If there’s one thing Dallas needs, it’s not another burger joint or barbecue spot. As we’ve lamented plenty of times here, our city could use more culinary diversity and global flavor. Fortunately, Monkey King Noodle Co. will be bringing their unique brand of Asian noodles, soups, and dumplings to —…
On October 15, 2015, Shake Shack, the beloved restaurant chain, released a white, Angus beef smoke from their burger conclave, signaling that a new Shake Shack location has been chosen. The new location for Shake Shack will be in Uptown Dallas. As the people rejoiced in a cavalcade of horse-drawn…
This week the 50 Most Interesting Restaurants I compiled over the summer leading up to our Best of Dallas 2015 issue were bundled together in a cover story that makes Dallas look like a pretty great dining city. There are enough restaurants to keep diners going for months without hitting…
The menu at Tacoqueta makes bold claims for a neighborhood taqueria. The tostada pictured below is the best in town, for instance. And the garnachas pictured above is one of the best antojitos to make its way out of Veracruz and into the States. I won’t endorse any superlative descriptions…
The words “discount” and “oysters” don’t always make a happy pair, but this Thursday they will. Proof + Pantry is running an oyster and Champagne special. For $11 you get a half-flute of Delamotte Champagne and three 25-cent oysters, or $22 for a full flute and six oysters. The special…
There’s no such thing as too much of a good thing, and that’s especially true when it comes to barbecue. For too long, in the pre-Pecan Lodge era, Dallas was a wasteland of inferior smoked meats, but we have made major strides in the last few years. There are now…
These days, our likes are used to determine our dating partners, direct millions of advertising dollars into our Facebook feeds, and perhaps most important, show off just how cool we are. When it comes to cocktails, what you order when you belly up to the bar says a lot about…
At this year’s Brewfest, the number of local breweries was impressive. The big guys always dominate the Observer’s annual beer event, but this year the tide appeared to be turning. Local breweries accounted for just over 25 percent of the participants, taking over an entire row of tents and pouring…
Bruno Davaillon has announced his departure from Rosewood Mansion at Turtle Creek. He will leave the storied kitchen at the end of November, according to Leslie Brenner at The Dallas Morning News, and has yet to announce where he will be cooking next. Employees at The Mansion are tight-lipped about the…
Chefs for Farmers is a culinary event that began five years ago with a simple dinner alfresco, and has grown to a three-day festival that supports local farms by raising much-needed money and awareness. This year, there are two all-new events that lead up to the main event, at Lee…
Going to the State Fair of Texas is a tradition for many people. Many, many, many people. Hordes, in fact. Sometimes the best way to deal with the stress brought on by the crush of corny dog munching humanity is to down a few beers (which is true even without…
I’ve eaten a fair number of parathas. The rich, buttery breads are served at countless Indian restaurants and can be delicious if they are made properly. The breads are rolled in layers with butter or ghee, a little bit like French pastry is “turned,” resulting in flaky layers. Unfortunately, most places…
On a recent Friday evening, one when the summer heat had broken and a cool breeze ushered in the coming of fall, the dining room at Kin Kin felt practically empty. The new Oak Lawn Thai restaurant had quite a few diners, but not enough for its size. Kin Kin…
The bar at On Premise seems like a study in contradictions. The “steampunk” aesthetic, created by minimalist decor, the presence of metal gears and exposed filament lighting, is broken up by shiny, faux-gator banquettes. The crowd is equally disparate, ranging from dining families to drunk people who’ve just caught their…
Pumpkins in parking lots. Pumpkins in patches. Pumpkins on church lawns, mountains of pumpkins rising up beside the front doors of every grocery store in Dallas. The arboretum is building houses out of them. How many Jack O’ Lanterns can one city carve? (And don’t tell us you use fresh…
Americano opened last week, completing the family of restaurants that complement the Joule hotel downtown. CBD Provisions and Weekend Coffee have become as much a destination for everyday Dallasites as they are for customers staying at the hotel. Americano looks poised to draw just as many locals, if only for the…
Before I moved to Texas, pulled pork was the center of my barbecue universe. I smoked shoulders in my back yard a few times a year, serving the shredded meat on cheap white bread buns with creamy slaw. For the first few years of my barbecue endeavors I’d offer half…
Earlier this week we interviewed a spokesperson for San Salvaje, asking questions about the recent decision to close the restaurant during the evenings. San Salvaje would remain open for lunch during the week, and during evenings for private events. The move seemed strange and hardly indicative of a healthy restaurant…
Most diners visit steakhouses for, well, steak. But typically, such establishments also offer rich desserts sliced as thick as their rib eyes. Del Frisco’s Grille in Uptown is no exception. Problem is, after tucking into all that meat and potatoes, who has room for dessert? Some desserts are spectacular enough…
I’ve been in a deep fried tasting rut. For the past two years, the Big Tex Choice Awards winner has left me scratching my head. Both the deep fried shrimp boil and the deep fried Cuban roll stopped short of being delicious, and none of them came close to beating…
Come celebrate Armenia, everyone’s favorite former member of the Soviet republic, at Armeniafest. For those of you who appreciate elements of other cultures besides food, there will be folk dances, art exhibits, music demonstrations and more. For those of you who like to push past the dancers, musicians and art…
On September 28, Burger King released a new burger with jet black buns. They’re calling it the “A.1. Halloween Whopper,” with “A.1. flavor baked in” to the bun. Somehow, “A.1. flavor” makes it look like something Mordor birthed. If you took a Sharpie to a regular Whopper, you’d be treading…
