This was the Kansas City area’s best new restaurant of 2025, according to readers
Kansas City welcomed over 50 new restaurants to the area in 2025, and you let us know which one was your favorite.
The Star hosted a poll from Dec. 30 to Jan. 5, asking readers to submit their choice for the best new restaurant to open in the Kansas City area in 2025. We received 315 votes, featuring restaurants from local chefs with new concepts, national chains widening their reach across the United States, steakhouses from local athletes, Mexican restaurants, pizza shops, create-your-own sandwich shops and much more.
Many of you highlighted the taste of the food at your chosen restaurant, but also mentioned the ambiance inside, the service you received and the price point for a meal as reasons for picking your favorite.
Did your pick land the No. 1 spot? Here’s how you, the readers, voted.
The best new restaurant in Kansas City, according to Star readers
The best restaurant that opened its doors in 2025 in Kansas City was co-founded by a world-famous DJ and brings the beach to the Power & Light District.
Palm Tree Club, which took over the 11,000-square-foot, two-level space at 14 E. 14th St., received 81 votes, the most of any restaurant featured. Its the fourth Palm Tree Club in the United States, as its first two opened in Orlando and Miami in 2024 and in Las Vegas in 2025.
Items on the food menu include spicy edamame hummus, burrata, A5 wagyu dumplings, hamachi carpaccio, mezze rigatoni and Dubai chocolate tiramisu. Chef Joe Shirley said many of the options are made to share with the table.
Visitors can also get their hands on cocktails like the Firestone, a blanco tequila, chile liqueur and fresh watermelon juice cocktail with a rim of Tajin. Their espresso martini flight includes three: the Palm Tree Club Classic, a salted caramel espresso martini and a tiramisu espresso martini.
The martini flight was just right, according to customer Sara Phelps. She also said the restaurant’s sushi is phenomenal, and it has one of her favorite dishes.
“The hummus is hands down my favorite appetizer in KC,” Phelps said. “Incredible flavors and atmosphere.”
Team member Eric Coomes called the restaurant “vibe dining” when The Star toured the facility in September 2025, and that was a key factor in readers like Dylan Barnes selecting the restaurant as their favorite.
“The environment and the energy in that restaurant is unmatched,” Barnes said. “Every time I go there it makes for an incredible night.”
Adam Powell said it provides a new and unique experience that KC hasn’t had before. Molly Scheibel added that the staff was kind and enthusiastic during her visits, adding to the good vibes inside.
Other visitors, like Megan Taylor and Pamela McDowell, enjoyed the rooftop bar with wraparound views of downtown.
“The layout is so cool with palm trees everywhere, feels like I’m on vacay every time I go,” McDowell said.
Other restaurants that received votes
The restaurant that came in second place received 74 votes, bringing a new gourmet deli to the Kansas City area.
La Fetta, found at 14363 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park, sells freshly sliced meats and cheeses from Boar’s Head, as well as more than 20 sandwiches and products imported from Italy and beyond. Sandwiches are made with ciabatta-style baguettes from local company Farm to Market Bread Co., which are delivered daily and never frozen.
Co-owner Adam Bracco said to The Star in October 2025 that he’s had four people say it’s the best sandwich they’ve ever had in their lives, with one of them being his brother. He can add a fifth to the list, based on Alex Baumgartner’s comments.
“It is simply the best sandwich I have had in my entire life,” Baumgartner said.
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Dustan Fankhauser and Leslie Chandler both said it’s unlike any sandwich place in the Kansas City area, and Roger Slead gave a shoutout to the staff for their service, also saying it’s a “true deli with fresh ingredients and crusty bread.”
Only one other restaurant received at least 50 votes, and that was Streats, the Mexican eatery known for its street tacos, birria tacos and ramen. Thirteen responses said the restaurant inside the high rise at 1111 Main St. has the best birria in the city.
“The birria tacos are always juicy and full of flavor, and you can smell how good they are before you even take a bite,” Ange Gordon said. “The meat is tender and cooked just right, and you can tell a lot of care goes into making the food.”
Belina Hinojos liked that co-founders Ashton Shelby and Tony Gordon put their own spin on birria, the traditional Mexican broth made with tender meats marinated in an adobo of dried chiles, herbs and other spices.
Three other restaurants received at least 10 votes: 1587 Prime (13), Hank’s Garage (12) and Anjin (10).
This story was originally published January 6, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
