Food & Drink

You can't have tacos without good ice cream, and you can't have ice cream without good tacos. That's what Casa Del Bro will tell you. Tacos here are rightfully lauded. Chile verde carnitas and spicy chicken tinga come topped with pineapple habanero or creamy jalapeño ranch. The menu is completely customizable with other entree options like burritos, quesadillas and nachos. But our biggest advice here: don't fill yourself with mains. It's what comes after that merits this place a spot on our list: some of the creamiest ice cream we've tried. Even the usual varirties like chocolate and vanilla are packed with fresh ingredients and flavors. Sink your tongue into house specials like a cookie butter flavor, made with a marshmallow-flavored cream base and studded with globs of gooey cookie butter. A Mexican chocolate comes with a spicy cinnamon flavor buried underneath. Come early, as they run out early. And we know why.

The history of small brewers and their long, bitter fight against politically entrenched alcohol distributors and corporate giants has been detailed elsewhere — for instance, in Brown and coauthor Paul Hightower’s book North Texas Beer: A Full-Bodied History of Brewing in Dallas, Fort Worth and Beyond. Since the Legislature allowed small breweries to both open taprooms and sell their beer outside of their own premises in 2013, and permitted them to sell beer to go in 2019, the taps have been opened wide for craft beer at last.

Brown, a certified beer judge who started his Beer in Big D blog in 2013, is happy about that, naturally. Well, mostly happy, it seems.

Talking with Brown, one gets the sense that he’s a little wistful for Texas craft brewing’s salad days, when a small group of beer lovers decided they wanted to try their hands at craft brewing and had to fight like the devil to win that right from lawmakers in Austin.

“I’d kind of gotten interested in the community of it,” Brown says of his start in writing about craft beer. “It kind of brought back the whole pub culture.”

In the 19th century, brewing beer locally in small batches was a side hustle for immigrant German farmers and shopkeepers. Biergartens flourished and virtually every small town in Texas had its local brews. Dallas had Mayer’s Garden, a massive entertainment complex built in 1881 offering live music nightly, a restaurant, vaudeville acts, a zoo, a shooting gallery and beer, beer, beer in a family-friendly garden where all classes mingled.

Prohibition and the arrival of giant corporate breweries in the mid-20th century eventually wiped out the small brewers and biergartens, but growing interest in home-brewing in ’90s sparked a revival of small-batch brewing.

Early on in the craft beer revival, the brewers all knew and supported one another, banding together in Austin to gain a seat at the bar. When a brewer held an event to celebrate the release of a new beer, other brewers would come to show support. Today, Brown says, he’ll visit taprooms to try a release and never meet the person who brewed it. He seldom sees brewers mingling at one another’s events these days. It’s the price of success, one supposes.

Tastes have changed, too. Younger drinkers want a variety drinks — wine, cider, cocktails — along with food and entertainment. To compete, brewers need their customers to linger and spend.

“You want to be a one-stop-shop today,” Brown says. “You want to have beer, beer to go. You want to have a food option. … The younger kids are into canned cocktails and stuff. So, taprooms are introducing their owned labeled whiskey. … These days are about diversifying.”

In that way, he says, things have come full circle. So, who knows? Maybe someday we’ll all mingle again to sip suds, check out the lions and catch a vaudeville act. There are certainly worse futures to look forward to. (But a beer garden/shooting range? Let’s give that one a little more thought.)

Susan Shihab and Nora Soofi bring the flavors of their Yemeni hometown to Richardson at Arwa Yemeni Coffee. Honeycomb bread, nut-stuffed dates and pound cake drenched with rose syrup are just some of the Yemen-inspired treats that draw visitors to line up out the door during peak hours. Linger over a cardamom-scented coffee, black Adeni tea or a dirty chai while you soak up the decor. Light-washed wooden tones, lush plants and a beautifully lit patio all pay homage to Arwa, an Arabic name that means "beauty and grace."

A "cheeky Australian take" on the classic Italian coffee shop, LDU Coffee opened its doors to the Dallas public in 2017. Two Australian brothers with a passion for coffee was all it took for the concept to skyrocket in popularity. Blending the Australian coffee-drinking culture into the Texas food scene, the brothers roast all of their coffee in-house with a proprietary Australian recipe that the two came up with together. The difference is obvious, and the coffee is stronger than most. The popular flat white coffee comes with a fluffy milk foam floating atop a rich coffee base. LDU's Cowboy Juice and a Captain America coffee are even stronger, both claiming to "fly you straight into tomorrow." Add-ons like honey, cinnamon and extra shots of espresso treat you to the real Australian coffee-drinking experience.

Modern Asian fare meets ultra-sleek decor at Uchi, a rave-worthy Japanese food destination in Dallas. First, dive into one of Uchi's inventive daily specials. Tomato crudo, sweet potato pave and a pesto-dressed crab maki might catch your initial attention and hunger. Take your time to move on to the main menu. Uchi's various raw fish platters are arguably the stars of the chilled side of the menu, while a green-curry lobster dish elevates the hot. For a mix of both temperature extremes, try the leche frita, a plate of curdled milk balls that have been battered and dunked in the deep-fryer. For the indecisive folks: a 10-course omakase menu lets you sample a little of everything that makes Uchi a Dallas foodies favorite.

Chef Marko Ramirez-Pursley opened his Puerto-Rican-fusion food truck in his island hometown, but Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, brought the chef and his newly painted food truck to Dallas. The truck's crispy Puerto Rican empanadas are a good place to start, stuffed generously with caramelized meat or vegetables. Try the scoopable stew of meats, beans and vegetables that comes with El Chifrijo's plantain nacho chips. Puerto Rican Mofongo (mashed plantains), rice croquettes and street tacos are other inventive menu options. Everything served from the back of Chifrijo's truck bursts with flavor and passion.

Chocolate and horchata join forces under the roof of CocoAndre in the Bishops Art District. Truffles here melt in the mouth to reveal fruity, milky and even liquor-infused fillings. Indulge in a couple of café-con-leche truffles, which break open to a creamy, coffee-flavored chocolate filling, or a more adventurous pear-ginger variety, stuffed with a pear ganache and tiled in crystallized ginger. Other funky chocolate flavors like strawberry passion fruit and rosemary ginger are sure to please. Inspired by her Mexican heritage, owner Andrea Pedraza also has an horchata menu with nine varieties of seasonal dishes. Wash your chocolate down with a creamy mazapan horchata, which has a light toasted nutty flavor. Coco Andre is closing its storefront sometime in the next year and transitioning to a new business models, so stop by while you can.

Dallas' first all-vegetarian buffet is inside a temple, which makes it a little hard to locate at first. Named after a sacred city in India, Kalachandji's is the first in Dallas to serve fully vegetarian fare. The menu rotates daily, but visitor favorites are always present. Help yourself to a few servings of fresh basmati rice, which mixes well with any of the seven-plus curries on the menu. Scoop it into a disk of papadum, a crispy Indian lentil snack that's slightly puffier than a potato chip and dotted with toasted fennel seeds. Cleanse the palate between trips to the buffet line with the signature lemonade, which offers bursts of tangy tamarind flavor in between sips. The most enjoyable part, though, might be lingering over your food in the courtyard — maybe under the giant tree in the center. Warm lights treat the eyes, water sounds soothe the ears and flavor-packed food tingles the palate. It's truly an all-around sensory experience.

