, and chocolate mint, Stacie can successfully bake just about any flavor into a cake.
And Stacie isn’t just a dessert expert. She and partner Matt Hyde team to make some awesome savory dishes for pop-ups. A pop-up might serve vegan burgers, chicken and waffles, ramen, or pasta. These dishes employ mushrooms, tofu, and other ingredients in ways that will have you second-guessing whether or not they include meat. Whatever the cuisine, this duo can create dishes that satisfy all palates and dietary preferences.
Modern Love
Owner: Isa Moskowitz
Anyone who thinks vegan food is all vegetables needs to visit Modern Love.
This restaurant fully embraces comfort food, just without meat and dairy. That means crispy cauliflower wings in a spicy buffalo sauce, a Breakfast Crunchwrap with tofu so buttery and fluffy you’ll swear it’s eggs, and a Pepperjack Steak Sandwich that can match up with just about any Philly cheesesteak in Omaha.
There’s a reason Isa is a nationally-renowned chef with 12 cookbooks. Her restaurant doesn’t just make great vegan food; it makes great food in general.
Carter & Rye
Owner: Kate Anderson
Imagine everything that’s awesome about a pie. Focus on that buttery, crisp crust with flaky layers that practically dissolve in your mouth.
Now picture that in portable form, and with both sweet and savory versions.
What Kate has created with Carter & Rye is truly spectacular. Her creations are similar to a Hot Pocket, but with a homemade dough that’s tender and golden brown. They come in sweet versions like Brown Sugar Cinnamon, Raspberry Jam, and Wild Blueberry Lemon, while the savory options could include Burnt Ends (pictured above), Ham & Cheese, or Philly Cheesesteak. Whichever route you choose, you’ll get a bite mixing thoughtfully crafted elements cooked excellently along with a delicious rush of buttery pastry goodness.
Gravy Train
Owner: Meghan McLarney
Whether it’s smothered in homemade gravy or used as bread for a sandwich, the No. 1 takeaway you’ll have from a visit to Gravy Train is this: Meghan knows how to make a biscuit.
She creates biscuits of all manner, both savory (i.e. Jalapeno Cheddar; Everything Seasoning) and sweet (i.e. Blueberry Lemon Curd; Chocolate Cherry). All have the same general structure: a tender, flaky middle with crispy exterior and fresh ingredients.
As the name suggests, the biscuits and gravy are the headliner (the smoky Chorizo Gravy is divine), but the sandwiches rival the restaurant’s namesake. The BLT, with crispy brown sugar bacon, market-fresh tomatoes, and garlic herb mayo, is a fan favorite for a reason.
Square Donut
Owner: Elizabeth Pooley
The base of Square Donut‘s original product is unlike any I’ve encountered. Besides the unique shape, this dough is so pillowy and soft, with just a slight crisp on the outside from the frying process. The dough itself isn’t overly sweet, and that standard base allows Elizabeth to have her fun with the toppings.
This entrepreneur is willing to try just about any flavor. While Square Donut offers traditional donuts topped with chocolate and vanilla icing, you’ll also find Maple Bacon donuts, Apple Fritters, and Squared Janes (filled donuts). The shop also has a Donut of the Month special, which might feature the Neapolitan (pictured above), Butterscotch Pudding Cup, or Creme Brulee. Whichever you choose, you know it’s going to be thoughtfully crafted from scratch and tested until it reaches donut perfection.
I could go on and on with more great women-owned restaurants and businesses. Here are more I encourage you to check out and support: