​2025 F-M Restaurant Scene Year in Review

By Rick Gion

Since the much-dreaded Covid years, there has been much ebb and flow in the Fargo-Moorhead restaurant scene. In 2025, that trend continued with some major additions and closings. Let’s start the New Year on a positive note. This column will begin by discussing the many restaurant openings.

Taco John's, located at 4522 26th Ave. S., in Fargo and operated by Pentex Restaurant Group, has been a long-awaited affair. Although the public opening took place in early January 2026, the soft opening took place late last year. This community has yearned for its oles and cheese. Bravo to Pentex for bringing back this fierce combo and the famous meat and potato burrito. By the way, a personal first purchase will be two taco bravos and a medium ole and cheese. A churro is the planned dessert choice. Expect drive-thru lines at this new Taco John’s location to be Chick-fil-A-level busy for a while.

Athena's Pizza, located in the old Dickey's BBQ Pit just off of 13th Ave. S. in Fargo, opened recently and the product is solid. The dough, sauce and toppings are freshly prepared daily. I recently tried a house special pizza. The toppings definitely shined on this pie. Additionally, the owner is super friendly. She’s extremely proud of what she’s created and is willing to chat about it with patrons.

Harry's Steakhouse off of Veterans in West Fargo has now been open for about two months. Version 2.0 is much larger than the original location in downtown Grand Forks. Better is not the best term to use, because the menu and other offerings are very similar. Bigger is, though, because there’s more square footage. Atmosphere and plated fare are exceptional at both. A 1940s theme really makes things special. Service is also a top priority. You’ll be waited on by multiple servers. “Pricey, but worth it” is a good phrase to use as a description. This new establishment promises to host many anniversaries, birthdays and other special occasions.

Maria's Mexican restaurant in downtown Fargo is now serving breakfast and lunch. It’s an evolution from a food truck to a brick and mortar. I recently tried the macho man breakfast burrito and buzzy bee chocolate nitro coffee. Oh yeah, both were great. Anecdotally, good cooks run in the family. Maria’s son used to be a chef at the much-missed BernBaum's.

Onee Korean Fried Chicken by Costco is now a personal favorite. It’s so good that I went there for an evening snack of crispy wings and kimbap on Christmas Day. Other recent favorites have been smoked-eel bibimbap, jjigae stew and a fried chicken sandwich. A little soju to wash things down is recommended.

Nova Eatery & Supper Club in Fargo was a much-welcomed addition to downtown. It’s located in the former BernBaum's location and features elevated American-style food. Nova 2.0 is an expansion of its former self in the now-closed Fargo Brewing Company location. This restaurant offers everything from brunch to a full prime rib dinner. Friday fish frys have also become an option as of late.

Smoke and Iron in West Fargo is a venture by local restaurateur Ramon Sosa and crew. He’s also the driver behind Maxwells in West Fargo. Smoke and Iron features elevated American food. Fine wines and crafted cocktails are also part of the arsenal. Atmosphere and good service make it a friendly place to hang out for those folks in that part of the metro.

Toasted Frog in downtown Fargo changed hands earlier this year. The atmosphere stayed similar. The menu has changed a bit. Don’t fret though, cheesy pickles are still available. Toasted Frog does still offer everything from burgers to carefully crafted dishes. Creativity is the key to this kitchen though. Plates on social media look and taste great.

Mango’s Mexican and American Grill in Moorhead is version 2.0 of the former location on Main Ave. in Fargo. The menu features many similar items. Quick service is also something familiar. The location has seen some changes over the years, but this restaurant should have some staying power.

Now on to the negative portion of this column. There is some sentiment amongst local food fans that restaurant closings outnumber openings. In my opinion, that’s not the case. However, closings do need to be discussed in this culinary year in review.

Perhaps the biggest blow to the local food scene was losing GP's Greek Kitchen in south Fargo. This establishment featured great food with huge portions. The gyros were chock full of chosen meat items and fresh ingredients. Friendly service was also something special. The owner is one of the nicest people in the business.

El Torero Mexican restaurant in Moorhead was a favorite on the east side of the Red River. Losing this source of spicy food was a blow to the limited dining options in Moorhead. Competition and excitement from Mango’s 2.0 probably affected revenue.

Losing the Boiler Room definitely hurt the downtown Fargo restaurant scene. The elevated American-style fare will definitely be missed. Plans for the space now include creative, pop-up style ventures. Over the holidays, Marge’s Reindeer Room broke the ice. Stay tuned for more interesting changes from Dan Hurder and crew.

Rebecco’s Taco Bar in West Fargo was a fun restaurant which featured elevated Tex-Mex cuisine. The taqueria was a spicy favorite in that part of the metro. The location is now occupied by Smoke and Iron.

SoHo 23 in south Fargo was a personal favorite Asian-fusion eatery. Unfortunately, the restaurant is taking a temporary break due to equipment and logistical challenges. Those who know the owner, Jin, realize that quality reigns supreme. She strives for perfection. The temporary closing of SoHo 23 will damper my local culinary crusades for 2026, as the flavors at SoHo 23 were fresh, unique and delicious.

Changes to the Fargo-Moorhead restaurant scene will continue in 2026. As a reminder to readers, it’s a challenging business these days. Bravo to those owners, managers and workers who continue to put in the hard work and long hours. Additionally, encouragement goes to all those food enthusiasts who continue to support the new and favorite eateries.

Rick Gion administers a Facebook food group called “Fargo-Moorhead Eats” that’s dedicated to the area’s great cooks and cuisine. The group now has over 52,000 followers. Check it out, join, and feel free to post items about your local culinary adventures and home cooking. And, while you’re at it, also join the Instagram page. Rick is also a featured guest on Prairie Public Radio’s “Main Street.” His weekly segment about food called “Prairie Plates” airs between 3 and 4 p.m. every Wednesday. Reach him at rickgion@gmail.com.