Looking for the next new restaurant hitting Lexington’s food scene? Check out these buzzy places to eat and drink in Lexington — plus, some spots coming soon. Keep tabs on this list to stay ahead of the cuisine curve. And don’t forget to bookmark it.
December openings
Thai House, 911 Winchester Rd. | Thai
A new Thai spot has officially taken over the former Jasmine Rice location on Winchester Road. The restaurant is open seven days a week — serving lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 + dinner from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Stop in for Thai favorites like drunken noodles, pad Thai, curries, and noodle soups.
3Ten, 310 West Short St. | Global | Call 859.407.2305 for same-day reservations
From the culinary minds behind Corto Lima, 3Ten has moved into the former Creaux spot + features a creative cocktail list and international tapas-style menu. It’s open Tuesday-Sunday, 4-11 p.m.
Naz’s Halal Food, The Hub | Mediterranean
A fast-growing, Mediterranean-style chain is now open at The Hub complex near UK’s campus. The restaurant is known for its late-night hours and entrees like rice bowls, falafel, and kababs.
Bourbon n’ Toulouse, 1781 Sharkey Way | Cajun
This Lexington staple has expanded and brought its fan-favorite chicken etouffee + jambalaya to the Leestown Road area.
Did we miss a restaurant that opened in December? Let us know.
November openings
JJ burgers and fries, 6421 Athens Boonesbore Rd. | Burgers
This recently opened dining destination lets you customize your perfect patty with available toppings like crisp lettuce, a fried egg, or sauerkraut.
Mileta, 3565 Nicholasville Rd. #932 | Italian | Reservations
This “Italian-ish” restaurant serves a variety of menu items including seafood, steak, and pasta dishes — which features pastas made in-house.
Did we miss a restaurant that opened in November? Let us know.
October opening
BK’s Cookies & More, 356 Longview Plaza, #160B | Cookies
Calling all cookie monsters. Leon Buford-Kelly, known as “the cookie man” by his Leestown Middle School students, opened BK’s Cookies & More behind Critchfield’s on Southland Drive. Satisfy your sweet tooth with flavors like classic chocolate chip, snickerdoodle + peach cobbler, Friday-Monday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Dingbats Pizzeria, 471 Jefferson St. | Pizza
This fun and friendly place took over the former Jefferson Street Coffee spot, down the street from County Club.
Parlour Pizza, 2099 Harrodsburg Rd. | Casual pizzeria
Three new locations of the Indiana-based pizza chain are coming to Lexington in the coming years, where you can choose from pies, grinders, salads, and craft cocktails.
Thea’s Bass & Biddy Kitchen, 101 W. Loudon Ave., Ste. 162
If you want that home-cooked vibe without making a mess at your own kitchen, look no further. Think: scratch-made fried fish and chicken, loaded fries, mac and cheese, and a Sunday brunch buffet with all the fixings.
Cibon, 211 Rosemont Garden | Charcuterie | Reservations
While not a full restaurant, delight your palate with cheese plates and wine pours. Plus, you can buy all charcuterie ingredients and wine by the bottle for an at-home tasting experience.
Playa Bowls, 3900 Fountain Blue Ln., Ste. 120 | Smoothies + bowls
Get a taste of the tropics with customizable bowls featuring bases including acai, coconut, and pitaya, piled high with toppings like fruit, granola, peanut butter + more.
Rosati’s, 148 Malabu Dr., Ste. 160 | Pizza
Get your fix of Chicago-style pizza — deep dish, thin crust, or double dough — as well as calzones, pasta, salads, and wings.
Viva Mexico, 400 Old Vine St., Ste. 108 | Mexican
All your favorite Mexican eats can be found in this new restaurant in the former Old Vine Bistro spot. We recommend the Quesadillas Supremas.
Carson’s, 3450 Todds Rd. | Elevated Southern | Reservations
Another East Main Street staple, Carson’s will open a second location in the Hamburg area next year within the former Andover Country Club.
Osaka, 112 Lucille Ave., Ste. 130 | Japanese
The extensive menu at this Japanese restaurant boasts 70+ sushi rolls and sashimi, as well as chef specialties like teriyaki plates, tempura, noodles, hibachi, and more. There are two other locations off Boston Road + a newer one in Hamburg.
Did we miss a restaurant that opened in October? Let us know.
Coming soon
Tijuana Flats, 2344 Elkhorn Rd. | Mexican | Opening: TBD
The Florida-based quick service Tex Mex spot has its own line of 14 hot sauces from sweet to hot. The menu features burritos, quesadillas, nachos + tacos served Tijuana style with jalapenos, lettuce, onions, and tomatoes.
Big Kahuna Hawaiian BBQ, Clays Mills Road | ETA: February 2025
This new southside location will feature a large patio space for outdoor dining and exclusive menu items.
Dunkin Donuts, 2890 Richmond Rd. | Coffee | ETA: Mid-December
Get ready for another on-the-go pick-me-up spot, because Lexington is getting a new drive-thru coffee shop. Dunkin Donuts is expected to open later this month in the former LaRosa’s spot on Richmond Road. This will be the fifth location of the coffee chain in town.
First Watch, 124 Towne Center Dr. | Brunch | Opening: February 2025
The Townley Center just keeps on growing with the introduction of its first brunch-focused spot. This location will join the other four in Lexington offering a variety of sweet and savory breakfast + lunch options.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, 4085 Harrodsburg Rd. | Elevated Southern | Projected opening: Spring 2025The Asheville-based staple will come to The Fountains at Palomar, serving up scratch-made Southern dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Tapster, 401 W. Main St., #101 | Beer | ETA: Spring, 2025
We have some really cool brews. Tapster, the self-pour tasting room, is opening a location in The Square, across from Triangle Park. The space will offer bourbon, craft beer, wine, and cocktails, as well as host social events like trivia and karaoke.
Crust, 3195 Beaumont Center Cir., #100 | Pizza | ETA: Early 2025
Bella Notte Restaurant Group is reviving Crust — its wood-fired pizza restaurant that shuttered in 2020. The concept has also operated as Smashing Tomato in 2011 + Bella Forno in 2019. It’s expected to open in early 2025 in the former Whiskey Bear spot in Beaumont.
Jaggers, 2350 Norman Ln. | Fast-casual | ETA: Mid-2025
Something good is cooking off of Nicholasville Road. This restaurant created by Texas Roadhouse founder Kent Taylor will open its first Lexington location in front of the Regency Road Kroger. The restaurant is anticipated to open in mid-2025 with a drive-thru.
Still hungry for more? Dig deeper through our food news.
