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Open for: Lunch and dinner Price range: $$ This Ethiopian smokehouse has been racking up accolades, with publications including Texas Monthly and the New York Times crediting it for being a great example of the fusion of Texas barbecue and African cuisine. Since it opened in 2018, owners Patrick and Fasicka Hicks have really hit a groove by incorporating traditional Ethiopian flavors — the base often earthy Berbere spice — into traditional Texas barbecue. The Tex-Ethiopian options include a huge platter with injera, injera nachos, awaze meats, and firfir migas. Best for: Lunch — barbecue in Texas is a lunch thing, and don’t ever forget it.
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Where to Eat in Arlington Walloon’s Restaurant Link Open for: Lunch, brunch, and dinner Price range: $$$ Come to Walloon’s for what it advertises as the coldest martinis in Fort Worth (we have tested them, and we can confirm: very cold), and stay for the outstanding seafood. Order oysters on the half shell and crudo from the raw bar, or the excellent beer-battered redfish beignets that eat like fish and chips. (The lobster roll and decadent seafood macaroni and cheese are also solid choices.) Going for a table and full dinner here is great, but pulling up a stool at the U-shaped bar and people watching over a martini and starters is also a lot of fun. Vibe check: If you’re looking for a little piece of New Orleans in DFW with great people watching, this is it.
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The 15 Essential Restaurants in Fort Worth Cenzo’s Pizza & Deli Link Open for: Lunch and dinner Price range: $$ An authentic Oak Cliff neighborhood joint that all the neighbors walk to opened last year. Chef Chad Dolezal, who hung up his fine dining whites and moved from Austin to Dallas to make his career his own, has quickly captured the minds and hearts of Dallas’s most avid pizza and deli sandwich lovers with his saucy chicken Parmesan sandwich (available on Thursdays), New York-style pies, and Instagram posts that are hardcore Gen X dad stuff. To match this, the playlist is strictly tunes from 1976 to 1996, after which Dolezal feels music lost something special (peep the records hanging on one wall for a sense of his music taste). By the way, don’t be fooled into thinking Cenzo is a real person, even if there are fake photos of him on the walls. Vibe check: This is a family-friendly restaurant where you’ll likely see parents out with little kids.
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Easy Bars and Restaurants for a First Date in Dallas Lucia Link Open for: Dinner Price range: $$$ Lucia consistently garners raves, including a Michelin recommendation and numerous nods from the James Beard Foundation. The nine-table restaurant offers an intimate atmosphere, personable staff, and inventive twists on Italian food that don’t stray too far from the classics (don’t leave without at least one of the seasonal pasta choices). More saliently, chef David Uygur makes a night at Lucia an experience: This tiny spot is one of the toughest reservations to land in town — and it’s absolutely worth putting your name on the waitlist. No luck? There is often a spot available at the bar for parties of one or two. Know before you go: There is no static menu here, meaning the dishes can and do change daily. Be ready to go with the flow.
Courtney E. Smith Taco y Vino Link Open for: Lunch, brunch, and dinner Price range: $$ On the outskirts of Bishop Arts lies Taco y Vino, a spot for clever tacos, Mexican-inspired dishes, and a great deal. The chile relleno taco and the tuna crudo tostada will impress, but it’s hard to do better than the deal of the century: Six tacos (read ‘em: six) with diner’s choice of proteins or vegetables and a bottle of wine for $50. The small dining room is great, but the massive backyard patio here is even better. If you drive: The restaurant recently struck a deal to offer validation for the lot next door, so park there with no fear.
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The Most Tempting Tacos in Dallas 61 Osteria Link Open for: Dinner Price range: $$$ Restaurateur Dain “Adam” Jones and chef Blaine Staniford make a damn good pair. Their latest endeavor is an Italian restaurant that weaves together the threads of Italian and West Texas cooking: Wild game, simple ingredients, and eating adventurously from a menu that sometimes includes unexpected combinations of Texan and Italian ingredients; the wine menu is smartly curated to mostly feature Italian bottles. The restaurant’s moody dining room looks out into a park across the street, while the buildings of Downtown Fort Worth loom all around. A back wall features large-scale art created by artist Joey Lancaster, who also happens to be Jones’s wife. It landed a Best New Restaurant nod in the 2024 Eater Awards. Know before you go: The dining room is great for large parties, but groups of two and solo diners are better off grabbing a table or a stool in the bar, which has a very different, more relaxed atmosphere.
