Restaurants: What's new or coming soon to Jacksonville's Southside, St. Johns Town center

Even though we’ve seen some notable restaurant closings already this year, plenty of new restaurants have opened across Jacksonville – and even more are on the way.

From burger, taco and pizza joints to Italian and Mexican restaurants to breakfast, brunch and buffet spots, the area’s dining scene is growing, from downtown to the Beaches to the Southside, Westside, St. Johns and more, not just the St. Johns Town Center, which has served as the destination for many restaurant chains entering the market over the last two decades.

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Here's a look at what's new in 2024 or coming soon to Jacksonville's greater Southside area, including St. Johns Town Center, Baymeadows and Mandarin. (And be sure to bookmark this story for regular updates.)

5th Element Indian Restaurant & Bar

10208 Buckhead Branch Drive, Jacksonville

A fixture on Baymeadows Road for years, 5th Element made the jump to St. Johns Town Center in April, bringing its popular lunch buffet and Indian cuisine to the former Ovinte and Original Pancake House spot.

Capital Tacos

12220 Atlantic Blvd., No. 109, Jacksonville

A signature Mayport shrimp taco exclusive to Jacksonville plus a "Bottoms Up Draft Beer System" top the menu of Capital Tacos, a Tampa-based Tex-Mex restaurant that opened its first Jacksonville restaurant in February at 12220 Atlantic Blvd. No. 109 in Atlantic-Kernan Shops retail center. The Tex-Mex restaurant is known for its chef-inspired, made-from-scratch and grilled-to-order Tex-Mex menu that includes tacos, burritos, quesadillas and bowls as well as hand-cut tortilla chips, homemade queso and salsas. | Read more

Cataluna Lounge & Tapas

8206 Philips Highway, Unit 39, Jacksonville

Promising Spanish and Italian cuisine, craft cocktails and international ambiance, Cataluna Lounge & Tapas opened in February at 8206 Philips Highway Unit 39 in the Baymeadows Junction retail center. The roughly 6,000-square-foot restaurant with an outside patio is in the space formerly used by Mojitos Caribbean Cuisine Bar and Grill. There it joins Maa Kitchen, La Nopalera and Saki Sushi. | Read more

Celeno's Bistro

3820 Southside Blvd., Jacksonville

Celeno's Bistro, an Italian bistro offering classic pasta dishes, brick oven-baked pizza and an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet opened in March at 3820 Southside Blvd. on the Southside of Jacksonville. The menu ranges from wings to pizza, pasta, strombolis, calzones, pita bread wraps, hot and cold hoagies, salads and desserts. The restaurant owner traces his roots back to Naples on Italy's West Coast and has incorporated family favorites on the menu. | Read more

Chick-fil-A

11709 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville

In August, Chick-fil-A debuted its first all-new restaurant in the Jacksonville market in three years ― opening one of its next-generation-design restaurants at 11709 San Jose Blvd. in South Mandarin. At 3,500 square feet, the restaurant is significantly smaller than other area Chick-fil-A locations, with seating limited to just 38 seats, according to plans filed nearly two years ago. But its drive-thru can accommodate a whopping 45 vehicles or more under two canopies that stretch over three lanes. | Read more

Cigars International

4808 Town Center Parkway, Jacksonville, cigarsinternational.com

Though not a restaurant, Cigars International promises to be a unique addition to the St. Johns Town Center area. Plans show a 6,621-square-foot retail store with a 2,140-square-foot outdoor seating area next to Diamonds Direct and near Firebirds Wood Fired Grill and Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse. In addition to a selection of more than 1,300 different cigar brands, Cigar International superstores typically feature a full-service bar and lounge, all set in a building designed to resemble a classic tobacco barn. The store’s bar offers a variety of liquors, craft cocktails, beers, Bloody Marys, wines and coffee beverages.

Dainty Cheesecake Company

3061 Philips Highway, No. 102, Jacksonville

Dainty Cheesecake Company, specializing in "Dainty" fit-in-the-palm-of-your-hand size as well as "mini" bite-size and special-order 9-inch artisan cheesecakes, opened its brick-and-mortar bakery at 3061 Philips Highway No. 102 in the East San Marco neighborhood of Jacksonville in February. Sylvia Fitzgerald, founder and owner, established the authentic New York-style cheesecake company featuring family recipes in June 2020 as a delivery-only catering bakery. Dainty Cheesecake Company generally has a dozen flavors not including seasonal flavors for special occasions such as Easter and other holidays. | Read more

De’Crispino’s

4588 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville

An artisan Italian bakery, De’Crispino’s, opened in April in Miramar, offering fresh-from-scratch pastries, cakes, pies, cookies and bread plus salads, sandwiches and artisanal coffee. The cafe also offers a small curated selection of Italian delicacies, gourmet pantry staples, and unique gifts.

