40 new restaurants open across the Mississippi Coast in 2023. Dozens more are coming soon.

Mary Perez
·5 min read

It’s been a big year for new restaurants in South Mississippi and Wednesday’s opening of Chipotle Mexican Grill in D’Iberville will draw another crowd eager to give it a try.

Chipotle at 3990 Promenade Parkway, in front of the new Hobby Lobby, is the first in South Mississippi and one of about 40 new restaurants to open across the three Coast counties already this year.

Also newly opened is Flamingo Landing at the former Marina Cantina restaurant at 8813 Lorraine Road, Gulfport, with its bottomless brunch and its menu of Southern specialties.

Flamingo Landing on Cowan Road in Gulfport is open and serving seafood and Southern favorites indoors and out on the waterfront.
Flamingo Landing on Cowan Road in Gulfport is open and serving seafood and Southern favorites indoors and out on the waterfront.

Chef Scott’s new sushi restaurant finally is open at 1060 Thorn Ave. in Ocean Springs after many delays, and Cafe Brunet moved from Diamondhead to a bigger location at 16160 Highway 603 in Kiln and is again bringing people in to enjoy beignets, Cuban sandwiches and creole favorites.

More than a dozen more new eateries are also on the way across South Mississippi.

New restaurants opening soon

Biloxi, Gulfport and Ocean Springs have a bonanza of new restaurants this year and cities coastwide — including Diamondhead and Waveland in Hancock County — are welcoming more and different menus.

Watch for these restaurants opening soon:

La Maison Grande, 11516 A Lamey Bridge Road, D’Iberville, will be a full-service coffee shop and non-toxic salon, all in one.

Pura Juice Bar and Smoothies restaurant will open on Old Popp’s Ferry Road in D’Iberville.
Pura Juice Bar and Smoothies restaurant will open on Old Popp’s Ferry Road in D’Iberville.

Pura Juice Bar and Smoothies at 4020 Old Popp’s Ferry Road, D’Iberville is opening in May.

Boathouse Bar & Grill, north of the drawbridge at 5600 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs, will be an open air bar and grill plus vacation rentals and pontoon boat rentals.

Empanola Biloxi will soon open a second Biloxi location at 1036 Howard Ave., across from Burger Burger.

The Toasted Yolk Cafe is scheduled to open in June just down the street at 902 Howard Ave. in Biloxi, serving breakfast, lunch and brunch.

The Bella Biloxi boutique hotel— in the same stretch of downtown Biloxi at 854 Howard Ave. — will have a wine bar and a cafe when it opens this summer.

The Crab Dock wholesale and retail market is expanding from Louisiana to 410 Saucier Ave., Pass Christian, off Bayou Portage Seaway. Takeout, dine in and outdoor seating are coming to this family-owned business that will provide shrimp, crab, and local crawfish.

On the way

Dolce Bakeshop is expanding to a second location at Bay St. Louis.

Coterie Restaurant & Oyster Bar is coming in June to the former Cajun Seafood site on U.S. 90 in Long Beach.

Aztecas Restaurant & Cantina is coming to 1906 Beach Boulevard in Biloxi, at the former location of Hooters.

Work continues in downtown Gulfport to create Renee’s French restaurant.
Work continues in downtown Gulfport to create Renee’s French restaurant.

Renée’s Downtown: A New Era of French Cuisine is getting closer to opening at 1321 27th Ave. in Gulfport.

Big Ben’s BBQ restaurant coming soon to the food court at Edgewater Mall in Biloxi.

Bop’s Frozen Custard is coming this summer off U.S. 49 in Gulfport.

Jaded Pub & Spirits is coming to 19099 Pineville Road in Long Beach. The pub will be a place for people to gather and play pool, sample craft beers and craft cocktails, nibble on fresh bar eats, sing a little karaoke and enjoy live music.

Rizzuto’s Ristorante & Chop House is scheduled to open in August or September in the Redding Mansion at 770 Jackson Street near Biloxi City Hall.

A new steak and seafood restaurant is coming from the owners of Half Shell Oyster House to the former Sal & Mookies in downtown Biloxi.

Zaxby’s and a retail center is coming on Pass Road in West Biloxi, at the location of El Rancho.

New restaurants open

Here are many of the restaurants that opened this year in cities across South Mississippi:

Ocean Springs

Kilwins ice cream and candy shop at 711 Washington St. in downtown Ocean Springs

Zaxby’s Ocean Springs at 4013 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs

The Red Apple Lounge at 1016 Government St., Ocean Springs

Murky Waters at its new location at 1312 Government St., Ocean Springs

Paninis & Boba? O Mai across from Broome’s on Washington Avenue, north of Ocean Springs

Bacchus on the Bayou near the bridge in Ocean Springs

Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery near Winn-Dixie on U.S. 90 in Ocean Springs

Jackson County

J’rome Bar-B-Que & More at 2417 Guillotteville Road, Gautier

L’il Boys at Mary Walker Marina in Gautier has reopened for the summer season

PawPaw’s Kountry Kitchen at 1600 Indian Point Parkway, Gautier, inside Indian Point RV Resort

Dem Dam Burgers at 3019 Magnolia St. in Pascagoula

Pot Bellies Burgers and Barbecue at 12316 Mississippi 57 in Vancleave

Biloxi

BT Grill on the main floor of Boomtown Casino Biloxi

Cafe Eight Seventy One at 871 Howard Ave. in downtown Biloxi

Captain Charlie’s restaurant and the Daiquiri Dock at the new Paradise Pier Biloxi at Margaritaville Resort Biloxi

Empanola Biloxi at 310 Popp’s Ferry Road near the corner of Pass Road in Biloxi

Pho Boy Asian Fusion restaurant at Boomtown Casino Biloxi

Pier 15 is open on the Biloxi River in Woolmarket

Quave Brothers Poboys to Go at the corner of Pass Road and Iberville Drive in Biloxi

Salt & Ivy, a Coastal Kitchen at Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi

Gulfport

Blow Fly Bar & Grill on Washington Avenue in Gulfport

Blue Dog Bistro at 8829 Lorraine Road in Gulfport

A second location of Blue Dog Bistro has opened at 8829 Lorraine Road in Gulfport. Like the original location in Ocean Springs, it offers vegan, keto, paleo and gluten-free menu options.
A second location of Blue Dog Bistro has opened at 8829 Lorraine Road in Gulfport. Like the original location in Ocean Springs, it offers vegan, keto, paleo and gluten-free menu options.

Chandeleur Island Brewing Company at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, along with Coffee Connection and Sonic

The Houndstooth Cafe lunch spot at 1621 30th Ave., Gulfport

Harrison County

New York Pizza at 11026 Lamey Bridge Road, D’Iberville

Pass Christian Nutrition at 133 Davis Ave. has a new owner and new menu.

Juicy Caboosy at Mason Avenue and West Fifth Street in Long Beach

Kaiteki Noodle Bar, next to Radish Restaurant on Jeff Davis Avenue in Long Beach

Hancock County

The Camphouse on the water in Diamondhead

Taco Bell at 4405 East Aloha Drive in Diamondhead

Salt Pepper Oak barbecue restaurant at 16940 Kapalama Road, Diamondhead

Gardenia Tea Room by Almost Home catering at 314 U.S. 90 in Waveland

Chipotle Mexican Grill opens Wednesday, May 10 on Promenade Parkway in D’Iberville. This is one of the most anticipated of more than 50 restaurants that opened in South Mississippi this year.
Chipotle Mexican Grill opens Wednesday, May 10 on Promenade Parkway in D’Iberville. This is one of the most anticipated of more than 50 restaurants that opened in South Mississippi this year.