Restaurant Hoppen
Episodes
Culinary School Truths with Brian O'Malley
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of debates about the state of culinary school in America, and as Metro CC's Dean of Hospitality & Horticulture, Brian O'Malley has h...
Breaking Down Omaha's Sandwich Scene (LIVE)
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
3 chefs from beloved Omaha sandwich restaurants joined me to discuss why sandwiches are so universally loved. Paul Urban (Block 16), Chloe Tran-Thomps...
Hospitality Academy w/ Matt Brown (V. Mertz)
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If Omaha had a hospitality Mount Rushmore, Matt Brown's face would be chiseled onto it. The GM of V. Mertz joined me to discuss how he and his team cu...
Omaha's Candy Extraordinaire: Tessa Porter (Sprinkk)
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Candy may seem simple, but nailing the textures and flavors of your favorite gummies and chews is actually a deeply scientific process. That's where p...
A New Level of Ramen in Omaha w/ Ken & Aki Ota (Crafted Ramen Mi So La Do)
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ken Ota has a goal of bringing traditional Japanese ramen to America and, after years of teaching ramen school and consulting, he's opened his own sho...
Witney Stanley—Sous Chef at V. Mertz
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Just a few years out of culinary school and already the sous chef at one of Omaha's most beloved fine dining restaurants, Witney has a passion for coo...
Omaha OG Chefs Discuss the Evolution of Omaha's Dining Scene
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Omaha's culinary landscape has changed drastically in the last 15-20 years. Jenny Coco, Glenn Wheeler, and Paul Kulik have managed Omaha restaurants t...
Matt & Simone Weber—Table Grace Cafe
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Table Grace Cafe doesn't exist solely to feed people; it exists to empower them and nourish their souls. That's why there are no prices on the menu. M...
Jeff Gorat—J. Gorat's Deli + Market
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
One of Omaha's newest sensations is part small market, part sandwich shop, and as the massive following indicates, Omaha can't get enough of J. Gorat'...
Joe Sasto—Food Network star, culinary innovator, and creator of Ripi and Tantos
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Joe has cooked in three-star Michelin kitchens, competed on two seasons of Top Chef, is a social media star with nearly 500K followers on Instagram, h...
Front of House & Hospitality All-Stars
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
So often we talk about restaurants in terms of food, but so much of your experience at a restaurant has nothing to do with what you eat. It's all abou...
Ismara Gonzalez—Isla Del Mar
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Just a few years ago, Ismara Gonzalez was running a struggling health-conscious food company. Now she's the Chef/Owner of Isla Del Mar, a restaurant w...
Erik "Ricco" Thomas—Johnny Ricco's Brooklyn Pizza
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ricco's life has taken him in all kinds of directions: he served in Iraq, started a catering company in New York, worked as a private chef on a yacht,...
Andrew Novak & Cheyanne Loeffler - All In Thyme
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew & Cheyanne aren’t just building a business together; they’re continuing the legacy of a lost friend and making some incredible and food alo...
Brian Bendams—Funny Bone Comedy Club
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What's it like to be the Executive Chef at a comedy club? It's a question most people don't know the answer too, which is why I loved having this conv...
Blake Barnes - Bronco’s Hamburgers
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Bronco’s has served some of Omaha’s favorite fast food since 1959. So how did it become so beloved originally? What has allowed it to thrive when ...
Food Network Competition TV w/ Clayton Chapman, Michelle Alfaro, & Larissa Codr
01 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Food competition TV shows are fun, but what are they like behind the scenes? Three Omaha chefs/bakers who've competed on Food Network dish on the behi...
Carlos Cuevas & Gillian Cromwell-Cuevas—Masa Luna
25 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Carlos decided to make tamales for his own wedding a few years ago, he had no idea he was starting down the road to a thriving restaurant. Those ...
Doug Case & LaRue Marcos—Ooh De Lally
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ooh De Lally is a restaurant serving great food, but its mission goes much deeper. It partners with Metro CC to help formerly incarcerated individuals...
How Does Restaurant Design Affect Both the Guest and Chef Experience?
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
So much of a restaurant experience is defined before a bite of food is served, as the atmosphere, vibe, and design of a restaurant set the tone for th...