You won't find your typical Indian food at Windmills, a high-end restaurant and brewery in The Colony. With its flagship location in the Indian city of Bangalore, Windmills expanded its award-winning food overseas in 2021. The Colony branch has retained much of the culinary creativity from the original India location, but almost everything — from starters to desserts — comes fried, fattened and Tex-ified. Start with a plate of Texas-fried cheese curds served with a mint-yogurt dipping sauce. The guava chicken plate comes with tandoori chicken that's been marinated in a tropical guava dressing. It's paired with a sweet-and-spicy guava mayo on the side. Entrees like a Texas bourbon rib-eye and grilled pork chops all come with subtle Indian twists on the classic recipe. The live music on weekend nights spruces up the dining experience here, as does the freshly brewed beer. Grab a reservation, a beer and the willingness to explore a cuisine you didn't know existed.

Brown sugar milk, golden fruit teas and a creamy taro slush are just some of the specialty drinks you can find on Tea Daddy's menu. But what sets the hidden gem apart from Texas' over-saturated boba scene is not so much the drinks themselves; it's more what happens at the bottom of the cup. Tea Daddy makes all of its boba fresh in-house so that it's scooped hot into your drink. And while hot boba and iced drinks don't seem like a particularly enthralling combination, Tea Daddy has proven otherwise. The tea shop's iced, lightly sweetened teas provide a perfect background for hot, sugary tapioca pearls to melt inside. Order your beverage topped with a salted egg cream or cheese foam, both of which float on top and set the stage for an even creamier drink. Enjoy your boba in-store, then grab a few signature Tea Daddy egg tarts or tiramisu cakes for the road. Neither the food nor the drinks disappoint.

The name of this hidden gem in Dallas' Mockingbird Station is the first hint of what might be the creamiest soft serve in the state of Texas. Pure Milk & Honey gets its name from the two star ingredients in its ice cream. Organic Texas milk sourced from a local dairy farm is sweetened with natural honey and churned fresh in-house. The result is a thick, ultra-creamy soft serve that melts on the tongue almost instantaneously. But the texture is just the first part of the allure. Standard flavors such as a honey lavender and creamy milk chocolate soft serve compete with seasonal flavors like a buttery roasted pecan. Get your ice cream swirled in a cup, lick it from a cone or even order it sandwiched between layers of Pure Milk & Honey's signature honey ice cream cake. Any way you eat it, the texture is just as divine.

Sample Spanish delicacies like seared prawns, seafood paellas and ham croquettes — among others — right in the heart of Dallas. Located in the Bishops Art District, Sketches of Spain has made it its mission to bring authentic Spanish tapas and snacks to North Texas. Try the patatas bravas: a plate of crispy potato wedges garnished with a drizzle of spicy mayo. Piquillo peppers come stuffed with salted cod cream and drenched in a creamy tomato purée. A zucchini platter offers sautéed vegetables and seafood encased inside four blistered zucchini cups floating in a plate of tomato sauce. The local tapas bar also sells family-style paellas, priced by-the-head. Bring a big appetite, a group to share and some time to sample some of everything on the menu ... tapa-style.

Tracy Dowd of Garland looks to have mastered the fine art of pie crust-ing at her hole-in-the-wall bakery Piefalootin. Six-plus years of selling pies from her home and now her own bakery has led to the creation of drool-worthy pies with crust-to-filling ratios that don't disappoint. Over 23 different varieties of pie come in mildly clever names like the Chocolate EuphOREO, which is stacked high with layers of Oreo cookies buried under whipped chocolate cream. The Cinco de PIE-yo is served with the same chocolate cream but scooped atop a bed of spicy cinnamon-flavored brownies. A dollop of cayenne whipped cream on top gives it an extra kick at the end. Cherry, apple and peach fruit pies are available, too, depending on what's in season. Buy a couple of slices for $8 each or try your sampling luck with a "pie flight" of three different flavors for $16. Once you get down to the ultra-buttery, flake-in-the-mouth pie crusts, you'll understand the hype.

Asian Mint's Thai-fusion menu has earned it multiple recognitions among Dallas's culinary critics, local Yelp Elites and just everyday Thai-food enthusiasts since the restaurant opened in 2004. Customer favorites like the crispy-noodle kao soy are accompanied by comfort Thai dishes like the pad kee mow, drenched in a savory basil stir-fry sauce. Being born and raised in Thailand only makes chef Nikky Phinyawatana more credible. Four different iterations of the classic pad thai are a testament to the culinary creativity here. A crispy pad Thai comes with fried wonton strips soaked in Asian Mint's house-made tamarind sauce and topped with crushed peanuts. The focal point of the pad Thai woon sen is a base of clear glass noodles. Fried rices, hot curries and Thai-inspired salads add to the allure. Asian mint boasts fresh ingredients, large portions and diet-conscious menu options at all five of its locations.

Loved for its hand-pulled noodles, fresh buns and authentic Chinese cooking, Royal China has been a favorite on Dallas' food map since opening in the '70s. Not to be missed here are the homemade dumplings. Rice dumpling pockets come stuffed with shrimp, celery, jicama, chicken and pork among other ingredients. Steamed dumplings come with a beautifully chewy wrapper, which breaks into generous fillings of fresh meats and vegetables. A pan-seared option features a slight crispiness on the outer layer. Dumpling enthusiasts shouldn't leave without trying the soup dumplings, which burst open to reveal a pork soup broth inside. Owner and chef Buck Kao moved to America from Taiwan in 1974 and has since made it his mission to bring authentic Taiwanese recipes (and dumplings) to Dallas.

Recently named a finalist for Best Chef Texas by the James Beard Foundation, chef Reyna Duong knows how to make a pretty good sandwich. But run-of-the-mill sandwiches have no place on Sandwich Hag's menu, which instead offers six varieties of Vietnamese banh mi. Loaded with items like lemongrass pork, ginger chicken and curried vegetables, each comes with a buttered, baguette-like bread that's crunchy on the outside and fluffy within. Dip your bread into a warm pool of coconut-milk soup on the side. Sandwich Hag's curry soup is a hearty blend of bell pepper, shallots and your choice of chicken or vegan protein. Drinks like a Vietnamese coconut iced coffee are available, but are arguably overshadowed by Sandwich Hag's famous lemonade. The popular beverage is scented with hibiscus flowers and sweetened with a light strawberry flavor. Fruit jelly sits at the bottom of the cup and adds a chewy finish to the end of each sip.

Asian flavors are baked and churned into just about everything on the menu at this hole-in-the-wall ice cream joint in Plano. Start with a scoop of Vietnamese coffee, which comes with a rich coffee-infused base studded with chocolate-covered cookies. A creamy coconut-ube ice cream has a purple yam-scented base with pockets of crunchy coconut pulp buried throughout. Test your curiosity with other unique flavors like the black sesame and avocado toast, which are all churned fresh in-house by owner and ice-cream-enthusiast Charlie Lin. Accompany your ice cream order with C&B's fresh-baked goods, which are no less exotic than the frozen treats. Options like a brown-butter miso and a sesame-seed-studded chocolate chip make a great snack in-store or on the ride home.

Shiva's Bar and Grill is named after the Hindu deity of everything good and pure, which is fitting. Everything on the menu here is enticing. Order a la carte from different types of herb-scented biryani or indulge in chunks of Indian cottage cheese tossed in a creamy curry-scented pool of goodness. The cornerstone of the menu, though, is the royal chef's meal, which lives up to almost every expectation set by the name. For just over $80, the meal for two comes with a medley of deep-fried starters, oven-baked breads and cream-based curries. Food is delivered to the table in four waves, which begin almost immediately after you order. Towers of curry, trays of dipping sauces and huge baskets of naan bread are almost intimidating at first but oh-so-gratifying after you've taken a few bites.

