Food & Drink

Since Vasili “Bill” Kaprantzas came to the United States and opened Yia Yia’s House of Gyros in Mesquite, he’s been filling it with his idiosyncratic Greek decorations. There’s art drawn on paper towels and thumbtacked to the wall. There are sayings and quotes like “Mikrowave oven is forbiten in this restaurant” (sic). No matter what you order, you’ll need to read the menu’s description of lamb chops. And no matter what you order, you’ll probably be happy with the grill’s tender meats, terrific gyros, generous portions and crispy steak fries. Bring a date and try skordalia, the garlickiest condiment in existence, but save room, because everyone gets a free dessert.

If all the restaurants in Dallas got together to recount their pandemic woes, El Rincon del D.F. could one-up them all. First, before anyone ever got sick, the October 2019 tornado severely damaged the restaurant, forcing a temporary closure. The virus hit and infected many of the family members who own the business. As construction workers continued to make tornado repairs, a driver attempting suicide plowed a car into the restaurant, partially destroying it again. El Rincon reopened a year after the tornado, only to lose another week to February’s power outages. And yet it’s still here, still serving the city’s best tortas with flavors as big as Mexico City. The torta Cubana is big enough for a family, so start with one of the other sandwiches, which will still be one of the most generous lunches in the region.

A longtime Duncanville institution, Thibodeaux’s has everything you need in a good po boy: good bread that’s not so good it steals the spotlight, fresh veggies and crispy deep-fried seafood. The catfish and shrimp options are both good, and while we’re a little heartbroken that fried oysters aren’t an option here, the sheer generosity of the po boys are a full consolation. There are two pieces of fish wedged into the loaf, for example. The only thing you’ll need alongside is a basket of the terrific onion rings. Thibodeaux’s online ordering system pairs well with a pre- or post-hike picnic at Cedar Ridge Preserve.

If 2020 was the year of the quesabirria, Maskaras was the Dallas-area leader of the trend. With an ownership team from Guadalajara and years of birria-making experience, it was a natural fit. Quesabirrias may have saved the business; the ultra-trendy taco, which diners love to show off on Instagram, became such a runaway bestseller that Maskaras has closed early some nights and once even shut down for a short vacation to recover from demand. But there are other tacos here, too. Don’t leave without trying the steak-topped Taco Maskaras or an order of tacos ahogados, fried tacos which are then “drowned” in a dusky red salsa. The way they still have their fried crispness, even under all that flavor, is a thrilling little miracle.

Oak Cliff Brewing had an unusually steep challenge when the pandemic set in: Almost all of its revenue came from bars and restaurants. The brewery didn’t sell cans or bottles and made nearly every dollar on kegs. So they improvised, and with help from their landlord, built a spacious, leafy beer garden out back, next to a creek and in a glade of trees. The picnic tables, old-timey chains of lights and tin signage make the whole thing look like a very nice backyard party. And, since it’s not really a cookout, there’s a taco truck onsite. Our favorite touch: A converted snow cone van now functions as an outdoor bar, selling plastic cups of fresh beer. Though, we won’t lie, sometimes we wish it had snow cones, too.

Meridian is a possible future fine-dining landmark and a bona fide contender for our best new restaurant award. But we also can’t stop thinking about its side order of potatoes. Chef Junior Borges and his crew fry these nuggets until they’re the dark gold of a beach tan, with crunch on the edges and a creamy softness in the middle. Then the taters get dusted in dehydrated vinegar, which adds a tart fish-and-chips note of flavor, and pollen, which looks cool. It’s hard to come up with a new, let alone iconic, spin on frying a spud, but those geniuses at Meridian have done the trick.

Each meal at Taquero starts with a plate of super-crispy, thick tortilla chips and three kinds of salsas. Each time we visit, we pretend to forget which salsa we like the most, so that we can go through the ritual of trying them all again. The nutty brown salsa with roasted jalapeños has a fabulous balance of mellow sweetness and, at the very end, a serious peppery aftertaste. It’s easy to have too much, especially on the restaurant’s comfortable patio overlooking the end of Greenville Avenue. But save room, because the salsa verde goes well on a seafood tostada, one of Taquero’s best specialties.

When former third baseman and Dominican native Adrian Beltre returned to Dallas for his Rangers’ Hall of Fame Ceremony, he took his family to Javier’s Gourmet Mexicano for dinner: a classic at a classic. Since opening in 1977, Javier’s in Park Cities has become an institution. The spectacular service never fails and neither does that butter they serve with the chips. You can go with a standard like nachos, but if you’re up for branching out a little, get the fillet Durango, a charbroiled tenderloin stacked with cheese and chillaca peppers covered in their special black pepper sauce.

Roots was years in the making, with a backstory of heroic effort in which the restaurant went through multiple plans and menu ideas. Chef Tiffany Derry’s new home was worth every minute of wait, though, as every dish here is already locked in at excellence. This isn’t a cartoonish simplification of Southern food or “soul” food. The proof is in the vegetables, which are divine in all their forms: tangy spring pea salad, savory braised greens and baby turnips, buttery corn ravioli and hummus made from black-eyed peas. The gumbo might be the best this city has ever seen, and the same is doubly true for the creamed corn, which Roots could profitably sell by the gallon jug. It’s busy, and it’s loud, but this restaurant is also a triumph.

