Food & Drink

It’s safe to say most of Dallas was keen to try chef Tiffany Derry’s latest restaurant, Radici, and when the doors finally opened in May, we weren’t disappointed. Located next to Derry’s much-lauded Roots Southern Table, Radici brings Derry’s takes on classic Italian with a wood-charred twist. Between co-owner Tom Foley’s Italian heritage and Derry’s long history of cooking Italian cuisine, Radici has hit its mark. Our first look led us to culinary delights such as coniglio alla gricia (casarecce pasta with braised rabbit and pork) and braciole di masala pork chop that showcased how open flame cooking and Italian can blend together with panache.

Originally a partnership with celebrity chef Curtis Stone, Georgie leaned on the high-end steakhouse theme when it opened in 2019. But owner Stephan Courseau quietly ended his partnership with Stone last year and handed the reins to R.J. Yoakum, most recently of Thomas Keller’s French Laundry. At Georgie, Yoakum has revamped the menu, leaning on his French techniques as well as a willingness to break rules. New takes on classic dishes are paired with inventive flavor combinations, plated with a style that’s worthy of the buzz among Dallas’ dining media. Yoakum still claims to be learning and striving to make Georgie better, but we’re wowed by the technique and creativity he’s brought to the table.

Via Triozzi opened last year on Greenville Avenue, but for chef and owner Leigh Hutchinson, the restaurant was 17 years in the making. It’s the Italian restaurant much of Dallas craves, with authentic old-world flavors presented in a casually classy and inviting space. Start with some wine from Via Triozzi’s impressive list of accessible reds and whites, then sit back and let Hutchinson make you feel right at home with handcrafted pasta, seasonal vegetables and, if you’re up for it, a splurge-worthy bistecca alla Fiorentina porterhouse for two that will leave you speechless with delight.

In the interest of full disclosure, we were slightly concerned when we learned last year that Todd David had sold Cattleack Barbecue. David’s barbecue prowess started as a post-retirement hobby that blossomed into a full-time business, and Cattleack became synonymous with the best barbecue in the state and an easy recommendation to anyone who asked us. We needn’t have worried; Cattleack’s new owner, Andrew Castelan, had worked for David for the previous six years, allowing his barbecue passion to grow. Under Castelan’s guidance, Cattleack is still the same gem, just slightly more accessible. It has added Wednesday lunch hours, and is open the first Saturday of the month as well. The same stellar barbecue, served on more days? That’s a change we can get on board with.

Al Biernat’s is an old-school Dallas institution and steakhouse destination. Since the Oak Lawn location opened in 1998 (there’s a second location in North Dallas), Al Biernat’s has developed a reputation for high-end steaks and chops, a stellar wine selection and spot-on service. While prime and wagyu steaks take center stage, don’t sleep on the seafood options if something from the water is more your speed. And don’t take our word for it. When the Texas Rangers won their first World Series last fall, the team headed here for a post-parade dinner celebration. If it’s good enough for the world champs, it’s good enough for us.

A historic house on North Zang Boulevard that has been in and out of development deals for years has finally been repurposed into a Mediterranean restaurant from the same folks who brought us Selda Mediterranean Grill in North Dallas. Focusing primarily on Turkish-inspired fare, The Mayor’s House by Selda offers several dining areas, including an outside wraparound porch as well as a second-floor balcony, that are eclectically decorated and staged, providing a relaxed and warm atmosphere in which to dine. The kababs and hummus are all on point, and the Turkish tea expertly served, but the lavas puffy bread, hot and still steaming fresh from the oven, is the chef’s kiss here.

Hidden away and hard to find? Check. Unpretentiously adorned and decorated? Check. Really good food that tastes homemade and is priced relatively low? Check. John’s Backyard Grill ticks all the boxes. Located in the back of a Chevron gas station in Far North Dallas, John’s offers mainly hamburgers and tacos, along with breakfast burritos, tortas and a quesadilla platter, but the burger is the star here. Juicy and thick, it captures exactly the flavor of that old Weber kettle grill from late July summer backyard patio cookouts, and at $8 (which includes above-average fries), it’s a bargain.

This place lives in the shadow of what used to be Valley View mall, in a small strip center that’s a challenge to navigate because of the gas station that shares the parking lot. It’s worth the effort. The corn is the star here, including tortillas made from heirloom corn varieties that come in a large range of colorful hues. It’s a popular place for workers in the early morning or at lunchtime, and for good reason. We originally visited for the strawberry masa tamal, but everything’s been good. There are several protein options for the tacos, and you can order a machete, a long slender tortilla stuffed full of goodness and fried that could probably feed a small family.

Sura translates to “a royal meal, the king’s dinner” in Korean. And, yes, a meal at Sura Korean Bistro is indeed fit for a king. Before getting to your main course, you’ll be treated to a dazzling carnival of small dishes (known as banchan) that’ll leave your tastebuds spinning. The banchan is an experience in itself, but where Sura really shines is its immense menu of Korean-style barbecued meats and seafood selections. From richly marinated black Angus beef short ribs to braised pork ribs to spicy baby octopus and grilled flounder, Sura has it all.

Green Point opened on Knox Street in 2023, bringing coastal town breeziness to Weir Plaza. It’s from the Katz Brothers Hospitality Group (Beverly’s and Clifton Club). It’s open for lunch and dinner, and a seat at the horseshoe-shaped bar in the middle of the restaurant is a great perch. The space is chic and unfussy. Service is attentive but not stuffy. Oysters on the half shell are fresh and vary by day. Seafood is sourced from around the world and procured daily. If you’re peckish and looking to indulge, order the La Perla Tower with 10 oysters, eight jumbo cocktail shrimp and chilled lobster tail for $95. Fun note: the drink menu is larger than the food menu.

Norma’s has been attracting fans of home cooking since 1956. For more than 30 years on Thanksgiving, the Oak Cliff restaurant has been opened to people who can’t afford a dinner, and the line is down the block. For its anniversary this year it offered plates of chicken-fried steak and slices for cake for $1.85, prices from the year it opened. The proceeds, $12,500, were donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters Greater Dallas.

First of all, to the sweet crew at Stewart’s: Sorry we’ve told everyone about the amazing breakfast at your quiet little abode. Lying low in an industrial park in Irving, Stewart’s decor is simple and charming, and the breakfast burritos with homemade tortillas are satisfying, but it’s the biscuits and gravy ingeniously served in a cup that has us hustling over in the morning. Be sure to add bacon or sausage to the top because if you’re going to do it, do it right. Stewart’s is only open weekdays only from 5:15 a.m. to noon.

Paradiso’s recently renovated patio certainly claims a top spot on the list of must-visit sites in the Dallas summertime. The coastal Mediterranean restaurant’s central courtyard space boasts a grand allure, studded with colorful umbrellas, seating and a central fountain that just calls for pictures. Drop by for weekend brunch, when views are complemented by biscuits and gravy or the signature apricot-ricotta French toast, or at dinnertime, when the wood-fired pizza selection and handmade pastas make their debut. Unwind with $16 all-day cocktails, all while appreciating the quiet chatter and light music of the patio space.

