Take a tour through 2025’s most memorable restaurant launches, attractions and creative spaces
A new year always brings something fresh — new flavors to taste, new places to explore and new experiences that remind us why North Texas is such a great place to be. And 2025 didn’t disappoint. From exciting restaurant openings to unique attractions and unexpected gems, there was no shortage of firsts to try. Of course, not everything new is created equal, so we asked ourselves: Which ones were truly the standouts? After plenty of exploring (and maybe a little overindulging), we’ve narrowed it down. Here are Local Profile’s picks for the very best of the new.
SAVOR
4341 PGA Parkway, Frisco
This year, Omni PGA Frisco turned up the heat with its first-ever SAVOR festival — a mashup of food, drinks, golf, music and a dash of celebrity sparkle. Was that Kurt Russell we saw snacking on eats from Michelin-recommended chefs? Yes, yes, it was. The idea for SAVOR came from a vision of offering something truly exclusive, not just for North Texas but for the whole country, with world-class bartenders and chefs on hand. In short, an event worth booking a plane ticket for. Thankfully, we don’t have to. Read more
Hudson House
3475 Preston Road, Frisco
Hudson House landed in Collin County, bringing navy blazers, New Yorker magazine covers and a splash of East Coast sheen. The ninth outpost from Vandelay Hospitality Group (the first opened in Highland Park in 2017) keeps the formula fans love: a buzzing raw bar, timeless comfort food, oysters flown in daily and the “World’s Coldest Martini,” which lives up to its name. Cheers! Read more
Elaine’s Photo: Shoko Ashcraft | Local Profile
Elaine’s Cocktail Kitchen
8763 Seventh St., Frisco
Elaine’s Cocktail Kitchen has slipped onto Seventh Street in downtown Frisco, but the secret’s already out. Think velvet sofas, marble tables and chandeliers with just the right shimmer. With 44 seats inside and a charming patio out front, it’s intimate, lively and practically begging for that second round. Read more
Shun by Yama Sushi
6651 Alma Road, Suite 200, McKinney
Chef Kenny Chong, once behind the counter at Shoyo, the acclaimed omakase spot on Greenville in Dallas, now leads as partner and executive chef at Shun by Yama. His mastery shows in the smallest details: the exacting cut of fish, the delicate press of rice, the calm assurance as he sets a piece of sushi before you. At Shun, every motion carries meaning. This isn’t just sushi; it’s the craft of a true expert. Read more
Vaqueros Texas Bar-B-Q
965 Garden Park Drive, Allen
Here’s what Vaqueros BBQ is serving in Allen now that it’s gone from food truck to storefront: brisket so tender it practically sighs apart, pulled pork that drips with juicy flavor, jalapeno-cheese sausage with the perfect snap and smoky barbacoa tucked into tacos that nod to Mexico City. And of course, the star — those legendary brisket birria tacos that make every bite feel like the best bite. James Beard semifinalist owner and pitmaster Arnulfo “Trey” Sánchez knows barbecue. You can taste it. Read more
Photo: Shoko Ashcraft | Local Profile
Smalls Sliders
1681 N. Hardin Blvd., McKinney
Smalls Sliders keeps it simple: crave-worthy cheeseburger sliders served from its signature “Smorange Can.” The bright orange shipping container setup doubles as a drive-thru and walk-up spot, making the whole experience as fun and punchy as the food.
Fritz’s Adventure
5651 Nebraska Furniture Mart Drive, The Colony
Grandscape in The Colony already has it all: Thai eats, secret speakeasies, minigolf smackdowns and even surfing. Now it’s leveling up with the North Texas debut of Fritz’s Adventure, an over-the-top playground that’s as wild as it is cool. Read more
Bibliobar
1018 E. 15th St., Plano
Bibliobar began in 2017 as an online and pop-up bookshop at coffee shops and breweries before landing a spot in the Plano Shopping Co-Op in 2023. When the co-op closed in 2024, it could’ve been the end — but instead, Bibliobar leveled up. Now it’s back with its very own storefront in downtown Plano. Read more
Musume Photo: Shoko Ashcraft | Local Profile
Musume
3625 The Star Blvd., Suite 315, Frisco
Musume, Dallas’ beloved sushi and Asian dining hotspot, has rolled into The Star in Frisco. Perched on the second floor, this 6,000-square-foot playground for your taste buds dishes out signature favorites, fresh new creations and a sake and Japanese whisky lineup so big, you might need a map to navigate it. Read more
Centro On The Square
112 E. Louisiana St., Suite A, McKinney
Centro on the Square is the brainchild of longtime North Texas restaurateurs, George Stergios of Knife Steakhouse and Brian Dunne of Mexican Bar Company. The pair met as neighbors at Willow Bend Mall and teamed up for this new venture. Their restaurant takes over the spot once home to Harvest Seasonal Kitchen, which moved and rebranded as Harvest at the Masonic. Delicious and elegant, it’s a welcome addition.