In a city obsessed with smoked, cured and spiced meats, nobody does a charcuterie spread better or more generously than Petra and the Beast. Expect six kinds of meat in a rich variety, some spreadable on toast or crackers, some in terrines speckled with fruit or nuts, some sweet, some spicy. There will be big, bubbly crackers, too, and pickles, and jam. Petra’s house-made spicy mustard makes everything better and can be purchased in a jar as a souvenir. This charcuterie board runs at the expensive end ($40), but it’s so bountiful that a table of four people will have to work hard to finish it. And it’s so delicious that the effort is worthwhile.

This is always a hard category because the Dallas area, with something like 100 Korean restaurants, offers a wide variety of options. Do you want all-you-can-grill barbecue bulgogi and galbi? Do you prefer a lively late-night bar with stacks of fried chicken and karaoke booths? What about fusion spots with fabulous kimchi cheeseburgers? Arirang is none of those things; instead, it’s as traditional as restaurants get, speaking in a language of universal comfort food. Walk up to the counter and order plump kimchi dumplings or the kitchen’s house-made noodles, which come with a dazzling variety of sauces and broths. Be careful, because if a dish says it’s spicy, it is not lying. If you can’t decide between dumplings, noodles or soup, just go for Arirang’s dumpling noodle soup, one of the most comforting, belly-warming winter dishes in Texas.

Part of a new wave of younger-generation Indian restaurants across the Dallas area serving fusion foods and street snacks, Desi District is enjoying a booming run of success. The original Irving location expanded into two storefronts, one for its grocery and butcher shop, and then expanded to a second location farther north. More locations are in the works across Dallas’ northern suburbs, from Flower Mound to McKinney. That’s good news for folks who like crispy fried veggies, including mirchi bhaji (stuffed and deep-fried hot peppers), along with “taco-dosas,” Nepalese momos, super flavorful paneer-centric sandwich wraps and the rest of Desi District’s eclectic menu. If you have a sweet tooth, don’t miss the gulab jamun cupcakes.

During the pandemic, Jettison expanded into two cocktail bars. In the space Houndstooth Coffee occupies by day, the bar began offering classic cocktails and seasonal inventions (think light, shaken drinks with mint or citrus in summertime). In the dimly lit original room, with its soft jazz soundtrack and comfy seating, Jettison approaches the cocktail with a combination of craftsmanlike seriousness and winking self-awareness. This is the kind of bar where the bartenders serve a drink with a wild flourish like a quick blast of fire, but then chuckle about it afterward. Jettison’s quiet, dark, but upscale vibe is perfect for date nights, and its cocktails range from classics done properly to avant-garde creations like a Parmesan sour, a matcha-based drink and the Tom Kha Gai Guys, which uncannily mimics Thai curry but in shockingly delicious alcohol form. There’s nowhere else like this.

Sandwich Hag’s food is delicious, but what really stands out about Duong, what’s made her a role model for many younger chefs, is her restaurant’s attitude. Anti-maskers and other pandemic malcontents tested Sandwich Hag’s “No Assholes” policy this year, but the restaurant persevered, determined to serve a community of its own creation and choosing. There’s a lesson here for everyone else in town: The customer is not always right, workers have dignity and sometimes doing the right thing means losing a potential sale. As the service industry deals with a labor crisis caused in part by low wages and customer disrespect, Sandwich Hag’s willingness to charge a couple of bucks more for a good working environment is an example of the path forward. Chefs don’t just make food; they’re leaders, too.

Here in Dallas, there’s no shortage of restaurants that serve the iconic Texas dish, but Haywire’s fresh, sourced-from-Texas ingredients pay off in a big way. Wagyu beef makes for a fork-tender steak, and jalapeño-sausage gravy heightens the flavor. Buttermilk chive mashed potatoes and so-fresh-they’re-crunchy green beans round out the meal. It’s one of a handful of signature dishes on Haywire’s lunch, dinner and brunch menus, so you can order it any time the mood strikes. Dine-in for a Western vibe that’s as strong as the drinks, which include specialty cocktails, Texas beers, a notable wine selection and rare whiskeys.

When late summer rolls around, some people can’t wait for pumpkin spice season to arrive (while others wish it would never come). But the wise among us who love pumpkin flavor year-round know that we can satisfy our craving at Maple Leaf Diner. Order pumpkin pancakes on the diner special with all the meats, two eggs, breakfast bread of your choice and a signature cream puff. Breakfast is served all day here, along with several types of poutine and other homestyle dishes. Don’t skip the baked in-house desserts; the cream puffs, Nanaimo bars and butter tarts are to die for, even after a sweet breakfast showcasing your favorite fall flavor.

When you think of places with chef-driven, rotating menus, a doughnut shop is probably not the first spot that comes to mind. But Jinny Cho creates new doughnut flavors on the regular, and unlike doughnuts that are just prettied up basic flavors, these are worthy of being called gourmet. Think Key lime, which is a yeast doughnut filled with lime-infused cream and topped with graham-cracker coating and meringue. Other flavors have ranged from mango-basil shortcake to matcha sesame seed and a savory everything doughnut. Flavors rotate seasonally, and weekly doughnuts pop up frequently along with the shop’s signature crème brûlée and cookies and cream flavors that are offered daily.

