Louisville’s dining scene never disappoints, with new options popping up every month. Whether you’re looking for a fresh breakfast order or a post-dinner, one-of-a-kind dessert, you’ll want to check out these new local eateries and offerings!
The Bakery Inside
Neighborhood: Windy Hills
More Info: allthaidupky.com
In 2017, Thailand native Katherine Aphaivongs began serving Louisvillians authentic Thai fare from a food truck, which turned into a brick-and-mortar restaurant —All Thai’d Up — a few years later. Katherine’s most recent expansion is in the All Thai’d Up space: a bakery called The Bakery Inside. Now, you can grab something sweet before the restaurant opens at 11 a.m.!
The Bakery Inside starts serving at 8 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday through Sunday. Treats include a rotating selection of homemade pastries, cakes, and cookies, including everything from croissants, Danishes, and chocolate chip cookies to sweet pork buns, Thai tea cheesecake, and fish waffles. Online ordering is available, so you can check out the assortment of goodies ahead of time and reserve your favorites for pickup.
Dirty Bird
Neighborhood: Audubon
More Info: dirtybirdky.com
After a few months of temporary closure, Audubon’s one-of-a-kind chicken spot is back in action. Dirty Bird, which proclaims to have “the best damn fried chicken around,” is the latest endeavor from Chef and Co-owner Allan Rosenberg, who also co-owns Hauck’s Corner, Breakfast AF, Baked AF, and Pizza AF.
The space, formerly occupied by Tim Tam Tavern, promises booze, bands — and of course, fried chicken. Inside, you’ll spot reclaimed wood walls, a bold mural of colorful cartoon chickens, and enough seating for more than 200, thanks to the interior dining space and patio.
The menu is divided into snacks, “foreplay” appetizers, sides, cold starters, staples, and “happy ending” desserts. Options include everything from a deviled egg flight and cornbread muffins to a fried fish sandwich and even chicken and waffles. There’s also a section dubbed “cluck around & find out,” which offers chicken tenders as well as whole, half, and quarter-pound pieces of fried and roasted chicken.
Great Bagel & Bakery
Area: Middletown
More Info: eatgreatbagel.com
This Kentucky-based scratch bakery specializes in bagels and baked goods made with organic, fresh-milled flour. Founded in Lexington in 2011, the brand has finally expanded into Derby City with a spot on Shelbyville Road. Husband-and-wife operators Lara and Robert Swan (who celebrated their grand opening on August 4) partner with fifth-generation regenerative organic farms to grow grain just for their baked-fresh-daily bagels, which include Asiago, Sesame, Maple-Bourbon, French Toast, and Chocolate Chip, to name a few.
You can also expect to find gluten-free options every Saturday and Sunday, as well as breakfast and lunch sandwiches, soups, salads, and a daily rotating selection of scratch-baked, seasonally inspired banana bread, muffins, biscotti, cinnamon rolls, and cookies.
J-Town Big Bites
Area: Jeffersontown
More Info: bigbitesjtown.com
Longtime friends Larry Patel, Manish Jadav, and Anil Kumar came up with the concept for a fast-casual, fried chicken restaurant when Manish’s daughter got hooked on chicken tenders and he decided to make them himself. Now those crispy chicken tenders — plus juicy burgers and fresh salads — are available to the public at J-Town Big Bites.
Set in the former WNB Factory space on Taylorsville Road, the restaurant offers dine-in, carryout, and drive-thru services. Guests can also order online for pickup or delivery via DoorDash. Grab some tenders and fries for a quick lunch, or serve a large group with a Family Big Basket, available with up to 100 chicken tenders.
TRIED AND TRUE WITH SOMETHING NEW
Barn8 Restaurant & Bourbon Bar
City: Goshen
More Info: hermitagefarm.com
The Barn8 Restaurant & Bourbon Bar team just rolled out several refreshing cocktails to wrap up the end of summer, plus a few new desserts to pair them with. Try Monks at Sea, a mix of Smith & Cross Rum, Ten to One Rum, green chartreuse, kiwi purée, lime juice, and orgeat. For a bit of spice, there’s Lampshades on Fire, made with jalapeño-infused Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, egg white, Select Aperitivo, watermelon juice, pineapple juice, agave, and Fresno powder.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a piece of Key Lime Entremet, made with lime curd, lime sucre, toasted meringue, candied lime, ginger, and coconut; or some Passionfruit Coconut Crumble, served with coconut ice cream, passionfruit curd, white chocolate cremieux, toasted coconut, macadamia crumble, and tuile.
Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse
Neighborhood: Butchertown
More Info: nami-restaurant.com
Celebrity chef Edward Lee’s Butchertown restaurant, Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse, recently added a few more dinner and dessert options, courtesy of Executive Chef Breanna Baker. New offerings include the Spicy Garlic Stir-Fried Eggplant with sesame whipped tofu and scallions; Spicy Tuna Tartare with Sesame Crisps, made with gochujang butter, beech mushroom, and green chilli; and the Chicken Katsu Sandwich, a gigantic creation featuring tonkatsu mayo, spicy slaw, Korean milk bread, and crispy potato.
Don’t forget to finish dinner with a subtly sweet yet delicious dessert! We like the Honey Hotteok Ice Cream Sandwich with roasted peaches and spiced nut crumble.
Hungry for more? Keep scrolling to see more recent openings!
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JULY 2025 OPENINGS
Give yourself a little break from the summer heat and take refuge in one of these new spots around the city. Each boasts something unique to try, from mushroom lattes to okonomiyaki. Plus, they all have plenty of air conditioning!
HaiFry
Neighborhood: Tyler Park
More Info: haifry.com
The owner of Dragon King’s Daughter has brought a new concept to Derby City: HaiFry, an Osaka-style Japanese restaurant in the space formerly occupied by Cafe Mimosa. The eatery serves various Japanese dishes, including Japanese curry, fried rice, bento boxes, and yakisoba. One standout offering is okonomiyaki, an Osaka-style savory pancake made with dashi batter, cabbage, green onion, benishoga, egg, and tempura crunchies. There are four okonomiyaki options, including one with a layer of yakisoba noodles and another with pork and eggs.
For a quick bite, try the kushikatsu, $2 panko-breaded skewers deep-fried until golden brown. There is a wide variety of skewer choices, including everything from chicken, pork, and tofu to asparagus, eggplant, and mushrooms. Wash it all down with one of several unique drink choices, like ChuHai, an alcoholic Japanese beverage served plain or made with milk soda, oolong, or tomato.
Sweet Colada
Neighborhood: Shelby Park
More Info: Facebook
In mid-July, Cuban café and cocktail bar Sweet Colada began serving sandwiches, empanadas, coffee, juice, and snacks. Set in a former abode, the house has been transformed into a one-of-a-kind restaurant, complete with a hard-to-miss, bold mural on the exterior and a bright and fun interior, complete with an area meant to replicate owner Nachely Martinez’s childhood living room.
Nachely’s parents own the Cuban bakery Sweet Havana on Fern Valley Road, and while Sweet Colada’s pastries are sourced from the bakery, the rest of the offerings are made from scratch on-site. Guests can dine in or order takeout from the walk-up window, choosing from a menu that boasts cubanos, breakfast sandwiches, smoothies, flan, and more.
Yi Sushi Omakase
Neighborhood: Cherokee Triangle
More Info: yisushiomakase.com
Bardstown Road’s newest sushi destination is an intimate, moody spot that promises an authentic and unforgettable Japanese dining experience. Solo diners will enjoy the sleek bar, while the main dining area boasts comfy booths with a lounge-like feel for larger groups. All guests can choose from a variety of options, including classic maki, raw bar dishes, nigiri, and signature rolls. Every dish and drink is artfully presented, offering a feast for the eyes and the palate.
Try a combination platter to sample a range of flavors. Each order includes five pieces of nigiri, nine pieces of sashimi, and two signature rolls: the dragon fire roll, which boasts shrimp tempura and cucumber with eel and avocado on top, and spicy tuna crunch maki.
Of course, you can always opt for the omakase option. This dining experience (the Japanese term means “I’ll leave it up to you”) lets the chef curate a multi-course meal, showcasing their expertise while using fresh, seasonal ingredients. And Yi Sushi Omakase is one of only a few places in Louisville where this is an offering!
TRIED AND TRUE WITH SOMETHING NEW
Ciao
Neighborhood: Irish Hill
More Info: Facebook
Longtime Derby City dinner destination Ciao, known for authentic Italian fare and giant meatballs, recently entered the Louisville brunch game. Served every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the brunch menu boasts a curated selection of salato (savory), dolce (sweet), and contorno (side) dishes.
Hearty options include the Italian Stallion, an eight-ounce pork chop covered in white gravy and served with a fried egg and shoestring fries, and Country Side, a classic breakfast choice with house-made sausage, white gravy, cheddar, and a buttermilk biscuit. Sugar lovers will enjoy Treat It Like The Italians, a pancake with Nutella, and the Sweet American Dream, a pancake served with glazed banana, candied pecans, and Biscoff.
