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Passionate food lover Dan Hoppen looks for and shares the best restaurants and dishes around Omaha through the Restaurant Hoppen podcast, RestaurantHoppen.com, and social media profiles.

The wait is almost over, Omaha… There There - cafe, w**e bar, + market is about to open.And this much-anticipated all-da...
10/09/2026

The wait is almost over, Omaha… There There - cafe, w**e bar, + market is about to open.

And this much-anticipated all-day cafe/w**e bar is worthy of the hype.

I got to attend friends and family night and was really impressed. The meal wasn’t perfect, but it’s a new restaurant still figuring out how it will function during the chaos of service. And the vibes alone are worthy of a visit.

Located at 3020 Leavenworth (in the old Bubbly Tart space), There There is laid back and casual, the type of place where some of the tables and silverware are mismatched and it feels cool and purposeful. There’s no rush to get in and out, and most guests stayed over an hour, ordering multiple glasses of w**e and shared plates.

The menu consists of mostly smaller plates to share with a couple of entree-sized options. Here’s the best of what we tried:

- Casoncelli: these supple pasta pockets are stuffed with ricotta and sweet potato puree, and they burst with a sweet creaminess when you bite into them. The dill butter added a nice richness, while the plum segments brought a nice tartness to balance the sweetness. I’ve never had fruit on pasta, but it worked wonders here.

- Piri Piri Chicken Sandwich: The thigh was breaded nicely and got a little kick from the piri piri aioli, but the standout was the buttery, pillowy milk bun.

- Hummus Platter: The hummus itself was delicious: creamy, savory, and earthy. But the addition of caramelized onions and roasted garlic allowed you to choose your own adventure with each bite (though the sourdough crackers were a bit firm).

- Red Pepper Soup: this is some of the thickest soup I’ve had, and it had a wonderfully creamy consistency. It’s slightly sweet, kind of like tomato soup, but with a smoky finish.

Some of the dishes were more successful than others, but we enjoyed them all. I just enjoy seeing people take a chance: Omaha hasn’t seen anything like this concept before, and people are excited to see it. It’s not open to the public yet, but they’re going to announce an opening date soon.

Based on this visit, I think There There will live up to the lofty expectations.

Little India has lived under many names. It’s lived in several locations.But it’s the same family providing the food and...
10/08/2026

Little India has lived under many names. It’s lived in several locations.

But it’s the same family providing the food and the service, and that’s why this Omaha staple has become so beloved.

Joshy and Agnes Antony, along with their son Christian, who practically grew up in the restaurant, joined me on the Restaurant Hoppen podcast to talk about their journey, from opening an Indian grocery store shortly after moving to America to transitioning to their current space in Blackstone. We discussed how working together has impacted their family dynamic, what makes Indian food special, and the inventive ways they’re pivoting with the ongoing streetcar construction on their doorstep.

You can check out our conversation on your favorite podcast app or YouTube! Huge thanks to Certified Piedmontese and Arbor Day Farm for faithfully sponsoring the show.

I’ve become such a fan of the elevated comfort food at Wilson & Washburn, that when I started my Omaha Cheesesteak Hunt,...
10/07/2026

I’ve become such a fan of the elevated comfort food at Wilson & Washburn, that when I started my Omaha Cheesesteak Hunt, I had to put this downtown Omaha restaurant on my list.

Now, I have to be real; while the cheesesteak has potential, it’s not one of my favorites. But this visit introduced me to a dish I’ve long needed to try at W&W (1407 Harney St): Beet Chips.

I’d never had these before and people rave about them, and now I see why. The beets are shaved super thin, so while they still have a nice crisp, they melt in your mouth after a few seconds. The earthy, sweet flavor of the beet, along with tangy malt vinegar and salt, coats your tongue in a wonderful way. These are dangerously addicting.

Now the cheesesteak: it’s still a solid sandwich. The sauteed peppers are tender and sweet, and there’s a good amount of Swiss cheese. The fun addition is the serrano peppers, which adds a whisper of heat for a fun curveball.

Maybe I just got unlucky today, but I found the ribeye to be a bit tough and chewy. It was still juicy and tasted good, but I’d prefer the beef to have a little more give.

Pro tip: ask for the horseradish mayo. The owner gave me some and suggested I put it on the sandwich, and that really set things off.

Given the quality of food I’ve had previously, I’m guessing this was just an off day for the beef, and the sandwich was still tasty. But my top takeaway from this meal is the beet chips. I already can’t wait for the next opportunity to stuff my face with them.

Happy birthday, Herbie, my sweet prince. 2 years old and lots of adventures to go!
10/07/2026

Happy birthday, Herbie, my sweet prince. 2 years old and lots of adventures to go!