Botolino is already becoming a local legend for its top-notch gelato, created by genuine Italian Carlo Gattini. The shop’s big year this year includes a second location and a short documentary film called Gelato Man, which was submitted to the Dallas International Film Festival. All the hype is backed up by gelato flavors so intense that the tiny spoon makes sense. Eat too much at once, and your taste buds will be overwhelmed by goodness. Don’t miss the scoop flavored with Sicilian pistachios, the coconut stracciatella or the gelato ribboned with mascarpone and chopped, caramelized figs. If those flavors sound too Mediterranean and you want a more all-American ice cream cone, a Texas pecan scoop beckons.

When our food critic Brian Reinhart polled 75 foodie insiders (chefs, restaurant owners, sommeliers, bartenders, etc.) in 2018, he surmised that Slow Bone BBQ was the most underrated restaurant in Dallas. That’s not surprising given Slow Bone’s tender brisket, flavorful ribs, out-of-this-world smoke-brined fried chicken and abundant assortment of succulent sides. With so much to recommend, you might never think to order the Frito pie. But if you want the best one around, it starts with chili made from Slow Bone’s smoky brisket. That first-rate chili gets ladled onto a pile of corn chips and generously topped with cheddar and onions. For Frito pie fanatics, it’s heaven in every bite.

Design District restaurant The Charles is known for its excellent menu, ingenious design and dimly lit ambiance, but it doesn’t get enough credit for its great restrooms. These are the safe havens where we regroup ourselves before heading back to the warfare known as first dates, not to mention the best spot to take selfies with some privacy. The Charles’ toilets happen to be the best seat in the house. The bathrooms’ tile and countertops are a decorator’s top tier choice, and the walls are covered in fashion photography, giving it a decadent glam rock ‘n’ roll edge — and exactly the life we crave, even if for a quick moment in a bathroom stall.

Haute Sweets is a downright cheerful little place, its pastry case dotted with whimsical macarons and cheerful comfort desserts. You’d never guess this shop has been through so much: COVID, of course, but add in a major accident. Last November, a car plowed through the front window, heavily damaging the kitchen before a major holiday and banging up owner/chef Tida Pichakron and two employees. Pichakron persevered while devotees of the Lake Highlands patisserie rallied to raise funds and stock up as soon as the doors opened. Within weeks, the Haute Sweets team was back to slinging delectable baked goods. It’s a lesson in resilience, especially when you consider that somehow, Pichakron even had the energy to open a beautiful new shop in North Dallas’ Hillcrest Village this summer.

Let a British ex-pat tell you about the first time they ordered up sausage in this country and ended up with a big ol’ mouthful of Jimmy Dean. It’s probably one of the most painful transitions that come with a trans-Atlantic move; the savory, herbal comfort of your stout bangers are replaced by a dry, aggressively sweet yet strangely spicy patty. Until The Proper Baking Co. and their legit sausage rolls came along, we were still mourning this reality. Luckily, pastry chef Tina Miller has put together a brilliant menu of British standards that satisfy the homesick Brits among us and appeal to Yanks alike. Try Miller’s perfectly executed takes on steak-and-ale or chicken curry pies, and make sure you add in a few miniature Victoria sponge cakes or jam dodgers. The best part? The Proper Baking Co. delivers in and around the DFW area. You’ll also find them at pop-up markets and events across the area.

We invented this category a few years ago when our restaurant critic had his birthday on a Monday — the day of the week on which most of Dallas’ best restaurants take a break. But some are still serving food on Monday nights, including Partenope, downtown’s terrific Neapolitan pizza and pasta spot. Chef-owner Dino Santonicola grew up making and eating pizzas in Naples, worked at Dallas chain Il Cane Rosso and now has his own place to show off his skills. You can have a fancy night out with fine wines and pastas, or you can grab a pizza to go. In the early summer, Partenope served a Neapolitan traditional delicacy called the “Pizza Americana,” topped with hot dogs and french fries.

Drake’s atmosphere is as equally important as the food and drinks they serve. Sitting in a booth or table in the moodily lit and elegant space can almost make one feel like they’re having a secret dinner meeting with producers and talent from old school Hollywood. They’re a perfect excuse to try on that new dress or to steam out those wrinkles on the old three-piece suit to enjoy a classic cocktail and a lavish multi-course meal.

Quality is king at Niwa Japanese BBQ. With a wide selection of meats, veggies, and other sides that customers grill up at their table and Japanese sake, beer, and craft cocktails ready for imbibing, Niwa doesn’t disappoint. The intimate, yet relaxed dining space makes for a prime opportunity to dive in family-style to experience a little of everything and to explore the range of dishes on the menu. With COVID-19 ravaging the Dallas restaurant world, owner Jimmy Niwa has set a prime example of how amazing food can bring and keep a community together.