Still hungry? Keep scrolling for more recent openings!
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JUNE 2025 OPENINGS
With summer now “officially” underway, we’re celebrating with a fresh batch of new Louisville restaurants, plus exciting new options available at longtime favorites. Whether you’re in the market for hearty brunch fare, fresh oysters, or a night of fine dining, Derby City’s food scene has you covered. Dig in!
Noah’s Kitchen
Neighborhood: East Louisville
More Info: eatatnoahskitchen.com
Inspired by his faith and a visit to Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Adam Ursprung opened Noah’s Kitchen, allocating 100% of profits to the restaurant’s nonprofit arm, Noah’s Movement. The elevated casual eatery serves breakfast and lunch six days a week, with dinner hours in the works.
Guests can expect to find an array of made-from-scratch offerings, including smoked salmon Benedict, French toast, corned beef hash, and chilaquiles, to name a few. The menu also features salads, pizzas, smoothies, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Noah’s Movement funds are aimed at helping to make known the love of God, fight sex trafficking and support recovery, support foster care and adoption, and fight drug and alcohol abuse and support recovery.
Retta’s
Neighborhood: Clifton
More Info: rettas.love
Retta’s ice cream has been around Louisville since last year. Flavors like bay leaf raspberry chip, toasted hay sorghum crisp, and rhubarb custard tart have been available by the pint at Full Stop, Goldie’s, and Locals Food Hub & Pizza Pub, to name a few. But on June 12, Brooklyn native and pastry chef Ben Deutsch celebrated the grand opening of his new brick-and-mortar digs on Frankfort Avenue, in the space formerly occupied by Harvey’s.
While guests can still order scoops of Ben’s unique ice cream flavors, we recommend dining in to truly enjoy a one-of-a-kind (and Instagram-worthy!) dessert like the English Pea, a pot de crème made with peas, cream, crème fraîche, white chocolate, and buttermilk, with a slice of benne seed financier hidden inside. Coffee, cocktails, and wine are available, too, as well as a selection of amaro, whiskey, rum, and brandy by the ounce.
YachtSea
Neighborhood: Butchertown
More Info: yachtseabar.com
After serving up seaside-style dishes via popups for over a year, YachtSea officially set sail on a brick-and-mortar spot in Butchertown. The brainchild of JC Denison (co-owner of The MerryWeather) and Leslee Macpherson (former director of operations of Lexington’s Holly Hill), the 1,300-square-foot bar offers nautical-themed cocktails, oysters, and a variety of hot dogs served on potato rolls.
Try the Yacht Dog (with IPA beer cheese, fried onions, gochujang ketchup, papaya mustard, and a pickle spear) or the Bratsea! (deep-fried bratwurst, kraut, pickled jalapeños, and honey-rum Dijon). There’s no shortage of classic or seafaring-themed drinks, either. You can enjoy everything from mai tais and piña coladas to daiquiri-based beverages and draft beers.
TRIED AND TRUE WITH SOMETHING NEW
Barn8 Restaurant & Bourbon Bar
City: Goshen
More Info: hermitagefarm.com
Executive Chef Oscar Bello and the Barn8 Restaurant & Bourbon Bar team recently rolled out several new summer dishes. Start with a refreshing seasonal starter like pineapple ceviche, made with corvina, pineapple juice, jicama, orange supremes, shallots, and fresnos; or watermelon gazpacho, which features mezcal-infused watermelon, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and focaccia crisp.
For dinner, try the canestri (housemade pasta, crab meat, corn purée, fresno, shallot, garlic, panko breadcrumbs, and manchego from Indiana’s Sirocco Ridge Farm) or spaghetti, featuring housemade pasta, spicy sausage from Fischer Farms in Indiana, confit tomatoes, garlic, asparagus, peas, shallot, aleppo, and burrata cream. And don’t forget dessert! Seasonal specials might include anything from pavlova to banana tres leches.
The House of Marigold
Neighborhood: Blue Ridge Manor
More Info: thehouseofmarigold.com
The House of Marigold is celebrating summer and its second anniversary with updated offerings. Guests can still order fan favorites, like the build-your-own deviled eggs, but there are lots of new items to try, too. There’s the Girl Brunch, a full meal that includes a Caesar salad, house fries, and a Diet Coke, with the option to add a glass of rosé or a Skinny Marigoldarita. And those with a sweet tooth will appreciate the Cookie Butter Crunch Waffle made with Biscoff cookie butter, vanilla whipped cream, toasted Biscoff cookie crumbs, and maple syrup.
The restaurant debuted new coffee options, cocktails, and mocktails, too!
Dig in, Louisville!
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