Take a seat, Ronald McDonald. You have absolutely nothing on Know Good - Bakery + Brunchette.When I saw Know Good was in...
10/06/2026

Take a seat, Ronald McDonald. You have absolutely nothing on Know Good - Bakery + Brunchette.

When I saw Know Good was introducing the Knowgriddle (their take on a certain famous breakfast sandwich underneath golden arches), as a part of their fall menu, I made it a priority to get here for breakfast. And Know Good (3528 Center St) did not disappoint.

This breakfast sandwich ditches the traditional bun and instead employs maple pancakes as the “bread.” They’re still fluffy, yet firm enough to hold the sandwich together. Inside is a wonderfully savory house sausage patty and a mess of buttery scrambled eggs cloaked in a robe of melted American cheese.

It’s delightfully sweet and savory, though it does eat a tad dry; maybe a small drizzle of maple syrup could add some moisture? But that’s a very minor critique. I loved this sandwich.

I’d say the same for the Clubhouse Toastie, a couple of hashbrown patties atop pimento cheese that are sprinkled with bacon. The hashbrowns are crispy and salty, but the cheese adds a sharp tanginess to cut through all the sodium. The real kicker, however, is the red pepper jam, which rounds everything together with a sugary note.

And few Omaha restaurants make better bagels than Know Good, so if you leave without a bag, you’re doing something wrong.

Don’t get me wrong; the traditional McGriddle is a treat, and I’ll give McDonald’s a hat tip for the innovation of originally creating it. But Know Good took the classic sandwich and elevated it. This sandwich alone is worth a visit.

A peanut butter BLT?! Pasta made with masa?!Yeah, Sunday at Battle of the Chefs was WILD. And the result was the closest...
10/04/2026

A peanut butter BLT?! Pasta made with masa?!

Yeah, Sunday at Battle of the Chefs was WILD. And the result was the closest in the tournament’s 3-year history.

Both Carlos Cuevas and his team at Masa Luna and Andrew Novak with his All In Thyme Bakery & Cafe crew put forth fantastic plates. Ultimately, after the popular vote resulted in a tie, a tie-breaker awarded Carlos the victory.

But what was so fun about today was seeing how creative and resourceful the teams were. Each chef was tasked with preparing 80+ plates of an appetizer and entree on the grounds of Long Walk Farm to feed the watching crowd, who then voted on their favorite plate.

Carlos’ masa pasta was very clever, pleasantly chewy and well-seasoned. But the chipotle beef ragu and bacon sprinkle set this dish off.

My favorite dish of the day is one I can’t believe I’m saying: All in Thyme’s peanut butter BLT. But when you have beef bacon, housemade shokupan, homemade mayo, and fresh tomatoes and lettuce, the subtle nuttiness of a peanut butter schmear is the perfect bow to finish off the present.

These were just two courses in a 7-course feast, three of which were presented by the talented Long Walk Farm team and Chef Seth Jonas. Let’s just put it this way: no one left hungry, and all left happy.

That includes Andrew and his team, who were gracious in defeat. I already can’t wait to see what Carlos cooks up for the finale against Chef Will Birge and Mealbox in a few weeks.

If BOTC has taught me anything, I’m going to eat dishes I’ve never even thought possible before. And they’re going to taste great.

I’m going to say something bold: Rookies Bar & Grill might just serve some of the best bar food in Omaha.I’d never even ...
10/04/2026

I’m going to say something bold: Rookies Bar & Grill might just serve some of the best bar food in Omaha.

I’d never even heard of this place until about a year ago, but after having their Reuben, burger, and now cheesesteak, Rookies (1702 N 120th St) thoroughly has my attention. This is a serious cheesesteak.

The massive sandwich excels where any good cheesesteak does: the steak. The meat could be a bit more tender, but it’s seasoned wonderfully and is juicy enough. Some of the beef caramelized on the flattop, giving it crispy bits on the edges. It’s delicious, especially when accented with the sweetness of sauteed peppers and onions. The sneaky key ingredient is the jalapenos, which leach their spicy juicy into every bite for a subtle heat.

The hoagie is hearty and holds up well, but what hurts this cheesesteak is the lack of cheese. Three slices of provolone get gooey enough, but with a sandwich this large, they get completely lost, which is a shame. More cheese and this cheesesteak would really be a hit.

The Side Winder Fries are a great side for those who like fries with a little more potato (hand raised). They’re crispy with creamy middles, and the ranch is a nice pool for them to dunk in.

Omaha has some bars that really prioritize the food and try to serve more than the expected fare, and I consider Rookies among that class. I’ve eaten a lot of cheesesteaks during my Omaha Cheesesteak Hunt, and while this one wasn’t the most delicious, it might’ve been the most surprising.

Although maybe that’s on me. After several meals at Rookies, I need to up my expectations. This bar approaches food right.

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17870 Oakmont Drive Suite 106
Omaha, NE
68136

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