4 New Louisville Restaurants to Try (Plus Relocations & Refreshed Menus!)

A Malaysian native, Sebastian describes Serai as “a neighborhood restaurant built around Malaysian and Thai spices, herbs, and techniques, local seasonal ingredients, and Chinese wok cooking.” The kitchen grinds its own spices and simmers signature pastes daily.

Starters include tuna tartare and dumplings, while entrées range from beef short rib rendang and braised lamb shank to chicken curry and crab fried rice. Serai serves dinner Tuesday through Saturday, with reservations available through its website.

Taquería La Guadalupana

Neighborhood: Downtown
More Info: Yelp

After spending 13 years working in downtown Louisville kitchens, Hermilo Perez finally has one of his own. Taquería La Guadalupana opened on October 7 in the 2,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by Chef Shaq’s Kitchen.

Featuring his original recipes, Hermilo’s menu pairs traditional Mexican dishes with a broad selection of Tex-Mex plates, with most items ranging from $4 to $12. Plus, the entire operation is staffed by Hermilo’s family. The taquería is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., making it an easy stop for a downtown lunch or an early dinner before a show.

MoonCrust Café

Neighborhood: Shelby Park
More Info: mooncrustcafe.com

Misty Harral and her daughter Gianna started MoonCrust Café as a stall at Logan Street Market last November, and it didn’t take long for their ghost-themed matcha to spread like wildfire across social media. Seven months in, demand outgrew the booth, prompting them to open their own storefront just a few blocks away.

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A witchy, whimsical theme is at the heart of this charming café, making it the perfect space for a dreamy daytime getaway. Expect colorful flavored matchas and boba alongside a menu of bagels with more than 30 topping options, croissant sandwiches, bubble waffles, crêpes, salads, and colorful cheesecakes. Out back, a string-lit garden gives you a place to sit with your drink, and back inside, you’ll find tarot decks, candles, and artwork by local artists available to browse and buy.

Voilà Cocktail Bar

Neighborhood: Downtown
More Info: Instagram

After more than 12 years in business, downtown Louisville cocktail bar Meta closed in March. Now, Em Sego, a 10-year veteran of Louisville’s bar scene and a Rose Julep Cocktail Competition winner, brings a new concept to the same space.

Voilà pairs a fixed menu with drinks made to order at a bar that includes a small lab area where Em makes her own ingredients. Choose from decadent creations like the banana-pepper-infused “Pineapple on Pizza” or the sweet “Hubba Bubba,” made with bubblegum, lime, and rum.

NEW LOCATIONS & MENUS

The House of Marigold

Neighborhood: Norton Commons
More Info: thehouseofmarigold.com

Three years after opening in Middletown, The House of Marigold now brings its seasonal comfort food to Norton Commons. Owners Adrienne and Kris Cole hosted a grand opening on October 16, and the biggest change for longtime fans is dinner.

Known for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, the Shelbyville Road original closes mid-afternoon, but the Norton Commons location stays open until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Kris, who leads the kitchen as culinary director, says the evening menu gives him “even more room to play with ingredients, flavors, and technique.” You can also expect craft cocktails and an expanded coffee program alongside the full-service breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus.

A third location at 624 East Market St. in NuLu, with a greenhouse bar and rooftop, is also slated to open by the end of 2026!

Dos Mundos

Neighborhood: Clifton
More Info: Instagram

Dos Mundos is coming home! The Valera family opened their Peruvian-Vietnamese restaurant in Simpsonville in the fall of 2023. After closing that location at the end of September, they’re opening up a new space along Frankfort Avenue in Clifton.

The restaurant’s name means “two worlds,” which is apparent in this hip fusion spot’s menu. On it, you’ll find udon saltado, a riff on the Peruvian stir-fry lomo saltado, and dishes like ceviche nikkei, which borrows from Peru’s Japanese-influenced cooking. The family hasn’t announced an opening date for the Frankfort Avenue location, so keep an eye on their Instagram to stay in the know.

Adelita Mexican Restaurant

Neighborhood: Butchertown
More Info: Facebook

Adelita Mexican Restaurant is run by 21-year-old Alexander Gomez (alongside his mother and brother) out of a 765-square-foot storefront on Frankfort Avenue. The family is now sizing up to a new 4,300-square-foot location in the former Chik’n & Mi space on Mellwood Avenue.

The homemade Mexican recipes that built Adelita’s following in Clifton help explain the big move: customers can’t get enough. The larger location will also have room for something the original storefront couldn’t accommodate: a cocktail menu!

The family was aiming for an early October opening, and Alexander says they’re considering a new concept for the Frankfort Avenue space once Adelita moves out. In the meantime, fans of the family’s Mexican cooking can look forward to a bigger space and cocktails alongside their favorite dishes.

Osteria Italian Seafood

Neighborhood: Westport Village
More Info: osterialouisville.com

Osteria Italian Seafood turned three in September, and owner Jared Matthews marked the anniversary with a new executive chef — and a new menu! Henry Wesley III took over the kitchen alongside chef de cuisine Erik Abraham, and the pair launched their first full menu on September 21. These new dishes have been the focus of Osteria’s most recent social media showcases.