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The 15 Essential Italian Restaurants in DFW Restaurant Beatrice Link Open for: Dinner and brunch Price range: $$$ Beatrice serves Louisiana-style cuisine that encompasses Cajun and Creole dishes. On a first visit, diners should be sure to order Mamaw’s fried chicken, made from juicy dark meat. It is the signature dish at Beatrice, developed from a recipe handed down from chef Michelle Carpenter’s grandmother, who is the restaurant’s namesake. Equally not-to-be-missed are the charbroiled oysters topped with Parmesan and andouille crumbles. This year, Restaurant Beatrice achieved its goal of becoming a B-Corp certified establishment — the first restaurant to receive the title in Texas, actually. Named Eater Dallas’s best restaurant for 2022, it was also one of the best new restaurant finalists in the James Beard Awards in 2023. Best for: Dinner with family, friends, and neighbors, with groups of three or four being the sweet spot. For tables of two or larger parties of six to eight people, enjoy the patio, where it is a lot less obtrusive when the joyful celebration and chatter get loud. Book a table: Capital One Dining* * Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One customers. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app.
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Where to Eat a Great Brunch in Dallas Starship Bagel Link Open for: Breakfast and lunch Price range: $ The lines are often long at this boxy little bagel stand, but the wait outside is worth it. Whether it’s morning, mid-morning, or lunchtime, a bagel from the Starship stand Downtown will perk up any day. This spot slings bagels with lox, crisp vegetables, and schmear for the purists. With the wide array of flavors of both bagels and schmears (it has all the classic varieties — salt, sesame seed, onion, garlic, everything, etc.), it can be overwhelming to pick an order. That’s why Starship offers bagel sandwiches, like the Cucumber (sliced cuke on a choice of bagel with schmear), the Millennial Falcon (a take on avocado toast — but make it a bagel), and the Supernova Lox (lox plus tomato, cucumber, red onion, and capers). There are additional locations in Lewisville and North Dallas. If you drive: Starship’s Downtown location doesn’t have parking, so it’s best to have someone drive you and keep circling the block, or accept that you’ll probably have to pay to park.
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The 15 Best Dallas Breakfast Destinations Mirador Link Open for: Lunch, brunch Price range: $$$ For ladies who lunch and tea service seekers, Mirador is a must-try spot. This elegant, pastel-filled restaurant in Downtown gives off a tasteful vibe, but that doesn’t mean boring. Chef Travis Wyatt takes the idea of classic dishes and breaks them down into forms that even some tea aficionados have never seen before. Its whimsical and clever adaptations of finger sandwiches include a wagyu sando served on milk bread; a squid ink, avocado, harissa, and fennel finger sandwich; and a pear linzer cookie — many of which will come out looking like a miniature art display. The dining room offers nice views of the surrounding buildings, while the patio is a delight on sunny days. Its exciting take on a traditional meal landed it the 2024 Eater Award for Best Tea Service in the city. Best for: Tea service for two or for a large party. It offers kid-friendly options, too.
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Where to Eat a Great Brunch in Dallas Partenope Ristorante Link Open for: Lunch and dinner Price range: $$ Looking for Neapolitan-style pizza in Dallas? Partenope Ristorante is the best option for pizza that’s filling, easily folded, and topped with high-quality, imported ingredients. It’s also an ideal spot for Italian dishes, from Parmesan-swathed meatballs to fettuccine alla Bolognese that will spoil you for other Bolognese sauces. Try the new outpost in Richardson or the original location Downtown: Housed in a historic building, the OG Downtown spot offers prime views of the big pizza oven and all the action happening in the kitchen. If you drive: There is no such thing as free parking Downtown — unless you snag a spot around nearby Main Street Park during the day, which is possible. Otherwise, hit a nearby paid lot.
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The Best Pizza in Dallas, According to Eater Editors Fond Link Open for: Lunch and dinner Price range: $$ When looking for lunch near Downtown, it’s hard to beat Fond. Its Tower Club is a five-star sandwich with roast turkey, cheddar, Swiss, tomato, and the centerpiece ingredient: pork belly. It also offers a daily soft serve, swirled into a ceramic version of the classic Greek coffee cups made famous by New York City bodegas, that gets drizzled with quality olive oil. Diners who want to indulge in a glass of $7 lunch wine can choose from a few options from the restaurant’s natural wine selection. Fond also does a mean aperitivo service, its version of happy hour, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the week and until 9 p.m. on Fridays. If you drive: The restaurant validates parking in the Santander Tower, where it is located, but the entrance to the parking garage on Pacific Avenue can be challenging to find.
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13 Stellar Sandwiches to Eat in Dallas Terry Black’s Barbecue Link Open for: Lunch and dinner Price range: $$$ The best barbecue that can be found in the Dallas city limits right now is from the Austin-based Terry Black’s, which sells Central Texas-style barbecue. Meats are sold by the pound with no plates or combos available, so the best way to keep an order budget-conscious is to go with a sandwich (chopped beef is the move). While the meats are expensive, they’re worth the investment. All of it, from the brisket to the turkey, comes from high-quality ranches. It is part of Austin’s craft barbecue movement, where smoked meats are lifted to the level of fine dining. Terry Black’s keeps the sides simple and traditional — pinto beans and baked potato salad being top-notch accompaniments. Save some room for the banana pudding. If you drive: This is one of the few spots in Deep Ellum with free parking for customers, so take advantage of it. It recently opened a second DFW location in Fort Worth.
