If you and your friends want to grab some food while you’re out on the town, we’ve featured 10 of the best places to eat in Lenexa, KS in the list below.
1. Papagallo Italian and Mediterranean Market & Restaurant
Papagallo Italian and Mediterranean Market & Restaurant are two things – a mouthful to say and one of the best spots to eat in Lenexa. They specialize in a broad range of Mediterranean fare, covering Greek, Italian, and more in one swoop. Papagallo is open from 10-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, from 4-9 p.m. on Fridays, 10-9 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 10-7 p.m. on Sundays.
Their menu is pretty straightforward – you can order Italian classics (multiple pasta dishes and appetizers) along with Greek and Mediterranean staples like gyros, shawarma, and baba Ghannooj. And perhaps the best thing of all is that Papagallo charges an incredibly reasonable price, making them an excellent stop for a quick lunch.
Swing by Papagallo Italian and Mediterranean Market’s contact page to learn more.
2. African Dream Cuisine
African Dream Cuisine takes the food a bit farther south than Papagallo, serving truly top-notch West African cuisine. While it may be somewhat foreign to many locals, West African food is genuinely incredible, taking inspiration from several global styles and delivering deliciously-spiced meals. African Dream Cuisine is open from 12-6 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, is closed Tuesday-Wednesday, and is available from 12-7 p.m. Friday-Sunday.
The menu at African Dream Cuisine is genuinely incredible. They boast a surprisingly large gluten and dairy-free menu for those with dietary restrictions and serve a wide range of West African fare. You’ll find Fufu, a seeming global favorite, alongside countless rice dishes, heartily-spiced meats, curries, and more. Give African Dream Cuisine the next time you need a truly filling meal.
Head to African Dream Cuisine’s contact page to learn more.
3. Sohaila’s Kitchen
Sohaila’s Kitchen is, unsurprisingly, a work of love from Chef Sohaila dedicated to celebrating the experiences of her and her family. They bring together Middle Eastern, Pakistani and Indian food into something incredible that isn’t to be missed. Sohaila’s Kitchen is closed Monday-Wednesday and open from 11-2 p.m. on Thursday, 11-7 p.m. on Friday, 10-7 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10-2 p.m. on Sunday.
The menu is truly unique to Sohaila’s Kitchen – while there are many Mediterranean joints in the area, none serve the quality or style of food given here. Visitors will discover countless delicious dishes, from the samosas and curries of Indian fare to the rice bowls of Pakistani and Mediterranean fare. Their menu changes by the day, ensuring you get to experience something new with each visit.
Swing by Sohaila’s Kitchen’s contact page to reach out.
4. Sierra Grill
The Sierra Grill is a proper American joint at its finest. They serve a wholly from-scratch, locally and ethically-sourced menu that delivers American comfort food with a delicious twist. They make all food in their wood-fired grill, serving local vendors for coffee and beer, to boot! Sierra Grill is open from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and closed Sunday-Tuesday.
The menu at Sierra Grill is quite challenging to pin down, as they ensure that all food is made from scratch with local ingredients. As such, it constantly changes to adapt to what’s in season and available. While this may frustrate some, to foodies, it’s a dream come true – a restaurant that you can visit on countless occasions and experience something new every time.
Head to Sierra Grill’s contact page to learn more and get in touch.
5. Lanna Thai Restaurant
Lanna Thai Restaurant is Lenexa’s premier Thai restaurant, hands down. They’re a family-owned joint that serves food from the Lan Na region of Thailand (the Northernmost area). The fare on offer consists of noodle dishes, curries, soups, and more, each delivering complex and incredible flavor. Lanna Thai is open from 11-3 p.m. and 4-9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesday-Thursday, 11-9 p.m. on Fridays, and 11:30-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Lanna Thai is closed on Tuesdays.
The menu at Lanna reflects their regional dishes. While Pad Thai is present here, there are far more delicious (and authentic) meals on offer. The curries are perfectly spiced, the soups use incredibly fresh ingredients and combine incredible aromatics, and the noodle dishes are as spicy as you’d hope – that is to say, very, very spicey. Ultimately, Lanna is the absolute best Thai food you’ll get in or around Lenexa, hands down.
Go to Lanna Thai’s contact page to learn more.
