I might say this every year, but I say with confidence that 2026 is shaping up to be a dynamic year for restaurant openings. Some on this list come from restaurant veterans expanding their foothold in cities like Atlanta, Denver, and Raleigh, while one has been in the works as a pop-up since the two owners worked together just across the street from their brick-and-mortar in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Plus, Kwame Onwuachi, chef-owner extraordinaire behind one of our Best New Restaurants of 2025, Dōgon, is heading to Vegas.
We track restaurant openings year-round in preparation for our annual Best New Restaurants list. In 2026 these 10 are reason enough to plan a trip, venture out of your neighborhood, and find a new spot to become a regular at.
This list is organized alphabetically by city. The opening dates below are subject to change. Check restaurant websites and Instagram accounts for updates.
Some Luck
Atlanta
Opening: April
Atlanta diners have flocked to beloved Thai spot Talat Market since Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter debuted the restaurant’s brick-and-mortar in early 2020. Now Savang and Lassiter are finally ready to open Some Luck, their new Thai bar in Poncey-Highland that will serve food meant to be washed down with a cocktail. Think noodle soups, grilled meat skewers, and spicy fried wings—the restaurant is in Atlanta after all. Savang and Lassiter want Some Luck to fill the gap of a place for industry folks to hang after work and as they restore the historic space of the Highland Ballroom Lounge, they’re keeping the dive bar feeling alive with wood paneling, checkerboard flooring, and a post-midnight closing time.
Hōp
Brooklyn
Opening: Late Summer
Bun Cheam and Cait Callahan have brought Hōp, their forthcoming Khmer restaurant, around New York, popping up most recently at Runner Up in Park Slope. Later this year Cheam and Callahan are opening Hōp in a permanent space in Red Hook right across the street from Red Hook Tavern, where the two worked together while Cheam was executive chef and Callahan the general manager and wine director. The duo is partnering with Billy Durney, owner of Brooklyn greats Red Hook Tavern and Hometown Bar-B-Que, to bring Hōp to life. Diners can expect Cheam’s same punchy Khmer cooking that drew crowds to the pop-ups with dishes like salt and pepper prawns, Kreung-roasted chicken, and whole roasted branzino, plus wok dishes like fried noodles with charred vegetables. To drink, there are rum-focused cocktails and wines from Callahan.
Gingie
Chicago
Opening: March
The mostly Chicago-based restaurant group Boka behind popular spots like Momotaro and Girl and the Goat is partnering with chef Brian Lockwood to open Gingie in River North. Lockwood most recently was the consulting chef for FX’s The Bear (yes, chef!) and previously worked in esteemed kitchens like Eleven Madison Park and The French Laundry. With Gingie, Lockwood is turning in his usual fine dining cooking for a more casual à la carte menu, although diners can still expect the same level of technique and attention to detail with dishes like potato-parmesan frico with sour cream, charred allium, and smoked trout roe or lobster lasagnette with butternut squash and chestnut.
Maize
Denver
Opening: Spring