Elizabeth & Jack Pooley—Square Donut
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Elizabeth decided to open a donut shop in Omaha, she had no idea the trials and hardships to come. But she and her son Jack fought through tremen...
John & Seth Quiring—Le Quartier
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Le Quartier has become Omaha and Lincoln's go-to spot for bread and pastries, but the path that led these brothers to open their bakery nearly 20 year...
Jacque & Jake Burklund—Carinara
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tomato-free pasta sauce?! This Omaha couple never knew they'd need such a thing until they developed a heartburn-inducing sensitivity to tomatoes. Rat...
Angie Padgett & Tamra Johnson—Good Evans
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You know that good feeling you get at certain restaurants, where it just seems everyone is operating like a family? It's rare because it's a hard cult...
DeVaute Nunn—Haven Express
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Haven Express food truck comes from humble beginnings, but now DeVaute and his crew are feeding Bud Crawford and the Nebraska football team! The t...
Nate Flick—Godega
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bodegas were a part of Nate's daily life when he lived in New York, but after moving to Omaha, he wondered if the concept would work here, too. Three ...
Joel Hassanli—Salted Edge & Pivot Prime (LIVE)
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joel has cooked various cuisines all over the world. He's worked for celebrity chefs and private sports teams. He's cooked dinner for Oprah and her fa...
Gerald Dimabuyu—The Fifth Taste by Chef Gerald
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This new food truck is bringing the unique flavors of the Phillipines and Southeast Asia to Omaha. With a great respect for traditional dishes and ...
Eli Vedral - Kookaburra Cookies
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A college semester abroad in Sydney changed Eli’s life. Enthralled with the country’s creative fusion dishes, he decided to combine two of his ...
Katie Arant Chapman & Brian Langbehn—Coneflower Creamery (LIVE)
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2016, Brian called Katie, then working as a pastry chef in California with an idea: come back to Omaha and let's open an ice cream shop. Little did...
Haley Farrell—Cafe Postale
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Few food/drink establishments in Omaha can match the vibe at Cafe Postale, which mixes the space's rich history with great coffee and modern elements ...
Garrett Kasper—Arbor Day Farm
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The restaurants and food at Arbor Day Farm (Nebraska City) were overdue for an upgrade, and leadership tabbed Chef Garrett Kasper to level up the cuis...
Kristin Pyle—SET The Bar
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nothing about SET The Bar is like what you'd expect at a normal sports bar. From the focus on women's sports to the elevated takes on bar food coming ...
Juan Sanchez & Andrea Macias—Cumbia
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When this couple opened Cumbia in 2021, they brought two relatively unknown concepts to Omaha: Latin American food and tapas (small shared plates). Bu...
Food Truck Panel w/ Javier Trujillo, Brian Sullivan, & Nick Hyde
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's just something special about getting food from a truck, but the food truck life isn't quite as easy as it seems. The owners of 3 of Omaha's mo...
Michelle Alfaro—Sauced by Alfaro and Food Network star
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let's pull back the curtain on Food Network cooking competitions! Michelle Alfaro, the chef/owner behind her beloved restaurant, Sauced by Alfaro, got...
Hannah Sheffield—Sprinkle Joy
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Outside of a high school job, Hannah had no experience in the custard/ice cream business. But her nostalgia, entrepreneurial drive, and love of frozen...
Mia Matlock—Oso Good Kitchen & Panaderya
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mia Matlock always enjoyed baking, especially finding ways to inject her Pilipino heritage and ingredients into common desserts. But when COVID hit an...
Nicole & Glenn Wigodsky—The Gourmet Granola
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Granola that actually tastes good?! Believe it. People are blown away by the flavor of the products that come from The Gourmet Granola, but they're ev...
Bread & Baking Panel LIVE w/ Omaha Bagel Co., Via Farina, & Reis' Bakery
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bread is one of mankind's most universally beloved foods, and it just brings people together. But have you ever thought about how it's made, or what i...
John Larson—Bluebird Bakery
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John was a psychologist for much of his career, and now he operates a bakery selling some of the best bread in Nebraska. The road and experiences that...
Clayton Chapman—Noble Hospitality
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For a decade, Clayton was the chef/owner of The Grey Plume, one of Omaha's most progressive and nationally recognized restaurants, racking up five Bea...
