As we explore some of Dallas-Fort Worth’s most interesting restaurants in March 2026, we continue to keep prices in mind. On this Hot List, you’ll find lunch spots with reasonably priced sandwiches, happy hour deals for drinks or dinner and one of our favorite burgers in North Texas for under $6.
Restaurants listed in alphabetical order.
AM/FM in the Dallas Design District
Take advice from the owners of AM/FM and order a side of hash browns served over jalapeño cream at the new Dallas diner.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Restaurant News
If the Dallas dining scene feels expensive and excessive these days, take heart that affordable food is out there, if you know where to look. AM/FM is a new diner in the Dallas Design District serving breakfast all day, stick-to-your-ribs Southern food and Mexican-inspired dishes. All are created by chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman, formerly of Dallas restaurant José. There’s lots to eat, but meatloaf stuffed with jalapeño poppers ($21) and a fried mozzarella sandwich with edamame pesto ($16) are early favorites. Go for happy hour on weekdays from 3 to 6:30 p.m., and sandwiches cost $8.
AM/FM is at 1950 Market Center Blvd., Dallas.
Ayat in Richardson
Palestinian restaurant Ayat, which originated in New York City, has opened its first Texas eatery in Richardson. At one of its earliest events, Ayat fed 1,500 people for iftar dinner in late February during Ramadan. It’s now open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, serving hummus, falafel, kebabs and family-style platters with spicy chicken, lamb, beef and more.
Ayat is at 200 W. Spring Valley Road, Richardson.
Cafe Olivia in downtown Dallas and Addison
Sticking with reasonably priced food, Cafe Olivia is a new breakfast and lunch spot in downtown Dallas and Addison with a $13 grain bowl and a $14 Cobb salad. It also has a deep selection of espresso and matcha drinks, with cocktails later in the day. Put Cafe Olivia in your back pocket when you need a quick, healthy meal.
Cafe Olivia opened at 2200 Ross Ave., Dallas, in mid-February 2026. The first one in D-FW, in Addison, opened at 14551 Dallas Parkway in fall 2025.
Cantina La Rosa in northwest Dallas
The patio of Cantina La Rosa is covered, with walls. Consider it, even if the weather is warm.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
The neighbors are excited! In a single hour at Cantina La Rosa, I watched a half-dozen people swing open the door, hoping this new Tex-Mex restaurant would be ready to sell chicken tinga tostadas, barbacoa tacos and the like. This area of Dallas, at Northwest Highway and Midway Road, could use more restaurants, and Cantina La Rosa is a welcome addition after its predecessor Fernando’s closed. Ask for a spot on the pretty patio.
Cantina La Rosa is at 4347 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas.
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Delilah in the Dallas Design District
Before Delilah opened in the Dallas Design District, this sexy supper club was the most anticipated new restaurant in Dallas in years. And does it live up to the hype? Yes, if you’ve got big bucks to spend. Delilah has live music, burlesque dancers, food and fun, served in a sultry atmosphere like I’ve never seen in Dallas.
Delilah is at 1616 Hi Line Drive, Dallas. Evenings only.
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Inside Delilah, one of Dallas’ buzziest restaurants in years
View GalleryFar Out in Fair Park/East Dallas
The James Beard Foundation picked Far Out as a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in 2026. The winner will be announced in June, which means: If you haven’t eaten chef Misti Norris’ food at Far Out, now’s a great time. Her menu is tiny — about 10 dishes — and each is priced $12 to $28. Go with friends and order most of ’em.
Far Out is at 1906 S. Haskell Ave., Dallas. Evenings only.
Felina in Fort Worth
A fired pizza made with pomodoro, hot soppressata, hot honey and ricotta is pulled from the oven in late 2025, during a Felina pop-up. The restaurant is now open in Fort Worth.
Tom Fox / Staff Photographer
We called Felina one of the most exciting new restaurants coming to Dallas-Fort Worth in 2026. It’s a Roman-style pizza joint owned by a team of siblings in Fort Worth. Felina’s specialty is a thin-crust pizza called Tonda Romana. It opened the last weekend in February, making it the newest restaurant on this list.
Felina is at 401 Bryan Ave., Fort Worth.
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The Gibson in Far North Dallas
Crème brûlée is on the dessert menu at The Gibson in Dallas.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
The owner of The Gibson calls her new restaurant “upscale but not uptight,” a likeable explanation for her lunch and dinner spot on the Dallas North Tollway. Options include short rib, salmon, shrimp pasta and a pork chop — dishes diners won’t have to Google before they order. If you go, ask for a tour of The Spot, a hidden bar inside the restaurant.
The Gibson is at 17552 Dallas Parkway (at Trinity Mills), Dallas.
Jashan in Plano
Jashan offers fine-dining Indian food — a category that is not yet oversaturated in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer
Have you been to Jashan yet, the ambitious Indian restaurant with several menus under the same roof? Its crown jewel is a tasting menu that offers a beautiful journey to India without the plane ticket. Its co-owner, a tech entrepreneur and first-time restaurateur, told The Dallas Morning News that he felt called to open an Indian restaurant, and he takes the job seriously. “This is the story I want to tell for the rest of my life,” he said.
Jashan is at 7401 Lone Star Drive, Plano.
Keller’s in Dallas
Keller’s Drive-In on Northwest Highway in Dallas has changed very little in its 75-plus years. That’s a good thing.
