These restaurants have expanded or relocated in the past 12 months
Baton Rouge’s dining scene is booming, with new eateries and expanded favorites bringing fresh flavors, casual concepts and renewed energy across the Capital Region. A number of familiar favorites have relocated or expanded, breathing new life into long-loved staples and welcoming even more residents to pull up a chair.
Caroline’s Cookies
7575 Jefferson Hwy.
Opened November 2024
Caroline’s first-come, first-served business model makes fans rush to stores before her plump and indulgent cookies sell out, but the pain was eased by a second location in Bocage late last year. eatcarolinescookies.com
Honey Bee Baking Co.
4169 LA Hwy. 1 S., Port Allen
Opened January 2025
A permanent location gave the popular pop-up a place to hold weekly retail hours. Also find its Biscoff blondies, king cakes and other products at 2025 newcomer TBR Books and Tea.
@honeybee_bakingco
Chicky Sandos
12555 Airline Hwy.
Opened February 2025
Homegrown fried chicken sandwich concept Chicky Sandos, which launched in late 2020 as a food truck, opened its second brick-and-mortar location this year. chickysandos.com
Empire Wingz
705 S. Burnside Ave., Gonzales
Opened February 2025
4347 High St., Zachary
Opened March 2025
7743 LA Hwy. 1 S., Addis
Opened June 2025
6894 Airline Hwy.
Opened June 2025
It’s been a gangbusters year for fast-growing Empire Wingz with four new openings, bringing the total number of locations of the local wing-ery to seven brick-and-mortars and two food trucks. empirewingz.com
Drago’s
10111 Perkins Rowe, Bldg C. Ste. 100
Opened September 2025
After closing its doors on Constitution Avenue, the restaurant that created chargrilled oysters reopened in the heart of Perkins Rowe with a generous covered patio. dragosrestaurant.com
Boru Ramen
4957 Essen Ln.
Opened March 2025
Home to elevated ramen made with 24-hour broths, Boru moved this spring to a tripartite location with sister businesses Sweet Society and Tiger Clawzzz. boruramenbr.com
Trap Haüs Wellness Bar
1300 Government St.
Opened May 2025
Grab gut-boosting vegan foods and local C.A.K.E.D JUICE Co. beverages at this healthy food café’s third location and first in Mid City.
@the_trap_haus
Southern Chicks Café & Daiquiris
7112 Florida Blvd.
Opened May 2025
A 9-year-old New Roads concept known for its satisfying combo of fried chicken and potent daiquiris opened its first Baton Rouge location this year. southernchickscafe.com
Dr. FeelGood
19970 Highland Rd., Ste. B1b
Opened May 2025
A second spot for this grab-and-go healthy foods eatery opened this year, boosted by TikTokker Keith Lee’s viral review of its Blue Dream smoothie and other tasty items.
@dr.feelgoodbr
Sweet Society
4957 Essen Ln.
Opened May 2025
Asian ice cream parlor Sweet Society moved to a common space with Boru Ramen and new claw arcade Tiger Clawzzz while also adding DIY boba and homemade tiger paw-shaped taiyaki. @sweetsocietybr
Boba ParTea
10190 Celtic Dr.
Opened June 2025
After debuting on O’Neal Lane in 2020, Boba ParTea opened a second outpost this summer, giving fans another option for its range of bubble teas and Vietnamese-inspired baked goods. bobapartea.com
Philly Me Up Denham
120 Bass Pro Blvd., Ste. A1, Denham Springs
Opened June 2025
A homegrown Philly cheesesteak concept that started back in 2007 saw its first franchise open this summer in Livingston Parish. phillymeupds.com
Tre’s Street Kitchen
LSU Student Union
Opened August 2025
Enterprising Tre’s Street Kitchen started as a food truck and now has locations in the student centers of Southern University, SUNO, Baton Rouge Community College and most recently, LSU. tresstreetkitchen.com
Street Food Munchies
Mall of Louisiana, 6401 Bluebonnet Blvd.
Opened August 2025
First a food truck, then a Mall of Louisiana kiosk and a brief tenant in the Florida/Airline corridor, Street Food Munchies settled its New Orleans-inspired menu into larger digs in the mall’s food court this summer.
@streetfoodmunchies
Chicken Wagon
14041 Coursey Blvd.
Opened September 2025
After opening its first Nashville-style hot chicken eatery on Staring Lane in 2024, Chicken Wagon demonstrated its plan for rapid growth with another spot on Coursey. chickenwagon.us
City Slice
4225 Nicholson Dr.
Opened September 2025
City Group Hospitality’s longtime pizzeria shifted its location from the LSU North Gates to larger digs on Nicholson Drive. cityslicepizza.com
Eloise Market and Cakery
1940 Perkins Rd.
Opened October 2025
Owner Madelyn Schmidt Burr relocated her bakery to the Garden District this fall, bringing signature monster cookies, celebratory cakes and cooking classes. eloisemarket.com
This article was originally published in the December 2025 issue of 225 Magazine.