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Where to Eat Top-of-the-Line Barbecue in DFW Tatsu Dallas Link Open for: Dinner Price range: $$$$ Chef Tatsu is a master of simple treatments of nigiri that highlight both the quality of the fish (almost everything he serves is flown in from Japan) and his culinary skill as a sushi chef. While the omakase is largely nigiri and sashimi, there is one course in the meal that highlights Texas-grown rice. It’s a nice nod to how chef Tatsu uses local farmers for as many elements as he can. Michelin took notice, rating Tatsu the only starred restaurant in DFW at its inaugural Texas ceremony. The small dining room at this restaurant makes it challenging to land a reservation, but it’s worth the effort; the two-hour omakase service, which has two seatings each night, five days a week, is also worth the $185 price tag. Beverage pairings are available for an additional cost. Vibe check: Don’t go expecting a party. The work of chef Tatsu is the star here, and the tight, well-lit, and minimalistic dining room reflects it. Expect muted, classic music and hushed tones. It’s best to dress to match in your finest beige.
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Where to Find Stellar Sushi Around DFW Billy Can Can Link Open for: Dinner Price range: $$$ If you’re looking for a taste of Texas, it’s hard to hit the mark better than at this Victory Park spot. Billy Can Can’s offers fine dining in a saloon environment, its menu loaded with wild game and seasonal dishes that combine traditional Southern cooking approaches and chef Matt Ford’s ingenuity. The assorted deviled eggs, a half dozen in different styles, and Texas venison tartare are must-orders — and that’s just from the appetizer menu. It only gets better from there, with a great burger, wild boar lasagna, and wagyu beef cheeks. Of note is the restaurant’s list of Texas wines, which just might be the best in the entire state. If you drive: Take advantage of the restaurant’s validation for the parking lot next door. It comes in handy, since parking anywhere in this neighborhood is paid.
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12 Santa-Approved Spots to Dine on Christmas Eve in Dallas Musume Link Open for: Lunch and dinner Price range: $$$ This South Asian fusion spot in the Arts District primarily focuses on sushi, but also offers a menu of dishes that includes lobster dynamite (a whole cold water lobster tail), wagyu on a hot rock, and black cod misosuke in a 72-hour sweet miso marinade. There’s also an incredible off-menu crispy beef inspired by a recipe one of the owners’ Indian mother makes, but you have to meet him first before being allowed to order it — don’t be shy, he makes excellent dinner conversation. Right now, Musume is offering a phenomenally realized multi-course omakase dinner in conjunction with Booker T. Washington High School. It includes a book featuring illustrations of each course created by freshmen and sophomore students from the school. Vibe check: While the dining room might feel like a semi-stuffy Arts District spot, there is a nightclub in the back to visit after dinner if you want to get down.
Courtney E. Smith More Maps The Hottest New Restaurants in Dallas, October 2025 The Essential Downtown Dallas Restaurants The Essential Restaurants in Denton El Carlos Elegante Link Open for: Dinner Price range: $$$ This Michelin-recommended Mexican fine dining spot draws inspiration from Indigenous cultures, Mexico City street foods, and the family recipes of its kitchen staff, who hail from all over Mexico. The menu is set up to share, so order at least one or two items from each section (an entree might serve the table well, as long as your group gets multiple items from the One-Hitter, or single-bite, section). The El Machete, which has been on the menu staple since El Carlos opened, is a solid order — a quesadilla-style dish featuring meats enveloped in a long half-moon of homemade masa that is cut to order at the table. Diners can also opt for the Elegante Experience, a tasting menu where the chef curates the plates and drinks for $99 per person. El Carlos has one of the most sharply designed dining rooms in the city — a trio of rooms, actually, as the restaurant is divided into three distinct spaces. Vibe check: Of note here are the portraits of “Carlos” hanging in the dining room, which show the fictional patriarchs of the family that inspired the restaurant. Take them in and then take a close look at the wall across the room. That wallpaper is made from discarded sketches by the same artist. Book a table: Capital One Dining* * Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One customers. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app.