There’s certainly a good reason for the almost never-ending line outside the doors of Ali Baba from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. throughout the week (or 11–3 on weekends). That’s when the 25-year-old Lebanese restaurant serves its renowned all-you-can-eat lunch. For only $20 on weekdays and $25 on weekends, the buffet has become known for its royal spread of Middle Eastern staples. For the amateur diner, it’s an almost-overwhelming sight; self-serve plates are stacked high throughout the establishment, and huge trays are refilled every few minutes with freshly cooked kebabs, falafels, salads, dips and more. Don’t leave without sampling the pita breads, baked in an open-fire oven behind the counter, or the signature rice pudding, which loyal Ali Baba patrons swear by. Just arrive earlier rather than later to make the most of the dine-in experience. Food is unlimited, but time isn’t.

It’s tough to find pancakes fluffier than those at La Casita, Dallas’ very own James-Beard-nominated bakery that recently began its venture into brunch. La Casita first earned acclaim for pastry chef Marisca Trejos’ crunchy, flaky and all-around buttery pastries, each inspired by her Hispanic heritage. But the brunch menu quickly caught up in acclaim. Salsa-soaked chilaquiles, loaded sourdough sandwiches and coffee-soaked French toast are all award-worthy, but of particular interest to us are the banana praline pancakes. This must-try stack of two thick pancakes, cooked souffle-style, boasts an addicting fluff, an almost-perfect backdrop for the crunchy pecan-praline compote drizzle on top. The two-stack is adorned with bruleed banana halves on top for an indulgent mix of soft, crunchy, nutty and sweet. Portion size is big, but we advise against sharing. Each bite into syrup-soaked pancakes only adds to the temptation for another.

Much like in soccer, Argentine ice cream scores like no other. (Just ask the founder of Talenti, who built a retail empire following an Argentine helado recipe). And there’s no greater treat than having it delivered, as is tradition on a Buenos Aires summer night. If you fall outside the 30-mile radius for delivery (check the website), go visit a friend and casually order it for dessert, even if you sort of hate your friend; it’s that good. La Boca, named after a famously colorful BA neighborhood, has mastered Argentine-style ice cream to creamy perfection. The customer service is unparalleled, and La Boca will even throw in soccer-themed stickers of the flag and of the GOAT Messi’s jersey or add a generous new flavor sample with your order. The chocolate-chip dulce de leche flavor is as sexy as tango, but sign up for emails to get the scoop on La Boca’s seasonal and latest flavors.

We have a bit of a one-track mind when it comes to delis. Got a good muffuletta? Then the rest of the menu could be rocks and broken glass on a roll and we wouldn’t kick. Luckily, Weinberger’s Deli on Main Street in downtown Grapevine does way better than that. It serves up a muffuletta that rivals the original found at Central Market & Deli in New Orleans’ French Quarter. No, really and truly. And if a muffuletta is not your bag (you Philistine), you’re in luck. Somehow, this little corner shop stores enough meats, cheese, condiments and sides to support a massive menu of originals and every classic sandwich imaginable, along with dogs, sausages, gyros and a lean Italian beef so good it would make a homesick Chicagoan cry … if Chicagoans ever cried. That’s only natural, seeing as the Grapevine deli is an outpost of an original string of delis born in the Windy City in 1952.

Located at The Star in Frisco, La Parisienne is smartly decorated in Tiffany blue with lots of warm, natural light. It captures the atmosphere of a French café that one might find on a hidden boulevard near Sacré-Cœur or along the banks of the Seine, but sans the thinly veiled contempt often felt just because of a perceived mispronunciation of the word demitasse or something. There’s brunch, lunch and dinner, along with an afternoon tea, coffee, wine, cocktails and desserts. Starters include baked brie, a cheese plate and escargot, and there are quiches and croque monsieurs along with confit de canard and boeuf bourguignon, and an above-average French onion soup full of rich broth and topped with melted Swiss and a toasted crouton.

Long conversations over single-origin coffee and mezcal brought this pre-Hispanic-influenced cafe and agave bar to life in Oak Cliff. The food and drink at Xaman Cafe is deeply rooted in the owners’ Mexican heritage, and through it they can enjoy and feel what they’ve longed for. Tradition and modern classics are evenly divided across the two-page menu, with a complete drink section for coffee and cocktails. Experience a hot plate of chilaquiles verde to start your morning. It’s best to pair this savory plate with something sweet, and the house-made Xaman horchata served with espresso on the side is the obvious choice. It’ll take all your restraint not to steal the mugs each is served in.

When we were headed to Bali Street Café for a first look, it had us wondering: How many Indonesian restaurants are even in North Texas? Turns out, they’re an exceedingly rare breed. Bali Street’s tantalizingly aromatic soto betawi soup of braised beef tongue, tomato and potato in a velvety broth of coconut milk and lemongrass is divine. We also tried the rendang, which features tougher cuts of beef (such as the neck or shoulder) simmered for hours in coconut milk and spices until fork tender. How do you say delicious in Indonesian?

The beef noodle soup here has a cult following, but you can’t go wrong with the xiao long bao (soup dumplings) either: delicious, delicate purses of pork and broth. This place is popular for its traditional Taiwanese cooking roots, but it knows how to please the masses with an entire section on the menu devoted to “America’s Favorite Chinese Dishes.” The pork and shrimp wontons are another treat and are available frozen as well, if you want to save them for a lazy day at the house. Most mains are priced around $12– $13, which is just nice. The staff is always friendly, which is extra nice.

Tucked into a little storefront on Greenville Avenue, Eddie’s Tex-Mex Cocina is as no-nonsense as it is cozy. The restaurant’s namesake, Eddie Cervantes, has been a member of Dallas’ Tex-Mex culinary scene since 1981, first with Primo’s, then E Bar. His titular restaurant, which opened in 2018, is the result of figuring out a system — good nachos, better queso and strong margaritas — and perfecting it. This isn’t the spot to go if you’re looking to get a “Phone Eats First” Instagram shot. But if you’re in the market for spicy salsa, cold beer and the ever-present sound of sizzling fajitas, there aren’t many places in Dallas that do it better than Eddie’s.

Traditional Japanese food is served in a homey Japanese-style dining room at Okaeri Cafe, a Dallas favorite known for its zashiki, or traditional Japanese floor seating. Located in an unassuming building with few signs for guidance, the cafe-style restaurant specializes in both Japanese street food and beverages. Find a new comfort food in the Okaeri loaded fries, drizzled in spicy aioli, furikake and sliced green onion. And what’s even more fun is cutting open the special omusoba, a fluffy Japanese omelet that hides a crave-worthy mound of stir-fried yakisoba noodles underneath. Finish with a slice of Japanese cheesecake and Asian-inspired beverages, and don’t forget to snap an Instagram-worthy picture of the bento boxes, complete with a panda-shaped rice-and-seaweed roll.

