Northeast Florida, December 17, 2025
The hospitality scene in Northeast Florida welcomes a range of new restaurant openings, including fast-casual establishments, fast food options, and innovative dining concepts. Pecan Craft Kitchen, Panda Express, and Raising Cane’s are among those leading the charge. Residents can look forward to diverse culinary offerings from farm-to-fire grilling to classic fast-food favorites. These openings not only enhance the local dining landscape but also contribute to job creation and economic growth in the area.
New Restaurants Open Across Northeast Florida
Jacksonville, Florida – The hospitality scene in Northeast Florida is experiencing a surge of new restaurant openings, with several establishments launching in the past month. These additions reflect a growing investment in the region’s dining landscape, offering residents and visitors a diverse array of culinary experiences.
Pecan Craft Kitchen Opens in Julington Creek
Pecan Craft Kitchen, a “farm-to-fire” restaurant, is set to open on December 20 in Julington Creek, St. Johns County. Located at 138 Florida 13, the fast-casual eatery will feature menu items cooked over a pecan-fired grill, including grilled tamarind flatbread, cornbread with hot honey, pecan-fired salmon, and banana pudding. The restaurant offers seating for 120 guests and includes a covered patio. The development involved a $750,000 build-out approved by St. Johns County in September. Operating hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday; closed on Mondays. Pecan Craft Kitchen is developed by Darryl Nagao and Brad Chasteen through their company, Welcome to Moe’s Inc., which operates over 50 Moe’s Southwest Grill locations across multiple states.
New Panda Express and Bojangles Locations in Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach is welcoming new fast-food options with the upcoming openings of a Panda Express and a Bojangles on LPGA Boulevard. The Panda Express, located at 1950 LPGA Blvd., is awaiting final approval from the city and could open within the week. The 2,700-square-foot restaurant will feature a two-lane drive-thru. Adjacent to it, a Bojangles is nearing completion at 1956 LPGA Blvd. This 3,170-square-foot building will also have a two-lane drive-thru and an occupancy load of 73. Both establishments are situated near the Tanger Outlets shopping plaza and a new large apartment complex, catering to the growing demand in the area.
Raising Cane’s Expands in Florida
Raising Cane’s, known for its chicken fingers, is expanding its presence in Florida with 14 new locations opening in December. This expansion includes a new restaurant in Jacksonville, which opened earlier this year at Oakleaf Station on Merchants Way. The Jacksonville location was the first of several planned in the greater Jacksonville area, indicating the brand’s commitment to the region.
Waffle House Considers New Location in North Jacksonville
Waffle House is considering a new 24-hour diner in North Jacksonville at northwest Alta Drive and Interstate 295. The Georgia-based company’s 25th Northeast Florida site is in preliminary review, with city utility JEA receiving a service availability request on October 9 for the proposed development south of Faye Road. The site is west of Alta Drive, across from property owned by Parker’s Kitchen, a Savannah, Georgia-based gas station and convenience store company that plans at least 10 Northeast Florida locations.
Asado Life Restaurant Coming to Jacksonville Shipyards
Asado Life, a live-fire culinary experience, is set to open in the Jacksonville Shipyards marina support building. The full-service restaurant is planned for an August 2026 opening and will focus on communal fire-grilling, featuring scratch-made ingredients and traditional Argentinian-inspired cooking methods. The establishment will offer à la carte menus and private events, contributing to the growing dining options in the downtown area.
The Dough Show to Open in Bartram Park
The Dough Show, a Middle Eastern restaurant, is set to open its third Florida location in Bartram Park, Jacksonville. The city issued a permit on September 3 for the renovation of a former Moe’s Southwest Grill at 12681 Bartram Park Blvd., with an opening date of October 22. The 2,612-square-foot restaurant is situated between Panda Express and Zaxby’s, offering additional dining options to the area.
Toasted Yolk Plans First Location in St. Johns County
Toasted Yolk, a daytime café, is expanding in Northeast Florida with plans to open its first St. Johns County location in the second phase of The Fountains at St. Johns. The mixed-use development is located at northeast County Road 210 West, about a mile east of Interstate 95 in northern St. Johns County. This will be the second Toasted Yolk in the region, following the first in Fleming Island, which opened on November 18.
Chick-fil-A Opens New Restaurant in Jacksonville
Chick-fil-A opened a new restaurant at 11909 Atlantic Blvd. in Jacksonville on November 26, 2024. The drive-thru-focused location offers dine-in, carry-out, delivery, and catering services. Designed for speed and efficiency, the restaurant features a walk-up window for carry-out and a Mobile Thru lane for orders placed ahead of time through the Chick-fil-A App. The opening created approximately 120 full- and part-time jobs in the community.