LIVE Pizza Party w/ Dan Watts, Adam Flohr, and Joel Marsh
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let's talk about the universally beloved food item: pizza! Dan (Backlot Taphouse; Backlot Pizza & Kitchen), Adam (Terrible Gerald's), and Joel (Noli's...
Paul Urban (Block 16) Interviews Dan! (Live)
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dan gets the microphone turned on him in this one-of-a-kind live episode. Paul brings the heat, asking Dan the questions so many people ask: does he e...
Matt Owens—The Green Room
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt blew my mind in this episode. Behind the craft of creating cocktails, making drinks based off of guests' moods and memories, and the insane in-th...
Djamil Bah-Traore—House of Bah
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chef Djamil doesn't just want to serve great food; he wants to change the way Omaha's food community interacts. In our deep, wide-ranging conversation...
John Rea—Via Farina
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John Rea had limited experience with pizza and pasta when he took over the Via Farina kitchen nearly a decade ago. The move was a game changer for bot...
Chris & Liz Alford—Frios Omaha
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Frios pops combine the creamy consistency of ice cream with the convenience of a popsicle... but could the concept succeed in Omaha, where it's cold n...
Drew & Michelle Statz & Audrey Timm—Semo Pasta + Wine (LIVE)
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In less than 2 years, Semo Pasta + Wine has established itself as a restaurant Omahans are more than happy to drive to Fremont for. The chefs and owne...
Paul Dullard—HomeGrown
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How has HomeGrown, a restaurant group with 14 locations (including one that opened in Omaha in Feb. 2025) maintained its strong culture and its love f...
Andrew Roy—Mahogany Prime Steakhouse
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you're a wine aficionado, this is the episode for you! As the General Manager at one of Omaha's classic steakhouses, Andrew has a great depth of kn...
Stacey Leick—Buttered Marshmallow
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why did a successful business woman leave a stable job to start a cake baking business in her home in 2019? She was tired of people saying no to her, ...
Omaha Coffee Extravaganza (LIVE)
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Omaha has never had a greater collection of coffee knowledge in one place. Autumn Pruitt (Hardy Coffee Co.), Isaiah Sheese (Archetype Coffee), and Abb...
Omed & Waheed Shah—Shaheen's Afghan Cuisine
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Afghan food has a rich history and a unique blend of spices that make it particularly delicious, but there aren't many places in Omaha that offer it. ...
Zarina Boardman—Las Chilenas
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When sisters Zarina Boardman and Debora Aguilar moved to Nebraska, they were disappointed they couldn't find any Chilean food... so they decided to ma...
Erick & Jeni Miranda—Miranda Omaha
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Miranda family is passionate about bringing Salvadoran food and their culture to Omaha, but they had no idea how quickly it would all come togethe...
Donald Everett Jr & Becky Perrett—Runza
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Few, if any restaurants, are as synonymous with Nebraska food than Runza. Donald (President) and Becky (Director of Marketing) take me down memory lan...
Francisca Sacasa & Rosa Quezada Sacasa (QS Grill Steak)
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Francisca may not be a trained chef (she was a doctor in Nicaragua), but she has a deep passion for cooking and helping others experience Nicaraguan f...
Moses Moseley & Dan Whalen —Dirty Birds (LIVE)
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In just a few years, these buddies went from line cooks at another restaurant to owning their other concept in one of Omaha's most historic buildings....
Kim & Paul Kavulak—Nebraska Brewing Company
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The stories that formed one of Omaha's most beloved breweries are priceless. The rage recipe that created NBC's flagship Cardinal Pale Ale. The lunch ...
John Anderson - AJ’s Cafe
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
John and Lisa Anderson had no experience in the restaurant business… so how did they create a beloved diner that’s thrilled guests for over a deca...
The Reality of Restaurants (LIVE): Ben Maides, Tyler Thiessen, & Jon Stastny
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As diners, there are just some things we don't know about what it's like to own, operate, and work in a restaurant, but if we understood the realities...
Sadie Paulsen - Via Farina
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Tiff Clifton & Matt Johnson—Long Walk Farm
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Eric Vidlak—Vidlak's Cafe
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
BBQ Bash LIVE w/ James Hawk, Brady Hess, & Cory Fuller
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 restauran...