Kids, right? So great. Never annoying. If you have little ones in your keep who need to burn off a little energy, Cenzo’s has an enclosed area for frolicking. But who says going out with the kids means settling for bad chicken nuggets? You’re the boss. Take control. Start with an appetizer like whipped ricotta or fried artichokes and crispy salami. The pizza menu is broken into red and white options; the Clinton comes with mozzarella, lemon ricotta, Calabrian chili crisp and pistachios. Sandwiches include an Italian deli, meatball, Italian beef and fancy fried bologna. There’s soft serve too.

Since 1987 Chubby’s has been pushing out tall stacks of pancakes alongside chicken-fried steak, which is folded in half so it fits on the plate. The home-style fare far surpasses typical chain diners, keeping regulars coming to its two locations (Lake Highlands and South Oak Cliff). Go for a stack of banana nut pancakes with walnuts, biscuits and gravy or buttered grits. The menu is huge, and there’s something for everyone, but the chicken-fried steak is a must.

It seems as if we blinked, and Dallas was suddenly awash in omakase. While it can be intimidating to jump into a dinner full of unknowns and high prices, trust us that Tatsu is worth it. Chef Tatsuya Sekiguchi learned the art of omakase from his father in Japan and showcases everything that omakase is meant to be, from brilliant cuts of fresh fish to the tradition and skill brought to bear in preparing them. He works with his wife, Hiroko, and the level of polished hospitality is nearly equal to the cuisine.

If you’re looking for drunken noodles and green curry that has received Guy Fieri’s seal of approval, Uptown’s CrushCraft Thai Eats is the spot. The restaurant is run by Jack Nuchkasem, who was born and raised in Bangkok and is no stranger to street food. CrushCraft’s hearty portions outsize the traditional street vendor, though, and the $12 curries and fried rice dishes make CrushCraft one of the few restaurants in Dallas that has resisted inflating price tags.

In September 2023, former Nobu chef Shine Tamaoki brought Pearl to the roster of Japanese dining in Dallas at a time when the cuisine was in the forefront of the city’s culinary spotlight. Using fresh fish brought in daily from both coasts, Japan and New Zealand, combined with house-made ingredients, he creates elegant dishes that can be enjoyed by sushi experts or novices. The only regret you’ll have coming here is not getting a seat at the sushi bar, where the hospitality really shines. All eyes will be on you and your torched salmon roll as flames dance over this dish as it’s being served. Also, not sushi-related, but the Japanese fish and chips were easily one of the best things we ate last year.

It seems like forever now that Fred’s Downtown Philly has been slinging its greasy, meaty delights in North Texas. Although it’s tempting to stick with the classic option, we highly suggest looking a bit farther down the menu to option No. 9, the Pizza Cheesesteak. The sizzling sliced steak, sauteed onions and cheese encased in the soft, chewy roll never knew it needed a stream of tangy pizza sauce so bad, but it did, and it’s heavenly.

We love standing in line for barbecue in Texas, but in Dallas, we add soul food to the list of cuisine we’ll tolerate waiting for. Swing by Sweet Georgia Brown on Ledbetter during the week for an early lunch and you might notice an easily navigated line waiting for the doors to open at 11 a.m, something that’s been happening for decades. From there, your patience will be rewarded with plates full of flavorful, tender collard greens, black-eyed peas, decadent macaroni and cheese and any of the droolworthy meat options, although we’re partial to the beef tips special when it’s available.

Alan Kearny has been called Dallas’ “pub king” for good reason. No matter how many Irish joints he opens, the quality and authentic feel and tastes are never diluted. Sure, there are plenty of pub favorites on the menu at The Crafty Isrishman, one of two downtown pubs on Main Street that Kearny owns, but the Howth beer-battered fish and chips, consisting of decadently thick slabs of cod, is the precious sort of standard that could keep anyone from needing to view the menu before ordering. While you’re there, have the bartender pull you a black and tan as well.

This vegan restaurant just off West Davis near the Bishop Arts District offers a variety of plant-based mains such as pizza, burgers, boudin balls and wings. This great date-night spot is in an old house with a warm and inviting atmosphere, thanks to its stylish wooden plank decor. Go for the Southern Dinner Catch with fried oyster mushrooms, corn, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and garlic toast. The Cajun nacho fries come with cheese sauce, peppers, pico and jalapeño ranch.

This East Dallas restaurant has been serving piping hot bowls of pho since 1996. If a Budha statue and altar are a marker of a good pho restaurant for you, well, sit anywhere you’d like. There are more than 100 menu items, so ordering might feel overwhelming. Perhaps just skip the menu and order brisket pho. Service is attentive and consistent. Start with an order of the Vietnamese crepes and end with a cup of Vietnamese coffee.

We love a good story of survival. Better yet, we love a good survival story that comes with amazing beer and pizza. Vector Brewing almost didn’t open thanks to the 2019 federal government shutdown, but then in March 2020, of all months, it started slinging pints and pies. And boy has the Lake Highlands brewery been on a roll since. In 2023, Vector was named Brewery of the Year by the Texas Craft Brewers Association, and this year, the same group awarded Vector a bronze medal for its Rubus Rex barrel-aged saison-style ale. We think their Fine Swine pizza, packed with pig meat, is also award-worthy.

Harwood Arms in the Harwood District has a happy hour that runs 4–7 p.m., Monday – Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. During that time you can get five plates all priced at $6 and $7 that are smaller versions of items from the regular menu like Reuben Fries topped with corned beef, Swiss and Mornay sauce. The white bean dip is fresh and light. The Guinness braised short rib sliders have heft. Drinks, you ask? You better watch out on those $7 rosemary cucumber gimlet martinis; they go down way too easily. Four other drinks for $7 include an Irish mule, a whiskey sour, a spicy margarita and an old fashioned.

Dot’s should be the start and finish in any conversation about sampling a pint of suds. Let’s start with the famed 99 taps; sure four of them are dedicated to wine and kombucha, but that still leaves 95 options to fill your beer cravings, from a hoppy IPA to sturdy nitros and stouts and everything in between. The dog-friendly beer garden at Dot’s is one of our favorite places to post up in the city, with lively music and friendly waitstaff. Don’t forget to order a burger and some duck-fat cheese fries with your beer.

Located at Mockingbird Station, Perrault is a chic specialty wine and spirits store with a focus on superior quality and consumer education. The boutique wine selection was curated by Perrault’s in-house sommelier, Christina Chilcoat, and the liquor was selected by owner Fausto Vallejo. Everything on Perrault’s shelves is personally tasted and approved. It also offers immersive wine classes, tasting events, private cellar management, custom gift baskets, Reidel glassware, local chocolates from Kate Weisser and CocoAndre, educational wine and spirit books, cocktail and wine accessories, and an artisan cheese and charcuterie program. Did we miss anything? Yeah, Perrault is the ultimate liquor store.

This sultry mezcaleria, pulqueria and tequila lounge recently made Esquire’s exclusive list of Best Bars in America, the only Dallas spot on the list. Every bottle behind the bar is from Mexico (even the gin and wine), all of which, along with dishes, showcase Mexico’s rich heritage. Esquire suggests a flight of sotol, but don’t ignore the humble clarified margarita topped with a light frothy foam with a hint of flavor that changes seasonally. It’s one of the smoothest margaritas in a city with literally thousands. Ayahuasca is located behind Xaman Cafe. There’s no sign pointing the way so just walk through the cafe to the door in the back. Reservations are recommended.

