Lauren Drewes Daniels
Audio By Carbonatix
Texas Monthly’s dining critic Paula Forbes traveled to Dallas more than any other city in Texas last year for one reason: audacity. Restaurants that opened between Nov 1, 2024 to Nov. 1, 2025 mainly focused on predictability and playing it safe, but Forbes was looking for experimentation when searching for the Best New Restaurants in Texas.
In a year crammed with smash burgers, caviar and yet another rendition of spicy vodka pasta, which restaurants dared to be bizarre, opinionated, dazzling and even fun?
These three Dallas restaurants did (plus one).
Three Local Nods
Rainbowcat
4800 Bryan St., East Dallas
Forbes called Rainbowcat’s creator Misti Norris a world-class chef. After closing Petra and the Beast, Norris took over the Saint Valentine kitchen to create experimental dishes with nostalgic comfort flavors and creative mashups. Forbes’ favorites include a bowl of cereal with her version of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, whipped milk and sour apple salted caramel, and the porchetta “McMuffin” that stuffs house-made English muffins with kasu-cured porchetta, hot sauce, braised greens, fried egg and pickled radish. We particularly love the chicken nuggets.
Mamani
2681 Howell St., Uptown
We all know the story by now. Mamani and its record-breaking Michelin star acquisition continue to prove it’s not just a pretty face. Chef Christophe De Lellis menu takes inspiration from French and Italian cuisine, with subtle nods to Persian cooking. The veal tonnato, signature whole duck “the Mamani way” and exquisite wine list were of note to Forbes. There was quite the stir when Mamani nabbed a star just 50-ish days after opening. But the proof is in the duck, and we are lucky to have gotten a restaurant that raised the bar for fine dining in Dallas.
Sushi Kozy
2000 Ross Ave., The Arts District
An omakase-exhausted city was surprised when Sushi Kozy came onto the scene. This restaurant is from Korean-born chef Paul Ko, who came from Uchi. Forbes called Ko’s approach to omakase “a good reminder that you can be very earnest about your craft, but you don’t have to be solemn about it.” A few months back, reservations were booked out for months after its Michelin nod, but there seem to be plenty of spots now for the curious diner. Act fast.
Road-Trip Worthy
BonFire
136 Clarksville St., Paris, TX
The bigger cities in Texas attract heavy-hitting restaurants, but there are many gems in unassuming corners of the state. But first, we can start with the most obvious: a French restaurant in Paris, Texas. In a town of only 25,000, BonFire thrives as a celebration of French technique with regional Texas flavor. Forbes claims the whole Gulf red snapper here puts the star in Lone Star.
