Omaha boasts an impressive number of restaurants for a city of its size. No one can make the claim that Omaha isn’t a Foodie City – with around 1200 restaurants total within the city, there is never an issue of not having somewhere to go eat.
By the numbers
According to data courtesy of SalesGenie, the actual number of restaurants in Omaha (as of February 2018) is 1216.
Projected employment in food preparation and serving is expected to reach just over 37,000 people by the year 2020 according to the Nebraska Department of Labor.
Where are all the restaurants?
According to data courtesy of SalesGenie, the highest number of restaurants in Omaha are concentrated in the 68102 zip code (the Old Market and surrounding areas), followed by the 68114 zip code (West Omaha).
Services performed
Restaurants keep people fed, supplying them with prepared food and drinks. While many people enjoy restaurants infrequently as an indulgence, there are some people who rely on restaurants to provide most of their meals.
The National Restaurant Association predicts growth in the restaurant industry in the state of Nebraska overall. A 2017 article in the Omaha World Herald stated restaurant numbers have remained steady in the past couple of years despite a national decline.
Resources
Want to learn more about the restaurant industry in Omaha? Check out these helpful resources:
- Omaha Restaurant Association
- Metropolitan Community College Hospitality and Restaurant Leadership Program
- Omaha Jobs
Winners
- 2023 Dining Category Winners
- 2022 Dining Category Winners
- 2021 Dining Category Winners
- 2020 Dining Category Winners
- 2019 Dining Category Winners
Readers’ Choice Recognition Levels
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O Winners fall into four levels of recognition, but can only fall into one per category. Every nomination is a “Best Of” vote, and often very small percentages separate the levels of recognition. Because there are so many businesses in each category, a small percentage of the total nominations can lift your business into one of these recognition levels. Your business is truly among the best of an often very crowded field or industry.
1) Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Any winner with more than 50% of the votes cast in that category or the top vote-getter. Only one winner unless it’s a tie.
2) Readers’ Choice: Any vote-getter with at least 20% of the votes cast in that category or up to the next top two vote-getters after Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O with at least 10% of the votes cast in that category.
3) Readers’ Recommended: Any vote-getter with at least 10% of the votes cast in that category or up to the next top three vote-getters after Readers’ Choice with at least 5% of the votes cast in that category.
4) Readers’ Refer: Any vote-getter with at least 5% of the votes cast in that category or the top vote-getters to round out six winners in a category.