If your restaurant has micheladas in the name, you better be good at them, and La Toxica Mariscos Y Micheladas is. This Mexican seafood destination is in the heart of Deep Ellum, and here, they make micheladas from scratch, beginning with a house michelada mix made daily. Choose your beer (a Mexican beer; anything else would be uncivilized), and then let the bartenders at La Toxica work their magic, merging your lager with tomato juice, freshly squeezed limes and a symphony of assorted sauces and spices. When done right, a good michelada can beat the pants off a bloody mary. Go for the Michelada Preparada, which comes rimmed with jumbo shrimp alongside Takis and seasoned sliced cucumbers.

Bodega Wine Bar is the place you go when you tell all your friends, “I know a spot”. This Lakewood wine bar is unassuming from the outside, but one step inside and you’re transported to an Old World wine cellar with high-quality pours to match. The staff is passionate and knowledgeable about their wines sourced from all over the world. The best way to navigate the menu is by ordering a flight first, and then from there, you can order your favorite by the glass. The cheese and charcuterie on the food menu are an obvious addition to the wine. You come for a glass but will most likely leave with a bottle.

The house-made bloody mary on The Old Monk’s brunch menu is your cue to kickstart a boozy weekend. For $7, they’re practically handing them out here. They’re made with original or spicy house mix, Tito’s vodka and the classic garnishes: a green olive (maybe one too few) and a stick of celery, plus a lemon and lime wedge. With a generous squeeze of the citrus, it’s the perfect compliment to a savory brunch.

PopStroke is a Tiger Woods-partnered luxury mini-golf affair with two state-of-the-art 18-hole courses, a full-service restaurant with dishes made from scratch, an ice cream parlor, a playground and a lively sports bar that serves craft beers, premium spirits and meticulously crafted cocktails. Need a margarita to get your head right as you come down the back nine? No problem, just order from the PopStroke app and they’ll bring it to you as you play. As for food, it skews toward high-end here, as you’ll find seared ahi tuna, tuna tartare, hummus platters and citrus-marinated chimichurri steaks. We’ve come a long way since the Putt-Putt days (sorry, Putt-Putt).

Bar stools can be butt-hurting situations. Metal wobbly numbers with shaky legs from one too many benders. Vice-like armrests trap you at the bar and make climbing down awkward as you try to squeeze around them. But not at Ginger’s. Here are the La-Z-Boys of bar stools. A large extra-cush leather seat for your tush is super comfortable, with half arms and a padded back for a bit of reclining. Oh! And the footstool at the bottom to rest your tired dogs, instead of dangling awkwardly. It might be dangerous to be this comfortable at a bar.

Bar Colette starts creating your cocktail days before you even make yourself comfortable on one of its pink velvet couches. This European-inspired cocktail lounge was an exciting addition to West Village late last year, and Ruben Rolon’s (Colette’s Michelin-recognized bar director) artistic mixology is on full display here. His most impressive creations involve a clarified milk punch that gives many of his cocktails a simple appearance but are packed with a full sweep of flavors from the first sip to finishing notes. His menu rotates seasonally, so there’s always a reason to stop in to try a new favorite or get your hands on a second round before some drinks go archival.

Christies has been an essential sports bar in Dallas since 1991. There are more TVs than we can count, and on big game days (no matter the sport), the energy is palpable. The food is much better than expected: house-made-tortilla chips are kind of good. When the weather is nice, head up to the rooftop. No matter how busy it gets, the staff is attentive, and food and drinks arrive quickly. Each seat in the house offers a view to multiple TVs, meaning you can watch all the sports at once. A dream, really.

The espresso martini has had quite the run the past couple of years, and it’s pretty ubiquitous at this point, but some bars put their hip into it. Case in point: Cosmo’s, which starts with house-made Vietnamese coffee, a substantially richer elixir that packs a buzzy punch. The Vietnamese coffee is mixed with Van Gogh Espresso Vodka and Kahlua then tossed in a tumbler and shaken into a creamy smooth bliss. They only make a certain amount each day; when it’s gone, it’s gone, so go early.

It’s difficult to imagine a more fun setting for a cocktail than 4 Kahunas Tiki Lounge. The moment you step inside, you’re transported to a Polynesian island haven. Thankfully, the drinks might even surpass the fantastical decor. The fact of the tropical matter is the look of a proper tiki cocktail has to be every bit as on-point as the taste does. The aesthetic, theme and booze all collide in a perfectly fun way when it comes to any of the powerful, fruity 4 Kahunas cocktails served in their shark mugs. We love sipping right out of the shark’s mouth, but the little drizzle of red syrup trailing from the open mouth is the drama we desire.

When the local craft brewery boom started over a decade ago, Lone Star Beverages in Carrollton was already slinging the best beers from not only local breweries but from the best craft breweries in Colorado, Oregon and elsewhere, including many few around here knew about. As the craft beer scene and tastes have evolved, so, too, has this shop. If there’s a little-known IPA from Maine, a sour ale from Florida, a hard tea from New England or a slushy beer from Austin that you want but no one seems to have, you haven’t checked Lone Star Beverages out yet.

While so much of the Dallas beer scene revels in variants of IPAs, it’s a different local beer on the opposite end of the spectrum that we most love to see in various forms and flavors. The Temptress, Lakewood Brewing’s beloved imperial milk stout, has been offered in mint, peanut butter, Oreo, raspberry and gingerbread forms, just to name a few. And they’re all spectacular. Of course, the original base version is always enough to satiate us on its own. One of the most storied beers from one of the best breweries around will always be at the top of our list.

Taking in a flick, no, a film, at the Texas Theatre in Oak Cliff feels like a refreshingly analog experience when compared with the soulless modernity of your local theater. That hand-crafted experience can be upgraded a great deal by stopping by the classy bar before you find your seat. The refreshing Baby Fay is also a rather stout drink, consisting of tequila, ginger beer, hibiscus and lemon. It beats an Icee at Cinemark any day of the week.

If one spot in Dallas best embodies “chill,” it’s here. Tyler Station’s lowkey taproom offers a consistent array of affordable craft brews, and the nearby picnic area is the ideal spot to meet with friends and let the kids work off some energy outside. Bring your own picnicking supplies or indulge in any of the adjoining food trucks which range from tacos to vegan burgers. The brewery is also steps away from a DART station, making accessibility a piece of cake.

The husband-and-wife team of Jeff and Marissa Allen opened their first location of Cookie Society in 2018 with the goal of producing the ultimate cookie. In the beginning, there were just two varieties, chocolate chip and banana pudding. The latter has become their signature flavor, but over the intervening years, they’ve expanded to scores of varieties. They’re baked fresh daily, so naturally they don’t have all 70 varieties every day, but part of the fun is walking in and seeing what they have. There is also a cookie(s) of the month, a rotating stable of new and interesting flavor combinations such as French toast or peaches and cream. Whatever the flavor, you can expect large and perfectly cooked cookies with chewy centers and slightly crispy edges. And, there’s a rewards program.

