Best new Lexington restaurants 2025: Steaks, seafood, doughnuts 24-7 & more
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lexington dining saw 40-plus new restaurants and concepts open across 2025.
- Openings span skyline dining, top-chef venues, BBQ, wings, bakeries and bars.
- Local chains expanded while independent spots opened and some longtime kitchens closed.
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Lexington restaurants’ 2025 year in review & year ahead
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Best new Lexington restaurants 2025: Steaks, seafood, doughnuts 24-7 & more
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It’s been a busy year in Lexington dining, with lots of new options arriving, from glamorous skyline dining and new restaurants from top chefs to more barbecue, beer and wing joints.
If there was an overall, yet dueling themes to the year, it might be fine dining vs. grab and go / grocery store openings in Lexington.
Here’s a list and guide of 40-plus of the top and best new restaurants, foodie places and dining experiences that opened in Lexington in 2025.
The V at The Vine
Lexington chef Cole Arimes opened a new restaurant with “coastal vibes” in downtown Lexington. The V at The Vine offers fine-dining with picturesque views nine stories up on top of The Vine, a downtown Lexington office building that was turned into upscale condos with a private dining club, rooftop pool and more.
Jeff’s Donuts
Jeff’s Donuts, a 24-hour doughnut shop with handmade long johns, opened in January at 1080 S. Broadway Suite 204, opposite First Watch and near Tsao Cha. The doughnut shop makes 22 kinds of long johns plus other kinds of doughnuts in house daily, all for $2.50 each. (Doughnut holes are $.25.)
Penny’s at Pomegranate
Chef Ouita Michel joined forces with Lexington textile designer Angela Beck and collaborated on Penny’s at Pomegranate at a 104 Clay Ave. The garden cafe opened in April outside of Beck’s Pomegranate shop with outside seating in warm weather. During winter months, it’s enclosed for the season, open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bert’s SpeakCheezy
Bert’s SpeakCheezy, which also has had a storefront in Old Town Berea, opened a new location near Hamburg at 2985 Liberty Rd., near Olive Garden, Ramsey’s Diner and Five Guys. The restaurant serves gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, basil lemon pasta salad and kettle chips.
Minton’s
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Minton’s, a Lexington restaurant known for its brunches and lunches with vegetarian and vegan options, opened in a new location at 701 National Ave. The restaurant has expanded the menu to include dinner as well as signature cakes and take-home meals for the holidays.
Publix
Lexington finally has its Publix grocery stores (two so far): One in March off Citation at 1952 Stockton Way and a larger one in June in Fountains of Palomar on Man o’ War and Harrodsburg Road. Both have the Publix greatest hits: Pub Subs, chicken tenders, cakes, take-and-bake and much more.
Wawa
Central Kentucky’s first Wawa opened in September. The convenience store and 20-pump gas station known across the Northeast for its coffee, breakfast sandwiches and hoagies opened in Nicholasville at 3000 Lexington Road. More Wawas are on the way in and around Lexington. The Pennsylvania-based chain has built a cult-like following on the back of high-quality branded products, made-to-order fresh food and consistency.
Fresh Market
Specialty grocery store Fresh Market opened a second location in December in Hamburg at 2321 Sir Barton Way in what was a Buy Buy Baby store. The new store is different from the Lansdowne location. It is bigger, has a seating area deli and a soup bar.
Kroger Marketplace
Kroger opened its third Lexington Marketplace store opened a new Kroger Marketplace at 760 Newtown Springs Dr. off Newtown Pike in August. Kroger Marketplace stores are generally more than 120,000 square feet and have home goods and clothing sections as well as pharmacy and spirits shops.
Son of a Burger
Son of a Burger, 101 W. Loudon Ave. in Greyline Station, opened in July, serving smashburgers, fries and more daily beginning at 4 p.m. The menu includes a variety of options, including a vegetarian black bean burger. You can get any burger as a single, double or triple. And yes, they have onion rings.
PKL LEX
PKL LEX, the new indoor pickleball court and Country Boy Brewing taproom at 223 Owens St., just off Winchester Road and Midland Avenue, opened in July. The taproom has 24 unique brews, package beer to-go and a menu of high-end pub food, including their signature barbecue and smoked meats.
Wingstop
TikTok-famous wing restaurant Wingstop opened its first Lexington location in March, and local foodies packed the tiny restaurant at 3080 Richmond Road to try their 11 signature flavors, including lemon pepper, Buffalo-style original hot, hickory smoked BBQ and more. There are also now locations at 4101 Tates Creek Centre Dr., near the Kroger grocery store, and 384 Woodland Ave., next to the bar going into the former Lynagh’s spot. Another location is coming near Publix off Citation.
Cafe Patachou
Cafe Patachou, an Indiana-based restaurant from an award-winning chef, opened in November at 4040 Finn Way Suite 110 at The Summit at Fritz Farm, just off Nicholasville Road and Man o’ War. The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, coffee and cocktails in an inviting atmosphere. Favorites include the build-your-own omelette option made with Vital Farms free-range eggs, the Cuban Breakfast with its addictive spinach-jalapeno pesto and the vegan crêpes. And the chicken salad is a must-try.