Tom Fox / Staff Photographer
If you’re a burger lover, check out sports reporter Evan Grant’s latest list of Dallas’ five best affordable burgers. The lowest priced burger on that list — and in my opinion, the best — is the No. 5 from Keller’s. For $5.45, you get a cheeseburger with Thousand Island, shredded iceberg and tomato, on a poppy seed bun that’ll make you hope you brought toothpicks. Keller’s is one of Dallas’ oldest burger joints, around since 1950, and it remains a great spot for a quick, affordable burger.
Keller’s has several locations, but the one to visit is 6537 E. Northwest Highway, Dallas.
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Maman in University Park (with others coming soon)
Maman opened in late 2025 in University Park.
Christine Vo / Staff Photographer
Maman is pretty. Maman is delicious. And Maman is growing. After Dallas’ first Maman started selling its famous chocolate chip cookies, coffees and pastries at Preston Road and Northwest Highway, the New York City company announced it would expand to other locations in Dallas. Coming next are shops in Casa Linda and Lakewood and one in Frisco. After a feature on Oprah’s Favorite Things and a collab with Martha Stewart, you can bet Maman will keep buzzing.
Maman is at 4004 Villanova St., Dallas. Others are expected to open in 2026 and 2027.
Milagro in West Dallas
A new item on Milagro’s menu in West Dallas is Asada ala Tampiqueña, a steak plate with an enchilada.
Jason Janik / Special Contributor
What happens after Food Network brings huge attention to a small business in Dallas? In a story titled “Life after ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,’” we explore the next steps for Dallas restaurateur Jesus Carmona, who lost his TV-famous shop Tacos Mariachi during the COVID-19 pandemic. He pivoted to open a similar shop called Milagro. A few weeks ago, he changed the concept again, turning Milagro into a sit-down “Mex-Tex” restaurant instead of an order-at-the-counter taqueria. Carmona’s story in West Dallas is one of perseverance, creativity and, at times, desperation. He’d love to show you the new menu.
Milagro Taco Cantina is at 440 Singleton Blvd., Dallas.
Night Rooster in the Dallas Design District
Shirley Chung, Night Rooster’s chef-partner, is back in the kitchen after a life-threatening battle with tongue cancer.
Chitose Suzuki / Staff Photographer
Check out modern Chinese restaurant Night Rooster if you love shumai, fried rice and smoked duck served in a beautiful Dallas dining room. But also, dig in to the story behind this restaurant. Prolific TV chef Shirley Chung survived tongue cancer recently. In a heart-wrenching, heart-warming story, Chung tells The News how she picked herself up and got back in the kitchen. “This,” she told me while sitting in the Dallas restaurant, “is my comeback story.”
Night Rooster is at 1000 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas. (It shares a space with The Saint.) Evenings only.
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Pearl in Uptown Dallas
Pearl is located on McKinney Avenue in Uptown Dallas.
Samantha Marie Photography
Uptown Dallas dwellers already know: Sushi restaurant Pearl has a great happy hour on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with half-price sushi rolls and half-price cocktails. The restaurant is regularly packed, even after happy hour, because chef Shine Tamaoki’s cold dishes are some of the best in town. Diners go for the yellowtail, tuna and amberjack bathed in shallow pools of citrus soy sauce or spicy yuzu. They stay for the nigiri and sashimi.
Pearl is at 4640 McKinney Ave., Dallas. Evenings only.
Puerto Cocina & Bar in the Dallas Design District
To start dinner at Puerto in Dallas, consider ordering all six bocados, or bites, for $25 per person. Here’s one: chochoyote con caviar.
Sarah Blaskovich/Staff
If there’s one new restaurant you should put at the top of your list, it’s Puerto Cocina & Bar, a modern Mexican spot from the owners of Xaman Café and Ayahuasca Cantina in Oak Cliff. For this Design District restaurant, consulting chef Quiñones-Pittman was an excellent partner to create dishes like mussels with chicharron-leek butter and pulpo al pastor. Although restaurants of this caliber are often dinner only, Puerto is open at lunch and dinner on weekdays. See you there.
Puerto Cocina & Bar is at 155 Riveredge Drive, Dallas.
Sushi Kozy in downtown Dallas
Months after Sushi Kozy opened, chef-owner Paul Ko hired RJ Yoakum as chef de cuisine.
Kathy Tran
Omakase restaurant Sushi Kozy has quietly gained a following from Dallas food lovers since it opened in mid-2025, then received a Recommended nod from Michelin a few months later. The downtown Dallas dinner spot got a jolt again when chef-owner Paul Ko hired RJ Yoakum, formerly of Dallas restaurant Georgie. Yoakum is a French Laundry alum whose role at Sushi Kozy is to make creative small plates, while Ko continues to handle the fish.
Sushi Kozy is at 2000 Ross Ave., Dallas. Evenings only.
Thai Soon in Richardson
Soon Chanchaisri and her daughter Ararin “Irean” Wongchingchai have worked at Thai Soon for nearly 40 years. The restaurant needs help to survive the next few months or years.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
As The News continues to explore why so many restaurants are closing in North Texas, we recently explained the plight of Thai Soon, a pioneering Thai restaurant with nearly 40 years of history in Dallas and in Richardson. Matriarch Soon Chanchaisri passed Thai Soon to her daughter, Ararin “Irean” Wongchingchai, as many families in restaurants do. Wongchingchai did as her mom taught her: She kept the same recipes. When ingredient prices rose, Wongchingchai didn’t make sweeping price changes — a potentially fatal choice.
Wongchingchai is wrestling with whether to sell her mom’s legacy, find new investors or quit altogether. This is her emotional story.
Thai Soon is at 101 S. Coit Road, Richardson.
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Check out past Hot Lists