Best New Restaurants in Kalamazoo: Your Fave New Dining Spots

Known for its food truck, Skinny Kenny's expanded into two local restaurant spaces in Portage (2021) and Oshtemo (2022).

Skinny Kenny's BBQ offers pulled pork, pulled chicken & brisket, slow smoked with offset smokers using oak, cherry, hickory and apple woods.

Paired with their "skinny beans," cornbread and macaroni and cheese, diners can enjoy variety of dishes including Monster Bowls, nachos, fiesta salads and street tacos.

The Oshtemo location is also the only restaurant in Michigan to serve Ice Cream Club ice cream.

Where to Find Skinny Kenny's BBQ
Skinny Kenny's Portage restaurant is located at the corner of Westnedge & Milham, next door to Little Caesar's Pizza.

Find their Oshtemo location at the corner of 8th and Stadium (next to Anytime Fitness).

FACEBOOK

The Grazing Table specializes in elaborate charcuterie boards.

They also offer more traditional entrees like sandwiches ("handhelds" on their menu) as well as some signature mocktails.

Catering services are also available.

Where to Find The Grazing Table
The Grazing Table is located in downtown Kalamazoo next to the State Theatre (corner of Lovell and Burdick).

FACEBOOK

Elysium means "a place of perfect happiness" and its menu is unique. This new restaurant keeps customers excited and engaged with new menu items daily.

Elysium's chef and owner is Greg Paggeot (known to many locals from Four Roses in Plainwell).

Reservations and walk-in guests are welcome. Elysium also offers special wine pairing events.

Where to Find Elysium
Find Elysium near Louie's Trophy House in Kalamazoo's River Edge District within Walbridge Commons.

FACEBOOK

With the same owners as Bird Dog in Mattawan, Dog & the Bank continues their delicious reputation with their second restaurant in Plainwell.

Dog & the Bank serves up lunch and dinner, plus brunch on weekends (try the Dutch baby pancake).

This restaurant is first come, first serve (no reservations). Call to reserve for private parties. Patio dining available.

Where to Find Dog & the Bank
Dog & the Bank is located at the corner of Bridge and Anderson in Plainwell, next door to Bridge Street Bakery.

FACEBOOK

Taking over former EMA locations on Gull Road and in Vicksburg, Roxie's has quickly become a new favorite for breakfast and lunch entrees.

Be sure to try their seasonal waffle flights. We also recommend the $4.99 Tuesday Special: 2 farm fresh eggs, potatoes, toast and coffee, available every Tuesday.

Roxie's is open from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM daily.

Where to Find Roxie's Breakfast and Lunch
Find Roxie's in two locations locally:
• 4010 Gull Road: just east of ALDI
• Vicksburg: near N Boulevard & W Prairie at 343 W Prairie Street

FACEBOOK

If you want five-star service, Brick and Brine should be on your list. Located in the old Zazio's location, this restaurant prides itself on both its quality of food and atmosphere.

When the weather is nice, enjoy the open-air dining with sliding glass windows to bring the outdoors in.

Reservations are recommended and can be booked online.

Where to Find Brick and Brine
Find Brick and Brine in the lobby level of the Radisson Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo.

A favorite in the farmers market, Cairo's Kitchen opened its own brick-and-mortar restaurant in the summer of 2021 in Kalamazoo, offering tasty Egyptian cuisine.

Where to Find Cairo's Kitchen
Cairo's Kitchen is located at the corner of W Michigan and S Rose Street, in the Exchange Building.

Garcia's Mexican Kitchen opened in December of 2021, serving Mexican food all day long- including breakfast!

Where to Find Garcia's Mexican Kitchen
Garcia's is located at the corner of Osterhout and Shaver in Portage.

Only open for dinner (4PM - 10PM), Holy Taco's menu keeps it simple with a variety of small plate street tacos plus sides.

Where to Find Holy Taco
Located next door to Fletcher's Pub in Texas Corners, you'll find Holy Taco near 8th Street and W Q Avenue.

Opened by the talented team from Principle, ROCA offers Latin American food made from scratch, with locally-sourced ingredients.

Reservations can be booked online; ROCA is only open for dinner.

Where to Find ROCA Kalamazoo
Find ROCA on the mall in downtown Kalamazoo, just south of Principle Food & Drink.

Using Korean and Japanese chefs, TOBA prides itself on its modern approach to sushi. You'll find sushi rolls, fried rice, sashimi and sushi burritos here in addition to some special plates like bulgogi.

Where to Find Toba Sushi & Grill
TOBA is located in Kalamazoo off of Drake Road, just south of West Main.

Owned and operated by the first Black female winemaker in the state of Michigan, Nicole Triplett's Twine offers 20 varietals of wine from the Roché Collection plus wine cocktails, slushies and other unique drinks.

Twine is also an awesome place for date nights as you must be 21 to enter the Tasting Room or patio. No teens, children or babies are permitted.

Reservations are available online (but not required). Table reservations are good for 1.5 hours for a table or one hour for standing at the tasting bar.

Where to Find Twine Urban Winery by the Roche' Collection
Find Twine at the corner of Portage Street and Washington Ave in Kalamazoo.