You ever take one bite of something and immediately text five people about it? That’s the kind of energy these new Baltimore restaurants are bringing. I’ve been out there doing the delicious work: chasing down tres leches pancakes, double-stacked smashburgers, creamy crab balls and hot chicken that actually lives up to the hype. Whether you’re into street tacos, seafood pastas or cupcakes topped with fried Oreos (yes, that’s a thing), this list is packed with spots you need to hit ASAP. Come hungry. Bring friends. And maybe don’t wear anything too tight.

The Mill on North

• 2636 W. North Ave., Baltimore

Part food hall, part community gathering space, The Mill on North is West Baltimore’s new go-to for good eats and good energy. Inside, you’ll find local vendors serving up everything from soul food to sweets, with live entertainment and a steady stream of neighbors catching up over hot plates and cold drinks.

I hit Krazy Sweet Cafe for dessert and immediately regretted not ordering every cupcake flavor — they’re moist, dense and topped like they’re competing in a frosting Olympics. The fried catfish from Next Phaze Café was another standout: crispy, flaky and seasoned like a Southern cookout. The atmosphere? Lively. A DJ was spinning, drinks were flowing and the whole space buzzed with music, movement and the smell of something delicious around every corner.

Owl’s Corner Café

• 824 N. Calvert St., Baltimore

Originally based in Dundalk, Owl’s Corner Café found new life in Mount Vernon after the Key Bridge collapse. The new space feels like a fresh start in all the best ways. The vibe is colorful and cozy with Puerto Rican flags on the walls, soulful music in the air and that warm, family-owned feel that instantly puts you at ease.

The tres leches cake here is truly exceptional — easily one of the best I’ve ever had with a perfectly soaked sponge that was impossibly light and rich at the same time. I also devoured the roasted pulled pork, which was tender and packed with flavor like it had been slow-roasting all morning (it probably had). Whether you’re popping in for pasteles or staying for the café con leche, Owl’s feels like a neighborhood classic in the making.

Sistahs’ Sweets

• 2507 Saint Paul St., Baltimore

Sisters Erin and Lena Bowman took their wildly popular cupcake truck and turned it into one of the sweetest brick-and-mortar shops in Baltimore — literally. The storefront is a cupcake lover’s dream, and everything behind the counter is made with serious love and serious flavor.

The menu goes way beyond basics. The strawberry cheesecake cupcake is a masterpiece: moist vanilla cake topped with their signature cream cheese frosting, a rich cheesecake swirl and a drizzle of strawberry sauce that takes it over the top. The fried Oreo cupcake is a straight-up party in your mouth, made up of cookies and cream cake piled with vanilla frosting, an actual fried Oreo, Oreo crumbles and a dusting of powdered sugar. And because they do things their way, Sistah’s also offers singing telegram packages. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or just want to embarrass your bestie in the most delicious way possible, this is the spot.

Luna Oaxaca

• 1 Village Square, Suite 195, Baltimore

Luna Oaxaca is bringing bold southern Mexican flavor to Cross Keys. The space is bright and modern, the patio’s a vibe, and the food? Worth planning your entire week around. Kick things off with the wildly addictive Elote de la Calle, grilled corn on the cob slathered in serrano aioli and dusted with cotija cheese and chili powder. Then dive into the queso fundido, a bubbling skillet of melted cheese with your choice of steak, carnitas, cochinita, mushrooms or chorizo. Scoop it onto warm flour tortillas and prepare to be obsessed. The street tacos are another hit, with skirt steak, chimichurri, pico de gallo and salsa macha all working together in harmony.

Luna Oaxaca also serves weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: think tres leches pancakes, chilaquiles and a seriously solid breakfast burrito.

Chopped Broadway Bodega & Deli

• 307 S. Broadway, Baltimore

This isn’t just Fells Point’s first Black woman-owned bodega; it’s a full-on chopped sandwich revolution. Walk into this sleek corner-store-meets-deli and you’re hit with the smell of toasted hero rolls, hot cherry peppers and garlic sauce. It’s New York attitude with Baltimore soul.

I ordered the 12-inch “Godfather,” a spicy, juicy monster with chopped chicken cutlet, pepperoni, lettuce, tomato, onion, hot cherry peppers and mayo. Other hits include “The Big Stepper” with turkey and chopped bacon, or go wild with the “Chop It Like It’s Hot” salad. Bonus: they sell their own merch, and yes, I caved.

Nash & Smashed

• 1118 S. Charles St., Baltimore

This halal-friendly hot chicken and smashburger joint just landed in Federal Hill, and it’s already drawing a loyal following of spice seekers. The “Nash & Smashed” signature sandwich is no joke: a fiery hot chicken thigh stacked on top of a beef smashburger, drenched in comeback sauce and served on a toasted bun that barely holds it together. Not feeling the double-stack drama? You can also grab a smashburger or fried chicken sandwich solo, no judgment. Add on a side of crispy waffle fries or a scoop of gooey mac and cheese, and you’ve got yourself a comfort food combo that slaps.

The best part? They’re slinging all this flavor until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, which means whether you’re rolling out of a bar, dodging your ex in a Fed Hill crosswalk or just craving something messy and delicious at midnight, Nash & Smashed has your back.

Natalie’s Seafood Kitchen

• 2315 Belair Road, Unit B2, Fallston

Fallston might not scream “seafood hotspot,” but Natalie’s is changing that fast. This Chesapeake-style restaurant from chef Zack Trabbold brings big flavor and serious beachy vibes, especially on the tiki-style patio with live music, string lights and a full bar slinging frozen cocktails and crushes (start with the creamsicle).

App highlights include jumbo mozzarella sticks and crispy calamari, but don’t miss the seafood pasta: house-made linguine piled with Maryland jumbo lump crab, U-15 Gulf shrimp, PEI mussels, scallops, roasted fennel, garlic, chili flakes, pomodoro sauce and shaved grana padano. The drunken crab balls are rich and indulgent — served over a crab velouté with bacon lardoons and a hot honey drizzle — and the trash can nachos are a glorious mess of cowboy candy, beer cheese, smashed avocado and chipotle ranch. Natalie’s nails the balance between fun, flavorful and over-the-top in the best way.