Tracy & Dan Hawkes—Nite Hawkes Cafe
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Stacie Van Cleave & Matt Hyde - Veg.edible
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Matt Swoboda, Tom Halstead, and Matt Bohenkamp—Harold's Koffee House
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 it...
Ross DiPrima—Jackson Street Tavern
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Pasta Party w/ Nick Strawhecker (Dante), Dario Schicke (Avoli), & John Rea
26 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 som...
Jacklyn & Moises Salgado—For the Love of Food Cafe
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 hav...
Mark Pogge & Dylan Foster—Tracks Lounge
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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, ...
Matthew Sheehan—Monarch Restaurant
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Sam "Tiny" Laughlin & Kurtis Mast—Inner Rail Food Hall (LIVE)
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Jo...
Dan Hoppen—Restaurant Hoppen
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Adam Flohr & Maggie Sweany - Terrible Gerald’s
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 co...
Carlos Cuevas & Gillian Cromwell-Cuevas—Masa Luna Tamales
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Dave Barry—Dave's Cakes of Omaha
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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' birt...
Brian Sullivan—Sully's GastroBurgers & Fries
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Greater Good—Doug Case, Bill Radtke, & Kevin Shinn (LIVE)
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Keen Zheng—Umami; Snowy Sundaes
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 change...
Dan & Lisa Emsick—Paddy McGown's
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 serv...
Chis Blazeski - Boho Supper Club
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 dinn...
Anthony Hitchcock & Tony Gentile—Flagship Restaurant Group
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
Dave Utterback—Yoshitomo; Koji; Sakura Bana (LIVE)
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Wayne Dinges - Smokin Barrel BBQ
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 introduc...
Beth Stratton—Omaha Gourmet Reuben
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What if I told you Omaha's best Reuben sandwiches was one you order online and cook yourself after it's delivered to your front door? It may sound wil...
Jason Sirois & Brandon Kalfut - The Committee Chophouse
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
These talented chefs blend modern techniques and ingredients with classic steakhouse dishes to create a whole new steakhouse experience. We discuss...
Sagar Gurung & Dom Gurciullo—Cattle Call
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"The neighbor that throws weird parties with great food and drink." That's how the owners describe Cattle Call, the new downtown Omaha bar that's also...
Ben Maides & Nestor Rebolledo - Clio & Flagship Restaurant Group
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Few new restaurants have hit the ground with as much positive buzz as Clio, Omaha’s first restaurant dedicated to Mediterranean food. But that wasn’...
Brie White - Breeze Bakery
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What started as a holiday passion project during COVID has transformed into a full-time job and wonderful business for Bri, who thrills the masses wit...
Jeff Luby—Wilson & Washburn
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wilson & Washburn is a bar first and foremost, but traditional bar food, this is not. Owner Jeff Luby explains the elevated twists W&W puts on bar foo...
David Schmitz & Joey Alonso—Werner Park chefs (LIVE)
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There’s nothing more American than eating a hot dog or a brat while rooting on your favorite team on a summer day. But today, ballpark eats are far ...
Justin Halbert—Herbe Sainte
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Herbe Sainte was never supposed to be a restaurant. It was intended to be a New Orleans cocktail bar with a few bites. So how has it grown into Omaha'...
Evan Keelan & Brady Hess—Lazy Buffalo BBQ
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After years of working in other bars and restaurants around Omaha, Brady and Evan finally got to open their concept in April 2024—and it was going t...
Michelle Alfaro—Sauced by Alfaro
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Being a restaurant owner and chef is all about adaptability, and we use Sauced's story to highlight chefs' ability to pivot. From learning how to adju...
Omaha Baking Extravaganza (LIVE)
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Katina Talley (Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop), Stacey Leick (Buttered Marshmallow), and Kathy Silvey (A Catered Affair) discuss the complex realities of o...
Tim Nicholson—The Boiler Room (LIVE)
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This year, Tim Nicholson became just the second Omaha chef to be named a finalist for a James Beard Award. The genius chef behind The Boiler Room deta...
Sam Laughlin—Tiny's Pizza Joint
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After working in a variety of restaurants around Omaha, Sam finally got a chance to open his own place, and Tiny's Pizza Joint is slinging some of the...