Tucked away in a dated, unassuming strip mall on Lower Greenville Avenue is an old-fashion diner that has been in business for over 50 years. John's Café is a mom-and-pop that serves breakfast that really sticks to the ribs. Classics like a stack of three pancakes, French toast or even chicken-fried steak include two eggs, your choice of bacon, sausage, or ham and hash brown, grits or toast. You can also get huevos rancheros or have a delicious omelet with gyro meat. This place has repeat patrons who live nearby as well as others who make a weekly pilgrimage just to get the baklava for dessert. If you don't get there with the early bird breakfast crowd, expect a wait.

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to wake up in Mexico surrounded by intoxicating scents of home-cooked dishes and vibrant colors, you'll have to travel no further than Deep Ellum. Every Sunday morning Revolver Taco Lounge Gastro Cantina serves a feast of authentic Mexican dishes your high school Spanish teacher never told you about. The Sunday brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will either have you singing in the streets or ready for siesta. There's costilla en chile de arbol tatemado (baby back pork ribs in roasted chile de arbol sauce) and guisado gobernador de langosta y camaron (lobster and shrimp in a chipotle cream sauce). For the less adventurous, there are carnitas and chilaquiles (fried tortilla, egg, salsa). One of the best parts of this brunch is the homemade tortillas. Nursing a hangover? Try the menudo.

We've heard breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and whether you're combating rush-hour traffic or have the luxury of time to savor the moment, there is nothing like sinking your teeth into a made-from-scratch buttery and flaky biscuit sandwich. At Goodfriend Package you can get as creative as you'd like with the BYO Biscuit, but we recommend you kickstart your day with an already created masterpiece like the Bronx or the Notorious ($8 each). The Bronx is loaded with pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and million island dressing, and the Notorious is an egg white, roast beef, sliced tomato, Swiss cheese and horseradish mayo masterpiece. To heck with a bowl of Wheaties. These biscuit sandwiches truly are the "breakfast of champions."

The James Beard Foundation didn't select Restaurant Beatrice as the winner of the Best New Restaurants this year, but we still think it's a Cajun gem worth celebrating. The menu changes regularly and showcases the freshest seasonal ingredients available. Chefs artfully blend family heirloom recipes with their own unique twist and masterfully pay homage to the traditions, hospitality and cultural heritage of Louisiana. Favorites like jambalaya, gumbo and red beans and rice regularly grace the menu, but indulging in MawMaw's fried chicken is a must, especially when paired with the sinful praline syrup.

Scardello is a small, family-owned and -operated business that has become a renowned destination for cheese lovers seeking a diverse and high-quality range of cheeses from around the world. The staff pride themselves on providing a personalized and knowledgeable cheese experience, and with their wealth of expertise they're eager to guide you through on cheese journey. From creamy brie to tangy cheddar, aged Gouda and pungent blue cheese, there is something to satisfy every palate. The shop frequently introduces seasonal cheeses, allowing customers to discover and indulge in limited-edition offerings. And it often hosts cheese classes, tastings and events where cheese enthusiasts can expand their knowledge and appreciation for this beloved culinary delight.

The story of Val's Cheesecake is one of turning tragedy into triumph. After owner Val Jean-Bart lost his beloved mother to cancer, he turned their Sunday ritual of baking into a full-blown business. Eleven years later, it is still thriving, as evidenced by its recent expansion to a second location at 1111 S. Akard St. (near the Cedars). With more than 15 flavors on the regular menu, Val's offers the option to indulge in cheesecakes via jars, slices or whole cheesecakes (available in 7-inch or 9-inch versions). We love the individual jars for their ability to strike the perfect balance of satisfying your sweet tooth without compromising your waistline.

You might not think of a place serving Asian street food as a contender for the best chicken wings in Dallas. But the Korean Twice Fried Wings at Hawker's in Deep Ellum should be at the top of any wing lover's list. They are larger than your standard chicken wing with an extra crispy exterior, which Hawker's achieves by adding a little cornstarch to the batter, then double frying the wings and tossing them in garlic gochujang sauce and topping it with peanuts, sesame and cilantro. Get your napkins ready, not only for your saucy fingers, but also to wipe the drool from your face.

Texans take their chili seriously. Restaurants that choose to serve this it better darn well know how to properly make a Texas-style chili if they want to survive. And Billy Can Can does just that. Their bowl of red pays homage to one of the most popular dishes in the state. It's hearty and flavorful, with a rich and robust blend of slow-cooked beef, beef bacon, spices, longhorn cheddar and pickled jalapeños. Order it with a side of the cast-iron cornbread with green chiles and honey butter.

The extra chocolatey chip cookie at Café Duro will shatter any keto aspirations you may have, but they are well worth the sacrifice of your waistline. Packed with luscious chunks of melty chocolate and perfectly adorned with a sprinkle of sea salt, each bite offers a harmonious blend of sweet and savory sensation. And while it may seem crazy to pay $4 per cookie, trust us when we tell you they are worth every penny. Whether paired with a steaming cup of coffee, a glass of wine after dinner or simply enjoyed on their own, these cookies will have you going out of your way to spoil yourself even more.

MiCocina has gained well-deserved fame for its Mambo Taxi cocktail, but it's time to let you in on another one of its hidden gems: the crunchy beef taco. We know you're wondering what could be so special about some ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese stuffed into a hard taco shell? But the thing that puts MiCocina's tacos a step above the rest is the grated cheese: long, thicker cuts of cheddar cheese that will have you contemplating whether to forgo the lettuce and tomatoes to make more room for the cheese. Add a little hot sauce on top and thank us later.

You don't need to go to Miami anymore for a great Cuban sandwich. Dallas has some great options, but the Cuban that makes our mouth water is the one at Bella Flan. Made with authentic Cuban bread, it has slow-roasted Cuban mojo pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and spicy Bella Flan mustard served with fried plantain chips. The pork and ham are both tender and sweet, and when combined with the sour pickles, spicy mustard and crunchy Cuban bread, it's a combination of flavors that will put a smile on your face.

Deli News, a Dallas institution for over 35 years, is known for its authentic Jewish deli fare. It is as close to a traditional New York deli as you're ever going to get in Texas, and the people are much nicer. From towering pastrami and corned beef sandwiches to hearty matzo ball soups and savory latkes, there is something for everyone. Everything is made from scratch, even the pickles. We especially like the everything bagel with cream cheese and house-cured Nova lox salmon. A crisp toasted bagel with everything seasoning is the perfect canvas for a slathering of cream cheese and piled-high smoked salmon. Crispy, creamy, smoky, savory and briny all in a bite. It doesn't get much better.

Jaram's Donuts has broken the mold of the typical doughnut shop, going beyond the traditional glazed and chocolate varieties and giving customers a newfound love for sweet fried dough. While the proprietors do offer what they call "average Joe" doughnuts, they are turning the doughnut world upside down with their stunning, artistic and mouth-watering creations. Crème Brûlée and pumpkin cream are just a glimpse of the delectable flavors they offer. Doughnuts are also topped with fresh fruit, peanut butter cups and even fancy Ferrero Rocher candy. Want to try a different style of doughnut? Don't miss out on the funnel cake doughnuts or croissant doughnuts, which can be filled or topped with an array of options to satisfy your sweet tooth.