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Blow Your Paycheck on DFW’s 14 Finest Tasting Menus Nuri Steakhouse Link Open for: Dinner Price: $$$$ When Wan Kim, the DFW-based owner of Smoothie King, opened a steakhouse with Korean and Louisiana influences, it came with no shortage of eye-popping details. With a budget well over $20 million, Nuri was the most expensive steakhouse ever opened in the city. It also came with shots fired — Kim told the Dallas Morning News he built Nuri because none of the city’s existing steakhouses were good enough for his business dinners. Happily, Nuri Steakhouse lives up to the hype Kim threw behind it. It has a selection of Heartbrand Reserve beef and Japanese wagyu on the steak menu, an excellent shareable steak board with rotating features that show the breadth and depth of the kitchen’s Korean-style banchan and meat selections. The creamy, cheesy corn, nearly impossible to stop eating once you’ve started, encompasses the peppery Louisiana flavors on the menu. Glamorous elements, such as a lobster tail with chile sauce and a seafood tower, caviar service, and one of the city’s best-curated and deepest wine lists, abound. That $20 million went to bespoke decor with an Art Deco bent and sound design — the booths are situated in such a way that even the loudest nearby table won’t disrupt (or overhear) your dinner. Nuri handmade plates cost $50 each, so be sure to not drop anything. If you drive: Valet is mandatory here, but the good news is it is also a free service.
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14 Scrumptious Korean Restaurants in DFW Written by the Seasons Link Open for: Dinner and brunch Price range: $$$ Bishop Arts has become a favorite neighborhood for Dallasites to explore, and this American bistro is one of the best people-watching restaurants in the area. It’s also one of the Michelin Guide’s recommended stops in town. This spring, take advantage of its menu of shareable dishes, impeccable wine list, and as many cocktails as you can handle while watching the crowds amble by in the indoor-outdoor dining area that’s set back from Davis Street. The house focaccia stuffed with seasonal vegetables inspired by a recipe from the owner’s sister is a good starter. On a recent visit, the cheese and meat plate with pickled vegetables and honey-coated notes showcased the restaurant’s seasonal best. It was also the Eater Award Winner for Best New Restaurant in 2022. Know before you go: The restaurant opened a second location in Uptown this year, so perhaps it is closer to you?
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14 Happy Hours to Enjoy on a Budget in Dallas Chilangos Tacos Link Open for: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner Price range: $ This small but mighty Dallas-born taco chain has three locations in Dallas and two in Plano, all serving Mexico City-style tacos and street food. From the taco options, the carne asada and barbacoa are the stars (vegetarians, dip into the hongos — caramelized mushrooms). If it’s a quesadilla you want, go for pollo to minimize the drippage. Chilangos is also a solid stop for breakfast tacos, meaning it should be on any Dallas travelers hit-list, too. Don’t expect anything fancy — it’s got walk-up counter service; do expect fresh tortillas, freshly sliced meats, and kind service, all of which it has in spades. Know before you go: On weekends only, it slings quesobirria and birria tacos.
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The Most Tempting Tacos in Dallas Namo Link Open for: Lunch and dinner Price range: $$$ Namo in the West Village sources most of its products — sushi, sake, and whiskies — from Japan. However, the warm vibes in the tiny sushi bar are what make it most memorable. Unpretentious and cozy, Namo is built in a way that guarantees the crowds are small (the room holds 12) and that eating is a communal experience. The way to go here is to trust the chef Kazuhito “Kaz” Mabuchi and let him curate a dining experience for you. Drop by for Namo’s special events, including a monthly omakase service. Vibe check: Though reservations are required, Namo is also one of the most social restaurants in the city. Eating here always means meeting your seat neighbors around the U-shaped sushi bar and comparing notes on the food (and drinks, and your travel plans, and what’s going on in your life).
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15 Great Mother’s Day Brunches and Celebrations in Dallas Mot Hai Ba Link Open for: Dinner Price range: $$$ Chef Peja Krstic has one of the most interesting culinary minds in Dallas. He serves food influenced by French and Vietnamese flavors and techniques, with some dishes more obviously one than the other. For the past year, though, Krstic has been veering away from those limitations: The menu features a heavy Texas influence and a good amount of seafood from the Northeast, like skin-on Massachusetts black bass caramelized onion and apple chutney or eggplant curry roasted over charcoal. His efforts have been recognized — the Lakewood restaurant earned a Bib Gourmand at the 2024 Texas Michelin ceremony. The dining room atmosphere feels like something between an intimate French bistro by way of New Orleans and a homey, family-owned restaurant. Must-try dish: The garlic noodles, hidden away on the menu as a side, are a crowd favorite.
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14 Feverishly Romantic Dallas Restaurants Via Triozzi Link Open for: Dinner Price range: $$$ After opening in 2023, Via Triozzi quickly became arguably the best Italian restaurant in Dallas. The must-try menu item is the lasagne al forno, with layers on layers of noodles, rich Bolognese sauce, and cheese. If it’s a splurge-y moment, order the bistecca alla Fiorentina — a Florentine breed of cow served in traditional style with a stick of rosemary, olive oil, and salt — and that’s it. This spot has one of the biggest natural wine programs in the city, with all options specially sourced from small vineyards that are, in many cases, family- or woman-owned, including the house wine served on tap. Via Triozzi’s owner, Leigh Hutchins, will open a rooftop version of the restaurant this spring, with some menu items from the kitchen and bar offerings. Vibe check: This is not a scene-y place, but a family place. Although the dining room might be dim, it isn’t exactly romantic — more homey. Sit at the bar to chat it up with regulars. You’re unlikely to run into influencers or the see-and-be-seen crowd here. Book a table: Capital One Dining* * Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One customers. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app.
