Papparoti

In the rankings of interestingly named spots that opened in the Dallas area in 2023, we’d argue that PappaRoti takes the top prize. The new Frisco spot, which translates to “father of all rotis," traces its origins back to 2003 Malaysia, where the brand began selling its baked roti buns fresh from the oven. Twenty years, a couple of menu renovations and lines of staunch roti-bun enthusiasts later, the popular dessert shop has established roots in more than 450 cities across the world. Frisco marks the chain’s newest U.S. appearance.

To this day, PappaRoti’s most heralded menu item is the signature bun, an unfussy bread roll that’s baked with a crunchy caramel coating on the outside.

You get the option to top it with different ice creams, sauces and nuts. But we suggest you order at least one in its plain, unaltered state. There’s something enthralling about the way the crunchy coating explodes into a salted buttery core of bread. Dip your bun into a glass of Karak tea, a hot ginger-and-cardamom-scented drink that has a cult-like following in Malaysia, or the signature Pappacino, the chain’s take on a frappuccino that’s meant for bun-dipping. Perhaps it's the very simplicity of the bun-and-coffee combination that makes it so enticing.