The pandemic wasn’t kind to many restaurants, including Rich Vana’s Heritage Table in Frisco. But out of a crisis, Heritage Table has reemerged as one of the best farm-to-table restaurants in the area. There are Southern-inspired classics like fried green tomatoes and chicken pot pie, or seasonally creative masterpieces like a wagyu beef shoulder served on a bed of sweet potato risotto or the aptly named Whole Beast, which exemplifies Vana’s dedication to using as much as possible of every vegetable and protein that comes through the kitchen. The trek to Frisco is worth it for this Southern charmer that belongs in any discussion among the area’s best dining establishments.

What is it about this Henderson Avenue modern-day brasserie that explains its brilliance with cheese? The Porch has been a standby for going on 15 years, and its cheese-based dishes regularly find themselves on our Best Of lists. Readers picked The Porch’s mac and cheese as the city’s best last year, and this year, we’re back to sing the praises of its grilled cheese. Maybe it’s the mix of the exotic and the mainstream, where cheddar and American cheese melt side by side with Gruyere and Parmesan. Maybe it’s the perfectly toasted brioche containing the gooey melty goodness within. Maybe it’s sitting on the patio with a comfort food classic that makes us forget our worries, if for a plate’s worth of time. Or sometimes, the magic needs no explanation.

Local star chef Misti Norris recently expanded her much-lauded Petra and the Beast to include a brunch service on Sundays, and there was much rejoicing. This is not your grandma’s mimosa and omelet station brunch, however. There is not a single eggs Benedict to be had. Instead, Norris puts her trademark spin on the menu, with locally sourced and in-house cured meats, microgreens and fermentation. Start off with a couple of inexpensive craft cocktails before indulging in a starter such as smoked redfish dip or the charcuterie board, but don’t pass up the allium fried chicken thigh with its satisfyingly crispy skin and onions adorned with a fried egg.

E Bar made some headlines last year for its stance on serving people who smell like marijuana (short version: if you do, they don’t). But aside from the no-bake business model, E Bar earns back some street cred with its killer queso. Skip the entry-level queso and opt for the namesake. It’s a straightforward affair of white melted cheese with an island of seasoned ground beef flanked by domes of sour cream and guacamole dropped in the middle. A cup goes for $11.50, but make a bowl for $1.50 more and turn it into a meal on its own. We’re not ones to judge.

You’re in the Lower Greenville/Knox-Henderson district, and time has faded from evening to the wee hours of the morning. You went through a parade of cocktails, and now you’re starving. We’ve all been there. This is where Plomo comes in. Plomo, open until 4 a.m. on weekends, doles out a smorgasbord of after-hours, munchies-curing, specialty quesadillas, many named for notorious drug lords. Take the Escobar, for example: Stuffed with rib eye, melted Jack, avocado, elote and pickled red onion. Or the El Chapo, made of piquant pork chorizo, Jack, pico, pickled radish and cilantro. But our favorite may very well be the Vasquez, which has Caribbean jerk chicken, mango, jalapeños, pickled red onion, salsa verde and sriracha. And be sure to order your quesadillas “dirty.”

We had the privilege of visiting Kitchen + Kocktails (from restaurateur Kevin Kelley) in October. It made our Top 100 Restaurants in 2023, so yeah, Kitchen + Kocktails made an impression. One of the dishes we’re still daydreaming about all these months later is the oxtail served over a fluffy bed of rice and savory Southern gravy. Good oxtail should fall right off the bone when picked up, which is precisely the case at this swanky downtown restaurant and bar. If you’re into oxtail, it’s hard to imagine anyplace doing it much better than Kitchen + Kocktails.

Chicken-fried steak is to Texas as Cajun food is to Louisiana, and when you find a place that does it right, you owe it to your friends and family to spread the good word. Well, friends, we are here to share the word that Jonathon’s Oak Cliff and Jonathon’s Forestwood knows how to do chicken-fried steak right. Not only is the portion size as large as a human head, but the steak is tender, juicy and seasoned well, and more important it is battered with a saltine cracker mixture that doesn’t get soggy and fall apart the second after the peppered cream gravy is poured on top. It remains crispy and crunchy through the very last bite, which is why it rises to the top of our list.

Williams James Norman founded his produce business more than a quarter-century ago and died in 2018. These days, you can still find Christian Luckett-Palmer parked in his truck on local Dallas roadsides carrying on his grandfather’s legacy. Luckett-Palmer’s truck bed is often crammed with immaculate South- and East Texas-sourced juicy watermelons and other organic fruits (peaches, plums, mangos, pineapples, cantaloupes and even Kool-Aid-brined pickles). The yellow watermelons, which are typically sweeter and have a more candied profile, are life-changing. For updates on when and where you can find Luckett-Palmer, check the PawPaw Facebook page.

Sisters Andrea and Jen Lubkin opened up this East Dallas shop in the former location of 20 Feet Seafood Joint last August and it’s a welcome addition to the city’s burgeoning bagel scene. Exceptional bagels and schmears are made in-house, and there are sandwiches, soups, sweets and a decent cup of coffee to wash it all down. Along with the expected schmear flavors it has some interesting choices such as roasted carrot hummus and chopped chicken liver along with whitefish salad. The bagels have a great chew factor, crisp on the outside but chewy on the inside.

The first Eataly opened in Torino, Italy, in 2007 and eventually found its way to New York with locations near the Flatiron, Downtown and SoHo. Opening in Dallas at NorthPark Center late in 2020, this destination for all things Italian quickly became the go-to spot for those searching for hard-to-find ingredients, artisanal products or just a good prepared meal at one of its three sit-down restaurants. You can also have some wine at the wine bar, sample freshly made pasta or grab a slice of pizza after you pick up that pound of prosciutto from the extensive deli.

Brick and Bones is a dive bar with a small kitchen that pushes out fried chicken that will change your life. First, the chicken rests in a brine of rich Mexican spices including japones, piquin, cayenne and morita peppers, honey, salt and garlic. Then it’s deep fried, creating a crust that hugs the meat and offers a light snap. The owners recently expanded to Rowlett and also offer a wide delivery area (especially since Dallas Police Department has choked off access to the restaurant on weekends). The mac and cheese ain’t no slouch either.

Cris and John, which opened in a small strip mall in 2017, is a wonderfully playful fusion of Vietnamese and Mexican street food, the brainchild of Cristina Mendez and John Pham. The phorrito, their take on a deconstructed bowl of pho inside a flour tortilla that is served with a side of pho broth for dipping, is perhaps the most popular offering, but don’t overlook the birria tacos, bao buns or chicken wings. It also offers several $35–$60 platters for those of us with low impulse control who want to try it all.

The Schmurger at Burger Schmurger is without a doubt the best burger in Dallas. Using an 80/20 mix of ground beef, the double patties are smashed thin on the grill and topped with sliced American cheese that melts and oozes perfectly. It is then garnished with house-brined dill pickles and thinly sliced grilled onions before being placed on a toasted buttery bun that has a generous spread of homemade burger sauce. The crispy edges of the meat and the hint of onion flavor melt in your mouth. If you like to spice things up, order a side of habanero mustard sauce and pour a little on the burger. But make sure you have an ice-cold beverage handy.