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The Essential Greenville Avenue Restaurants Apothecary Link Open for: Dinner Price range: $$$ This hidden-in-plain-sight bar on Lower Greenville (next door to its sister restaurant Rye) is a whole mood, if you can find it. Walking in on a sunny day, patrons may need to pause for a moment to let their eyes adjust its near-dark interiors. Apothecary is known for its outrageous and sometimes outlandish cocktails (a notable past drink emulated the flavors of tom kha soup). Of late, it has started bringing over some large format dishes from the shared kitchen with Rye, offering Apothecary bar-goers a more significant menu. Currently, that includes a version of chicken a la king and ocean trout served in coconut saffron lobster bisque with black rice; the bar can make a four-course meal from the seasonal options for $60 per person. There are also many smaller bites, like the dirty martini deviled eggs, oysters, caviar service, and fries. Enjoy it in the lap of extremely dim luxury, leaning back on the velvet-covered seats among the gilded flourishes inside. There is patio seating available, but that’s simply not where the action is at. Know before you go: Through August, the bar will run a program where it celebrates cocktails through history (April is the 1920s; May, the 1950s; June, the 1970s; July, the 1990s; and August will be a best-of review). But since it’s Apothecary, they aren’t just serving up typical bloody marys. Instead, the classics get a twist of the new, like a gin-based Bee’s Knees with a liquor made from resin of the Mastiha tree, and a clarified bloody mary served under its original name, Bucket of Blood.
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The Best Bars in Dallas Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen Link Open for: Lunch and dinner Price range: $$ Soups with rich broth and delicious noodles, shaking tofu rice, rice paper rolls, Vietnamese coffee, and sangria with a kick of Hennessy — these are a few delights waiting in Nong Vietnamese Kitchen on Lowest Greenville, which is now one of the city’s Michelin-recognized restaurants. Owner Carol Nguyen named the place for her mother, introducing many Dallasites to the best of Vietnam with no-frills dishes that are big on flavor and served in a dining room with just a bit of an industrial vibe. If you drive: Greenville Avenue can be a parking challenge, and most available lots are tucked off the main street. Ngon has a small parking lot on the street, but if you can’t find a spot or the closest lots are full, just keep looking. Street parking here is heavily restricted.
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Dallas’s 2024 Michelin-Recognized Restaurants, Mapped Quarter Acre Link Open for: Dinner Price range: $$$ Chef Toby Archibald perfected one dish in Georgie’s kitchen that he brought to Quarter Acre: That show-stopping smoked beef tartare served tableside has become the perfect starting point for his Michelin-recognized Lower Greenville restaurant. The menu is largely influenced by the flavors of his home country, New Zealand, but there are many dishes infused with Asian ingredients, as well as smoky, beachy bites and dishes inspired by Archibald’s childhood memories, too. Archibald recently added a tasting menu this spring that features a mix of menu staples, dishes he plans to eventually add to the core menu, and others that purely highlight his creativity. Must-try dish: Get the smoked beef tartare, served in a glass-covered dish with smoke that wafts out when the lid is lifted. Book a table: Capital One Dining* * Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One customers. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app.
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14 Happy Hours to Enjoy on a Budget in Dallas Green Point Seafood and Oyster Bar Link Open for: Lunch, brunch, and dinner Price range: $$$ Looking for a little bit of the Northeast in Dallas? This spot is ideal for a drop-in meal of excellent East and Gulf Coast oysters and raw bar selections, sophisticated drinks, and shareable plates. Dinner might start with a smoked whitefish dip or caper-pocked beef tartare, before progressing to bigger plates like whole grilled branzino, blackened Texas redfish, or even a chilled lobster roll. The little fried fish sandwiches, which come in a serving of three, are an unexpected delight; the king crab and artichoke dip equally pleases. Those less into seafood can go for the double cheeseburger or buttery chicken piccata. The service is high-level everywhere, and especially at the massive horseshoe-shaped bar, so pull up a stool if dining solo or ask for a roomy booth if in a group. Know before you go: For splurgy moments, the restaurant has Kaluga ($90) and Osetra ($125) caviar service with potato chips.
