KJ's is set to take over Todd English’s Pepper Club space downtown, promising an approachable modern‑American menu and an all‑day bar.

Chicago-born Lao Sze Chuan has opened in East Memphis, offering Szechuan classics and adjustable spice levels at Ridgeway Trace. The chain’s arrival adds another national eatery to a busy Poplar Avenue strip.

Mi Cocina will replace Cool River at Dallas Love Field after a permit showed a roughly 6,066‑sq‑ft renovation budgeted at $850,000. Construction is scheduled for June–August 2026.

Santiago's Bodega has closed its Altamonte Springs spot after a decade, leaving the Orlando outpost as the nearest location. The closure comes as rising costs continue to squeeze local restaurants.

Geno's Steaks will open its first Maryland shop at Power Plant Live in downtown Baltimore and is running a sweepstakes that awards one cheesesteak per week for 52 weeks.

Omar Pereney is opening Petite Lucie, a French bistro at Market Square Park that will serve Love Croissants pastries, day‑to‑night bistro meals and parkside drinks.

Golden Chick is planning a Friendswood outpost at 101 E. Parkwood Drive, with construction set to start March 2 and a May 4 target completion.

Mike’s Pizza has returned to Flatbush at 5 Martense Street, nearly a year after its Bedford Avenue shop was forced to close. Longtime customers turned out to welcome the return.

ZX Sushi opened Feb. 14 in Riverside Lofts, offering all‑you‑can‑eat sushi for $31.99 and a broad menu of rolls, ramen and bento boxes.

Songbird, a compact cocktail bar and cafe, is headed to East End Market in midtown Raleigh. The owner previously ran a short-lived dry bar downtown.

Birdtown Brewing is converting a century‑old Lakewood church into a 260‑seat brewpub with house beers and Geraci’s pizza, targeting a late‑March/early‑April opening.

A new mom-and-pop in Plano's Legacy is serving Sichuan, Shanghai and Taiwanese plates and even a 10‑dish set menu. The dining room is unapologetically panda-filled.

Elote Town, from the chef behind Jurassic Tacos, opened a new Orem location near University Mall with elotes, esquites and weekly deals. City officials posted a short reel announcing the shop.