When it comes to fajitas, few things are more disappointing than receiving a dry, overcooked dish with the veggie-to-meat ratio completely out of whack. Thankfully, at Uncle Julio's, you can bid farewell to those concerns, and you'ill never have to ask "Where's the beef?" Mesquite-grilled beef fajitas are served with generous portions of tender steak (available in barbacoa, skirt or filet options) cooked to a perfect medium rare, which ensures a flavorful bite with every mouthful. Prepared with the same level of care, the chicken and shrimp fajitas are also mesquite-grilled and served with an incredible Mexican butter for dipping, taking your level of indulgence to a whole new level.

Not all catfish joints are created equal. There are standard joints and then there is Ronnie's Catfish & More, which might be in a league of its own. With multiple locations throughout the area, Ronnie's has built a reputation for serving exceptional, succulent and expertly fried catfish that will keep you coming back for more. Whether you opt for catfish nuggets, tails or fillets, each is flawlessly fried to golden brown perfection, delivering a delicate crunch that gives way to the tender meat inside. What sets Ronnie's apart is the well-seasoned and carefully crafted batter that achieves the ideal balance of crispiness while allowing the natural flavors of the catfish to shine through.

In a humble corner inside a family-owned laundromat, Tram Dao, a determined Vietnamese immigrant, embarked on a mission to craft the ultimate chicken tenders for her son, Mike, known for his discerning (i.e., picky) palate. Over time, she expanded the menu to include bone-in fried chicken, fluffy, buttery biscuits, an array of savory sides and an assortment of flavorful dipping sauces (our favorite is Mike's Sauce). Every order is prepared as it is received, ensuring that no chicken is left behind under heat lamps for extended periods of time. As a result, you must embrace a patient mindset upon entering, knowing that this is not a fast-food chicken joint. This fried chicken perfection is worth the wait.

A James Beard Award finalist in 2022, chef Tiffany Derry is serving up some of the best gumbo (My Mother's Gumbo) in Dallas. We would even go so far as to say it is some of the best gumbo in Texas. Her gumbo is a combination of chicken, andouille sausage, shrimp and blue crab, so you get the best of everything in a bowl of rich and savory roux. The roux is not as dark and thick as you often find in restaurants attempting to serve gumbo around here, which is a nod to a great gumbo. It's served with an actual blue crab cluster, and if you're willing to spend the time cracking the shell, you'll find sweet chunks of crab meat hidden inside.

If you're seeking some late-night sustenance to ward off the impending hangover after a night out in Deep Ellum, look no further than Thunderbird Station. Located in a converted service station, Thunderbird is a throwback to the groovy vibes of the '70s with retro décor throughout, including a real Ford Thunderbird hung above the bar. The unpretentious comfort food here hits the spot, such as Frito pie and the bologna sandwich, offered two ways. Larry's Lunchbox is served cold with mustard, onions and cheese. Our favorite, the Boss, is served fried with cheese, grilled onion, jalapeños and secret sauce.

There are dozens of Vietnamese restaurants serving pho in the Dallas area, but one of the best is Pho Bac in Richardson. Of the 10 varieties of beef pho, our favorite is the Tai Kobe pho, which captures the essence of what a great bowl of pho should be. It is evident that Pho Bac takes the time to allow its broth to develop rich flavors that highlight the essence of beef bones and meat, resulting in a complex, well-balanced combination of flavors extracted from the bones, meats, spices and herbs. The Kobe beef melts in your mouth and is a definite upgrade from the traditional flank eye of round served at other places.

Dallas is a pizza haven with diverse styles: Neapolitan, Neo Neapolitan, Detroit, Deep Dish, St. Louis-style and New York-style. Choosing the "best pizza" is challenging, akin to picking between a Porsche and a Ferrari. For us, Zoli's NY Pizza reigns supreme. It captures the essence of traditional New York-style pizza, with a masterpiece crust that stays firm despite hefty toppings while the edges remain light and airy. For added pizzazz, they offer the option of sesame seeds or everything bagel seasoning on the crust. In addition to the dozen or so pizzas on the regular menu, Zoli's offers a creative new pizza each month that allows you to embark on a culinary journey and discover new flavor combinations.

When it comes to burgers, sometimes smaller is better. Sliders allow you to order a variety of flavors without indulging in one burger the size of a Big Mac. At SoB, locally raised organic wagyu beef from A Bar N Ranch raises the sliders a step above. Traditional sliders are offered, but we love the PB+J Wagyu, which is cooked medium rare and topped with a blackberry jam, bacon, crunchy peanut butter, American cheese and caramelized onions. It's the perfect combination of sweet and savory. And if chicken is your thing, the Nashville Hot slider is amazing: hand-battered fried chicken tossed in Nashville sauce and topped with pimento cheese, hot sauce and pickles.

Terry Black's has everything a modern barbecue restaurant needs: a family name with Central Texas bona fides; a dining room with plenty of space for you and your friends; a full bar that serves beer, bottles of wine and its own specialty cocktail; and some sublime barbecue to boot. Consider Terry Black's beef as a must-order despite the hefty price tag, as the salty bark that encases luscious fatty beef underneath is damn near barbecue nirvana. Best of all, you can get some of the city's best barbecue every day of the week, lunch or dinner, when many other shops are closed.

At Zavala's, Texas barbecue is prepared with a hefty side of Mexican influence. Sure, all the usual adjectives apply to Zavala's brisket. But there's that extra-fiery zing of spicy heat in the rub that immediately tells your mouth this is no ordinary brisket. Tuck a slice into a tortilla, drizzle some cilantro salsa on top, then take a bite into something magical, a blend of Texas and Latin traditions melded into barbecue that tastes classic, yet new and unique.

In a city full of glitzy and glamorous dining experiences, one of our favorite meals comes out of an old Subway restaurant with a home-casual vibe in East Dallas. At Cry Wolf, chef Ross Demers wouldn't have it any other way. Demers' fare includes takes on upscale dishes — think oysters, foie gras, duck eggs or perhaps an exotic protein — but served in a restaurant that shuns the snobby trappings of traditional fine dining. Every chef is a leader whether they like it or not, and Demers has assembled a team in the kitchen that shares his passion for dishes built on exquisite ingredients and assembled with artful grace. Demers puts the pomp and circumstance on the plate, then surrounds the guest in a modest venue that is comfortable, cozy and all-welcoming.

Part of the appeal of Prego's chicken-fried steak masterpiece is that it's not exactly listed on the menu. Prego's is an Italian restaurant at heart, so ordering a secret chicken-fried steak might feel rude. But if Prego's magical 14-ounce New York strip, pounded thin, battered and fried to a golden brown, is wrong, we don't want to be right. The entree swallows both the plate it's served on and the cottage fries beneath it and comes with a side of cream gravy made with drippings of ham roasted earlier in the day.

Jon Alexis already has a full dance card of restaurants in TJ's Seafood, Malibu Poke and Escondido Tex-Mex. But at Ramble Room, Alexis' newest spot in Snider Plaza, the goal was to create a restaurant you go to when you don't feel like going out. The menu is chock-full of smartly executed classics, like fresh made pastas available in half or full orders or an array of steaks, chops and fish dishes that make you feel at home. Plus, the restaurant space is casual and inviting, with top-notch service that doesn't feel overbearing. Ramble Room's menu may not break new creative ground, but sometimes we just want a great meal without the fanfare, and therein lies the Ramble Room's charm.

