Omaha has an incredibly diverse and delicious food scene. In fact, you can get just about anything you’re craving here, whether that’s pub food, global flavors, American classics or casual eateries.
So whether you’re just visiting or you’re a local who wants to enjoy everything the Omaha food scene has to offer—we’ve rounded up some of the best breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks and desserts in the area that you just have to try. Read on and let us know in the comments which dish you’re planning to try first!
Jump Ahead:
Breakfast |Snacks + Appetizers | Lunch + Dinner | Desserts
BREAKFAST
The Kimchi Omelet from the Saddle Creek Breakfast Club
Saddle Creek Breakfast Club’s menu offers an abundance of fresh choices, all created with locally sourced ingredients to support Nebraskan farmers—which means it’s always changing. But if you happen to be in when they are offering their popular Kimchi Omelet, don’t pass it up. This unique take on a classic is a local favorite.
Eggs Benedict from Bailey’s Breakfast & Lunch
We can’t think of a better breakfast than Eggs Benedict from Bailey’s! From the classic Canadian bacon, poached eggs and hollandaise combo to unique creations using crab, lox and grilled tomatoes—no matter which you choose we promise you’ll be pleased.
The Potato Casserole from Summer Kitchen Cafe
People are always talking about Summer Kitchen Cafe’s potato casseroles, and for a good reason: they’re incredible. Just choose your ingredients from their extensive list—which includes a variety of meats, vegetables, cheese and more—and they’ll be served on a bed of fresh sliced grilled potatoes with a homemade muffin, toast or dinner roll.
Homemade Pop Tarts from Over Easy
Everything Over Easy offers is delicious, but if you’re looking for something truly unique to the restaurant, check out their homemade Pop Tarts filled with Nutella or seasonal fruit. These delicious pastries are handmade with flaky dough, fresh fillings and are topped with perfectly sweet icing for a fun breakfast treat.
Butterscotch Pancakes at Lisa’s Radial Cafe
Lisa’s Radial Cafe offers a wide range of delicious and unique pancakes and French toast varieties—but our favorite has to be their Butterscotch Pancakes, which they only offer on special occasions. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for any announcements because trust us, you won’t want to miss any of this deliciousness.
A Bob’s Breakfast Box from Bob’s Donuts
Photo courtesy of Bob’s Donuts
If you aren’t already one of the dedicated Omaha locals obsessed with this sweet and savory eatery, you should be—ordering the Bob’s Breakfast Box (a chicken sandwich + cake donut + cup of coffee) is quickly becoming an Omahan rite of passage.
Chicken Fried Steak from Early Bird Brunch
Early Bird Brunch is one of our favorite places to go for brunch in Omaha. Maybe it’s the fantastic coffee? Or the giant, sharable donuts and spectacular cocktails? Either way, if you can, you should order their iconic Chicken Fried Steak at least once. This classic hand-breaded, fried dish comes with gravy, eggs, hash browns and toast to create a delicious Omaha breakfast you won’t want to miss.
SNACKS + APPETIZERS
Crab Cakes from M’s Pub
Crab cakes in Omaha? You bet! Even though we’re a landlocked state, Nebraska still has some of the best seafood in the midwest. And one of the best places to enjoy that beautiful sea bounty is at M’s Pub in Old Market! Their delicious crab cakes accompanied by a glass of wine from their extensive wine list sounds like the perfect afternoon.
Onion Dip with Homemade Potato Chips at Westend
Photo courtesy of Westend
Westend is known for their incredible appetizers and Happy Hour specials—how could we forget their crispy Brussels sprouts? But if you can only get one thing, make it their Really, Really Onion Dip with housemade lattice potato chips.
Pretzel Crusted Cheese Curds at Railcar Modern Kitchen
Cheese Curds are a Midwestern classic and no one does them better than Railcar Modern Kitchen. They cover theirs in a pretzel batter and serve them with a honey-chipotle dipping sauce that will make you sing.
Beignet Style Hush Puppies from Plank Seafood & Provisions
Plank Seafood & Provisions brings sweet and salty to a whole new level with their Beignet Style Hush Puppies appetizer that features sweet corn fritters dusted with powdered sugar and served with a spicy jalapeño jam.
The Charcuterie Board from The Grey Plume
Omaha’s favorite market and locavore eatery, The Grey Plume, combines traditional culinary style and taste with modern techniques to create a seasonally driven, contemporary menu. While their offerings are almost always changing, they usually offer a Charcuterie Board filled to the brim with fresh, local cheese, meats, breads and more.
