These are 30 new KC restaurants we’re looking forward to in 2026
New year, new resolutions, and perhaps most importantly, new restaurants.
Strolling in on its proverbial white horse, 2026 brings with it an entourage of exciting new eateries in the Kansas City metro. The upcoming season’s cast ranges from upscale cocktail bars to reimagined diners to BBQ bites over the Kansas River.
Readers looking for a fresh experience in the new year are likely to find at least something that satisfies their cravings.
Here’s our list of upcoming restaurants looking to debut in the metro in 2026.
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Ricochet
Iowa-based gaming lounge Ricochet is opening its second location. The new spot will be in the former Kansas City Star building at 1720 McGee St. Once it opens in early 2026, it will offer beer and cocktails, ping pong, pool, skeeball and more.
Vertice Italian
Summit Hospitality — the group behind Summit Grill — will open Vertice Italian sometime in 2026 on the Country Club Plaza. The spot will take over the Parkway Social Kitchen space at 616 Ward Parkway and serve “refined but approachable” Italian food.
Dear Donna
Replacing longtime Kansas City brunch restaurant Happy Gillis, Dear Donna hopes to open in early 2026. The new comfort food spot (with a new menu) will open at 549 Gillis St. James Beard-nominated chefs Helen Jo and Johnny Leach are taking on the project.
Cornflower Baked Goods
Rye, a restaurant known for its cinnamon rolls and pie, will open a small coffee shop and bakery in Leawood. Cornflower will open at 10555 Mission Road in early 2026, neighboring Rye’s Johnson County location. The spot will serve old and new favorites.
Turath Coffee
Middle Eastern coffee shop Turath Coffee hopes to revolutionize the Midwest coffee scene, starting in the Kansas City metro. The 9916 College Blvd. spot will open in early 2026. Its coffee drinks will center around typical Arabic flavors: dates, figs, cardamom and pistachio, for example.
Mocha Point Yemeni Coffee
A Yemeni coffee shop offering late-night hours and unique coffee flavors is coming to the Kansas City metro. The spot will open at 8641 W. 135th St. in Overland Park in January, serving authentic Yemeni coffee.
Current State Coffee
Calling on the talents of coffee entrepreneurs from Messenger and Seleno Coffee, Current State will open in downtown Shawnee. The spot hopes to open at 11217 Johnson Drive soon, potentially in January.
Guy’s on Main
The owner of Arthur Bryant’s, Guy’s Deli and more is opening a modern bodega. Guy’s on Main will open at 1722 Main St. in the Crossroads, offering grab and go options and snacks. A bar will eventually be added in the back. It hopes to open Jan. 26.
Cafe 333
Jazz restaurant Cafe 333 will open in the former Cafe Gratitude at 333 Southwest Blvd. The spot, offering dinner and a show, aims to open in late January. Local entertainment company Social Cabaret is heading up the experience. Its other experiences are Waldo Supper Club and C.A.S.T. in Overland Park.
Gram & Dun
A restaurant popular on Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza will open a spot inside Argosy Casino, 777 NW Argosy Casino Parkway in Riverside. The restaurant aims to open in January 2026. It’ll offer 250 seats, a patio and private dining rooms. Local restaurant mogul Whitney VinZant owns Gram & Dun, along with several other restaurants in the area (Cafe Trio, Va Bene and more).
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Hemma Hemma Dinette
Beloved Waldo eatery turned full-service restaurant Hemma Hemma is opening a diner-style spot downtown. The new spot, called Hemma Hemma Dinette, will open inside the Lightwell building, 1100 Main St., in February. Its menu will be about 30% to 40% the same, with chef Ashley Bare bringing in new recipes.
Valentino’s Pizza
An iconic Nebraska pizza chain is making its way to the Kansas City metro. Valentino’s Pizza is opening a spot in Overland Park at 8909 W. 135th St. The chain hopes to make its entrance before the Super Bowl.
Ted’s Taproom
Developer Jon Copaken is opening a jazz club in honor of his late friend. The spot, called Ted’s Taproom, will open in the former KC Wine Works space at 1829 McGee St. He’s expecting an early March opening.
River House
The restaurant debuting on Kansas City’s Rock Island Bridge project — River House — aims to open in March. Entrepreneur Andrew Miller (owner of Arthur Bryant’s and Guy’s Snacks) and chefs Bradley and Brittany Gilmore of Lula Southern Cookhouse partnered to create the spot floating above the Kansas River.