Mike’s Gemini Twin in The Cedars is a swanky dive bar that’s struck a perfect balance for an ideal night of drinking: it’s elegant enough for a dressed-up evening out, but forgiving if you spill Champagne on yourself. We imagine it’s the kind of spot where Jack Kerouac would’ve shot back several tequilas (after his go-to, margaritas) while talking incessantly about jazz and women. But the “gem” in “Gemini” is its bar food, a late-night snack offering in the form of a simple-but-delicious hot dog. The all-beef delicacy has mustard options and fixings such as relish and can be ordered solo or as part of a meal with two hot dogs, plus two beers, two shots, candy and dessert — a prime choice for a laid-back date night or for those who know what’s good.

A good drink starts with good ingredients, no question. But a great drink is about time, place and ingredients. And when we think about margaritas in Dallas, there is a cornucopia of options. At José on Lovers they keep it simple with Avión, their top shelf, with Cointreau, lime juice and gave nectar. With an amazing menu, a large patio with a fountain in the middle, José has it all. Be sure to inquire about their seasonal frozen margaritas and enjoy beautiful food in a beautiful space.

The Lee brothers opened the first LA Burger with zero experience in the restaurant business. Their inspiration came from the Korean-Mexican fusion food truck scene in their native Los Angeles. They’ve created a few fusions of their own and now have six restaurants across North Texas. While we do recommend the K Town (grilled kimchi, jalapeños, lettuce, tomato and Sriracha mayonnaise), start with the simple beauty of an OG: lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, American cheese and their house-made homespread. The soft, slightly sweet buns, butter-kissed on the grill, are the crowning achievement here. Food vlogger Mikey Chen likes it! On a recent visit, he swooned over the spicy chili burger.

When you crave Cajun flavors, you’re probably thinking of seafood and might head somewhere for lunch or dinner. But if you need something spicy with your coffee, Cajun Donuts II has boudin for breakfast. It’s one of several meat choices wrapped up in their house-recipe dough and baked to golden deliciousness. There’s no casing on the sausage, all the better to enjoy that spicy mix of meat and rice dressing and slightly sweet bread. If the boudin roll activates your sweet tooth, the doughnuts (especially the maple bacon) are there to satisfy, and you can get beignets fried to order.

Since 1983, Herrera’s on Illinois Avenue has been pushing out plates of quintessential Tex-Mex. Generations of families have sat at their tables slurping down the complimentary bowl of charros beans and, hopefully, this family tradition keeps going for a long time. Many grew up on the No. 7: two cheese enchiladas and rice and beans. It might even be in some local’s DNA. The Hangover with two eggs smothered in pork guiso with a side of refried beans will make Sunday right again.

Encina’s tiny kitchen is notorious in the restaurant industry. It’s got just eight burners, one pizza oven and a portable home-cook-sized deep fryer. Maybe that’s why the appetizers are so creative and versatile. Take the mezze platter: It’s got pre-made items like white bean hummus and goat’s milk labneh dips, plus a big handful of addictive fried olives. There’s a sampler of pastrami and pimento cheese, too, and a fabulous steak tartare with cutting vinegar action from pickled celery, served on big chunks of toast. To save kitchen space for the main courses, Encina has to get creative, combining fresh items, salads and deep-fried goodness, and that strategy means that the restaurant’s appetizers are as cool as its cocktails.

What happens when you take brisket from one of the best pitmasters in Texas and parlay it with one of the best Asian cuisine chefs in Texas? Well, you get LORO Asian Smokehouse. But, looking past the fundamental menu items like brisket served with chili gastrique and Thai herbs, or the smoked prime bavette with a shishito salsa verde, the humble LORO Cheeseburger makes happy hour happy again. A red onion brisket jam (which is 95% brisket) is piled thick and high atop a juicy patty with two sheaths of butter lettuce and Muenster cheese. The bun only lasts about halfway through, at which point you shove the rest of the burger in your mouth. Breathe it all in nice and slow. Find this burger on the happy hour menu, weekdays 2 to 5 p.m.

This fine dining, no tipping (or children) restaurant in Dallas falls into a lot of categories. The chef is an Iranian-American immigrant serving Persian-inspired flavors and a two-time Texas Steak Cook-Off Champion. Yet at Gorji, the small staff and charming atmosphere rebuke the big show found at many local steakhouses, which is even more reason why we love this place so much. At the end of the day, it’s the fire-kissed meat that is cooked to perfection that draws us in and keeps us going back to this five-table gem. Be sure to make reservations and be prepared to meet the chef at some point.

Who couldn’t use an infallible sense of optimism right now? If you haven’t seen the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy these wonderful “biscuits” that play a sweet role in the show. Lemma’s Bakeshop in Dallas had a clever idea and is selling quaint boxes of these Southern tea biscuits, mimicking the packaging and shapes of the ones on TV. Any boss would swoon over these. As a bonus, they’re adorned with quotes from the show such as, “Be a Goldfish” and “Be Curious, Not Judgmental.” Follow Lemma’s Bakeshop social media and website to find these cookies around town.

BigDash’s Middle Eastern pastries have no equal in North Texas. There’s a joyous variety of baklava alone: pistachio, almond, hazelnut and more. (The hazelnut, new in summer 2021, includes a Nutella-like drizzle.) There are pastries in beautiful shapes, including little folded flowers and pie-like wedges. There are boxes of cookies to go. At one of BigDash’s stores, the star attraction is kinafa, an indescribably delicious shredded pastry concoction filled with gooey cheese, pistachios and sweet syrup that gets heated on a special-made skillet. If that all isn’t enough, BigDash serves ice creams, too, and they’ve been praised as far away as the pages of The New York Times.