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The 12 Essential Knox-Henderson Restaurants Goodwins Link Open for: Lunch and dinner Price range: $$ Goodwins is the neighborhood restaurant that Dallas has apparently been waiting for. After its blockbuster opening last year, everything is still going strong: The menu here keeps it simple with classic bistro fare like half chicken, bone-in pork chops, a catch of the season fish dish, a great burger, and three cuts of steak. The crispy zucchini chips with a green goddess dressing are killer, while the spicy tuna cones make a great girl dinner. The wine list is solid, and the large bar is fully stocked to make all the classics and Goodwins’ fun take on cocktails, including a frozen Cosmo that will be so necessary as the hot months hit. Reservations have gotten a touch easier to come by, but diners should make one in advance on weekends. If you drive: Street parking is seriously limited in this neighborhood, so use the complimentary valet behind the restaurant.
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Where to Eat Boldest and Best Burgers in Dallas Burger Schmurger Link Open for: Dinner Price range: $ Smash burgers reach their peak at this spot in Lake Highlands from chef Dave Culwell. There are weekly specials — the offerings go far beyond the standard smash burger with fries — but if you’re here, it’s probably because you want that burger, which has possibly the best crispy edges in all of Dallas. His secret sauce is a savory delight; the grilled onions and molten cheese in the classic Schmurger push the smash burger’s flavor over the top. His new standalone restaurant, opened after years of operating as a pop-up, offers just shy of a dozen varieties of smash burgers, fries, onion strings, and fried pickles. Best for: Going HAM on a burger, so absolutely not an early-phase-of-the-relationship date. The large space is family-friendly, and it has a full bar.
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Where to Eat Boldest and Best Burgers in Dallas Rex’s Seafood Link Open for: Lunch and dinner Price range: $$$ There is a definitive answer to the question of where to find the best selection of raw oysters in Dallas, and that answer is Rex’s. No other oyster bar has the daily range of this place, with multiple options from the East Coast that go way beyond the standard Blue Points or PEI found in most oyster offerings. It also has one of the best martinis in town, and nothing goes together better than oysters and a martini. The rest of the menu is full of hits — namely its seasonal seafood dishes — including a steamer bowl (mussels, clams, crab fingers, and sausage in a hearty soup), red snapper, Chilean sea bass, crab pasta, and more. It’s not dressy here, even though the quality of the seafood makes it a bit pricey. To eat in, head to the Northwest Highway location — the one at the farmers market is more of a fresh fish stand. Must-try dish: For happy hour, Rex’s offers a three-oyster-and-a-martini for $15 deal that is a wonderful way to try raw oyster varieties you haven’t had before.
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14 Happy Hours to Enjoy on a Budget in Dallas Sanjh Restaurant & Bar Link Open for: Lunch, brunch, and dinner Price range: $$$ Indian food gets the full fine dining treatment in the ‘burbs at this spot that local legend chef Stephan Pyles says is his favorite restaurant. The menu gets inventive with plating and flavor approaches: Think tandoori Cornish hen instead of tandoori chicken, and a mango prawn curry made with three jumbo tiger prawns, artfully served on their own. Sunday brunch service has a similarly expansive menu to pair with its stellar slate of alcoholic beverages and mocktails. Vibe check: Don’t expect stuffy fine dining here; the sound system is bumping and the lighting is club-like, though it’s not a clubstaurant. It’s just a vibrant hang.
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Spice It Up at These 12 Indian Restaurants in the Metroplex Oct 9, 2024
Spice It Up at These 12 Indian Restaurants in the Metroplex Royal China Link Open for: Lunch and dinner Price range: $$$ Dumplings, egg foo young, dry-stirred beef, and a host of Chinese American favorites are on offer at this north Dallas restaurant (don’t sleep on the handmade noodles section). The restaurant celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024, earning an award from Eater Dallas for being a local legend. Co-owner April Kao still makes trips to China annually to source ideas for the restaurant from the country’s regional cuisine, while her husband George is likely to be the person serving folks behind the bar or manning the host stand, if various family members don’t beat him to it. Best for: This simple dining room has a lot going on, from the dumpling-making station to the ceiling covered with red umbrellas. Head here for the fourth date and beyond, family meals, last-minute nights out without a reservation, and friend catch-ups.
Brock DuPont Also featured in
The 12 Best Kid-Friendly Dallas Restaurants Feb 14
The 12 Best Kid-Friendly Dallas Restaurants
12 Santa-Approved Spots to Dine on Christmas Eve in Dallas Dec 16, 2024
12 Santa-Approved Spots to Dine on Christmas Eve in Dallas Mike’s Chicken Link Open for: Lunch and dinner Price range: $ Dallas has some great fried chicken, but Mike’s Chicken, which has two locations, has emerged as a frontrunner: The piping hot fried chicken here can fix just about any bad day. The wow-factor may come from its extremely crispy rice flour batter that seals in the flavor of juicy chicken breasts, legs, and thighs. As for sides, find staples like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, crunchy coleslaw (mayo-based or maple-and-vinegar-based), and creamy corn. Both the chipotle mayo and Mike’s sauce are nice complements to the chicken; the restaurants also offer salads and sandwiches around its central ingredient — that golden fried bird. There are no frills in the restaurants — just walk-up order counters and tables — so take it to go if you want some atmosphere. Best for: The most delicious lunch you’ll have all week, and then leftovers for a chicken salad the next day.
