At least 18 new restaurants, cafes, and other eateries have opened their doors in Marion County and Ocala through the first six months of this year, matching pace with last year when the city welcomed the opening of nearly 50 new establishments.

Last year, over 48 restaurants opened their doors throughout the area. At the halfway point of 2024, at least 22 restaurants had opened in Ocala and Marion County.

Among the new restaurants was the first locations for multiple national chains, including Culver’s, CAVA, Waffle House, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, and MOOYAH Burgers.

Here are all of the new restaurants, cafes, and similar establishments that we have reported on this year:

  1. The Works Bistro, a new American fare restaurant, opened in Dunnellon over the summer.
  2. RHN Wagyu Meat Market opened its new meat market in downtown Ocala at 17 SW 1st Avenue on June 28. That business replaced longtime tenant Molly Maguire’s.
  3. Taverna Berrocal opened in its new location atop the Holiday Inn & Suites at 3600 SW 38th Avenue in June, replacing the former Sky Fine Dining.
  4. Mocha’s officially opened its bakery that serves ice cream and coffee at 10863 East State Road 40 in Silver Springs on May 22.
  5. Manny’s Ice Cream Shop officially replaced the popular Ms. Steve’s at 5803 County Road 484 in Belleview on May 22.
  6. Culver’s opened its second Ocala location at 3637 W Silver Springs on May 19.
  7. Barons Creek Vineyards opened its new tasting room at 16 SW Broadway Street in downtown Ocala on May 9.
  8. Smalls Sliders opened its second Ocala restaurant at 7648 SW Highway 200 on April 29.
  9. Crave Hot Dogs & Barbecue celebrated its grand re-opening at 2463 SW 27th Avenue on April 15 after two previous closures.
  10. Mi Familia Mexican Restaurant opened its business within Six Gun Plaza in east Ocala on March 14.
  11. Samurai Hibachi & Ramen opened at 2606 SW 19th Avenue Road, Unit A103, on March 12. The new restaurant serves hibachi, ramen, and a variety of Japanese dishes.
  12. The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill opened its first location in Ocala at 4414 SW College Road, Suite #316, in March.
  13. Mi Pueblo Restaurant opened at the Mi Pueblo Flea Market in March. The new restaurant serves traditional Mexican cuisine including tacos, burritos, tortas, carne asada, and several others.
  14. Waffle House opened its fifth location in Ocala at 7660 SW State Road 200 recently.
  15. CAVA opened its first Ocala restaurant at 2800 SW College Road on January 31.
  16. Fonda Dulce Jesus Mio opened for business at the beginning of the year at 620 S Pine Avenue in Ocala. The restaurant serves authentic Colombian cuisine in a festive setting.
  17. MOOYAH Burgers opened its first location in Ocala on January 13. The restaurant is located downtown at 40 SW Fort King Street, next to Mellow Mushroom.

Several more restaurants are currently under construction and will open later this year:

  1. The Original San’s Pizzeria is working on returning to Marion County after the original location was sold. That new restaurant will be situated in Anthony.
  2. A new Chipotle is under construction in southwest Ocala, near the city’s first Sprouts Farmers Market.
  3. Koto Hibachi Express and Sushi is working on a new restaurant at 3811 SW College Road, near the roadway’s interchange with Interstate 75.
  4. The second Miller’s Ale House in Ocala is taking shape along SW College Road/SR 200. Currently, the city has one other Miller’s Ale House at 305 SE 17th Street.

Have you tried any of the new restaurants that have opened in Marion County in 2025? Share your opinions in a comment or, if you have more to say about the matter, write us a letter.