There’s no shortage of restaurants all over Nebraska. We’ve got everything from classy gourmet fare to totally unpretentious bar food. But we know that the best places are often those that are unassuming – the places where everyone knows your name and where you feel at home every time you walk in. This list is just a sampling of the best neighborhood restaurants all across Nebraska.
- 9 South Chargrill, Lincoln
Yelp/Dustin G.
Yelp/Eliza N. There’s a huge variety of American fare to choose from at this fantastic little spot just outside of Lincoln’s Haymarket. Pictured above is the Jake burger: a hamburger patty topped with pulled pork.
- Chances R, York
Yelp/Dean B.
Yelp/Nancy S. Just about everyone has heard of Chances R; it’s a Nebraska legend. In stark contrast with the fast food joints you’ll find elsewhere in York, Chances R serves up fresh homestyle food with an emphasis on perfectly prepared beef.
- Coney Island Lunch Room, Grand Island
Yelp/Dave F.
Yelp/Sammy F. You’ll find the teeny-tiny Coney Island wedged between two taller buildings in Grand Island. They serve the world’s greatest coneys and milkshakes that will make you feel like a kid again. They’ve been at it for more than 80 years, so you know Coney Island is doing things right.
- Corner Cafe, Stromsburg
Google Streetview
Facebook/Corner Cafe If you love classic Nebraska diner fare, the Corner Cafe is exactly what you’re looking for. Besides the delectable food you’ll find friendly service and a sweet small-town vibe that will make you feel right at home.
- Dinker’s Bar and Grill, Omaha
Facebook/Dinkers Bar and Grill
Facebook/Dinkers Bar and Grill Dinker’s is a perennial favorite with legendary burgers. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but if you make your way inside you’ll be rewarded with the burger that is widely considered to be Omaha’s best.
- The Flippin’ Sweet, Kearney
Facebook/The Flippin Sweet
TripAdvisor/Arndtwelucky The Flippin’ Sweet is by no means a hidden gem - it’s very well known in and around Kearney. But if you’ve never been there, make it a point to visit ASAP. With creative toppings, a fun ambiance and friendly staff, this is one pizza place you’ve got to get to.
- Kitty’s Roadhouse, Hastings
Yelp/Laurie C.
Yelp/Rob H. This quirky little place is packed with locals on any given day. You’ll find a racing theme and a tiki theme coexisting happily, but the food is the real star of the show. They serve up typical bar food, but better than you might expect. Everything here is great, but try one of the pizzas and wash it down with their large selection of beer.
- Los Jalapeños, Lexington
Yelp/Ryan M.
Yelp/Louis H. There’s no shortage of Mexican and Central/South American restaurants in Lexington, but the reviews don’t lie: Los Jalapeños is at the top of the heap. You really won’t find better Mexican food at better prices for miles and miles around.
- M&N Sandwich Shop, Lincoln
Facebook/M&N Sandwich Shop
Facebook/M&N Sandwich Shop When you arrive at M&N, the surrounding shops might have you wondering if you’re in the wrong spot. But walk in and you’ll know immediately that this is so right. Pick your pleasure and be patient - each sandwich is made to order.
- Mark’s Bistro, Omaha
Yelp/Christina P.
Yelp/Sourivone V. It’s easy to walk right by Marks since you have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to it. But this Dundee eatery is worth the search and well worth the short hike. One of the best things on the menu is the mac and cheese which you can order with a rotating list of chef’s “embellishments.”
- Open Range Grill, Ogallala
TripAdvisor/molay
Yelp/Tim R. This casual burger joint is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Perfectly cooked burgers and tasty fried pickles top the list of favorite dishes here, and with a family-friendly atmosphere this is a place you can enjoy with the whole crew.
- Scotty’s Drive In, Scottsbluff
Facebook/Scotty’s Drive In
Facebook/Scotty’s Drive In This classic drive in serves the kind of fast food you dream about. The fries are absolutely dreamy, and their malts and flavored Cokes are legendary. Quick, friendly service is the norm at this Scottsbluff institution.
- Taste of Texas BBQ, McCook
Facebook/Taste of Texas BBQ
Facebook/Taste of Texas BBQ Who doesn’t love a plate of excellent barbecue? The prime rib, pictured above, is one of the greatest you’ll ever taste. The prices are reasonable, especially for the huge portions you get.
- Tub’s Pub, Sumner
Facebook/Tub’s Pub There’s no way we could leave Tub’s Pub out of a list of local favorite restaurants. It’s almost always packed with people who can’t get enough of the prime rib, chicken fried steak, and juicy burgers. Don’t go in expecting a fancy eating experience, but this place is charming and fun and definitely worth a few visits to try lots of different dishes.