One needn’t really be all that brave to tackle the Brave Combo burger at The Greenhouse if you can stand a little heat from a double-barrel blast of jalapeño piquancy. The burger’s patty is flame-kissed over Mesquite wood before being placed on a brioche bun and topped with a thick slice of Gouda cheese and two crisp slices of bacon, then the heat comes from a mouthwatering mix of roasted jalapeños and onion. Before sending it to the table, the kitchen slathers one side of the bun with a generous smear of house-made jalapeño aioli made with fresh garlic cloves and roasted jalapeños. It’s served with a side of wedge fries, which can be swapped out for sweet potato fries. It’s named after long-time vegetarian Carl Finch’s Grammy-winning nuclear polka combo, so the menu offers a black bean patty substitution upon request.

There are many things to love about Ngon, which opened during the pandemic on Lower Greenville. We love its spring rolls, which come in many varieties, though “regular” might secretly be our favorite. We love the soups’ richly seasoned broths, like the 24-hour pho and shrimp-topped banh canh. The meatballs on a platter of bun cha Hanoi smell like they’ve just come off a backyard grill, and the curries come with baguettes for dunking. Ngon is women-led, packs up takeout orders to perfection (soup broths are packed separately to prevent everything else overcooking) and the restaurant itself is comfortable, quiet and blessed with a tiny but nice patio. We couldn’t ask for anything else.

This stellar IPA from Community Beer Co. is hop to trot. Medical Grade Haze is dank as all get-out, but it doesn’t have that uber-bitter aftertaste of a super-intense IPA. It boasts tropical and citrus flavors and goes down dangerously smoothly. Plus, its 7.7% ABV will have you feelin’ fine in no time. Don’t just take our word for it, though: With a score of 91, Medical Grade Haze earned an “outstanding” rating on the online beer hub Beer Advocate. Bust out a six-pack at your next outdoor hang so that your buds can sip on a brew they’ll actually enjoy.

No, we’re not saying that if you want to let your kids run wild at a restaurant you should take them to Fort Worth, but, sure, why not? Zoli’s is a dream for tired parents who desperately need to sit down to a nice meal with a strong drink as their kids are entertained within sight, but not necessarily within reach. The large playground is almost as big as the restaurant with brightly colored balls for throwing at strangers and all sorts of good monkeying around. What’s better is that parents can use the adjacent Tipping Cow Creamery as a bribe for well-behaved children.

Situated on the ground floor of the historic 1931 art deco Dallas Power and Light Building, this brewery is an outpost for the main brewery located in the Design District. It’s also one of the most beautiful places in Dallas to enjoy a local beer. Much of the original decor was preserved when brewery owners Will and Adrian Cotten refurbished the space last year. Take a seat at the bar in the center of the taproom, try a flight or grab a table on the patio and watch downtown hustle. Old school games throughout the space offer a nostalgic bit of entertainment.

After a career in the paint industry, Jim Waskow has spent his “retirement” tracking down the best of the best in the craft beer world, which is no easy task. Lucky for Dallas, we get to enjoy Waskow’s post-retirement career perhaps more than he does. Craft Beer Cellars is a quaint retail store with a bar inside that is a craft beer lovers’ paradise. Not sure if you want to commit to a four-pack of that obscure sour? Try it on for size right there; they’ll break apart any pack in the store. Feet tired from walking up and down the aisles? Well, take a seat at the bar and imbibe one of the 16 beers they keep on tap. Cheers to retirement.

The past year and a half hasn’t been the easiest for bartenders. Especially for Gabe Sanchez, who shuttered his own beloved bar, The Black Swan, in 2020. But, a pandemic can’t keep a good barkeep down. Sanchez was swooped up by The Midnight Rambler, where he quickly found his sea legs and re-energized the bar program inside their swank subterranean speakeasy. To sample his art, look no further than the Rambler House Old Fashioned made with a 70/30 bonded bourbon and rye blend, sugar and topped off with a house bitters blend. Years ago Sanchez told us that the bar industry is all about how you treat people; he’s living up to it, which is why we’re still writing about him a decade later.

Straight outta St. Tropez, this small bakery in downtown adjacent to The Joule opened in 2020 and is pushing out some of the most delectable from-scratch pastries in the city. Originally founded in 1955 on the French Riviera, the spot was discovered and made famous by Brigitte Bardot while filming And God Created Woman. This Dallas outpost is the first and only LTT outside of France. Their signature pastry — a brioche-style bread filled with a light pastry cream — sits like a crown in their downtown storefront window. The many options are light and bright. They also have European-style sandwiches for a grab-and-go lunch and a full coffee bar.

Opened by famed tattoo artist Oliver Peck, Tiki Loco Deep Ellum is a godsend for health food fans and coffee lovers alike. With a 100% plant-based kitchen offering badass tacos, this Tex-Mex and Hawaiian-themed casual spot turns tired vegan stereotypes on their head. When it’s hot out and you’re in serious need of a vacation, treat yourself to a Blue Hawaiian shaved ice inside Tiki Loco’s colorful dining room. And morning commuters can stop by to relieve their red eyes at White Rock Coffee’s first franchise, serving up some of the best beans out there.

