“The construction next door was already lots of fun before COVID-19,” says co-owner John Little.
Deep Ellum is a strange sight to behold right now: Some businesses are boarded up, spray paint signs telling the world that they’re closed for the time being, the kind you’d see in a hurricane, immediately next door to another business with doors propped open.
Little and his managerial crew started brainstorming how they’d open back up the moment they’d shut the doors to become a carry-out-only operation. Angry Dog has weathered a few storms: In August, the comfort food-laden bar celebrates its 30th anniversary. They got a mountain of gloves and masks and enough hand sanitizer to fill a tub — the servers keep a spray bottle on them like a pistol on a classic cowboy. Little expected the announcement would have them opening up May 1 at 50% capacity.
“Twenty-five percent was sort of a stunner,” he says. “It was like, OK, well, how is this going to work?”
The challenge to dine-in is in the details: Salt shakers have to go, but cases of salt and pepper packets are disappearing. Angry Dog keeps a custom hot-red salt mix on their tables, which would need to be in disposable packets.
They had to find and purchase the smallest plastic cups with a lid imaginable — they filled each ouncer-cup carefully with salt mix for the reduced dine-in crowd. They slapped up QR codes everywhere. Scanning them will turn your phone into a digital menu.

The fried chicken sandwich at Angry Dog, with crunchy strips of fried chicken and lettuce, tomato and pickle on a soft hoagie roll
Nick Rallo
The fried chicken sub, steaming tender chicken armored in a brittle-fried casing, with dill pickle, onion and tomato on a soft bun, is great devour-in-the-car-because-your-car-is-a-restaurant-now food. The cheeseburger, loaded with shredded cheddar, has never been so comforting.
“To-go containers are like gold,” he laughs.
Still, he says, their regulars are happy to have a place to rest and have a cold beer.
“Deep Ellum has been crazy for 30 years — I don’t know that ever has been quite as surreal as it is now.”
Angry Dog, 2726 Commerce St. (Deep Ellum). 214-741-4406. Open for pickup, delivery and limited dine-in service.