6. Cafe Brazil
Cafe Brazil is chef Lola Pinto’s work of love dedicated to traditional Brazilian cuisine. While Brazilian fare isn’t incredibly common in the Midwest, Pinto has made incredible strides since opening several years back. Cafe Brazil is open from 7-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, from 11-6 p.m. on Friday, 9-3 p.m. on Saturdays, and closed on Sunday.
The menu at Cafe Brazil combines the best of a cafe and a traditional Brazilian restaurant. Breakfast is a coffee and baked-goods affair, with Brazilian coffee and housemade sweets. Those seeking something lighter can get smoothies, an acai bowl, and more! As for the savory side of things, visitors can get Yuca pie, sandwiches, and multiple deep-fried Brazilian masterpieces of flavor.
Head to Cafe Brazil’s contact page to get in touch.
7. Sushi U.N.I.
Sushi U.N.I. is the best sushi restaurant in Lenexa, without a doubt. Their name stands for “You and I,” representing that the staff is in this with their customers. As such, they’ve garnered a reputation for friendly and professional service accompanied by top-notch Japanese fare. Sushi UNI is open from 11-2:30 and 4:30-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11-2:30 and 4:30-10 p.m. on Friday, and open from 2:30-10 p.m. on Saturday. Sushi UNI is closed on Sundays.
The menu, unsurprisingly, is very heavily centered on sushi. But if you’re not feeling some perfectly prepared, truly excellent fish, they also offer noodle dishes, fried rice, soup, and several appetizers like crab rangoons, egg rolls, and edamame. This all goes to say that Sushi UNI’s menu is incredibly diverse, ensuring there’s something there for every palate.
Swing by Sushi U.N.I.’s contact page to learn more.
8. Ronnie’s Restaurant
Ronnie’s Restaurant is a classic American breakfast and lunch joint devoted to forming a sense of community through comfort food. They celebrate family at every turn and have earned a name for being one of the best places in the area for the whole family to gather without worry. Ronnie’s Restaurant is open from 6:30-2 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 7-2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
The menu at Ronnie’s is likely to be incredibly familiar to most Midwesterners. You’ll find classic breakfasts of eggs, bacon, and toast; biscuits and gravy; and omelets. Though that’s not all – Ronnie’s also serves French toast, waffles, pancakes, and countless other sweet entrees. As for lunch, it’s the usual – toasty sandwiches, wraps, and burgers are paired with fries, salads, and a few other surprises.
Go to Ronnie’s Restaurant’s contact page to reach out.
9. Monkey King BBQ & Noodle
Monkey King BBQ & Noodle is authentic Cantonese fare at its best, serving classic southeast Asian cuisine in a culture-rich environment. They offer a wide array of familiar and new Chinese dishes – though their specialty is Cantonese BBQ. Monkey King BBQ & Noodle is open from 11-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and on Sundays, and from 11-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. They are closed on Mondays.
I’ve got a bit of a shocker here – Monkey King BBQ & Noodle primarily serves (gasp) Cantonese BBQ and noodle dishes! Whether you want a crispy roasted duck dish, some crunchy pork belly, or a delicious Cantonese seafood meal, Monkey King has you covered. As for noodle dishes, they’re plentiful; stir fry, Lo Mein, rice noodle dishes, and more are equally present alongside fried rice and rice bowls.
Head to Monkey King BBQ & Noodle’s Facebook page to learn more.
10. Red Kitchen KC
And finally, we make it to Red Kitchen KC. They’re a true-to-form Mexican joint in the Lenexa Public Market that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner from a bustling street food cart. They sell pork and duck fat homemade tortillas alongside burritos, tacos, and tortas, to name a few offerings. Red Kitchen KC is open from 7-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and on Saturdays, 7-10 p.m. on Friday, and from 7-8 p.m. on Sunday.
Red Kitchen offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week. For breakfast, they keep things simple with a simple burrito with chorizo, bacon, or sausage. For lunch, they offer classic burritos and tortas (Latin sandwiches similar to a panini) alongside tacos de guisado. And perhaps most importantly, they serve traditional, handmade tamales to-go every Saturday.
Swing by Red Kitchen KC’s contact page to get in touch.