This quaint cafe in Downtown Dallas is a timeless classic. Famished 9 to 5-ers will find comfort in Metropolitan Cafe’s down-home menu and nostalgia-laced ambience. Whether you’re there to grab a quick cup of coffee or staying for a leisurely bite, Metropolitan has you covered. In-the-know diners gravitate toward the spot’s decked-out paninis and breakfast croissants, and their decadent desserts and on-point specials never fail to please. On top of everything else, Metropolitan Cafe happens to have the perfect location: right next door to the Dallas Observer’s headquarters. Thanks for always making our stomachs happy, neighbor.

You know those local gems that are so great you can’t stop telling everyone you know about ’em? Father and son-run Greek food truck Feta’s is one of those places. When out on the town in Denton, catch them parked outside the ever-excellent Oak St. Drafthouse. Their signature feta fries are so memorable that you’ll dream about them for days, and their mouth-watering classic gyros never cease to amaze with their bold, authentic flavors. Whether you pair your meal with a brew or swing by solely for the fantastic food, Feta’s is the perfect pit-stop.

A walking taco is a Tex-Mex version of a Frito pie; slice open the top of a single-serving bag of chips then load it up with any manner of spicy meats, cheese, maybe sour cream, jalapeños and salsa. Then you walk away to eat it in a corner where no one can see you. Ruins in Deep Ellum has an entire section on their menu dedicated to walking tacos called Dorilocos. The Prawn Star comes loaded with shrimp, queso blanco, cilantro and spicy toppings. The Sin Miedo comes with crispy moronga blood sausage, mezcal onions, chile Colorado, cilantro and avocado.

Move over, Whiteclaw, there’s a new, far more delicious hard seltzer in town. Owned and produced by Denton’s excellent Armadillo Brewing Co., Río Fresco is the perfect antidote to Texas’ insane heat index. These bad boys are brewed with agave and come in four fantastic flavors: watermelon límon, pineapple mango, agave lime and blood orange hibiscus. Clean taste isn’t the only thing that sets Río Fresco apart, though; on top of being gluten-free and vegan, they’re just 100 calories.

Nikky Phinyawatana’s Asian fusion restaurant Asian Mint has been serving Dallas mouthwatering Thai food since 2004. Phinyawatana strives to feed your soul with the perfect dish when you set foot in Asian Mint. The green curry, a mix of coconut milk, purple Japanese eggplant, bamboo shoot, Thai basil and red bell pepper, is just one of many perfect dishes you’ll find at Asian Mint.

Rising from the ashes of John Tesar’s Spoon, another high-end seafood restaurant, acclaimed chef and restaurateur Nick Badovinus opened Montlake Cut in 2015. It’s the place you want to go to for seafood flown fresh to Dallas. The best way to start an outing at Montlake Cut is with a set of East Coast oysters from the restaurant’s “raw bar.” By the time you’re done with those, you’ll likely be feeling like royalty, so order the king crab. Wash it down with a cocktail and a couple sides of crispy beef tacos. It’ll leave you left with a level of happiness that won’t be repeated till the next time you’re back at Montlake Cut.

Brown Bag Provisions wants to give you a break from your stressful daily routine. If even just for five minutes, you’ll find peace chowing down on one of their sandwiches. And you can’t go wrong with the “Cuban-ish.” Slamming down one of these, which are stacked with porchetta, roast pork shoulder, Muenster cheese, pickles and a spread of whole grain mustard, is the closest to enlightenment you’ll ever need. If that’s not quite your style, Brown Bag Provisions sports other options for carnivores, pescitarians and vegans alike. Their fried cauliflower bahn mi with pickled mushrooms and red onion, cilantro, basil, mint and hoisin is a hefty delight.

Anytime it rains, it’s happy hour at Parliament. “When it rains, we pour,” they say. Nestled in the State Thomas Historical District, this Uptown spot is brought to us by Dallas’ drink king Eddie “Lucky” Campbell. He described his vision for Parliament as a “progressive cocktail lounge” with a mad-scientist style of drink-making. Campbell and his staff have lived up to that vision ever since. If you haven’t tried their Ramos gin fizz, do yourself a favor: Check the weather forecast, pray for rain and schedule a date at Parliament.

In 2000, Deep Ellum music mogul Mike Snider had a restaurant shower. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Instead of celebrating and gathering gifts for a new child, he was doing so for his new diner AllGood Cafe. Friends and family gifted furniture and knickknacks that are still at AllGood today. This funky little cafe with soul will help feed your own soul. If you’re looking at their menu and don’t know where to start, just go ahead and order the chicken club sandwich with crispy seasoned bacon and avocado and a side of their creamy mashed potatoes.

When you walk into any Ascension Coffee, what you might first notice are the tall glass kyoto towers. It’s what baristas use to make the shop’s Japanese iced drip coffee called a doki doki. For 12 hours, water drips onto a bed of coffee grounds and through a ceramic filter, making for a smooth, crisp flavor. It’s then infused with nitrogen and hits you like a ton of bricks. With this and an aussie bacon and egg roll (sunny-side up egg, bacon, aussie barbecue sauce and mayo on a brioche bun), you won’t know whether to launch into your day or take a nap in your cubicle. If you’re looking for a less self-destructive option, you’ll be close to just as satisfied with anything else on the menu.