Be they service charges, credit card processing fees or surreptitious auto-gratuities, the add-ons that appear on more and more restaurant guest checks are a trend that we hope ends sooner rather than later. In Dallas, one restaurant shunned tipping and surcharges seven years ago and hasn't looked back. At Gorji, chef-owner Mansour Gorji did perhaps the unthinkable by raising prices across the menu by about 15 to 20 percent, then began to pay his small staff a living wage. It still works. The steaks and Mediterranean fare make for a delightfully intimate evening without relying on tips to provide the staff with pay and benefits that many of us outside the service industry take for granted.

Coming to Roots Southern Table and skipping the duck-fat fried chicken borders on sacrilege, and chef Tiffany Derry may source the most duck fat of any restaurant in Dallas to keep turning out her showstopper family-sized bowls of succulent fowl. But the truth about Southern cooking is that it's not just grease and fried food. At Roots, fresh seasonal produce is also a star, and as the seasons change, so does Roots' menu. With Derry's restaurant empire continuing to grow, we were concerned that dinner at Roots might suffer. A recent visit has assured us that any concerns were thankfully misplaced.

Dallas loves its steakhouses, and Brass Ram is restaurateur Nick Badovinus' nod to the classic prime rib joint. Opulence abounds, whether it's the luxurious interior full of leather seating, wood tables and mid-century vibes, or the spectacular steaks and chops. The go-to is prime rib, available in 12-ounce normal portions or a behemoth 28-ounce bone-in cut with a behemoth price to match. Or pop into the bar and order the wagyu burger, which comes with bacon, red onion and melty raclette, and a cocktail to go with it. Yes, a meal here is a splurge, but if it's steakhouse style with a modern touch you desire, Brass Ram delivers.

Uptown's Las Palmas has been banging out Tex-Mex favorites for years, and the queso blanco is some of the best in the business. Not content to warm up a bowl of processed cheese, Las Palmas puts some real effort into its concoction. There are layers of flavors here, from slivers of garlic that are sautéed to extract their profiles to the real chunks of peppers that give an acidic bite when one lands on your tongue. The freshly chopped herbs that top each bowl show the level of care that went into the dish. And Las Palmas serves up each bowl with house-fried tortilla chips, plus a salsa verde and a salsa roja that are good enough to stand on their own. Thanks to the decadent queso, they don't have to.

For most Chicagoans, the real go-to Chicago-style pizza is not that thick overly sauced 5-pound slab of overpriced dough called "deep dish" but rather the thin, crispy perfectly topped tavern-style pizza so prevalent in local corner bars. Thankfully, the Dallas area has a few spots serving pizza in this manner, and Louie's is perhaps the oldest and most beloved of the bunch, and understandably so. The pizza bears a rich and complex sauce that you know has been simmering slowly for hours on the back stove. It sits atop a crust that is thin but not overly cooked, with plump, fresh toppings.

Chicago Style Dog's in Garland offers a great dog for those who prefer it to be dragged through the garden and recognize that there is no place for ketchup on a hot dog in polite society. The owners hail from the Chicago area and know how to create a proper dog, starting with Vienna beef and including a poppy seed bun, sport peppers, neon relish, onion, mustard, tomato, pickle and celery salt. It's a handful, it's messy, and includes most of the food pyramid that you can hold in your hands. What more do you want? (Don't say ketchup.)

"As close to a Philly cheesesteak you will find outside Philly" is a common statement on Tripadvisor and Yelp about Steak Me Home Tonight Kitchen, one of the permanent fixtures at the Truck Yard, off Greenville Ave., and we agree. The cheesesteak will set you back about $12 and comes with chips, though we're usually too full to eat those: The Philly is substantial. You can choose from rib-eye, chicken or veggies, and cheese options include provolone, American or Cheese Whiz. If you want the true experience, get rib-eye and Cheese Whiz. Don't try to reinvent the wheel but stock up on plenty of napkins.

Komodo in Dallas offers a Peking duck for $105, but for those wishing to sate a duck craving without having to cash in a savings bond first, we suggest the duck-fried rice at Tomyumkung Thai Café. On the menu it's listed under "Chef specials," and rightfully so. A mere $18 will get you a large plate of perfectly seasoned Thai fried rice topped with what seems like at least half a duck, juicy and tender with wonderfully crispy skin. It is not a skimpy duck serving, and you'll find yourself gnawing on the bones to get every last delectable morsel of meat. Then, with the $80 you saved, go fill up your gas tank or something. You're welcome.

Dallas may not be New York City, but at least we finally have a really good downtown bagel stand. Starship Bagel's first location opened in Lewisville, and now there's a second version on Elm Street, right next to the Eye sculpture, in what was once a newsstand. There are usually lines (they open at 7 a.m.) and they often run out of certain bagel varieties (the egg bagel is especially popular), so plan accordingly. You will be rewarded with a bagel that achieves what the best New York bagels offer: a slightly crisp outside and a wonderfully chewy center. The fermented jalapeño schmear is not to be missed, either.

The newest Fortune House location recently opened on Lower Greenville, bringing its well-regarded dumplings to the area along with other Asian fare. A good bet for those wanting an introduction to their dumplings is the dumpling sampler, which includes some of Fortune House's most popular and can be ordered steamed or fried. It also offers chao nian gao on the menu under the "Shanghai sticky rice cake" moniker; these stir-fried rice cakes are hard to find in the Dallas area. This version is flavorful, perfectly sauced and presented beautifully. Oh, and the Greenville location is open until 2 a.m. Win-win.

If you don't mind a restaurant that greets you with a list of rules you must follow to dine there (no speakerphones, keep your party to no more than four people, etc.), then you get to enjoy some outstanding ramen. The broths are cooked for more than eight hours and the noodles are made in house. The pork shio, a umami tonkotsu base created with vegetable and scallop extract, is highly recommended and brings a rich, deep flavor profile to the bowl. One can also choose pork shoyu or chicken as bases. Just don't break any of the house rules.

In 2020, COVID-19 wrought destruction on the restaurant industry. But just as a forest fire can reinvigorate a landscape over time, even the carnage of the pandemic managed to sprout new seeds. One of those seeds: Lubellas Patisserie in East Dallas. After the highly acclaimed Bullion shuttered its doors during the pandemic, Maria Becerra, a pastry chef at Bullion, opened Lubellas. Here you can find an array of handcrafted pastries, bread, Instagram-worthy cakes, quiches and sandwiches. All are made with locally sourced ingredients and baked fresh daily. The sinfully buttery and flaky blueberry Danish, centered with still-melting cream cheese, buckled our knees. And the meat-lover's quiche was so good it forever ruined quiche for us from anywhere else.

Detroit-style pizza is carving out its place on the national pizza scene. Leading the charge on that forefront in the Dallas area is Lewisville's Motor City Pizza. Owner Greg Tierney, who hails from the Motor City, started with a pop-up to test the waters. The venture was a success. In late 2021, he debuted the brick-and-mortar version of Motor City Pizza. Detroit-style pizza is a rectangular deep dish with a lighter and airier dough than Chicago-style. And the cheese must be Wisconsin brick cheese spread all the way to the edges, where it melts down the sides of the pan, caramelizing and crisping the crust. Yes, it's as game-changing as it sounds.