Neat
Now projected to open in the first week of March, upscale cocktail bar Neat is coming to Lenexa City Center. The concept will offer specialty cocktails and snacks in the former Savoy space at 16953 City Center Drive.
KC Bier Co.
A German-style brewery will open a massive beer hall and beer garden. KC Bier Co.’s Lenexa space at 98th Street and Ridgeview Road will open before the World Cup in the spring of 2026. It will have a fenced dog play area, green space and more family activities.
Big Grove Brewery
An Iowa-based brewery will soon open a restaurant and taproom in the former Macy’s site in Prairie Village. The space at West 71st Street and Mission Road will open in spring 2026. Big Grove is one of a few tenants coming to the space, which will include a new Hen House.
Martin City Tavern and Terrace
Popular Kansas City brand Martin City Brewing is opening a new restaurant in the Crossroads. Martin City Tavern and Terrace will feature a rooftop bar at 1999 Main St. It will open in spring 2026 — just in time for the FIFA World Cup.
The Capital Grille in Overland Park
A restaurant with a presence on the Country Club Plaza will soon open a spot in Overland Park around late summer 2026. The Capital Grille will come to the 115th Street and Nall Avenue development. Developers previously announced a four-story hotel at the same site. The Capital Grille offers steak, seafood and other upscale menu options.
Yard House in Overland Park
A bar and restaurant with a presence in both Kansas City, Kansas, and in the Power & Light District will open a space in Overland Park. Yard House’s new location is coming to 115th Street and Nall Avenue in roughly late summer, alongside The Capital Grille.
Austin’s
A longtime Johnson County bar and grill, Austin’s, is opening a rooftop location in downtown Olathe at Cherry and Santa Fe streets. The newly built spot will start construction in January and hopes to be open by Labor Day. It will neighbor another rooftop restaurant tenant and frozen yogurt shop, Fifth & Emery.
Tiki Taco
Kansas City taco chain Tiki Taco will open several restaurants around the Kansas City metro in 2026. Those locations will include: in Metro North Crossing at Northwest Barry Road and Northwest Jefferson Avenue; in Liberty at 9711 N. Ash Ave., Suite A.; in the Crossroads at 412 E. 18th St. (formerly Double Shift Brewing); and in Lee’s Summit at 1440 NE Douglas St.
Clementine’s
A St. Louis-based ice cream shop is opening two more metro spots: Elmridge and 87th Streets in Lenexa City Center, and 1298 Berkley Parkway in the riverfront area. The two are expected to land in spring or summer. Clementine’s gooey buttercake ice cream has received acclaim by Oprah.
American Fire
Restaurateur Whitney VinZant is transforming the former Houlihan’s at 2820 W. 53rd St. in Fairway into an upscale restaurant called American Fire. While VinZant has not disclosed details to The Star about his plans, an agreement between the business and the city states that construction will wrap up in August.
Mr. D’s Donuts
A beloved Shawnee doughnut shop, Mr. D’s Donuts, is building its first drive-thru location. The new spot will be at 143rd Street and Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park. The 2,000 square-foot shop will open in late summer or early fall.
Char Bar
As part of a major update to Olathe’s downtown area, Char Bar will open its largest concept yet. The new space will include pickleball courts at 200 W. Santa Fe St. The space is projected to open in December 2026 and will offer its same barbecue-centric menu as other metro locations.
Urban Egg
Colorado-based brunch restaurant Urban Egg is opening a spot in Lenexa City Center in late 2026. The restaurant at 8669 Scarborough St. will join a development in the area dubbed “restaurant row.”
Five Four Restaurant and Drafthouse
Formerly 54th Street Grill, Five Four Restaurant and Drafthouse is opening a spot in Lenexa at Scarborough and 87th streets, in the City Center area. The new spot will have outdoor seating and yard games once it opens in December 2026. It will also close one Lee’s Summit location to open another at Highway 50 and Route 291.
The Bar
The Bar — a well-known Kansas City-based sports bar and grill — is opening a new space in Olathe at 17927 W. 119th St., near the Hy-Vee. It will wrap up in late 2026. It will be the company’s sixth location, but this spot will feature a unique outdoor area that “no other bar has.” More details are coming soon.
Bojangles
Chicken chain Bojangles is aiming to open three restaurants in the area: 12005 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park, 9101 Johnson Drive in Merriam, and 808 NW Highway 7 in Blue Springs. The Johnson County spots hope to open in the summer or fall of 2026, while Blue Springs is expected to land in late 2026 or early 2027.
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