Before you dig into The Snooze Classic with bacon, egg, hash browns and white toast or one of the many other guilty pleasures at Snooze an A.M. Eatery, you may think to yourself, “Shouldn’t I eat something healthy this morning? Perhaps something green?” Sure, you could hop on over to the “Plant Power” portion of the menu, but why do that when your server can bring you a Goin’ Green Bloody from the bar? With jalapeño and habanero infused vodka and Snooze’s house green bloody mix, this drink will spice up your morning. Snooze an A.M. Eatery landed in the Lone Star State from its home in Colorado in 2018. The breakfast joint has since expanded to three locations in DFW: Fort Worth, Addison and Dallas.

There’s no shortage of great breakfast spots in Dallas, but there’s no other place quite like Bonton Farms in South Dallas, a working farm with fresh eggs, local honey and produce plucked right out of the earth and taken straight to the kitchen. Bonton provides healthy, nutritious staples in a food desert while also creating jobs for their community. Aside from that wholesome mission, breakfast at the café is spectacular. Their sweet potato hash is made with smoked sausage, red pepper gravy and eggs. The from-scratch buttermilk biscuits topped with house sausage or bacon gravy and a farm-fresh egg make breakfast worth getting up for.

At Mike’s Chicken, they keep it simple, and we think simple is best. Fried chicken pieces or tenders are always served hot and fresh here in a variety of combos with equally fresh and flavorful scratch-made sides. Frying in peanut oil yields crispy chicken with no greasy taste, and the meat inside is juicy and flavorful from an overnight marinade. At this small chicken joint, the only downside has been trying to get through on the phone to place an order or waiting for it to be ready. This year, Mike’s added online ordering, making it easier to pick up fried chicken to go.

Barbecue destinations made a big splash this year, but the bigger splash has been the smash burger craze: Burgers aggressively smashed to a thin patty leave you questioning every traditional burger you’ve ever had. Why was it piled so high? Was that really how a burger should be made? Well, the crew at Dayne’s Craft BBQ in Fort Worth is also a believer in the smash burger. What was initially an attempt to cut down on waste turned into one of the best smash burgers you will eat. Two patties composed of prime beef trimmings are smashed and enveloped with white and yellow cheese, topped with crisp vibrant red onions and covered in a house special sauce.

Though it’s technically Taiwanese, Wu Wei Din’s menu encompasses a lot of exceptional dishes from a variety of regions. Regulars order pork chop fried rice, first-timers grab bowls of spicy wontons, and everyone comes away happy. Wu Wei Din also won acclaim for its pandemic takeout operations, which included clever steps like modifying the thickness of dumplings’ wrappers so that they wouldn’t tear apart on the drive home. Don’t miss “golden kimchi,” a mild appetizer portion of the fermented favorite. A second location is under construction in Lewisville, with plans to open this fall.

Hot chicken places have come and gone in North Texas over the past couple of years, but what sets Palmer’s apart is heart and soul. Having lived in Nashville for over 30 years, founder Palmer Fortune studied the craft of Nashville hot chicken meticulously. Palmer’s offers Nashville hot chicken, shrimp, catfish and more at a range of heat levels from the “naked” for those with sensitive palates all the way up to “napalm,” which should come with a medical waiver. Plus, they offer fries, mac and cheese, greens, pimento cheese grits, and all the Southern fixings your heart desires.

A good cocktail is worth the splurge and at Neighborhood Services the classic daiquiri will run you about $11 before tip. But considering how delicious and refreshing it is, this is a steal. With a fairly simple combination of ingredients — a base of El Dorado 3-year cask-aged rum and a blend of cane syrup and lime — the classic daiquiri delivers on flavor. From the first waft of rum, you’ll feel transported to the islands, which, after almost two years into a pandemic, is a much-needed feeling.

Dallasites are used to top-quality sushi thanks to restaurants like Tei Tei Robata and Tei-An. But that same level of care and attention to quality hasn’t always extended to spots in the suburbs. Enter Ebesu, which just celebrated its second birthday in downtown Plano. Run by restaurateurs whose other businesses are inside Japan and designed by a Japanese restaurant architect, Ebesu has a first-class menu of sushi, sashimi and generous rice bowls overflowing with fresh seafood. (One rice bowl topped with ikura, or salmon roe, is served while another employee bangs on a little drum.) Oh, and the best red-meat sushi roll in the area is Ebesu’s Super-Long Niku!, which lives up to its exclamation point by being very long indeed and very delicious.

Dallas is decidedly a corn dog town. And outside of the annual Texas State Fair, the best place to snag one is at CornDog With No Name, where they aren’t mimicking fair food but elevating it. While they have a classic corn dog, they also offer a spicy version with jalapeño and cheddar-infused pork sausage. The brunch corn dog is a breakfast sausage dipped in funnel cake batter with bacon and maple syrup. They even have a plant-based corn dog and Best Maid dill pickle corn dog. The best part is you can get a cocktail to go with from their full bar. Be sure to save room for the flaming funnel cakes.