Poutine at Upstream Brewing
It just wouldn’t be an Omaha food bucket list without including something from one of our favorite local breweries: Upstream Brewing! In addition to a long selection of house-crafted beer, they also offer a large food menu, complete with their delicious Poutine—fries covered in cheese curds and beef gravy.
Nacho Grande Platter at Louie M’s Burger Lust Cafe
Louie M’s may be known for their fabulous burgers, but today we’re highlighting their Nacho Grande Platter, which makes for the perfect appetizer before a meal or as a whole entree (we won’t judge!).
LUNCH + DINNER
A Cheeseburger from Stella’s Bar & Grill
For 10 years in a row, Stella’s has been named Omaha’s Best Burger by The Best of Omaha—so it’s no surprise that we included them on this list. Create your own with their long list of patties, cheeses, toppings, bun choices and more, or choose from their list of specialty burgers! No matter what you decide to put on it, Stella’s cheeseburgers are absolutely life-changing.
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A Ribeye from Anthony’s Steakhouse
Anthony’s Steakhouse has been serving the Omaha area for nearly 50 years and a favorite for many. We couldn’t feature Anthony’s without mentioning the reason the majority of Omahans love it: the steak. Their Rib Eye is boneless and charbroiled to your liking and is a must-try for meat lovers everywhere.
Sushi from Umami Asian Cuisine
For the best sushi in town, head to Umami! Chef Keen Zheng has spent the last thirteen years learning from New York City’s greatest sushi chefs and has now moved his spectacular business to Omaha. Order classics like the California Roll or go for something more unique to Umami like the Special Dragon Roll or the Dynamite Roll.
French Onion Soup from Le Bouillon
You just can’t go wrong with Le Bouillon’s spectacular French Onion Soup. It comes with croutons, camtal cheese, foie and veal broth all for $10. Don’t feel like going out? They are offering free local delivery during the pandemic.
The Whole Bird at the Kitchen Table
The Whole Bird is one of the most unique sandwiches we’ve ever heard of, and for that reason, it’s an absolute must-try. Picture this: a chicken breast on top of a bed of chicken salad and lettuce, topped with a runny fried egg and crispy chicken skin. Yum!
A Croque Garcon Burger from Block 16
In the past several years, Block 16 has offered thousands of lunch specials with only a few repeats, announced every morning on their Facebook page. But one of their regular menu items, The Croque Garcon Burger, was called the best burger in the country by Alton Brown. So if you’re not sure what to order off their long list of menu items, you’re probably safe ordering this famous burger topped with cheese, ham, a sunny-side-up egg, mustard and truffle mayo!
Catfish from Big Mama’s Kitchen and Catering
If it’s soul food you’re after, look no further than Big Mama’s Kitchen & Catering. Enjoy a full gauntlet of carefully crafted southern delicacies, including fried okra with plum sauce, tender fried catfish, cornbread with honey butter, fried chicken and more. It’s no wonder this place was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives!
The Chef Tasting Menu at Au Courant
Everything on Au Courant’s menu is crafted with the absolute best, local and sustainable products available and the quality definitely shines through in the finished dish. We recommend the six-course chef tasting menu for the full experience, which is $65 per person with wine pairings available at an additional cost.
Fried Chicken at Time Out Foods
Time Out Foods, one of Omaha’s favorite chicken spots, has been serving the Omaha area since 1969. We don’t think we could ever get sick of their crispy fried chicken with sides of crinkle-cut fries, dirty rice, potato salad and baked beans.
Mac and Shews at Modern Love
Modern Love is a spectacular vegan restaurant in the heart of Omaha, serving up unique meat and dairy-free dishes like Cauliflower Wings, Tofu Club Sandwiches, Fried Cashew Mozzarella and so much more. But the dish that has made them famous is their Mac and Shews, a vegan mac and cheese bowl featuring your choice of pasta, a creamy cashew cheese sauce, chives and anything else you want to add!
The Asada Plate from La Poblanita
We couldn’t create a list of must-try Omaha foods without including something from one of Omaha’s highest-rated restaurants! La Poblanita is a spectacular Mexican restaurant serving authentic Mexican dishes, delicious desserts and so much more. The Asada Plate is a favorite among locals, but anything that includes a side of their house-made tortillas is perfect in our book.