GEN Korean BBQ House

4880 Big Island Drive, Suite 6, Jacksonville

California-based Gen Korean BBQ House debuted its high-end, all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue in April at the Markets at Town Center. Founded in 2011, the chain has just over 30 locations in five states and features a large menu of chicken, beef and pork cooked at your table and traditional ban-chan, including Kimchi, Saeng Chae and others. | Read more

Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery

10281 Midtown Parkway, No 191, Jacksonville

Both popular for sweet treats — Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery — will share a storefront. No opening date has been announced. Marble Slab is known for its selection of rich ice cream made in small batches daily. Great American Cookies bakes its offerings daily with premium ingredients.

Just Kitchen Jax

13423 Beach Blvd., No. 104, Jacksonville

With a menu focusing on light and healthy, freshly made hummus, pitas, salads and shawarma, Just Kitchen Jax opened in April. The restaurant is the first for chef Justin Rohloff, who previously led kitchens at Jacksonville fine-dining restaurants from chefs Matthew and David Medure of Medure Brothers Culinary Concepts. | Read more

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe

12959 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville

Breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant Keke’s Breakfast Cafe opened its fifth Jacksonville-area restaurant in February at 12959 Atlantic Blvd. in East Arlington. Keke's is in the storefront that previously housed Sugarfire Smoke House, which closed suddenly in July 2022. The new restaurant is known for its large breakfast menu of waffles, pancakes, French toasts and more as well as a lunch menu of paninis, sandwiches, burgers, wraps and salads. | Read more

Komma Tea & Natural Handmade Dessert

10281 Midtown Parkway, Unit 121 in St. Johns Town Center

Specializing in made-to-order handcrafted bubble tea and freshly baked macarons — known as “Kommacarons" — Komma Tea & Natural Handmade Dessert hopes to open in September or October. Komma Tea features a dozen flavors of macarons including Creme Brulee, Choco Hazelnut and Ice Cream Sundae. It offers a selection of milk teas such as the customer favorite House Milk Tea with Honey Boba as well as refreshers including Mango Passionfruit Tea and Rose from Heaven with jasmine-infused tea with lychee and rose. The dessert shop will be near Shake Shake, Fresh Mex & Co. and Kilwins Chocolates & Ice Cream.

Mochinut

11757 Beach Blvd. Unit 9, Jacksonville

Mochinut, a Los Angeles-based restaurant chain known for its unique Hawaiian-style doughnuts and Korean hot dogs has opened its first Northeast Florida location in Jacksonville in March. The cafe debuted at 11757 Beach Blvd. Unit 9 in Beachwood Plaza in the city's Intracoastal West area. Crispy on the outside but light, airy and a little chewy on the inside, Mochi doughnuts are ade with sweet rice flour. Mochi doughnuts typically are fashioned from a connected circle comprised of eight small balls of dough. The doughnuts are fried, glazed or frosted and then garnished with a variety of toppings such as cookies, sweet breakfast cereal, nuts or fruit. | Read more

PangeaKeto

14474 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville

A first-of-its-kind bistro and grocery focused on an all-Ketogenic menu including prepared meals debuted in May. PangeaKeto, 14474 Beach Blvd. at San Pablo Road, is the first in Jacksonville as well as Florida. Located in a former Taco Bell, it offers Keto-centric comfort foods such as smash burgers, patty melts, pizza, mac & cheese, noodle bowls, quesadillas, sandwiches and wraps. The restaurant and grocery also offers gluten-free and sugar-free options. | Read more

Pinstripes

10274 Buckhead Branch Drive, No. 101, Jacksonville

Pinstripes, a self-described “best-in-class experiential dining and entertainment brand combining bistro, bowling, bocce and private event space,” plans to open at the sprawling Southside lifestyle center in 2025, the Northbrook, Ill.-based company recently announced. Pinstripes offers a full-service Italian-American food and beverage menu featuring made-from-scratch pizzas and flatbreads, pastas and other entrees as well as desserts, including gelato, tiramisu and caramelized cheesecake. The venue would be built in the spot vacated by retailer West Elm, according to documents recently submitted to the city. Plans show a proposed 26,370-square-foot, two-story building with two patio areas. | Read more