The Ketch
After two years under renovations, The Ketch at 2012 Regency Road just off Southland Drive relaunched under new owners in July. Rebuilt from the inside out with a new second bar, The Ketch now features a menu of fresh seafood and sushi as well as rum cocktails.
Char
Char, a new coffee bar and restaurant, opened in the summer on Ashland in Chevy Chase. It features hand-made pastries, Neapolitan pizza, pastas and more for dinner. Vegetarian options will include Greek zucchini patties, couscous with micro salad and housemade raspberry vinaigrette, vegetarian pizza and limited-time-only offerings such as Greek green beans, onions and tomatoes.
Jaggers
Jaggers, the burger chain from the people behind Texas Roadhouse, opened at 2350 Norman Lane just off Nicholasville Road in August. The fast-casual restaurant is known for its double-stack burgers, hand-breaded chicken tenders and sandwiches, chopped salads with signature dressings and thick milkshakes. The chain is already working on a second location on Richmond Road.
Kung Fu Noodle
Kung Fu Noodle, an authentic Chinese restaurant that was named to Yelp’s annual 100 Best Places to Eat list in 2024, opened in Lexington in August. With a menu highlighted by its hand-pulled noodles, which are very different from Japanese ramen or Italian spaghetti, the restaurant opened in the CenterCourt complex a block from the University of Kentucky campus. The signature item: Owner Dennis Zhang’s Lanzhou beef-noodle soup.
Millstone
Millstone, from chef Tyler Murray, opened in November inside Dudley Square at 380 South Mill Street with a casual upscale menu. Open only for dinner at first, Millstone did major renovations to the historic building, including adding a seasonal patio to the new main dining area; there’s also an area called The Library that can be used for private events. Murray says the menu has Kentucky hospitality and meets modern flavor. Everything is made in-house, focusing on local suppliers like Bourbon Barrel Beef, Eggleston Farm and Weisenberger Mill. Entrée highlights rooted in Kentucky tradition include braised short rib ($41), shrimp and grits ($36) and seared salmon ($38.)
Milano Italian Restaurant
A popular Louisville-area Italian restaurant left the city: Milano Italian Restaurant opened in October in downtown Georgetown at 135 E. Main Street in the former location of The Brown Barrel & Blind Harry’s, which closed at the end of September. The family-owned Milano offers a menu of made-from-scratch dishes from family recipes including pastas, lasagna, calzones and more.
Ford’s Garage
Ford’s Garage, a burger and craft beer restaurant inspired by the history of The Ford Motor Company, opened in November in the former location of Logan’s Roadhouse in The Plaza at Fayette Mall at 140 Rojay Drive. The steakhouse closed in 2020 during the COVID pandemic and has been empty since. Ford’s is known for its burgers, fries and onion rings, but the menu does include healthier options and comfort food options.
Silk’s Steakhouse
The Aldenberg Hotel opened October at 101 North Main Street in the historic Woodford Bank and Trust building with a white-tablecloth restaurant called Silk’s Steakhouse featuring prime dry-aged beef, fresh seafood and tableside service. And a craft distillery will also operate inside the hotel, producing small batch spirits: Aldenberg Distillery will be making a Kentucky bourbon called Keyholder’s Reserve. When guests valet and enter the side entrance, they will get a front row view of the craft distillery process.
Southern Cookhouse & Bar
Southern Cookhouse & Bar opened in September in the clubhouse of the BLVD Apartments on Hays Boulevard. The new restaurant and bar is a neighborhood tavern with a menu of Southern comfort food, Kentucky Proud burgers and late hours for sports games. Highlights include bourbon-glazed filet tips over creamy cheddar grits and served with green beans, grilled white fish, roasted chicken, Cajun pasta, but the hamburgers steal the show.
Biscuit Daddies
Biscuit Daddies, 373 Virginia Ave. Suite 130, opened a Lexington location in June with a menu of hearty biscuits, specials including omelets and lunch entrées, after starting with a restaurant in Danville. Open everyday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. except Tuesdays.
Crust
Crust, a wood-fired pizza and pasta place, opened in Beaumont Center, in the former Whiskey Bear location at 3195 Beaumont Center Circle Suite 100. Crust, which had closed during COVID, reopened with an expanded menu of “edgy and bold flavors.” This included artisan pizza, squid ink pasta and a wide variety of appetizers like charcuterie with Kentucky country ham.
LX BBQ
LX BBQ opened in February at the former location of Blue Door Smokehouse, which moved to National Avenue after nine years on Walton Avenue. LX BBQ’s menu features Texas-style brisket, pulled pork, spare ribs, turkey and homemade cheddar jalapeno sausage. Meats can come on sandwiches ($12-$14) or on a plate with two sides, pickles, onions and bread. Prices for one- to three-meat plates are $18-$28. The menu will also sometimes feature wagyu barbeque, other homemade sausage flavors, beef ribs, pork belly burnt ends and a brisket burger.