Anything from Wayne’s New Skoo BBQ
Omaha may not be famous for our barbeque, but we should be—especially with a fantastic place like Wayne’s New Skoo BBQ. This small business provides catering, lunch vending, on-site grilling, dine-in and more in the Omaha area and absolutely everything on the menu is delicious.
A Reuben Sandwich at The Crescent Moon
Did you know that the Reuben Sandwich was invented right here in Omaha? Although there are several claims to the invention of the Reuben sandwich, many believe that it was originally crafted by Omaha’s own Reuben Kulakofsky at the Blackstone Hotel. The Reuben is now a popular option at delis across the country. One of our favorites here in Omaha is served by Crescent Moon, conveniently located just across from the historic hotel. Give it a try if you haven’t already!
Pizza at La Casa Pizzaria
La Casa has become somewhat of an Omaha icon throughout the years, attracting Omaha locals and legends alike, including director and Omaha native Alexander Payne. Their menu has all the pizza basics you’d expect, but the flavor and quality is anything but basic. The presentation is done a little differently at La Casa, as each pizza is a large rectangle served on a plastic tray, similar to what you might find in Sicily.
Pad Thai at Salween Thai
Salween Thai has four locations all across the Omaha area—so you know it’s good! Our favorite thing on their extensive menu has to be the classic Pad Thai dinner. Rice noodles, egg, green onion, bean sprouts and peanuts—it doesn’t get much better than this.
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Lasagna from Mangia Italiana
Small but mighty, Mangia Italiana offers the best take out in town. If you only have time to try one item, don’t miss their lasagna which features layers of pasta, ground beef, pasta sauce and ricotta cheese and baked to perfection.
DESSERT
Bon Bons at Farine + Four
Before the sun comes up, Farine + Four bakes beautiful breads out of just four ingredients. But while their bread is divine, they also offer many other menu items worth trying, including their incredible bon bons—chocolate morsels filled with a variety of delicious fillings.
Butter Brickle Ice Cream at Coneflower Creamery
Nestled in the heart of Omaha’s Blackstone District, Coneflower Creamery churns farm-to-cone ice cream in a variety of interesting flavors. Try a scoop of the butter brickle, which pays homage to a historical Omaha ice cream flavor first introduced in the 1920s by the Blackstone Hotel.
A Cannoli from Dolci
At Dolci, you can get flavored soft serve, seasonal hot drinks and authentic Italian desserts and pastries! Their shop’s pastries are prepared locally by expert bakers using only authentic family recipes and the freshest ingredients. Don’t miss their authentic cannoli, which is filled to the brim with a sweet ricotta filling and topped with powdered sugar and chocolate chips.
A Slice of Pie from Sweet Magnolia’s Bakeshop
Located in Omaha’s historic Joslyn Castle neighborhood, Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop is a boutique bakery specializing in perfectly crafted, melt-in-your-mouth confections. While everything they offer is spectacular, don’t miss their pies! They rotate flavors often, but we promise no matter what variety they’re offering this month—it’ll be mouthwatering.
A Bubble Waffle from Jones Bros Cupcakes
With a name like Jones Bros Cupcakes, you’d expect us to recommend some cupcakes! But while Jones Bros’ cupcakes are pretty spectacular, their new offering, Bubble Waffles, are a must. These unique waffles are served a bit like crepes and filled with anything and everything under the sun, from whipped cream and sprinkles to cotton candy and Oreos.
Cherries from The Cordial Cherry
The Cordial Cherry creates delicate works of art out of creamy chocolate and sweet cherries that are so delicious, they even nabbed a coveted spot on Oprah’s list of her favorite things in 2013. Grab a case of these goodies and chow down the next time you’re in the area.
A Mud Ball from The Old Market Candy Shop
Photo courtesy of The Old Market Candy Shop
The Old Market Candy shop has been satisfying Omaha’s sweet tooth since 1977. Try their iconic Mud Balls, which feature cream cheese Oreo centers wrapped in a thick layer of milk chocolate.
Cupcakes from Pettit’s Pastry
Cakes, donuts, cupcakes—oh my! Petit’s Pastry is an all-time favorite for many in the Omaha area. While we recommend trying at least one of everything if you can only get one item, make it one of their cupcakes!
What would you add?
Did we miss your favorite Omaha food? Let us know in the comments!