- Yoba’s Tavern, Rushville
Facebook/Yoba’s Tavern
Facebook/Yoba’s Tavern You’ll find a few restaurants in the Rushville area, but you’ll really be treated like family at Yoba’s. It was originally a bar when it opened in 1987, but today it’s a family-friendly restaurant where you can bring everyone. Enjoy the burgers, wings, fried pickles, and everything else you would expect from a classic Nebraska bar and grill.
Some of these spots are well-known, but there are probably a few you haven’t yet visited. There are SO many great little restaurants in Nebraska that it’s impossible to name them all. If you don’t see your favorite listed here, tell us about it in the comments!
Yelp/Dustin G.
Yelp/Eliza N.
There’s a huge variety of American fare to choose from at this fantastic little spot just outside of Lincoln’s Haymarket. Pictured above is the Jake burger: a hamburger patty topped with pulled pork.
Yelp/Dean B.
Yelp/Nancy S.
Just about everyone has heard of Chances R; it’s a Nebraska legend. In stark contrast with the fast food joints you’ll find elsewhere in York, Chances R serves up fresh homestyle food with an emphasis on perfectly prepared beef.
Yelp/Dave F.
Yelp/Sammy F.
You’ll find the teeny-tiny Coney Island wedged between two taller buildings in Grand Island. They serve the world’s greatest coneys and milkshakes that will make you feel like a kid again. They’ve been at it for more than 80 years, so you know Coney Island is doing things right.
Google Streetview
Facebook/Corner Cafe
If you love classic Nebraska diner fare, the Corner Cafe is exactly what you’re looking for. Besides the delectable food you’ll find friendly service and a sweet small-town vibe that will make you feel right at home.
Facebook/Dinkers Bar and Grill
Dinker’s is a perennial favorite with legendary burgers. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but if you make your way inside you’ll be rewarded with the burger that is widely considered to be Omaha’s best.
Facebook/The Flippin Sweet
TripAdvisor/Arndtwelucky
The Flippin’ Sweet is by no means a hidden gem - it’s very well known in and around Kearney. But if you’ve never been there, make it a point to visit ASAP. With creative toppings, a fun ambiance and friendly staff, this is one pizza place you’ve got to get to.
Yelp/Laurie C.
Yelp/Rob H.
This quirky little place is packed with locals on any given day. You’ll find a racing theme and a tiki theme coexisting happily, but the food is the real star of the show. They serve up typical bar food, but better than you might expect. Everything here is great, but try one of the pizzas and wash it down with their large selection of beer.
Yelp/Ryan M.
Yelp/Louis H.
There’s no shortage of Mexican and Central/South American restaurants in Lexington, but the reviews don’t lie: Los Jalapeños is at the top of the heap. You really won’t find better Mexican food at better prices for miles and miles around.
Facebook/M&N Sandwich Shop
When you arrive at M&N, the surrounding shops might have you wondering if you’re in the wrong spot. But walk in and you’ll know immediately that this is so right. Pick your pleasure and be patient - each sandwich is made to order.
Yelp/Christina P.
Yelp/Sourivone V.
It’s easy to walk right by Marks since you have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to it. But this Dundee eatery is worth the search and well worth the short hike. One of the best things on the menu is the mac and cheese which you can order with a rotating list of chef’s “embellishments.”
TripAdvisor/molay
Yelp/Tim R.
This casual burger joint is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Perfectly cooked burgers and tasty fried pickles top the list of favorite dishes here, and with a family-friendly atmosphere this is a place you can enjoy with the whole crew.
Facebook/Scotty’s Drive In
This classic drive in serves the kind of fast food you dream about. The fries are absolutely dreamy, and their malts and flavored Cokes are legendary. Quick, friendly service is the norm at this Scottsbluff institution.
Facebook/Taste of Texas BBQ
Who doesn’t love a plate of excellent barbecue? The prime rib, pictured above, is one of the greatest you’ll ever taste. The prices are reasonable, especially for the huge portions you get.
Facebook/Tub’s Pub
There’s no way we could leave Tub’s Pub out of a list of local favorite restaurants. It’s almost always packed with people who can’t get enough of the prime rib, chicken fried steak, and juicy burgers. Don’t go in expecting a fancy eating experience, but this place is charming and fun and definitely worth a few visits to try lots of different dishes.
Facebook/Yoba’s Tavern
You’ll find a few restaurants in the Rushville area, but you’ll really be treated like family at Yoba’s. It was originally a bar when it opened in 1987, but today it’s a family-friendly restaurant where you can bring everyone. Enjoy the burgers, wings, fried pickles, and everything else you would expect from a classic Nebraska bar and grill.
If you’re looking for some more seriously great food, check out this bucket list of Nebraska restaurants you have to visit at least once.
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