Springfield’s food scene runs deep. You could eat out nearly every day for a couple of years and still not run out of new places to try, from upscale dinners to laid-back favorites to the kind of hole-in-the-wall spots only locals seem to know about. Consider this your Springfield, MO restaurant guide.
Great chefs. Elegant plating. Real, memorable food. Springfield’s fine dining scene doesn’t take itself too seriously, even when the cooking is world-class. Flame and Char cover steak and seafood in style, Ocean Zen offers a Pacific Rim spin on the classics, Gilardi’s has been serving up authentic Italian downtown for years, and Harvest keeps things hyper-seasonal with Chef Craig von Foerster sourcing almost everything straight from the farm. Springfield makes it easy to eat well.
Have a favorite national chain? There’s a good chance Springfield has it. The area’s appetite for restaurant food has attracted a wide range of national brands, with new spots always in development. But if you’d rather support local, the independent restaurant scene here is thriving, and a solid lineup of food trucks rotates through town serving everything from tacos to gourmet grilled cheese. Downtown especially is a hotbed of culinary activity, with unique options for Mexican, Italian, American, pizza, and even crepes. One of the newest and most talked-about additions is The Table, a casual counter-service restaurant built into the site of a historic flour mill on Prospect Avenue, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner alongside coffee and cocktails, with a small market shop tucked inside. Nearby in Nixa, 14 Mill Market brings together ten local restaurant concepts and a full bar under one roof, all built on the site of a historic feed mill. We also have one of the only brewery/restaurant facilities in the world built by a brewery equipment fabrication company.
While Springfield might be most famous nationally as the hometown of cashew chicken, our international food scene has quietly come into its own, and it’s turning heads with culinary adventurers. There’s authentic Indian at Taj Mahal, Zayka, and Nawab’s, Lebanese at That Lebanese Place, and Greek at Greek Belly. Café Cusco brings genuinely good Peruvian to the mix, Haruno Sushi Bar & Grill covers sushi, and Luna Modern Mexican puts a fresh spin on traditional Mexican cooking. For Thai, Rama Thai Café and Thai Square are both worth the trip.
Every city has a handful of restaurants that only locals seem to know about. Unassuming on the outside, treasures on the inside, and most have been around longer than anyone can remember. Springfield is no different. You’ll find some of the best chili in town inside an odd Quonset hut called Casper’s. Old-school dives like Crosstown BBQ turn out some of the city’s best barbecue. And historic Gailey’s, a former drugstore soda counter turned hip morning cafe, is always good for a breakfast that hits the spot. Ask a local for their favorites, and don’t be surprised if they end up joining you.
The number of coffee shops in and around Springfield will impress anyone who loves to lounge with a latte. Downtown has a plethora of coffee shops, from Coffee Ethic to Kingdom Coffee to Mudhouse. Newer players like Eurasia Coffee Co. keep the scene evolving, with fresh pastries and a full event space to boot. Downtown doesn’t have the market cornered on coffee, though. All over town, baristas are serving up delicious caffeinated drinks. Big Momma’s on Commercial Street, Classic Rock on the west side, and Architect down south are all among Springfield’s go-to spots for a hot cup or a cold brew, whether you’re staying a while or grabbing one to go.
Yes. Springfield has a mix of national chains and thriving independent restaurants, especially downtown, where you’ll find everything from Mexican and Italian to pizza and crepes. Newer additions like The Table, a counter-service restaurant built into a historic flour mill downtown, and 14 Mill Market, a food hall in nearby Nixa with ten restaurant concepts under one roof, have added a lot of energy to the local dining scene.
Despite being best known nationally as the hometown of cashew chicken, Springfield’s international food scene has grown quite a bit. You’ll find authentic Indian at places like Taj Mahal, Lebanese at That Lebanese Place, Greek at Greek Belly, Peruvian at Café Cusco, sushi at Haruno, modern Mexican at Luna, and Thai at spots like Rama Thai Café and Thai Square.
Ask any local and they’ll point you toward a few favorites. Casper’s serves up some of the best chili in town out of an old Quonset hut, Crosstown BBQ keeps old-school barbecue traditions alive, and Gailey’s, a former drugstore soda counter, is a go-to for a good breakfast.
Downtown Springfield has long-standing favorites like Coffee Ethic, Kingdom Coffee, and Mudhouse, along with newer spots like Eurasia Coffee Co. Outside downtown, Big Momma’s on Commercial Street, Classic Rock on the west side, and Architect down south are all popular stops for coffee lovers.
Yes, Springfield is widely recognized as the birthplace of cashew chicken, a dish that originated locally and has since become a regional staple found on menus throughout the area.
