Restaurant Hoppen

Baking gave Sadie’s life purpose during a dark period, and now she’s using her skills to bless Omaha with elite breads and desserts. Sadie talks about her journey from bread novice at a stage in Chicago to becoming the lead baker/pastry chef at Via Farina. This episode was sponsored by Semo Pasta. Homemade pasta from local ingredients and an unforgettable dining experience awaits. Buon appetito! T...

In 2020, this couple decided to not only start a farm, but one that would do things others didn't. They'd grow unique produce like rainbow beets and turmeric. They'd host Battle of the Chefs, a unique bracket style tournament for some of Omaha's best chefs. And they'd supply Omaha's restaurants with incredible produce. Hear the story and motivations behind these incredible people. This Episode was...

Vidlak's Cafe has stood the test of time, providing Omaha diners a great atmosphere and wide array of breakfast dishes for nearly 3 decades. Co-owner Eric Vidlak shares what's allowed them to have such sustained success, how intertwined his extended family is with the restaurant, and the story behind one of west Omaha's most beloved diners. This Episode was Sponsored by: Dave's Cakes Certified Pie...

Cooking meat over a flame is a primal feeling, but few possess the patience, talent, and potential to level up from backyard BBQ warriors to restaurant owners. My guests on this episode—the owners of J's Smokehouse, Lazy Buffalo BBQ, and Pulled BBQ—discuss the joys and challenges of transforming their hobby into their profession, the logistics of opening a BBQ restaurant, how they come up with inn...

Nite Hawkes Cafe has been around since 1942, thriving through four generations of the Hawkes family. But it's not just food that has made this cafe an institution; it's the way they treat and empower people, both on the staff and in the restaurant. Tracy and her son, Dan, tell stories, talk about the famous biscuits and gravy, and explain what's made Nite Hawkes Cafe such a beloved spot. Stop by N...

This duo is committed to bringing vegan, gluten free, and nut free food to Omaha without sacrificing flavor. We discussed the benefits of a vegan diet, helping people with food sensitivities get to enjoy their favorite dishes again, and what makes the struggle of owning a restaurant worth it. Check out Veg. Edible for some Delicious & Healthy Meals! This Episode was Sponsored by: Dave's Cakes Cert...

Harold's Koffee House has been a beloved Omaha institution since the 1960s, and three generations of the restaurant joined the podcast to help tell its story. They share stories from the first days of the diner up until the current days... and there are A LOT of stories from this restaurant! From fires to failed burglaries to the "best hash browns in America", there's so much to love about Harold'...

Ross had no interest originally in getting into the restaurant industry, but the DiPrima family is very present in Omaha. And after 8 years of working at his brother's restaurant, he decided it was time to own his own place. Hear the story about how he decided to purchase Jackson Street Tavern, how he prioritized people during the transition to his ownership, and what keeps him passionate while wo...

Pasta is one of the world's most beloved foods, but it's far more technical and involved than most understand. Three of Omaha's pasta experts dish some serious pasta knowledge and unearth some truths about this wonderful cuisine. This episode was sponsored by Semo Pasta. Homemade pasta from local ingredients and an unforgettable dining experience awaits. Buon appetito! This is another Hurrdat Medi...

The path that led to the opening of this delightful cafe in 2024 was 20+ years in the making and includes so many twists and turns that you simply have to hear it! From meeting at Red Robin to marrying and opening a restaurant 6 months later to multiple food trucks and establishing a reputation as serving the best breakfast burritos around, For the Love of Food Cafe's tale is a story of love, pers...

A beloved Omaha institution for more than 60 years, Dylan and his brother long talked about owning Tracks... and when the opportunity came to buy it, they jumped at it. Hear the story of how that purchase came to be, how they balanced updating the menu versus sticking with what people loved, the secrets behind their "world famous" chicken, and more in this conversation! 📍 Visit Tracks Lounge: Tra...

Taking over any kitchen is a big job, but it's especially daunting when the building is as historic and important as the Hotel Deco is to Omaha. But this a role that new Executive Chef Matthew Sheehan and his team are taking on head-on, keeping the staples that made Monarch Restaurant beloved with new dishes and twists. Hear Matthew's story and his plans for the future of this historic restaurant....

