Popular Kansas City restaurant & café opens sister concept downtown
It’s not quite a diner, not quite the same grandma-core restaurant as its sister spot in Waldo.
Hemma Hemma Dinette has elements of both: metal chairs, checkered accents and floral wallpaper. There’s needlepoint artwork of fruit and cats.
The restaurant soft opened Tuesday with the intention to launch full-bore Thursday. Owner Ashley Bare wanted the restaurant at 1100 Main St. in the Lightwell building to mesh with its industrial surroundings.
Plus, there are far more corporations than eateries nearby, so Bare is hopeful she’ll capture locals’ attention.
“There isn’t a lot right here, so I feel like we’re gonna be a nice little staple right here,” Bare said. “We’re excited. We are just excited to bring our food to a different part of Kansas City.”
A few of the menu items are the same, and some are different.
Lovers of the B.E.C. (bacon, egg, and cheese) in Waldo will be delighted to hear it’s also available downtown for $13. So are the masa pancakes ($10), the sunrise bowl ($13) and the Hemma ‘N Out Burger (inspired by In-N-Out and for $17). (Bare might be biased, but she declared her burger might be the best in the city.)
Many of the salads are also carry-overs.
But Bare wanted Dinette to have its own delicacies, too. The Dinette Breakfast ($13) has two eggs, sourdough, and a choice of bacon, sausage or avocado. Smoothies are also on the menu: The Wailea Wonderful has banana, mango, pineapple, coconut water and lime for $10.
Employees at the soft opening Tuesday recommended the R.F.G.B. — “really freaking good biscuit” (or something a bit more explicit) — with a housemade buttermilk biscuit, egg souffle, sausage patty, American cheese and a specialty aioli for $13.
And of course, coffee is a must at Hemma Hemma. The honey, brown sugar and cinnamon specialty syrup can be added to lattes and cappuccinos.
“I just hope we’re bringing somewhere they want to frequent often,” Bare said. “We’re always trying to be part of the community we’re in.”
As Bare spoke to The Star on a rainy Tuesday morning, the streetcar kicked up puddles before coming to a halt. She’s conveniently positioned across the street from its stopping point.
A few patrons stepped out of the rain and into a restaurant similar to a neighborhood favorite at 7122 Wornall Road.
“A lot of the same feeling as Hemma Hemma — colorful, a lot of pattern, thrifted artwork,” Bare explained. “I really wanted it to have light diner vibes … just ever so slightly.”
The kitchen stands behind a wall of glass, mimicking a takeout window seen at some diners. Light fixtures from the ‘50s hang throughout the space, and salt and pepper shakers sit on the tables.
Striped curtains and orange-brown leather booths are reminiscent of the original location, which opened in September 2023.
“There should be a little nostalgia in there, but a new, fun twist.”
Hemma Hemma Dinette will be open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekend brunch will begin — fingers crossed — in early May.
The restaurant is most easily accessed via the first floor entrance near 11th and Main streets.
This story was originally published March 3, 2026 at 3:46 PM.