Old School Coffee
Old School Coffee opened its third Lexington location in May in the Lansdowne Shopping Center. The new coffee shop at 3373 Tates Creek Rd. is in addition to the historic Dudley Square location which opened in 2019 and the Fayette Mall kiosk that launched in 2021. The drink menu at Old School Coffee’s new Lansdowne Shopping Center location includes lattes, specialty and traditional teas and coffee, hot chocolate and more. The Lansdowne location also has something the other locations do not: North Lime Donuts, seven days a week.
AJ’s Wings & Things
AJ’s Wings & Things, a chicken wing and Southern soul food restaurant, opened in one of Lexington’s oldest shopping centers, Gardenside Plaza. The chicken is highlighted by chicken wings and scratch-made sauces. Wings can be fried or baked. A dinner combo of wings ($15) come with two sides, all of which are homemade family recipes.
Black-Type Brewing
Black-Type Brewing, an off-shoot of Sterling MicroBrew, which opened in 2021 in Mt. Sterling, opened in Lexington in April with 16 craft beers on tap and a menu of bar appetizers and handmade pizzas and calzones baked in a wood-fired oven. The new Lexington craft beer taproom and pizza restaurant is located near the University of Kentucky campus at 373 Virginia Ave., across the street from the Gateway Lofts Lexington apartment building and Dairy Queen.
Radio Star Lounge
Radio Star Lounge, an upscale, ’80s-themed bar opened in downtown Lexington in March promising to bring back the decadence of the MTV era. At 123 West Main Street in the former location of the Stings Lounge, Radio Star features a hot pink bar, neon lights, dark purple walls accented with artwork such as 1980s icons Max Headroom, retro arcade video games and a drink menu that would make the Brat Pack jealous. The signature drink comes in a miniature disco ball.
The Willow
The Willow, a “collective” of local artists, exercise instructors and other female collaborators and adorned by restive murals by Kentucky artist Wylie Caudill, opened in March in the Warehouse Block at 825 National Ave. During the day, The Willow hosts coffee and exercise classes; in the afternoon, the bar opens with wines and cocktails, with lots of non-alcoholic options and food
Big Kahuna Hawaiian BBQ
Big Kahuna Hawaiian BBQ opened a second location at 3101 Clays Mill Rd. in February serving the same menu of Hawaiian dishes including Spam Musubi (fried Spam and rice wrapped in seaweed) and Katsu fried pork with rice and macaroni salad, known in Hawaii as “plate lunch” style, plus more vegetarian options.
Azur Restaurant and Patio
Azur Restaurant and Patio, 3070 Lakecrest Circle #550, reopened in May after a five-month absence. Many of Azur’s signature dishes returned, such as the bourbon fried chicken, truffle fries, tagliatelle with vodka sauce, the woven shrimp and the Azur Old Fashioned, made with brown sugar syrup, black walnut bitters, house-made bourbon cherries and amaretto.
RD1 Spirits
RD1 Spirits, the bourbon brand co-owned by (now former) University of Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops, opened its newly constructed research and development distillery, RD1 Distillery, in May at 113 Turner Commons Way. The $5 million bourbon attraction also has two private tasting rooms, an indoor bar with seats for 26 and a wrap-around patio that can seat another 26. The patio looks out onto Turner Commons, which will become a 42-acre entertainment district with a brand new music venue from developer Daren Turner and partners.
Athenian Grill
Athenian Grill opened a third location in July at 3801 Mall Road, Suite 120. The restaurant originally was going to be an upscale Greek restaurant called Santorini but owner Illias Pappas decided to switch concepts. It has a similar menu (with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options) to the one on Ashland Avenue and downtown in Park Plaza by the main library. You can get favorites including gyros and gyro bowls where you choose your grain or green, up to two dips, a protein (options include vegan meatballs and roasted veggies), and toppings. Or try the Crossfit Special of two proteins and two sides (don’t skip the roasted lemon potatoes) for $16.
Bread and Roses Bakery
A popular Lexington cafe extended its culinary reach with the addition of a neighboring bakery: Bread and Roses Bakery, the new offshoot of Kentucky Native Cafe, opened in August. Both the cafe and the bakery are branches of Michler’s Florist, the longtime family-owned nursery, which owns both eateries.
Floating Lotus Kitchen
Floating Lotus Kitchen, 4371 Old Harrodsburg Rd Suite 105, opened in August with a menu of fresh soups, salads, bowls, sandwiches and wraps, with live music in the evenings and art on weekends.
Long John Silver’s
Long John Silver’s, which got its start in Lexington, returned to the area last summer with a new restaurant in Nicholasville at 140 Hope Court off of U.S. 27. And apparently people were pretty excited for crispy fish (those crumbles on the side!): Opening day nearly broke a company sales record.