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Where to Find the Best Takeout in Dallas Jun 24
Where to Find the Best Takeout in Dallas Roots Southern Table Link Open for: Dinner Price range: $$$ Prepare to be tempted by Roots’ cast-iron cornbread and gumbo, staples in any Southern kitchen. Then, dive into some of its inventive main courses that take the spices and culinary approaches of Southern fare and elevate them using modern cooking methods. The duck fat-fried chicken is a longtime signature dish that now comes in a family-sized order for parties of two to four; the seasonal vegetarian dish, charred red cabbage steak with coconut garbanzo stew, is also a stunner. Diners can see right into the thrumming kitchen and watch the staff prepare everything with what seems to be choreographed precision. It’s a hallmark of chef Tiffany Derry’s restaurants. Know before you go: This small place is regularly packed out, and you’re not likely to land even a seat at the bar without a reservation. Don’t try to fly by the seat of your pants. Book a table: Capital One Dining* * Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One customers. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app.
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The 15 Places to Eat the Finest Fried Chicken in Dallas
The Best Dishes Eater Dallas Ate in 2022, Mapped Dec 20, 2022
The Best Dishes Eater Dallas Ate in 2022, Mapped Bushi Bushi Link Open for: Lunch, brunch, dinner Price: $$ A semi-hidden dim sum spot near Addison serves up an ever-changing menu of soup dumplings that explode with savory broth, top-notch crispy shrimp balls, spicy hot oil wontons, sweet steamed sticky rice with lotus leaves, seaweed egg drop soup, and more. Beyond its constantly evolving dim sum selection, the restaurant also offers an array of Chinese-American favorites, including Mongolian beef, classic orange chicken, and chile-studded kung pao shrimp. It has a great deal on Beijing duck, with bones in or out, for $43 or $26, respectively. Bushi Bushi’s wine list is nothing to scoff at, with a robust selection that isn’t out of the grocery store and frequent happy hour specials — no small feat for a restaurant at this price point. There is a second location in Frisco. Vibe check: The atmosphere is strip mall style, with traditional, no-frills decor, television screens showing sports, and an at-the-table digital ordering system.
Bushi Bushi Ari Korean BBQ Link Open for: Lunch on weekends, dinner daily Price range: $$$ The fun of Korean barbecue is all in cooking it yourself — or letting the best home cook at the table take the reins. However, the craft of it is in the meat the restaurant uses. Ari Korean BBQ, which has locations in Carrollton and Plano, has some of the best beef cuts around. Try the bulgogi, marinated short rib, and thin-sliced prime brisket. For those who visit the Carrollton outpost in the evening, be sure to retire to the upstairs lounge with a cocktail and listen as a live DJ plays. Must-try dish: The meat is amazing but don’t skip the corn with cheese that cooks alongside it. The stringy, savory cheese with sweet chunks of yellow corn is one of the best things here.
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14 Scrumptious Korean Restaurants in DFW
14 Essential Carrollton Restaurants Dec 8, 2023
14 Essential Carrollton Restaurants Uchiko Plano Link Open for: Dinner Price: $$$$ For those who love sushi and fire-grilled meats, Uchiko is a wonderland. Its Plano outpost, found in the Shops at Legacy, is a stunning space with the sparseness and wood-heavy design of Uchi and a menu loaded with smoky meats. The move is to do the chef’s 10-course tasting menu, which runs through several daily highlights — or the smaller somakase (where instead of the set menu, your server picks dishes for you) or vegetarian tastings. All are set at market price to reflect frequent changes. For a few a la carte dishes that must be tried, look to the Hot Rock, a slab of Westholme wagyu cooked on a hot rock with ponzu, and the furikake rice, loaded with crispy garlic pieces and a pickled sesame relish. The hearth-roasted oysters served with koji creamed spinach and ponzu are also memorable, as is the roasted lobster floating in a tom kha broth along with mushrooms and umeboshi butter. Vibe check: The food sounds fancy here, but the dress code is relaxed. Not athleisure, but a linen button-up and shorts, relaxed. Book a table: Sevenrooms
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The 13 Best New Year’s Eve Dinners in DFW Dec 18, 2024
The 13 Best New Year’s Eve Dinners in DFW The Heritage Table Link Open for: Dinner Price range: $$$ If sustainability in food is important to you, then owner and chef Rich Vana’s menu at the Heritage Table is a must. Order the Whole Beast, a dish he created to move toward a minimal-waste kitchen. It incorporates leftover pieces of proteins, noodles, and produce to make sure every part of the animal gets used, along with as much of everything else that works. Vana has also added a tasting menu: Available by reservation on Saturday evenings only, the tasting centers food sourced exclusively from Texas’s Blackland Prairie and, like the rest of Heritage, focuses on whole-vegetable and meat utilization. During a recent visit, the menu featured homemade sourdough served with a green butter made with the green, leafy, fern-style tops of carrots. The restaurant is located inside a historic house on Main Street, with window-lined walls, and the bulk of the dining room feels like a closed-in porch. It gives off a homey feel that extends to the food. Vibe check: The floors creak, the dining room can be loud, and the window-filled spaces can get hot in summer — those are the hazards of having a restaurant in a converted historic space, especially a house.