The kouign amann is a love letter from the northwestern tip of France. This flaky French viennoiserie is imbued with a nefarious amount of butter, sugar and a touch of salt. There are other kouign amanns around town, but Bisous Bisous’ is unique because unlike others it is rolled like a cinnamon roll — how chef Andrea Mayer discovered them in a street cart in France — as opposed to a four-corners method. Unroll the pastry instead of biting straight into it (that’s too harsh for this delicate food anyway) and see how each ring offers something a little unique.

Yes, reservations are hard to get. How hard? Well, proprietress Jennifer Uygur recently divulged to Resy.com that on one Friday night they had 233 people on the Notify list. Just for that night, not any Friday night. If you stalk their Facebook page like a black bear hankering for a salmon snack, you might get lucky enough to see a post about a recently opened table. If you get the chance, grab seats at the end of the bar, where you can watch the kitchen and chat with the sous chefs. While the pasta is amazing, but be sure to save room for the freshly baked bread and house-cured meats.

From first-rate customer service to an amazing selection of local and far-off booze, Pogo’s is what every liquor store should aspire to be. Just follow their Facebook page to earn a merit badge in sommelier studies. They’ll have you opining about chalky soils and “a mineral spine” in no time. They offer such interesting background on their new finds or most recent shipments that it can often sway your weekend plans, for either good or bad (likely good). And while they have fine wine, craft beer and liquor from around the globe, they also keep things local.

Just outside of Love Field, Heim BBQ offers one last chance to get excellent brisket or bacon burnt ends before leaving town; or on the flip side, a succulent smoky welcome home. Jet-setting or not, head over to the hearth of Heim BBQ on Tuesdays where they have hand-battered, dipped and fried corn dogs with 44 Farms meat for just $2 each. They also have $2 domestic beer. Why, you may ask, would one not get brisket? We’re not saying you shouldn’t. We’re just saying you should also get beer and corn dogs at 1982 prices.

The snow cones at SNO at the Dallas Farmers Market are all pretty spectacular, but when it comes to the mangonada and chamoy movement, their Chamoyada can’t be beat. Eating one is an event. Freshly shaved snow is drenched in natural mango syrup (two layers; one applied halfway through so the bottom isn’t just plain ol’ ice), a sprinkling of Tajin, fresh mango cubes, chamoy, fresh-squeezed lime, then a spicy burnt-red Tamarindo straw stabbed through it all. Pull your hair back and roll your sleeves up for this beautiful mess.

Ghost kitchens were having a moment before the pandemic, but during it, the turbo-booster button was activated. Some ghost kitchens, were all schtick, but Furlough Brothers is a fantastic example of what a ghost kitchen can and should be. As the name implies, Sam Kaiser and chef Mike Youssef were furloughed after the pandemic hit. Instead of taking on the huge upfront costs of a brick-and-mortar, they rented kitchen space from Commerce Fork Food Co. and are making from-scratch upscale sandwiches — the Furlough OG is a Philly cheesesteak complete with Amoroso bread — for pickup or delivery only.

Look for signs on the sidewalk of Elm Street and take the elevator to the sixth floor. Situated in the heart of downtown, this new spot is an ornament perched atop the Dallas skyline. The outdoor patio at this Vietnamese bistro and bar looks straight across to the rooftop glass-encased turquoise pool at The Joule hotel. There’s something fascinating about a pool floating on the side of a building. Sky Blossom’s small bites menu and margaritas flights are great for happy hour. Enjoy great views of the city while people-watching; airplane flyovers or a storm rolling past miles away are bonus features.

The Exchange Hall at the AT&T Discovery District in downtown Dallas takes the cake when it comes to shaking off the workday blues. A collection of some of the city’s best offerings all within one space includes Revolver Tacos, Monkey King Noodle Company, La Duni and Zalat Pizza plus some new spots like Bobbers and Whips and The Dock. Add in the full bar, TVs and a spacious plaza with art, a large lawn and a babbling water feature, and it’s a lunch slam dunk. Bonus: complimentary parking is available at 1212 Jackson St.; get your ticket validated at any host stand.

Food courts, or food halls as they’re apt to be called now, are back and better than ever. There are several around DFW including Legacy Food Hall in Plano, The Exchange at AT&T Discovery District in downtown and, the most fascinating flavor trip of all, Asia Times Square in Grand Prairie. The offerings here are nothing like the Sbarro Pizzas and baked potatoes we used to find at food courts in malls, but rather a flavorful celebration in culinary diversity. The highlight reel at Asia Times Square’s food court includes Beard Papa’s cream-stuffed pastry pockets from Osaka, Japan, Two Hands Seoul Fresh Corn Dogs, CM Chicken’s famous snow chicken and Apsara, which serves authentic Thai and Cambodian dishes.

When the pandemic sent downtown workers scurrying to the safety of the ‘burbs, restaurants that normally fed those commuters took a hit, among them Sloane’s Corner at the bottom of the Trammell Crow Center. Chef Ji Kang also had another problem; the catering he’d done for tenants in the building towering above him left part of his kitchen dormant. With extra space and time, Kang experimented with recipes and developed Sicilian-style pizzas for delivery. Not a single sign outside announced that Pizza Leila was working out of the second line in Sloane’s Corner; it was all virtual. Best, he was able to keep his kitchen staff employed and pushed out some fantastic pizza in the process.