In the bustling Lower Greenville neighborhood, you'll find the Belgian-influenced pub Meyboom Brasserie. On tap are select beers and draughts spanning Western Europe, along with top-flight cocktails and Belgian-inspired bar bites. Owners April Segovia and Jeff Karetnick were inspired to open their own pub after a trip to Belgium in 2019. Karetnick is behind the bar, and he is, for our money, one of the more underrated bartenders in all of Dallas. Meyboom's espresso martini, made of Sobieski vodka, Kamora coffee liqueur, simple syrup, egg and Window Seat espresso, is in a league of its own.

Isla & Co., with its Australian-influenced menu of brunch and dinner dishes, artisan coffee, vino and spiffy signature cocktails, resides in the thriving restaurant scene of Bishop Arts. Executive chef Matt Foley, who honed his culinary repertoire in Michelin-starred kitchens Marea and Manhattan Beach Post, has created a diverse menu that ranges from breakfast (like brioche French toast) to skewered kangaroo to a wonderful spicy shrimp vodka rigatoni in pomodoro sauce. But Isla's fish and chips — deceptively simple preparation of Atlantic cod sheathed in a flawless batter and served with yuzu kosho tartar sauce — was the dish that had us returning long after our first visit.

As Nashville-style hot chicken restaurants continue to dot the culinary landscape, Ricky's has figured out how to separate from the pack. Ricky's quarter birds, tenders, wings, nuggets and chicken sandwiches are Halal-certified. The Bird's Nest (chopped tenders, vinegar slaw, pickles and comeback sauce on a bed of fries) is also a Ricky's fan favorite. The heat levels elevate six rungs up the ladder from no heat to the A-Bomb, which comes (deservedly so) with a serious warning from servers. The A-Bomb at Ricky's is the hottest we've ever had. But it's not just about the spice at Ricky's : the birds are juicy, teeming with Nashville flavor and just damn good. You can also find Ricky's in Plano and Arlington.

Daq and Mag Daiquiris offers a menu fusion of soul food and American classics – not to mention a deep roster of daiquiris. But the main event at Daq and Mag's may very well be the oxtail. Cleaned, soaked and marinated in a house-made Nigerian blend of herbs and spices known as Ondo seasoning, the oxtails here are cooked low and slow for six hours in the oven before emerging onto your table with succulent oxtail meat primed to slide right off the bone. It's served with your choice of two sides, and beneath lies a bed of buttery rice permeated with all the glorious drippings from the oxtail, marrying the two and resulting in pure soul-food bliss.

After assassinating Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater on a mid-April night in 1865, John Wilkes Booth was tracked down 12 days later and killed at a barn in Virginia. Or was he? One theory places Booth in Granbury under the alias John St. Helen, where he lived on and continued his stage acting career at the Granbury Opera House while moonlighting as a bartender at a saloon next door (now The Square Café). The Square Café serves burgers and sandwiches for lunch and a killer (no pun intended) breakfast menu, including an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet on Sundays.

There's a bar at Love Field near a large bay window that looks onto the tarmac where President Lyndon B. Johnson took the oath of office aboard Air Force One on Nov. 22, 1963. Look for a bright light on the tarmac for the exact spot. You can also read a bronze marker on the wall near the window detailing the moment in history when the peaceful transfer of power (remember those?) took place in Dallas. It's all ominous and low-key, and you don't need a boarding pass to see it; just enter the airport through baggage claim and literally go against the wave of people arriving. Head up the escalators, hang a right at the top and walk past the Dunkin' Donuts. You'll see the Sky Bar on the left, with the viewing area right behind it.

Want to get a taste of the craft beer offerings in Dallas? Lakewood Growler is your place. Check out the fancy menu board, which lets you know when a keg is low and also if it was "just tapped." From old favorites like Peticolas' Velvet Hammer and Golden Opportunity to newer breweries like False Idol and Turning Point, they have it all. Plus you can get some great beers from around the state including Saint Arnold, Real Ale and Alstadt. If your plus-one isn't into beer, there are four taps reserved for wine.

We put a lot of time, words and gluttony into burgers around here. Just when we think we've found eureka in a beef patty with melted cheese between a bun, another humdinger comes along and we eat and write again. But then there are the classics, of which Lakewood Landing is most certainly one. The burger at this dive bar — one of the most adored in the city — is like a nice painting over the fireplace that pulls the whole room together. An 80/20 blend gets a good dousing of house mixed spices while it's on the grill. It's held together with a buttery toasted white bun from Signature Baking, dressed simply with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle. With a slice of melted cheese, it just goes down better there. It's perfection.

This small restaurant in Joppa serves home cooking, but we've got a bone to pick with Mom, because dinner at home never tasted this good. Smothered pork chops are thick and served with a light cover of gravy and onions. Oxtail is fall-off-the-bone tender; pair them with sweet potatoes and corn. The menu changes weekly, but standard hits include chicken tetrazzini, meatloaf and liver and onions. Chef Katrina Chaney has spent her whole life in kitchens, 15 years professionally, and her experienced hand is clear in the space, which is immaculate, and in the dishes she serves up. It's takeout only but does offer Uber Eats and DoorDash.

Sorting through wine varieties, styles, regions and terroir is exhausting. Saying "I'll have your house red" is simply more eloquent than "You pick." This year we got to know Paul DiCarlo, co-owner and wine buyer at Jimmy's Food Store. He personally selects wines at this bodega in East Dallas, where the wine section is only two modest aisles. He focuses on smaller producers that you won't find at the big box stores, with an eye on value; a $15 that drinks like a $30. Anything off the shelf is going to be good; ask for him if you need more help.

Cindi's is a lot of things to a lot of people. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it's a bakery. You can get a cheap breakfast or soak up the previous night's recklessness with a monster breakfast, and the sandwiches here are some of the best in town. The menu is long, but flip over to the deli page and look for the gray box at the bottom left: New York Reuben. You can choose between corned beef, pastrami or turkey; it comes grilled on rye with sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese and house-made Russian dressing served on the side. If that doesn't sound appealing, there are more than two dozen other options. It's a lot of food, and you're barely going to be able to find room for cheesecake, but we have faith in you.

Who doesn't love a good menu hack? We kind of live for them. And while there are 101 good reasons to go to Heim BBQ, we recently spotted a simple grilled cheese on the kids' menu. Below, it told us we could add brisket or bacon jam for just a couple bucks more. So, we ordered it and no one asked to see our ID. Cool. Then they asked us what side we wanted and we jumped up and down like a cheerleader and clapped for the green chile mac and cheese. The whole meal was less than $15. Gimme an H! Two slices of well-buttered, thick, homestyle toast hold two slices of processed cheese (which we're good with due to the melt factor) with a thick smear of bacon jam. Gimme a hell yeah!

Café Momentum is a restaurant in downtown Dallas that offers an internship program that works in tandem with juvenile justice officials and community partners for young people who have been involved in the justice system. To date, this nonprofit restaurant, which is really more of a "program" than just a kitchen and dining room, has helped more than 1,200 participants turn their lives around by offering 24/7 case management, a full curriculum, a safe place to study and mental health services, and by pouring out basic love and respect. The concept has done so well, it's expanding to other cities. Don't know what to do for dinner tonight? Here. Go here. Oh, the food? It's phenomenal.

This Mediterranean restaurant on Oak Lawn Avenue has done something with its wine list that is rare enough that most restaurants its size don't even bother with. In other words, Sachet's wine menu is neither boring, trite nor cliched, and if it's a bit pricey, it's not silly pricey. How many restaurants forgo the same old half dozen bottles of California cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay in favor a Texas wine (Duchman), a Gascon white, a Sicilian red made with Nero d'Avola or a Provencal rosé that is one of the world's great values?