Kathy Tran Also featured in
The Essential Frisco Restaurants Jul 21
The Essential Frisco Restaurants
Blow Your Paycheck on DFW’s 14 Finest Tasting Menus Apr 22
Blow Your Paycheck on DFW’s 14 Finest Tasting Menus Harvest at the Masonic Link Open for: Dinner, Saturday brunch Price range: $$$ Harvest has long been a favorite on the Square in McKinney, and it is a leader in the Metroplex for serving hyperlocal food from North Texas farmers. In late 2023, owner Rick Wells oversaw the relocation of the restaurant into a former Masonic Lodge and created a three-floor experience that includes a top floor bar with live music that serves the full menu, a second floor designed by the chef, and a first floor where diners are most likely to end up — with a cute, pink bar tucked in the back. The menu changes frequently and seasonally, but a few things are evergreen, including the $45 wagyu filet, the most expensive item on the menu, and the chicken-fried steak, which clocks in at just under $20. Know before you go: Request one of the three seating areas that best suits you: The main dining room, the bar on the first floor, or the third-floor bar. The second-floor chef’s dining room is also available to reserve for private parties.
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Dallas’s 2024 Michelin-Recognized Restaurants, Mapped Jan 31
Dallas’s 2024 Michelin-Recognized Restaurants, Mapped
14 Essential McKinney Restaurants Mar 12, 2024
14 Essential McKinney Restaurants Rudy’s Chicken Link Open for: Lunch, Dinner Price range: $ There are Dallas icons, and then there’s Rudy’s Chicken. Its only rivals as legends are European basketball players, Cowboys from the ‘90s, and the idea of big hair. Rudy’s has so much cultural cache that way back in 2013, the fried chicken joint received an $890,000 grant to relocate just a few feet away. That’s because Rudy’s is important, and it serves an area of Dallas often neglected by the food press, South Dallas — the parts south of Bishop Arts. Come here for crispy, golden-fried perfection, and leave with a taste of Dallas history. Know before you go: For most of its history, Rudy’s was a cash only establishment. This is no longer the case.
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11 Excellent Dallas Drive-Thrus Nov 17, 2021
11 Excellent Dallas Drive-Thrus El Come Taco Link Open for: Lunch, Dinner Price range: $ We don’t like to throw around the word “authentic” that much at Eater. It’s often a misnomer and not always fair to the chefs or you, the diner. But, rest assured, if you step foot in a taco joint and see tripa (essentially fried chitterlings), lengua (tongue), and sesos (veal brain) on the menu, it’s first goal is not to appease a yuppie American’s sensibilities. El Come Taco has no-frills Mexico City-style tacos with cilantro, onions, and a wide range of proteins, as well as more stacked options like those in the form of “other tacos,” such as Tacos de Pescado — beer-battered tilapia, cabbage, cilantro, tomatoes, pickled onions, and Mexican cream. In all, this menu has something for any and everyone, but most importantly, its true to itself. Know before you go: Check out the fantastic speakeasy — La Viuda Negra — next door.
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14 Essential Dallas-Fort Worth Taquerias Sep 24, 2019
14 Essential Dallas-Fort Worth Taquerias Gemma Restaurant Link Open for: Dinner Price range: $$$ More than a decade in, Gemma has earned its keep as an essential Dallas restaurant, with adoration from locals and Michelin, too. Though the space recently had a bit of an update, transitioning from a brightly lit French-inspired bistro to a more romantic neighborhood spot with a touch more Americana, it still maintains its flair with seasonal and locally-sourced cuisine. The husband-and-wife team of Chef Stephen Rogers and Allison Yoder craft a menu with a raw bar, house-made pastas, wood-fired meats, and an extensive wine list, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Book a table: Capital One Dining* * Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One customers. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app.
Gemma Also featured in
Dallas’s 2024 Michelin-Recognized Restaurants, Mapped Jan 31
Dallas’s 2024 Michelin-Recognized Restaurants, Mapped
14 Feverishly Romantic Dallas Restaurants Jan 17
14 Feverishly Romantic Dallas Restaurants (责任编辑：) |