If you’re looking for the ultimate bang-for-your-buck breakfast burrito, look no further than Los Primos Tacos and More, just a few miles northwest of the Medical District. There you can indulge in a super stuffed breakfast burrito filled with scrambled eggs, beans and cheese and your choice of potatoes, ham, sausage, chorizo, Mexicana, bacon or machacado. While you wait, they give you a complimentary cup of savory fideo noodle soup to warm your belly. Be sure to top your burrito with some of the habanero salsa.

Just hitting the Dallas pizza scene this year is a new iteration of pizza called New Haven-style pizza, thanks to Fortunate Son, which recently opened in Garland. New Haven-style pizza, or “apizza,” is known for its thin, charred crust, and Fortunate Son achieves this by using a special dough recipe and baking the pizzas in a high-temperature oven. Our favorites are the white clam pizza topped with fresh clams, garlic and grated cheese, and the Meatzilla, which is loaded with pepperoni, Calabrese sausage, Italian sausage, Texas wagyu meatballs, pancetta, mozzarella, ricotta, spicy honey and Calabrian chiles. It’s a carnivore’s dream come true.

Meat U Anywhere has earned its reputation as the best barbecue spot to visit before the rooster crows, thanks to its unique offering of delicious, authentic Texas barbecue starting as early as 6 a.m. This early opening time caters to the morning crowd, making it a go-to destination for the breakfast barbecue lovers, early risers and those looking to kick start their day with a hearty, flavorful meal. Alongside the mouth-watering brisket, ribs and sausage, Meat U Anywhere offers a range of homemade sides and sauces as well as smoked meat breakfast tacos. A commitment to excellence and early bird service set it apart as a premier barbecue destination.

La Casita was a finalist for Outstanding Bakery in the 2024 James Beard Awards and we, too, have a huge crush on this Richardson bakery. Stellar croissants and pastries put them on the map in Dallas, but now there is a full monthly menu with unique creations and a full-on brunch menu. Preorders are essential to get your hands on a churro cruffin.

Born and bred in Cajun country (Lafayette, Louisiana) Nate’s Seafood & Steakhouse is a family-owned business that has been serving the Dallas area delicious Gulf seafood and crawfish for the last 35 years. It’s best known for its boiled crawfish, which is sourced directly from Louisiana, ensuring they are plump, tender and bursting with flavor. They are boiled with a blend of Cajun spices, garlic and other secret ingredients, creating a harmonious explosion of flavors. For those who want an extra kick of zest and fire, we recommend ordering it with the “turbo” seasoning sprinkled on top.

If you’re a wing enthusiast, look no further than Bad Chicken. These wings are slow-smoked and then flash-fried, resulting in tender, juicy meat without greasiness. With 26 flavors to choose from, including traditional buffalo styles and unique options like sweet pepper jelly, hot honey habanero, sweet Thai and Texas dust, there’s something for everyone. And try some of the 20-plus choices of dipping sauces, which range from peanut butter and jelly to marshmallow sauce and white BBQ. If bone-in chicken wings are not your thing, check out the boneless nuggets, bowls, salads and sandwiches. If it involves a bird, Bad Chicken has it.

The Blob at Parigi’s might be the most iconic dessert in Dallas and lives somewhere between a mousse, a warm brownie and euphoria. Order it warm (duh) with a scoop of ice cream on top (for that hot meets cold experience). You can also order the half and half, which nets you peach cobbler. The great thing about Parigi’s dessert menu is that the pie and cake offerings are updated weekly so everything is always fresh and new. It’s hard to pass the siren call of The Blob, but we trust you can sort it out (and get two desserts).

Would you drive north of 635 for a cup of coffee? For Eiland Coffee Roasters, we sure would. Clay Eiland has helped build the foundation of specialty coffee in Dallas for over 25 years. What started as a 10-by-20-foot barn on his property has turned into a full-blown roastery (532 N. Interurban St), and a coffee shop (2701 Custer Parkway, No. 917) in Richardson. All of his beans are sourced directly and ethically from acclaimed coffee regions such as Ethiopia and Costa Rica, plus more offbeat regions like Papua New Guinea. Your first sip of his coffee will be similar to the experience Eiland had at Café Vita in Seattle, where he discovered what coffee could be.

If you’ve been bitten by the cold brew bug, you might want to pay Halcyon in Lower Greenville a visit. The nitro cold brew at Halcyon is smooth and sharp. Brewed for 24 hours with beans from Houston-based Katz Coffee, this cup of joe will have you buzzing like a bee. It’s made the same way as the shop’s regular cold brew, but it’s infused with nitrogen, making it even smoother. When it’s first poured, it comes out with a head, like beer out of a tap. Try it black or with cream. There’s really no wrong way to go on this one.

The drinks at Juju’s Coffee are great; talking with Nick and Julia Rocha as they make them is even better. The couple opened their Lakewood storefront in April 2023 after serving out of a mobile Airstream trailer they call “Otis.” Upon entering Juju’s, it’s immediately clear that meeting new faces is just as important to the Rochas as making a great latte. Their loyal cast of regulars is a testament to their kindness and should propel them to many more years in the Dallas coffee scene.

The original, on Fitzhugh Avenue in East Dallas, is the type of charming spot you take out-of-towners or friends who aren’t yet aware how cool you are. It helps that the coffee is fantastic. LDU Coffee now has five locations spread throughout Dallas, each carrying bold Australian flavors no other coffee shop can match. Yet much of the local chain’s charms lies in the other ways it adheres to its Australian roots, namely the exceedingly kind owners and staff and the laid-back atmosphere, which is largely accomplished by the complete lack of Wi-Fi. Those owners want their guests to sit back, sip on coffee or espresso and then head on their merry way. Or, better yet, strike up conversation with the people around them.

The first Haraz Coffee House opened in Irving, and recently another opened in Plano. Here they serve cardamon-scented lattes and honeycomb bread. Be sure to request Haraz spice to your coffee or latte, adding a slightly exotic flavor to your drink. The star of the show at this Yemini coffee shop are the milk cakes, which are light and fluffy milk-soaked cakes in pistachio, rose and saffron. The Turkish mosaic cake is wonderful as well. The place is packed on the weekends, so plan accordingly.

10009 N. MacArthur Blvd., No. 101, Irving, and 4341 14th St., No. 300, Plano

Small-batch gourmet ice cream is churned onsite at Sweet Firefly. It’s been a go-to in the Richardson area for one-of-a-kind flavors and well-done classics. It’s local and woman-owned with a welcoming atmosphere for friends and families. If you eye the small sign above the ice cream case, you’ll spot adult ice cream options by Cow Tippin Ice Cream like the piña colada flavored “Caught ‘n the Rain” and other boozy churns. One scoop is plenty, but you can’t choose just one here. The honey lavender and lemon-vanilla are a match made in heaven.

