The 22 new KC-area restaurants we’re looking forward to in 2025: brunch, BBQ and more
Each new year is brimming with fresh possibilities.
New places to explore, people to meet and — most importantly — dishes to eat. Thankfully, there’s a plethora of new restaurants opening around Kansas City in 2025.
To help you build your yearly foodie bucket list, we’ve compiled a list of restaurants projected to open this upcoming year.
Sorry in advance if this list disrupts your New Year’s diet plans.
Mildred’s
The breakfast, lunch and coffee spot will open its third location in the first week of 2025. Mildred’s will be in the former Mission Taco Joint, 5060 Main St. in the South Plaza Neighborhood.
Odyssey Coffee
A new coffee shop is opening in Overland Park’s Trailwood Shopping Center at 5247 W. 95th St., serving coffee and pastries. Its projected opening date is Jan. 6.
Ava Rae’s Pizzeria and Pub
A new pizzeria is coming to Olathe in January. Ava Rae’s will open at 11168 S. Lone Elm Road and serve pizza, beer and craft cocktails. The new restaurant is named after owner Darrin Debok’s daughter.
30hop
An Iowa-based bar serving tacos, burgers, and dozens of brews, is opening two Kansas City area locations. The Lee’s Summit location, 1020 NW Pryor Road, will open in January. The Merriam location, 8715 Shawnee Mission Parkway, will open sometime afterward in 2025.
1587 Prime
Chiefs superstars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are partnering with restaurant group Nobel 33 to open an upscale steakhouse in early 2025. The restaurant will be inside the Loews Kansas City Hotel at 1515 Wyandotte St.
Smalls Sliders
Atlanta-based Small Sliders will open its first orange shipping container burger join in the Kansas City area in early 2025. The Drew Brees-backed chain is planning several spots in the metro, starting with 704 NW Mock Ave. in Blue Springs.
Tim Hortons
A popular Canadian chain selling coffee and doughnuts will open its first Kansas City area location in early 2025. It’ll be in Blue Springs, at 1128 NW Woods Chapel Road. In Canada, there’s a Tim Hortons for every 10,000 residents.
Cru Bistro and Bottle Shop
Husband and wife Avery Bailey and Hannah Koenig are opening a farm-to-table bistro and bottle shop in the former Michael Forbes space at 128 W. 63rd St. The couple is aiming to open the Brookside restaurant in January or February.
Le Champion
The owner of Kansas City restaurants Noka and The Russell — Amante Domingo — will open a new coffee shop/wine lounge in January or February. It will take over the former Ça Va space in Westport, at 4149 Pennsylvania Ave. Domingo said the new space was somewhat inspired by the high-end Ralph’s Coffee in New York.
Gilda’s Bar de Tapas
A tapas bar will open in Shawnee’s burgeoning downtown on Feb. 1. Gilda’s will serve a full food and cocktail menu at 5815 Nieman Road, neighboring James Beard Award nominee Drastic Measures.
Hank’s Garage
Eric Flanagan, owner of King G and Jim’s Alley Bar, will open his new concept in downtown Shawnee. Hank’s Garage will open in February at 5801 Nieman Road in the old Shawnee Auto Building.
The Yard Milkshake Bar
The Golf Shores, Alabama-based milkshake bar will open its first Kansas City area location at 1350 Walnut St., in the former Burger King Whopper Bar space in Power & Light. It will open in early 2025 and sell Instagram-ready milkshakes. The concept appeared on “Shark Tank” in 2019 and now has over 30 locations in the country.
Fairway Creamery
Popular Johnson County ice cream shop Fairway Creamery is opening a second location in Kansas City’s Westside neighborhood. The new spot will be at 809 W. 17th St. between Blue Bird Bistro and Goat Hill Coffee & Soda. It aims to open in late February or early spring.
Tupelo Honey
The Southern kitchen and bar from Asheville, North Carolina, will open its first Kansas City area spot in the Lenexa City Center as part of “Restaurant Row” in March. The new build-out at 87th Street and Renner Boulevard will serve loaded potato skins (or “cracklins”), fried green tomatoes, honey-fried chicken and waffles for brunch, and craft cocktails.
Zhoug Mediterranean
The owners of Lawrence’s The Fresh Mediterranean Co. will open two Kansas City area locations of their new concept: Zhoug Mediterranean. One spot will open up at 3904 Bell St., in the former d’Bronx space in Midtown. (An opening date was not available for that location.) Another will be in Lenexa City Center’s “Restaurant Row” at 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard in March.
Paris Baguette
An international bakery and cafe is opening four locations in the Kansas City area, starting with two in Overland Park. Franchise partner Mike Issa said his spot, at West 95th Street and Nieman Road near Oak Park Mall, will open February 2025. The 15895 Metcalf Ave. spot is targeted for spring 2025.
Craft Putt
The Overland Park-based eatery and mini golf course will open its second location in Lee’s Summit this spring. The spot will be at 840 NW Blue Parkway, Suite K101, in the Summit Fair shopping center. It will have two 10-hole courses, while the Overland Park spot only has one.
Pizza 51
A South Kansas City pizza shop is making its way to Johnson County in spring 2025. Pizza 51 will open in an old auto shop at 200 S. Kansas Ave. It’s one of three new restaurants on its way to downtown Olathe in an effort to revitalize the district.
The Horseshoe
Owner Brett Allred will turn the massive space at 4124 Pennsylvania Ave., once home to Californos, into the metro’s largest country bar. It will have a dance floor, libations and a food menu. In the basement will be a second concept: Uncle Jim’s Pool Hall. The bars are projected to open in the spring or summer.
Tap-Ins
A 3.6-acre miniature golf course, bar and restaurant is slated to open this summer in the former site of the Metcalf South Mall in Overland Park. The spot at 95th Street and Metcalf Avenue will offer wraps, sandwiches, pizza, beer and more. Patrons can golf outdoors or inside the temperature-controlled greenhouse.
Third Street Social
The restaurant, serving American comfort food, will open its fourth location in downtown Olathe at 135 S. Kansas Ave. “sometime in 2025.” Third Street Social sells burgers, brunch, salmon, prime rib and more.
Char Bar
The Westport-based barbecue restaurant and outdoor entertainment venue will open its third location in downtown Olathe in late 2025 or early 2026. The new spot, at 200 W. Santa Fe, will feature seven pickleball courts and a two-story fire pit.
This story was originally published December 20, 2024 at 4:30 AM.