Flamant
5880 State Highway 121, Suite 103B, Plano
The chefs behind Dallas icons Rye and Apothecary brought something bold to Collin County: Flamant, a European-inspired live-fire cocktail bar and bistro, opened in Plano’s Boardwalk at Granite Park. Named for the French word for “flamingo,” it mixes flair with finesse, offering a relaxed but refined spin on European bistro culture — packed with the flavor and hospitality the team is known for. Read more
Photo: Shoko Ashcraft | Local Profile
JĀKÖ Cocina y Agave
5754 Grandscape Blvd., Suite 110, The Colony
Grandscape has it all — food, fun and endless things to see — but it was missing a little extra after-dark edge. Enter JĀKÖ, a modern Mexican spot with not one, but multiple twists, turning up the heat on Grandscape’s nightlife.
III Forks Steakhouse
5100 Belt Line Road, Suite 800, Addison
III Forks has always been about steak, but its Addison flagship got a sleek, luxurious reboot, complete with a new logo and a new look. A former Chico’s was transformed into 6,000 square feet of intimate corners, glowing metal accents and a space that practically leans in to join the conversation. It’s steakhouse swagger, upgraded.
Gas Monkey Icehouse
4545 Destination Drive, The Colony
Gas Monkey is here, louder and wilder than ever. Richard Rawlings, the legendary Dallas gearhead and Fast N’ Loud star, is revving up Grandscape in The Colony with his newest playground: Gas Monkey Icehouse. The spot takes over the former LSA location and turns it into something the area has been missing.
Image courtesy Merlin Entertainments
Peppa Pig Theme Park
8851 Blvd. 26, North Richland Hills, Fort Worth
Peppa Pig Theme Park is a piggy paradise, the second of its kind after Florida’s original. The park is packed with rides, shows, meet-and-greets, playgrounds, sandpits, a splash pad, a maze, a movie theater, a diner and a gift shop — all starring Peppa, George, Mommy Pig, Daddy Pig and friends. While it’s aimed at preschoolers, kids up to about 7 can still join in the fun, especially with younger siblings in tow. And parents? You might just enjoy yourselves, too.
Even Coast
5463 Belt Line Road, Suite 100, Dallas
Chef Omar Flores, a two-time James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef Southwest and the talent behind Driftwood, Maroma and Whistle Britches, aims to craft dining experiences that let the natural flavors of top-quality ingredients shine. His latest venture, Even Coast, grew from a bold yet simple vision: to bring the best of land and sea together in one place. The menu blends the depth of a perfectly seared steak, the elegance of fresh seafood and the warmth of handmade pasta into a seamless, memorable experience.
Expressive Aromas Custom Fragrance Studio
216 N. Kentucky St., McKinney
At Expressive Aromas, guests get to play perfume scientist, guided by scent pros, with drinks in hand and music in the air. With over 100 single notes to mix, match and experiment with, it’s more than just perfumes and colognes — you can whip up soaps, body butters, candles, room sprays and more. Everyone walks out with a totally one-of-a-kind fragrance in a bottle of their choice.
Musume Photo: Shoko Ashcraft | Local Profile
“A Place Like Home” Mural
8004 Dallas Parkway, Frisco
A towering new mural is stealing the spotlight at the Frisco Discovery Center. At 40 feet tall and 65 feet wide, it’s Dallas artist Alec DeJesus’ biggest solo project yet, and it’s packed with Texas personality. From prickly pear cactus and bluebonnets to sunflowers, a great blue heron and a black bear, every plant and animal is chosen with meaning and a wink of symbolism.
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This article was originally published in Local Profile magazine — read more here.
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