You don’t have to blink to miss this under-the-radar doughnut shop in Oak Cliff. The sign “Donut Hot Donuts” didn’t give the impression that we struck a gold mine, but trust us, we did. They serve all the classics, but they’re just slightly different than your average doughnut shop. It’s all in the details: perfectly fried but not greasy. You can walk in and be welcomed by the friendly staff and walk out with a massive doughnut that costs you only $1. What a spot. Even if you shut your eyes and point at something, you’ll walk out with something good. Just get there early for the best selection.

Pastry chef Katherine Clapner founded Dude, Sweet Chocolate in 2009 with a mission to bend our perceptions of what chocolate can be. Using savory and sweet flavor profiles, along with quirky names, Dude will transform skepticism into addiction. Take FDA Chocolate Salami for instance, which has nary a bit of meat but rather figs, dates, almonds and dark chocolate mixed into a chocolate marzipan and formed into a salami-like tube. Fungus Amongus Soft Toffee goes great with a bit of cheese. And if you want to know why they call it Crack in Box, then try just one bite.

When you’re standing in the warm, red-lighted embrace of Mike’s Gemini Twin, a cocktail order is incomplete without an accompanying glizzy. The bar-top hot dog roaster is an unpretentious setup, but not much is better after a couple cold ones than the all-beef dog stuffed in a classic bun and served in a flimsy white paper tray. Drink deals — like the $12 dirty martini and dog combo offered on National Hot Dog Day — have solidified the weenies’ rule over the swanky Cedars Bar.

Situated in an intimate and historic Uptown cottage, Si Tapas is ideal for a dressy date night or a casual happy hour. Spanish-style tapas offerings range from the traditional to the adventurous. Some of our favorite dishes include the cauliflower gratin, baby lamb chops and marinated baby shark. True to the Spanish ethos, Si Tapas’ wine selection is as long as the food menu. If you find yourself out west, the restaurant recently expanded to a Fort Worth location.

As if we weren’t already won over by the $15 mimosa carafes and house-made jams, the consistently low-to-no wait times on weekends make Crickles & Co. the best of the best. Open seating and the self-serve coffee bar make for an unpretentious dining experience. Everything is made from scratch, which is obvious from the first bite of buttermilk biscuit. The spicy bacon ciabatta, topped with bacon, fried eggs, tomato jelly, cheddar cheese and jalapeño aioli, was voted the best breakfast sandwich in Texas by Love Food.

4000 Cedar Springs Road

Located near the Katy Trail’s famous Ice House, Tequila Social is just a hop, skip and a jump from the American Airlines Center. TVs and frozen margaritas are ideal for sipping through a pregame breakdown, and the crispy chicken flautas are some of our favorites anywhere. Tequila Social isn’t the easiest to access by road, but if you’re traveling to the AAC via The Katy Tail you won’t miss the large, dog-friendly patio.

Croissants, cinnamon rolls, rye bread: it’s all delicious at Oak Cliff Bread, but the sourdough loaves are the name of this bakery’s game. The locally owned shop started out as a cottage bakery selling out of the Dallas Farmers Market and moved into a Tyler Station storefront last fall. The sourdough loaves are toasty on the outside and squishy on the inside and made fresh on the three days of the week (Thursday – Saturday) Oak Cliff Bread is open. Sourdough has become the trendiest loaf in recent years thanks to pandemic-era social media trends, but if you’d rather let the professionals handle bread baking, nobody does it better.

It’s the perfect hangover meal. Actually, we can’t think of a time when it isn’t perfect to have a plate of chilaquiles. And no one does chilaquiles better than Taco Y Vino. Since opening in Bishop Arts in 2019, Taco Y Vino has been named to pretty much every Dallas outlet’s “Best Restaurants” list. The tacos and wine have received endless acclaim, but it is the chilaquiles, served daily until 3 p.m., that we are highlighting here. Crispy, bite sized chips are tossed in your choice of red or green salsa and loaded with your choice of protein and eggs over medium or scrambled.

If you’ve grown weary of avocado toast for breakfast, it’s time for White Rock Granola. It’s made right here in Dallas, and you couldn’t duplicate it if you tried. Choose from lots of flavors, but be sure to try the C4 Explosion, made with cinnamon, cashews, cranberries and a touch of cayenne pepper. It will make you want to get out of bed earlier than usual. Available online and from various Central Markets, Jimmy’s, Opening Bell Coffee and, naturally, Rooster Home & Hardware and the Lakewood Ace Hardware (makes sense if you think about, but don’t).

You might have to work for this one, but it’s well worth the effort. Girl With Flour bakes indescribably delicious sourdough bread, croissants, focaccia, fougasse (the French version of focaccia), “pop tarts” that will make you forget all about that outfit in Battle Creek and lots of other goodies. GWF (also known as Erika Lam Radtke) doesn’t have a storefront but she delivers to an area that includes southern McKinney, Allen, Plano, Far North Dallas, Castle Hills and Frisco. Otherwise, if you’re lucky, you can catch her at a pop-up such as White Rock Market (1450 Old Gate Lane, East Dallas) on Saturdays.

You can tell a lot about someone from both the music they like and their coffee order. Spin Coffee and Vinyl allows you to cut out some of the small talk and get right to those points. It’s a hybrid cafe and record store, as the name suggests, that also has a cereal bar and board games available for guests. Hey, there’s two other things you can find out about your date: their favorite cereal and how competitive they are.

Since 1990, Jeng Chi has been a family-owned and operated Chinese and Taiwanese restaurant where the dumplings shine, particularly the steamed “juicy” dumplings made by hand daily and filled with a rich broth, pork, ginger and green onion. Noodle dishes are also popular as is the stir fry. As for the technique for eating a steaming dumpling: use the spoon to bite open the dumpling, but don’t eat it yet; let it cool for a minute, then eat it.

This whimsical cereal bar in Bishop Arts has more than 100 different kinds of cereals, which is probably more than you thought existed. In addition to the classics you can find at the grocery store, The Spelled Milk serves cereal from all around the world, including gluten-free, vegan and keto-friendly as well as a rotating selection of niche limited-edition flavors. The store is lined with vintage boxes, ads and murals, giving the place a museum-like quality. It’s an experience worth putting on your pants and leaving the house for, the highest praise we can give to a bowl of cereal.

If you’re a crust person, Humble Pie is your pie shop. The fruit pies here all have a thick pastry crust as comforting as grandma’s quilt. The traditional apple pie is loaded with 2 pounds of apples (tart Granny Smith and sweet Gala) and topped with a thick crust. The Damn Fine Cherry uses tart and sweet cherries. The Hell Pepper Peach is a traditional Southern pie in which the peaches are tossed with one Carolina reaper pepper, each bite a bit of sweet and heat. The Bayou Goo pie is made with cream cheese, candied pecans and chocolate cream all covered with chantilly cream, more chocolate and candied pecans. They also have mini pies if you want to try one of everything, which of course you do.