Salvatore's Old Fashioned Pizza

4820 Deer Lake Drive W., Suite D-11, Jacksonville

Known for its traditional New York-style specialty pizzas, huge slices and giant sheet pan pies, Salvatore's Old Fashioned Pizzeria opened its first restaurant outside of its home in Rochester, N.Y. in Jacksonville on Feb. 7 at 4820 Deer Lake Drive W., Suite D-11, in Tapestry Park off Southside Boulevard. Tapestry Park is the first of multiple locations planned in Florida in the next few years as the pizzeria expands nationwide. | Read more

Shake Shack

10281 Midtown Parkway, Jacksonville, shakeshack.com

Known for its fresh-never-frozen hamburgers, crinkle fries and signature shakes, Shake Shack plans to open this year at the St. Johns Town Center, marking its first location in the state north of the Orlando area. The restaurant is set to open in the space now occupied by M Shack, which doesn’t plan to renew its lease at the retail center in March. In addition to its burgers made from a blend of 100% Angus beef, Shake Shack is famous for its shakes, featuring premium ice cream made in-house daily with real cane sugar and cage-free eggs.

Slim Chickens

Glen Kernan Park and 1550 Edgewood Ave., Jacksonville, slimchickens.com

Another newer fast-casual chicken chain, Slim Chickens, is planning its first two Northeast Florida restaurants — one on Jacksonville’s Southside and another in North Jacksonville, according to plans filed with JEA. The 20-year-old, Fayetteville, Ark.-based chain is known for its chicken sandwiches and wraps, chicken tenders and wings and chicken and waffles paired with a choice of 17 house-made sauces. Its menu also features a variety of Southern-inspired sides and a selection of milkshakes and jar desserts — layered with cake, pudding or whipped cream and served in a Slim Chickens mason jar.

Talkin' Tacos

4853 Big Island Drive No. 9, Jacksonville

Talkin' Tacos, opened its second Northeast Florida location in March at 4853 Big Island Drive No. 9 in Town Center Plaza next to St. Johns Town Center. The South Florida fast-casual Mexican restaurant concept is known for its "chef-driven menu" featuring fresh-from-scratch beef Birria — showcased in a grilled cheese sandwich, ramen bowls, tacos and burritos — as well as Carne Asada, Southwest Chicken, Caribbean steak tacos and more. The new restaurant comes about seven months after Talkin' Tacos debuted in Jacksonville Beach at 1300 Beach Blvd., in Beach Plaza shopping center. | Read more

Tony's Cantina Mexican Grill

10131 San Jose Blvd., No. 12, Jacksonville

Tony's Cantina Mexican Grill, a South Carolina-based Mexican restaurant chain known for its made-to-order tacos, fajitas, burritos and chilaquiles as well as fusion sushi and craft margaritas served amid colorful Day of the Dead-themed murals, opened its first Jacksonville restaurant in June. Located at 10131 San Jose Blvd., No. 12, in Crown Point Plaza shopping center, the restaurant has an expansive menu ranging from Mexican cuisine to pasta, salads and bowls as well as craft margaritas. | Read more

Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar

10209 River Coast Drive, Jacksonville

Following the closing of Ida Claire, South of Ordinary at the Town Center, work is underway to transition the restaurant into Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar, a "farm-fresh comfort food" concept from the same Dallas-based restaurant group. The restaurant is described as an "everyday urban tavern with wood-fired and full-flavored dishes, innovative craft cocktails, a killer library of spirits and an array of exclusive barrel picks." A late summer opening is expected. | Read more

YH Dim Sum

10460 Avenues Walk Blvd., Jacksonville

YH Dim Sum, a first-of-its-kind restaurant offering handcrafted dim sum, traditional Cantonese cuisine and American Chinese favorites opened in May at 10460 Avenues Walk Blvd. across from The Avenues shopping mall. The restaurant replaces Mikado Japanese Steakhouse, which closed temporarily last June for remodeling to transition into the upscale Chinese concept. The 300-seat restaurant also offers a 100 percent traditional, authentic Cantonese menu featuring many dishes typically not previously served in Jacksonville. It is the first Northeast Florida restaurant from Tampa-based YH Restaurant Group, which plans to bring Bakery 1908 — the group's popular Asian bakery concept — to Jacksonville in the next few months. | Read more

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: New restaurants in Jacksonville in 2024 at Town Center, Mandarin