How does a food hall work? Do the vendors cooperate or compete? How are the various vendors selected? And how did Sam's two concepts—Tiny's Pizza Joint and Sammy's Sub Shop—fill necessary holes in the Inner Rail's lineup? The VP and Executive Chef of the Inner Rail, Omaha's premier food hall, answer those questions and much, much more! Follow, rate, and review my podcast wherever you get your podc...

That's right—Dan gets the tables turned on him! To celebrate five years of the podcast, Brian Sullivan (Sully's GastroBurgers & Fries) asks Dan all the questions you ask: about the Restaurant Hoppen origin story, why Dan is so positive in his reviews, how he stays so thin, and more! If you've ever wanted to get to know Dan, this is an episode you can't miss. Follow, rate, and review my podcast whe...

Neapolitan style pizza on a food trailer? An owner who got his start by building a pizza oven in his backyard? Nothing about Terrible Gerald’s is conventional or by the book, but the pizzas coming out of this trailer have Omaha coming out in swarms. Hear the science behind these delicious pies and the unique story that got Maggie & Adam to create a funky pizza sensation. Also follow up on Facebook...

Tamales are a very important dish for Carlos Cuevas; so much so that he cooked over 600 of them to serve at his own wedding! And that sparked an idea in Carlos and Gillian's minds—could this be a business? The couple tells the tale of how they created Masa Luna Tamales, what makes a great tamale, and how they come up with the unique, creative flavors each week. Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,...

Dave's Cakes of Omaha has taken Omaha by storm from the moment it opened, from selling over 1,000 cupcakes on its first day to making Nick Jonas' birthday cake to selling over 100,000 cupcakes in one year. Owner Dave Barry discusses what's made the company a success, the career path he stumbled into, how he and his team come up with wild new cupcake flavors, and more! Also follow up on Facebook, T...

Brian brings science to the food truck scene, creating a burger unlike any other in Omaha. The chef talks about the science behind his unique burger and how he created it, his process of building a new burger from the ground up, the adjustments he had to make to cooking on a food truck and more. Sully's may be a new food truck, but it's already taking Omaha by storm. Listen to this podcast and you...

The chefs and creators behind Ooh De Lally and Ybor don't see their food concepts as ways to simply feed people, but also to help them. These concepts provide jobs, training, and life coaching to help formerly incarcerated individuals reacclimate to society and find their footing. They share stories of success, the value of providing hope, and the wonderful potential that this part of the populati...

After training for 15 years at one of New York's best sushi restaurants, Keen brought his talents to Bellevue in 2017, and the sushi scene here changed forever. And now he's hoping to do the same by introducing Omahans to bingsu and bubble tea at Snowy Sundaes. Hear chef Keen's story, the hours of dedicated work he put in to master sushi, and more! Follow, rate, and review my podcast wherever you...

Paddy McGown's is not your average bar. With family history in the Omaha restaurant scene and a desire to go to the next level, Paddy McGown's is serving food that would make any restaurant proud—including one of the best Reubens in Omaha. Hear how Dan's dream of someday owning at bar turned into an Omaha institution beloved for its beers, burgers, and TikTok family dances. Follow, rate, and revie...

A small oasis exists in downtown Omaha, where a seasoned chef brings flavors from all over the world together in a thoughtfully composed 4-course dinner each Thursday. Listen to hear all about the origins and beauty of Boho Supper Club, chef Chris’ eye-opening philosophy on melding different cuisines, what a newcomer to Omaha thinks of the food scene, and more! Follow, rate, and review my podcast...

What started as a single sushi restaurant (Blue) in Omaha has expanded to 13 concepts and 46 locations across 13 states, and Flagship's growth isn't slowing down anytime soon. Two of the 4 founders joined me to talk about how the first restaurant got off the ground, the mistakes it's learned from over the years, creating a cohesive dining experience in addition to serving great food, and where thi...

One of the nation's best sushi chefs, Dave talks about his uncommon path to becoming a sushi chef, how his style of mashing sushi styles together has created something new altogether, his humbling introduction to omakase and what made him want to bring it to Omaha, and more! Follow, rate, and review my podcast wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode! Also follow up on Facebook,...

When Wayne opened his food truck in 2014, he helped usher in a new era of Omaha to BBQ, introducing legit brisket and simplistic methods that introduced incredible meat. We discuss why he loves Central Texas BBQ and the importance of hospitality and loving people in BBQ. Follow, rate, and review my podcast wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode! Also follow up on Facebook, Twi...