This vibrant yet cozy bar is tucked away off Tyler Street in Oak Cliff, close to the Bishop Arts District. It's unpretentious and neighborly. The classic cocktail menu lists the dates the drinks first appeared on the map — 1850 Sazerac and 1902 daiquiri — with just eight drinks in all. Then there are future classics, too, including a Bidi Bidi Bom Bom with tequila, mint, hibiscus agave and lime. Check out happy hour, 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, for half-price cocktails, domestic beer and wine specials. Plus, any place with a Bob Ross shrine deserves our attention.

Sad because your weekly allowance doesn't understand your snobbish foodie side? Take heart at Uchiba, the lighthearted sibling of Uchi, the impeccable Japanese restaurant with a stellar sushi bar. Located one floor up from Uchi, Uchiba offers a happy-hour menu with dozens of options, only a few of which are priced north of $10. Wine, sake, cocktails and Japanese beer, along with a mini burger ($7.50), hot fried chicken bun ($6) and crispy duck ($10), are likely candidates. The nigiri menu comes with two pieces per order and includes Atlantic salmon, tuna and dayboat scallops, all priced less than $10. There's even a dessert on the happy hour menu: crispy bao with coconut semifreddo and koji shio caramel for $7.

Spanish tapas fuse with Mediterranean-style food at Selda Mediterranean Grill. Indulge in fall-off-the-skewer tender kebabs, layered baklava that flakes to the bite and dates stuffed with a creamy feta-walnut mixture. Other traditional Mediterranean dishes include Turkish liver-and-onions and a beyti, ground beef rolled in flatbread. For dessert, enjoy the cheese pulls on Selda's specialty kunefe, which comes with a base of melted cheese in crunchy shredded wheat sticks. Most dishes arrive in shareable portions. Grab a couple of friends and seats on the patio, surrounded by fairy lights and fresh spearmint plants. Just make a reservation; it's a popular spot.

This vibrant Deep Ellum hotspot is all about the vibes — good ones, that is. Since its opening in 2021, Neon Kitten's Asian-inspired small bites have already made near-permanent indents in our terminally famished hearts. But the lounge's memorable craft cocktails are the true stars of the show. Sip on the Osaka in a Hello Kitty-shaped glass, the Hiroshima in a Yoda vessel or the Kobe in a container that resembles a handstanding pink pig. It's just about all the deliciousness one can handle served in super adorable cups.

Oh, whiskey: best friend to some, worst enemy to others. But whatever your feelings about the amber-colored spirit, it is indisputable that Herman Marshall delivers some of the best around. This award-winning distillery recently relocated to Wylie from Garland. Go for the HM Texas Bourbon, which you'll see on many bar shelves around North Texas. This particular bourbon is based on a recipe from the 1800s and is what kickstarted this entire venture. Distilled with 77% Texas corn and 23% malted barley, it won silver at the American Distilling Institute's Craft Distilling Competition and was named "Best Small Batch Bourbon" at the International Whiskey Competition.

This otherworldly Deep Ellum watering hole transports you to a realm totally unlike that of your mundane 9-to-5 existence. Yes, Ruins is a great bar, restaurant and venue, but it also serves as a de facto art gallery packed with apocalyptic themes. Fantastical creatures, Our Lady of Guadalupe imagery and distorted demon masks adorn Ruins' walls., Ruins is where Dante Alighieri would go for literary inspiration — and to knock back a few tequila shots. When we die, we'll be first in line to haunt this joint for all of eternity.

With dishes bearing cheeky names like the "Hollywood Hooker" and "Fussy Hussy," it's no wonder that Slutty Vegan makes our mouths water like no other. Restaurateur Pinky Cole recently brought her magic to Big D following the success of her vegan burger chain in Atlanta. The Deep Ellum establishment serves up some seriously sinful plant-based burgers and sandwiches, and Cole's culinary finesse helped bring home VegOut Magazine's "Best Burger" award in 2022. The food here is so damn good that you won't even miss the meat.

If you're looking for something caffeinated and creamy, look no further than Summer Moon's Nitro White. All of the coffee shop's locations across DFW carry this drink: nitro cold brew coffee with half and half. Get the large and thank us later. As you sip this cool beverage, you'll feel electrified by caffeine and ready to take on the world.

Deep Sushi touts itself as the first sushi restaurant to land in Deep Ellum. Opening in 1996, the place has spent decades serving up specialty rolls, fresh sushi and sashimi. There's plenty to choose from on Deep Sushi's menu, but you can't go wrong starting with one of the lunch bento boxes served with rice, deep sushi salad, salmon and shrimp sushi, half a California roll and an orange. If you're anything like us, that might not completely soothe your sushi cravings, so you'll want to go ahead and throw a Deep Sushi combo on your tab. It comes with three different types of rolls: California, shrimp tempura and spider. Your last bite will be sad because the food is so good. But rest assured, this spot has been around a long time and they don't seem to be going anywhere soon, so you can always come back for more.

Crown Block is a Las Vegas-based restaurant that moved into the ball atop Reunion Tower this year, after the space had sat empty for the past couple of years. Unfortunately, the revolving switch has been turned off, so to get the 360-degree view you'll have to leg it around the restaurant. But the view of the Trinity River, canopies of trees to the south, eye-level skyscrapers and all the traffic along the highways that looks like ants marching in a line is whimsical. Plus, the macaroni and cheese waffle is itself worth the trip.

There's a lot to choose from on Armoury D.E.'s standout menu of cocktails, but you won't want to take a pass on the wild bloody mary. The Bloody Cthulhu is a monster of a cocktail made with gin, Ramazzotti and Armoury D.E.'s house-made bloody mary mix, and topped with a charred octopus tentacle. Served with a High Life pony back, this savory cocktail will send your tastebuds to heaven, and you'll be left begging for more.

Koryo Kalbi can serve you a master class in Korean cuisine. It has everything you'd want, from barbecued short ribs to spicy broth soups. Start with some mandu — pork beef and vegetable dumplings that you can have fried or steamed. We recommend fried. Then, head over to the entrees and order yourself some grilled spicy pork ribs. The dish looks like it'll set your mouth on fire, but we promise these spicy ribs are just right. This spot might cost you a pretty penny, but your meal will be worth all the prettiest pennies in the world.

If you're looking to get a little boozy, look no further than Pogo's Wine & Spirits. This haven for wine and spirits enthusiasts opened in 1984. It has stellar customer service, and you can find just about everything you need at Pogo's for a fun night of drinking. Attending one of Pogo's tastings will take you to places like Northern Italy, with Italian wines, and Kentucky or Tennessee, with American bourbon. If you haven't been to Pogo's, you're truly missing out.

The food and drinks are stellar, and the vibes are even better at Kenny's Wood Fired Grill. The menu at Kenny's sports a variety of options from seasonal soup appetizers to full-fledged entrees such as the steak sandwich and the Chilean sea bass. The drinks are delicious too. We recommend starting with a Sapphire 75 with Bombay Sapphire, lemon juice, simple syrup and Champagne. Arguably one of the best times to stop by this bar and grill is brunch on Saturday or Sunday, when you can get things like the bacon and egg burger, a burger with fried egg, smoked bacon, American cheese and béarnaise. But any day and time of the week will do just fine.