The tater tots fried in duck fat at Gemma are a decadent and indulgent treat that redefines a classic favorite. The duck fat imparts a rich, savory flavor and an extra layer of crispiness that is simply unparalleled. The inside remains light and fluffy, providing a perfect contrast to the crunchy exterior. Accompanying these gourmet tater tots is a smoked malt vinegar aioli that adds a complex, tangy twist. This dish is a standout at Gemma and pairs nicely with steak, duck or chicken with a sophisticated take on a beloved comfort food.

Chef Terrill Burnett at South Polk Pizzeria in Oak Cliff classifies his pizza as “Neo-New York style,” a cross between Neapolitan and New York. The result is a thin crust with a nice little bounce. The Detroit native, who was junior chef at Nobu and also worked in the kitchen at Knife, makes as much as he can from scratch, including the pizza sauce and ranch dressing. The sausage is from Jimmy’s, and he also carries halal beef, turkey pepperoni and vegan cheese as options. There’s a small dining room here, but many orders are to-go, which is made easy on the website. Try the cup-and-char pepperoni with sausage and a hot honey drizzle.

In 2023, The Grapevine Bar had to move from its original location on Maple Avenue after the building and land were sold, and we were, admittedly, a bit panicked. Would it be able to transition to a new space and take with it the quirky, laid-back feel it so uniquely offered? Not only is it the same come-one-come-all vibe that never takes anything too seriously, now there’s just much more space, with several outdoor courtyards to smoke ciggies and sip a strong frozen cocktail.

Hudson House has a lot going for it: a great burger, good happy hour and the entire seafood menu. So, the humble mac and cheese may fly under the radar, but no visit here should go without a side of the comforting dish. In fact, it’s worth a trip alone. It’s worth frequent-flyer miles. Swirly fusilli pasta packs in the smooth cheese. A thick layer of lightly broiled cheese lies atop the dish, like a quilted blanket. A perfect balance of rich, smooth and gluttonous, this is superior mac and cheese.

Royally plated desserts, intricately patterned crepes and huge chocolate fountains are all trademarks of Dessert Avenue, a new dessert-themed cafe in Murphy. A 13-page menu of desserts makes decisions here a sinfully challenging task, but a delightful one for the sweet-toothed. Patrons can find a safe start in any of Dessert Avenue’s five signature crepes, filled with fruits, creams and syrups before being enveloped in a cascade of hot chocolate fondue; or with the pastries, sourced directly from local bakers. Fried cheesecake, molten lava cake and a signature sizzling brownie plate are other standouts on the menu that prove tempting, especially during late-night hours.208 W. FM 544, No. 106, Murphy

Since 1966, Jimmy’s has been a Dallas favorite for imported groceries, wine and old-school Italian charisma. The same family, the DiCarlos, continues to run the spot. The small aisles here are full of hard-to-find goodies and a curated selection of Italian wines. The freezers are loaded with pasta and sauces to take home and make an amazing meal. But head to the back of the store for a muffaletta, Italian sub or meatball sandwich, all made to order. Go for an Italian beef with thinly sliced meat, oregano and peppers soaked in an au jus.

Start with a stellar batch of shrimp shumai steamed dumplings before diving into a bowl of ramen. There are plenty of broths to choose from: tonkatsu, black tonkatsu, baisen shoyu and miso. Can’t decide? Order the half-and-half, which comes in a divided bowl allowing you to slurp two different types, topped with proteins like shrimp with shell on (for prime flavor) and chashu. They also serve sides of tsukemen if you’re here for the noodles. Decked out in natural wood with semi-private booths and modern Japanese accents, this is a great date-night spot. There are also locations in Denton and Fort Worth.

The State Fair of Texas lasts about a month in the fall, but you can get bonafide fried food treats year-round at this South Dallas restaurant. Southside Steaks & Cakes won a Big Tex award in 2022 for its Peanut Butter Paradise, which is a honey bun rolled in funnel cake batter and injected with caramel before getting a dunk in a deep fryer. It’s then topped with peanut butter and chocolate. You can also get cheesesteaks, which are a favorite at the State Fair.

Fresh-cooked tapioca balls, artfully ombréd drinks and vibey lounge space are hallmarks of Alley Boba, which has locations in Garland and Plano. The Taiwan-based bubble tea shop, originally the creative vision of graphic designer Mao Ting Chiu, first gained Instagram fame for its characteristic decor and photographable lounge space, but more recently has earned rightful acclaim for its bubble teas, complete with a warm scoop of some of the chewiest tapioca balls we’ve tried in the area. Loyalists swear by The Alley’s signature purple rice drink, a tangy yogurt base that’s sweetened with pockets of sticky purple rice, or the brown sugar creme brulee boba, streaked with brown sugar swirl and textured with fluffy mounds of egg pudding. Browse through safe choices on the hard-to-miss “top 5” menu while munching on the signature croissant-waffles, decorated in fluffy chantilly cream and sprinkled in sugar.

For an authentic start-to-finish Vietnamese meal in Dallas, look no further than Bep Nha, a jungle-themed Vietnamese oasis tucked away in the outskirts of the city. A fully Vietnamese menu — only loosely translated to English — speaks to the authenticity of the food, which ranges from bun bo hue, a spicy beef noodle soup, to the more commonly known banh mi, a crunchy bread filled with your choice of protein and served with a side of peanut sauce. End off with the ca phe trung nuong (egg coffee), topped with an indulgently creamy egg foam that has an almost-addicting flavor depth to it. Enjoy it all in a dining room festooned with jungle-themed greenery.

A celebrated chef, world-renowned mixologist and passionate entrepreneur are all key factors driving the skyrocketing popularity of Sanjh, which has been referred to by many as Dallas’s hottest new Indian restaurant. The high-end dining concept, which is the brainchild of serial Dallas entrepreneur Sanjay Joshi, specializes in what’s branded as “creative Indian cuisine,” a tagline that’s upheld by menu options like smoked sweet potato chaat, goat-cheese-stuffed paneer and tangy blue cheese kulcha. Plant-based dishes like the saag anjeer kebab, a hand-pounded mix of spinach and sweet fig, pose lighter alternatives to options like the prawn mango curry or curried goat kebabs. End off with a ginormous $25 pin0x0303ata-style chocolate ‘ladoo’ that’s broken apart at the table, while sipping Indian-inspired cocktails crafted by a world-famous mixologist. It’s all served with eye-catching presentation in a moody ambiance.

Each season, all of Oak Cliff anticipates the old favorites and exciting newcomers of Hola Café´s specialty drinks. Owner Jeniffer Ávila is a wizard behind the espresso machine with her banana, tiramisu and red velvet lattes that only come around once a year. The fortune cookie latte, banana matcha and marshmallow fluff mochas are other perfect excuses to turn Hola into your go-to coffee shop. Not that you would need one, anyway. People mark their calendars for these bad boys, and soon you will too.

In a world of full-service dine-in theaters, the Angelika still has a humble concession counter where food and drinks are ordered and then schlepped by customers to their seats. It may be old fashioned in that regard (much to the relief of people who don’t like their movie interrupted by servers), but the selection of snacks is more cutting edge than your standard bucket of popcorn. The cafe offers gourmet sandwiches, cookies and a full bar with a broad selection of wine, beer and craft cocktails.