Culver’s Expands in Jacksonville
Culver’s is preparing to open a new location at 14011 Hyatt Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32218. Construction is scheduled to begin at the end of December, with a projected opening in July or August 2025. The new restaurant will seat between 100-125 guests and will be the second Culver’s in Jacksonville, complementing the first location at 101 Monument Rd.
Habit Burger & Grill Opens First Jacksonville Restaurant
Habit Burger & Grill opened its first Jacksonville location at 13559 Beach Blvd. on October 15, 2025. The restaurant offers dine-in, takeout, and delivery services, featuring its signature Charburgers grilled over an open flame, along with sandwiches, fresh salads, and more. The establishment also introduced a Mobile Pickup Lane for convenient order pickup through the Habit mobile app.
MICHELIN Guide Expands to Florida
The MICHELIN Guide is expanding its Florida selection to include three new destinations: Greater Fort Lauderdale, The Palm Beaches, and St. Pete-Clearwater. This expansion reflects the state’s growing culinary scene and the increasing recognition of its diverse dining options. The full 2025 restaurant selection will be revealed later this year during the annual MICHELIN Guide ceremony for Florida.
Flamingo Crossings Opens Near Walt Disney World
Flamingo Crossings, an outdoor shopping, dining, residential, and entertainment complex, opened in 2021 near Walt Disney World in Orange County. The complex includes a walking trail and offers a variety of dining and shopping options, enhancing the area’s appeal to both locals and visitors.
Alhambra Dinner Theatre Recognized as Best in the U.S.
Alhambra Dinner Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida, is the oldest continuously-running professional dinner theater in the United States and the only professional resident theatre in Northeast Florida. In April 2025, USA Today’s readers voted the venue the best dinner theatre in the U.S., highlighting its longstanding contribution to the region’s cultural and dining landscape.
Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair to Relocate
The Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair is planning to relocate to a new 82.37-acre site at 13611 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida, in the fall of 2026. The new complex will include an office, expo hall, and amphitheater, enhancing the fair’s offerings and accommodating its growing attendance. The relocation follows the purchase of the current 14.1-acre fairgrounds by Shad Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, for $15.12 million in February 2025.
Conclusion
The recent wave of new restaurant openings across Northeast Florida highlights the region’s entrepreneurial spirit and resilience in the face of challenges. As these businesses contribute to local job creation and enhance the dining landscape, it is vital for community members to continue supporting such ventures. These developments not only improve the culinary landscape of Jacksonville and its neighboring areas but also provide opportunities for economic growth and job creation.
FAQ
What is Pecan Craft Kitchen?
Pecan Craft Kitchen is a ‘farm-to-fire’ restaurant opening on December 20 in Julington Creek, St. Johns County, offering menu items cooked over a pecan-fired grill, including grilled tamarind flatbread, cornbread with hot honey, pecan-fired salmon, and banana pudding.
Where is the new Panda Express located?
The new Panda Express is located at 1950 LPGA Blvd. in Daytona Beach, near the Tanger Outlets shopping plaza and a new large apartment complex.
When did Raising Cane’s open its first Jacksonville location?
Raising Cane’s opened its first Jacksonville location earlier this year at Oakleaf Station on Merchants Way.
| Restaurant Name | Location | Opening Date | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pecan Craft Kitchen | Julington Creek, St. Johns County | December 20 | Pecan-fired grill, fast-casual dining |
| Panda Express | Daytona Beach | Pending city approval | Two-lane drive-thru |
| Bojangles | Daytona Beach | Pending completion | Two-lane drive-thru |
| Raising Cane’s | Jacksonville | Earlier this year | 14 new locations in Florida |
| Waffle House | North Jacksonville | Pending review | 24-hour diner |
| Asado Life | Jacksonville Shipyards | August 2026 | Live-fire cooking, communal fire-grilling |
| The Dough Show | Bartram Park, Jacksonville | October 22 | Middle Eastern cuisine |
| Toasted Yolk | St. Johns County | Second phase of The Fountains | Daytime café |
| Chick-fil-A | Jacksonville | November 26 | Drive-thru design, job creation |
| Culver’s | Jacksonville | July or August 2025 | Second location |
| Habit Burger & Grill | Jacksonville | October 15 | Charburgers, Mobile Pickup Lane |
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Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
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