However, the restaurant’s emphasis hasn’t changed: fresh seafood and house-made pasta inspired by Italy’s coastal regions. Jared says longtime favorites that regulars keep ordering stay on the menu alongside Chef Henry’s new dishes, so if you have one that you come back to over and over again, rest assured it’s likely still there.

Craving more? Keep scrolling for more recent restaurant openings throughout Louisville!

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SEPTEMBER 2026 UPDATES
Written by Lennie Omalza

Fall in Louisville brings a few brand-new eateries worth checking out, including a Turkish restaurant, a French bistro with classic dishes, and an Asian bakery stocked with unique treats. Plus, a familiar brunch favorite is rolling out fresh new picks. Pop by one of these new Louisville restaurants the next time you’re craving something a little different!

Brisé

Neighborhood: Norton Commons
More Info: opentable.com

Two years after opening artisan bakery and café Crucafé Crumb, Debi Hatton has expanded next door with Brisé, a French-inspired bistro that began welcoming customers on September 16.

Debi collaborated with Executive Chef KeJuan Smith on a seasonal menu rooted in French technique and accented with Kentucky ingredients. A Chicago native and Sullivan University graduate, Chef KeJuan began his culinary career at Churchill Downs and most recently served as executive chef at Gordon Ramsay Steak. Early offerings include everything from steak frites to French onion soup.

Several menu items are made in-house each day, including fresh baguettes, desserts, and ice creams. You can also expect a dedicated bread service, chef-selected bites, and palate cleansers between courses — plus afternoon tea and brunch in the near future.

Cafecito

Neighborhood: Old Louisville
More Info: Instagram

Glenda Garcia Cortes and Meghan Jewell launched their family-run, women- and Latina-owned business as a mobile coffee truck in 2023. But as of September 5, the pair has put down roots in Old Louisville. Cafecito is set in the space that once housed both Adrienne & Co. Donuts and Desserts and Fleur de Tea.

With their new digs comes an expanded menu of coffee drinks, pastries, and light bites. Pair your beverages with everything from muffins and empanadas to conchas, with lunch fare expected to be added to the menu in the future. The shop is currently open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week.

Pide Point

Neighborhood: Fern Creek
More Info: pidepoint.com

Family-owned and chef-operated Pide Point began bringing Turkish cuisine to Louisville last month. The eatery gets its name from pide, a boat-shaped Turkish flatbread often compared to pizza. Dough is made in-house each morning, hand-shaped, and baked to order throughout the day.

Try the kiymale pide with ground beef, onion, tomato, and Italian parsley; the peynirli pide with kashkaval cheese and butter; or the kuşbaşili pide topped with hand-cut beef, onion, tomato, and pomegranate sauce.

The menu also boasts marinated chicken kebab, oven-roasted branzino, stuffed eggplant, and kumpir — an oven-baked potato loaded with cheese, sausage, sweet corn, beets, and pickles.

Vegetarian diners can choose cheese pide or any of the five salads, and everything served is halal. Pair your meal with Turkish tea or a frothy ayran yogurt drink, and save room for baklava, caramel-topped trileçe cake, or sütlaç, a baked Turkish rice pudding.

Purple Yum

Area: Hurstbourne Acres
More Info: purpleyumlou.com

Ye Ma and Michelle Zhang launched the Purple Yum in Lexington in March 2025 after noticing a shortage of Asian bakeries in the area. A little more than a year later, they’ve opened a second location in Louisville on South Hurstbourne Parkway.

The 3,000-square-foot bakery is larger than the Lexington original, giving the team space for a dedicated cake room, additional baking capacity, and a more extensive beverage menu. Everything is made from scratch, with display cases filled with Asian-inspired pastries and desserts.

You can also find sweets like pineapple buns, coconut palmiers, mochi doughnuts, sliced cakes, and lots of ube creations, plus several gluten-free options. The Louisville menu also incorporates a local touch, with bourbon cheesecake made using Kentucky bourbon. Featured drinks include the Iced Purple Ube Dream and the Iced Ube Brew Latte.

TRIED AND TRUE WITH SOMETHING NEW

​Pasta Garage

Neighborhood: Phoenix Hill
More Info: pastagaragenulu.com

Pasta Garage’s Louisville location opened a refreshed cafécafé market space on September 11. Though the main restaurant continues to serve its fresh pasta menu — including chef’s picks and build-your-own combos — the new café offerings include a variety of coffee, smoothie, and sandwich options. Featured selections include an iced matcha tricolore, Palermo smoothie, Roman PLT, and burrata prosciutto.

Other highlighted drinks and dishes for dine-in and takeout include an iced cannoli latte, layered strawberry matcha, and pressed focaccia sandwiches featuring pesto and fresh mozzarella. The restaurant’s market area also offers take-home options like house-made pasta, jarred sauces, and imported Italian treats.

Wild Eggs

Multiple Locations
More Info: wildeggs.com

Wild Eggs is turning up the heat with “Spice Spice Baby,” a limited-time fall menu available from September 30 through November 24.

The Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich — which comes with fries and chipotle ranch — stacks fried buttermilk chicken on an in-house jalapeño cornmeal waffle with hot honey, candied jalapeño bacon, pepper jack, and chipotle slaw. If you’re craving something sweet, you can order scratch-made Pumpkin Pie Pancakes, which are also available gluten-free.

Other seasonal picks include Sunrise Tostadas, The Wild Pumpkin Latte, a Spicy Mary, and the Caramel Apple Spice Mimosa. There’s also a pumpkin latte (with or without alcohol!) All of the fall selections are offered at every Wild Eggs location, while the seasonal menu is in effect, except at Bowling Green, which does not serve alcoholic beverages.

Craving more? Keep scrolling for more recent restaurant openings throughout Louisville!

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AUGUST 2026 UPDATES

If you’re hungry for something new, the Louisville area has plenty of culinary spots worth adding to your list. Local eateries are serving up Italian fare, pan-Asian cuisine, creative takes on familiar favorites, and plenty of other tempting options. Give one of these new Louisville restaurants a try during your next night out!

Basilico CaféCafé

Area: Lyndon
More Info: basilicolouisville.com

The space that was home to The Corner CaféCafé 40 years is now Basilico CaféCaféeated by Clay Oven Indian Restaurant owner Raj Bhujel and Manish Shrestha, one of the owners of Tikka House, Basilico CaféCafé retained its Italian flair.

Featured items include chicken parmigiana, blackened spinach dip, and a meatball sub — but the extensive menu offers nearly 40 other options, including pizzas, pastas, soups, salads, and other entrées.

The Lot

Area: Shelbyville
More Info: visitthelot.com

If you’re looking for a one-stop shop to try all kinds of cuisines at once, Shelbyville’s new food truck park has you covered. After seeing a similar property during a trip to Hawaii, owners Rebecca and Derrick Mullins were inspired to create something like it — and thousands of people have visited since its opening.

The Mullinses strive to bring a variety of food trucks to the Seventh Street spot so diners can enjoy everything from barbecue and seafood to coffee and Asian fusion fare. An online calendar lists each day’s lineup about a month in advance and includes the food truck schedule and special events, such as karaoke and bingo.

Wasabi

Neighborhood: Windy Hills
More Info: wasabilouisville.com 

The space formerly occupied by Anoosh Bistro (then äta, and then Hen House CaféCaférovisions) is now Wasabi, a pan-Asian restaurant and sushi bar that opened on August 10 after a four-month renovation. Its current menu features primarily Japanese and Japanese-American dishes, with a few Chinese-American entrées sprinkled throughout.

Options include everything from nigiri, sashimi, and poke bowls to lo mein, fried rice, ramen, and bento boxes. The Brownsboro Road space also offers a full bar with a variety of cocktails and Japanese whiskies.

TRIED AND TRUE WITH SOMETHING NEW

High Stakes Rooftop

Neighborhood: Phoenix Hill
More Info: highstakesrooftop.com 

After scaling down to offer primarily bar bites, High Stakes Rooftop has brought back a more robust menu, giving guests more reasons to dine al fresco.

Newly added items include bourbon-glazed salmon with smashed fingerling potatoes, grilled asparagus, and fennel and apple slaw; a grilled lamb lollipop, which features a New Zealand lamb rack, confit garlic hummus, mint gremolata, a bourbon honey glaze, and pistachio dukkah; and a house chicken sandwich with crispy or grilled chicken, buffalo lime slaw, bread-and-butter pickles, and cheddar on brioche.

Sweet treats like cappuccino cheesecake and strawberry shortcake, as well as several new cocktails, have also been added to the offerings.  

Murray’s Creole Pub

Neighborhood: Deer Park
More Info: murrayscreolepub.com 

Several new dishes are coming out of this French Creole-inspired eatery run by James Beard-nominated Chef Lawrence Weeks.

From Tuesday through Friday, Murray’s Creole Pub offers daily specials, including: rotating tikka and curry specials on Tuesdays; $2 oysters and $5 glasses of bubbles all night on Wednesdays; prime rib with two sides, gravy, and Yorkshire pudding for $55 on Thursdays; and a $22 Creole fried chicken plate with mashed potatoes and buttered cabbage on Fridays.

Shahar

Neighborhood: Shelby Park
More Info: shahareats.com 

Known as one of the few vegan restaurants in Louisville, Shahar has launched an updated menu that offers two new protein options: locally sourced grass-fed beef and organic chicken smash patties.

Though these fresh picks mark major changes for the Shelby Park spot, owners Vikrant Multani and Christian Nava are determined to keep Shahar primarily a vegan destination. It will also continue to operate as completely dairy- and nut-free.

“We want to be known as a vegan restaurant with meat options, not a meat restaurant with vegan options,” Vikrant says. “As rising costs continue to impact the restaurant industry, these changes allow us to keep our menu more accessible, support our team, and ensure Shahar remains a Louisville staple for years to come.”

​The updated menu still boasts the familiar vegan dishes that regulars have come to know and love, including signature burgers, sandwiches, wings, and all-day breakfast offerings — but guests can now substitute Impossible meat, locally sourced grass-fed beef, or organic chicken smash patties on select items.

Dig in, Louisville!

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