If you haven't taken the family to downtown Carrollton in a while, you're missing out, especially if Mom and Dad are craft beer lovers. You can visit a record store, stroll through a vintage candy shop and grab some decent grub all before or after your visit to 3 Nations Brewing. And there's never a bad season to go. It has a cavernous, comfortable indoor taproom and a spacious, festive outdoor area, so kids can pet good doggies and play board games while the parents sip the stress away with one of 3 Nations or Symbol Brewing's excellent craft brews.

There are North Texas craft breweries that are more wacky and adventurous than Peticolas Brewing, but who needs gimmicks and buzz when the brews are just so damn good? And besides, it's not like founder Michael Peticolas has rested on his Velvet Hammer-filled throne for more than a decade and refused to push his operation into exciting flavor directions. In 2023 we've been treated to the lighter side of Peticolas beers more than ever before. The Summeriffic Dreamsicle hefeweizen, an effervescent Berliner weisse and a honey-tinged golden ale all prove that the best brewers don't always have to wield a heavy hammer.

For us, the best beer is the closest beer to us, so we've found that lately we've been angling to get next to Community's Honey Citrus Blonde. Don't let the name fool you, this is a beer-flavored beer, even with the hint of orange peel and touch of honey sweetness lending their talents to the refreshing proceedings. With a bolder backbone than you might expect, the 6% ABV brew is as great a summer crusher as it is a fall sipper. It's an all-occasion delight, which is why we keep an ample supply close by.

Matthew Toback, the owner of Cowtown Dogs, has dedicated years to perfecting his chili dog recipe, which eventually culminated in a custom-made premium beef and pork frank made by Hummel Brothers, an almost-century-old butcher based in New Haven, Connecticut. This food truck gets reserved for a lot of private events, parties and such, but every Thursday you can find the orange box parked outside A-EZ Out Bail Bonds on Riverfront Boulevard, which in itself can make for interesting people watching as you eat in your car. Start with a plain hotdog with that custom frank on a brioche bun, then order one other with whatever fixings you like (we like the house-made chili and cheese). Get a container of the mac and cheese for dinner; it's a monster meal. Thursday never tasted so good.

Tracy Rathbun and Lynae Fearing's neighborhood seafood market is everything you could ask for. Fresh fish arrives daily, and whether it's oysters or poke from the raw bar, the delectable tempura fried lobster spoons or the shrimp and grits that speak fluent Cajun, there's likely something for all palates. Try the pecan-crusted halibut served on a bed of cheesy green chile grits. The seafood classics are served up in a dining room that gives off beach house casual vibes, with service that makes you feel like part of the family.

Step inside the new Casa Rosa and find a brilliant homage to the Highland Park original. A large skylight shines down to create a courtyard feel, and colorful art adorns the pink walls and matching cloth napkins on each table. Casa Rosa's menu offers all the Tex-Mex favorites with flavor and affordability. Fajitas were introduced to Dallas here, and they're still a classic. Order the beef: tenderloin strips cloaked in steam and surrounded by a bed of onions and peppers. Pile forkfuls into the house-made tortillas, and each bite will have you reveling in the brilliance of some of Dallas' most genuine Tex-Mex.

Is it 43 types of pies? Perhaps 43 homing pigeons circling in the dining room? No, it's the 43rd president of these humble United States. Café 43, part of the George W. Bush Presidential Library on the SMU campus, is open for lunch (11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) every day but Sunday. Here, a stately yet casual dining room complemented by impeccable service offers a menu inspired in part by 43 and former first lady Laura Bush. When the weather is agreeable, get a table on the patio overlooking a decent-enough patch of native Texas landscaping with wildflowers. It's downright lovely. Enjoy mimosas and a Southern Benedict made with pulled pork and an andouille gravy for brunch on Saturday. Or Mrs. Bush's favorite sandwich any other day. The chicken salad served with thick rustic bread is highly recommended too.

Since 1956 Norma's has kept the home fires burning, serving breakfast all day, along with Southern comfort food like chicken-fried steak, smothered pork chops and their trademarked Mile-High Pies. All five restaurants across North Texas have the proper kitschy American diner essentials, but one thing we love about Norma's is they're just good people. Every Thanksgiving at the original Oak Cliff location they offer free meals to those who might not otherwise be able to enjoy one. Here you'll get good cooking and good pie served by good people with a slogan of "eat dessert first."

Hat Creek Burger Company is a fast-casual restaurant out of Austin that offers fenced-in playgrounds for the kids and good food and booze for their adult keepers. The menu has gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and dairy-free options, and any of the burgers can be made as a salad. There's the requisite chicken nuggets on the menu and milkshakes that can make for good bribes. And wine. Did we mention that? So taking the kids out doesn't feel so much like punishment.

Yellow Rosa is a special place. The entrance to the Deep Ellum cantina has speakeasy vibes (look for a sign on the sidewalk). Once inside, it feels like an escape to a cantina in a Mexican town. Yellow Rosa has a seasonal cocktail menu, but our favorite drink isn't even on the menu: Ask for a frozen mango margarita, smooth and strong with a smear of Tajin covering half the glass. Yeah, we'll lick it before each sip. It's that good. Bonus feature at Yellow Rosa: Thursday's $5 margarita menu. The weekend brunch is lively and fun, and there's usually a mariachi band on Sundays.

This is a pancake worth getting out of bed early for. Snooze's pineapple upside down pancake is a signature piece. A fluffy buttermilk pancake is studded with ample chunks of caramelized pineapple, then covered with a house-made vanilla creme. It honestly channels tres leches energy. On top is a big dollop of mostly cinnamon butter. You can order real maple syrup for it if you need it (you don't, but you certainly won't get any side-eye from us about it). They were serving these pancakes in the VIP area of the Observer's Morning After Brunch event last year and a group of us parked nearby and made repeated trips to their stand; we didn't eat all the pancake samples that day, but we sure did try.

Want to grab drinks and a bite before the game? Of course you do. That's why you go. The pregame. Happiest Hour is within walking distance of the American Airlines Center, and it's surrounded by other restaurants and bars, plus it has a great rooftop view and lawn. Before games, it's a sea of jerseys. And despite how busy it can get, the service is always on point. And the food — from salads to a roasted half chicken — is good. For a wow factor, get the foot-long fried mozzarella logs for the table from the Team Happytizers menu. Five come in an order, so that's 5 feet of fried cheese according to AP math. Other group options include a nacho tower. Nach-O Tow-er clap, clap, clap-clap-clap!

Empanadas are a Latin favorite consisting of the perfect formula of dough plus filling. Depending on the country, empanadas can be sweet or savory. But just like it absolutely owns soccer, no other country does empanadas like Argentina. Empa Mundo is a mainstay in Irving that offers a mostly Argentine selection of baked empanadas, which come with the oil-and-herb godsend known as chimichurri. The restaurant's star is the traditional meat pie criolla, but no less impressive is the best vegetarian empanada in DFW: the humita empanada, a richly thick creamed corn stuffing perfectly complemented by the soft crunch of the tapa. The divey joint with walls plastered with international bills gives the place a true street-food feel.

Katie Rose-Watson truly knows the joy of cooking. With her infectious enthusiasm for a well-crafted dinner party, she has accrued a substantial following and some copycats. A few years back, Watson started throwing dinners for friends inspired by Disney movies. These are not kids' birthday décor to go along with a Tom Thumb-bought Elsa cake. We're talking sophisticated dinner parties inspired by the settings, themes, stories, details and color palettes from Disney films including Pirates of the Caribbean and popular films such as Indiana Jones. The Rose Table is also for non-Disney adults, those food lovers who appreciate that presentation is a fundamental ingredient in cuisine.