![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SeniorOink_Cover_AlisonMcLean_07.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe \u201cbest\u201d of anything is so subjective: best dog, best rock album, the best movie released in 1984. This list highlights 50 restaurants that make Dallas an exciting place to live, work and play. Usual suspects? Some, but not exclusively. Individually, these are spots we continually go back to because they offer something, well, tasty, of course, but also unique. Collectively, it\u2019s a great mixtape; a little of this and that \u2014 it\u2019s high-end and low-end, a mix of grit and elegance. If you hit one spot a week for the next year, you\u2019d have a well-rounded idea of what Dallas\u2019 culinary scene has to offer.<\/p>\n
This year, we\u2019ve narrowed our list down from 100 to 50. Fifty is less gangly, more succinct and, pound-for-pound, packs a bigger punch to your taco hole.<\/p>\n
Dallas is a destination location for restaurant concepts: Avra and Catch are two notable names that have recently opened shop, and more are on the way. But this list isn\u2019t for those spots. We strive to have a diverse range in terms of geography, cuisine and price point. <\/p>\n
Here are the spots that made the cut for the current edition of the Top 50 Restaurants in the Dallas metro area right now.<\/p>\n
Jump to: <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Carnitas tacos from Senor Oink <\/p>\n
New Restaurants on the Observers\u2019 Top 50<\/p>\n
Our new and noteworthy additions are restaurants that have recently entered the local dining scene, occupying a good chunk of our headspace.<\/p>\n
Flamant Hugo\u2019s Seafood \t\t\t\t\t\t\tThis year, make your gift count \u2013 \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOur work is funded by readers like you who make voluntary gifts because they value our work and want to see it continue. Make a contribution today to help us reach our $30,000 goal!\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n La Tiki Paisa Meridian<\/a> Norman\u2019s Japanese Grill Pesca Coastal Classics and Boozy Cocktails Se\u00f1or Oink Taqueria Tropical Classic Dallas Restaurants<\/p>\n Friends in town and want to show off a bit? Visit one of these places for character, culture and flavor. <\/p>\n Cafe Madrid Cafe Momentum<\/a> Cris and John Viet-Mex Kitchen Gorji Restaurant Jonathon\u2019s Diner Kendall Karsen\u2019s Upscale Soul Food Lucia<\/a> Mr. Max Izakaya Restaurant Revolver Gastro Cantina Roots Southern Table Rye<\/a> Splurge Worthy Spots<\/p>\n Dallas restaurants worth every precious Benjamin.<\/p>\n El Carlos Elegante Even Coast Greenpoint Seafood and Oyster Bar Quarter Acre Tango Room Tatsu<\/a> Tei-An Neighborhood Staples and Gems<\/p>\n The comforting spots that hit the spot every time.<\/p>\n Cenzo\u2019s Pizza and Deli Cheesesteak House Encina<\/a> Goodwins Ka-Tip Thai Street Food Kitchen and Koctails by Keven Kelley Knox Bistro Mayor\u2019s House by Selda Mot Hai Ba<\/a> Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen Partenope Ristorante Radici<\/a> Southside Steaks and Cakes<\/a> Turan Uyghur Kitchen Via Triozzi Barbecue Shops<\/p>\n Baby Back Shak Cattleack Barbeque Smokey Joe\u2019s BBQ Zavala\u2019s Barbecue Taquerias, Tex-Mex and More<\/p>\n Del Sur Tacos El Come Taco El Pueblo La Calle Doce<\/a> Maskaras Mexican Grill Milagro Taco Cantina Chris Wolfgang contributed to this piece. <\/p>\n Full List A to Z<\/p>\n Baby Back Shak, The Cedars \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/a>Plano, Granite Park
5880 State Highway 121
flamant.restaurant
Flamant, flamingo in French, is a good name for this waterfront (pond) restaurant that embodies a showy pink feathery fowl. From the team behind Rye and Apothecary along Greenville Avenue in Dallas proper, the soul of this restaurant is a wood-fired hearth that kisses much of the menu. Dishes are inspired by the culinary traditions of Spain, France and Italy. Think octopus tentacles, whipped croquettes and thick muhammara dip spread over wood-fired bread, with heavier plates of pasta: cacio e pepe, ragu bianco and good ol\u2019 spaghetti and meatballs. And we must talk about the $40 all-you-can-eat brunch<\/a>, where you can pick from a dozen dishes \u2014 with a few guidelines \u2014 and live your best life on the weekends.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Bishop Arts
334 W. Davis St.
hugoseafoodbar.com
Not to overwork a phrase, but Hugo\u2019s is a vibe. There\u2019s one Hugo (Osorio) behind the bar and another Hugo (Galvan) in the kitchen. It\u2019s a small space with just a few table tops and a bar, squeezed in the middle of a large building. Hugo\u2019s is upscale and easy-going; fancy and casual; a party and a cozy date night. It\u2019s whatever you need it to be. Start with some oysters and an ahi tuna tostada. Mains run from a caviar sampler to a cheeseburger (saw it at the bar and was jealous). The pasilla pork belly and fried oysters are made with a 24-hour braised pork belly with a pasilla wine reduction. The cocktails almost steal the show.<\/p>\n
Invest in local news that matters.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/a>North Dallas
5801 Northwest Highway
lacasita.coffee
At the east end of the Half Price Books mothership along Northwest Highway, just past the cookbooks, near the World War II section, is a tiny kitchen. La Tiki Paisa is pushing out the best fish tacos in Dallas, served whole fish style with a pile of slaw, radishes, pickled red onions, cilantro and cucumbers over a bed of house-made salsa verde. Husband-and-wife owners Alex Henderson and Maricsa Trejo also run La Casita Bakeshop: You can still get coffee, the amazing pastries and bread here, but come back for the tiki bar and full lunch and dinner menu with a mishmash of tropical-tiki-Mexican dishes (trop-tik-mex?). We almost knocked a table over when we saw the fish tacos pass our table; we ordered them (even after we\u2019d already eaten). Did we mention the Cuban sandwich, full tiki cocktail menu or the pistachio tres leches we had last summer? Inside a used book store, past the cookbooks.<\/p>\n
The Village, Northeast Dallas
5650 Village Glen Drive
Meridian is in its new era, with Eduardo Osorio as the new chef. He\u2019s introduced a menu centered around the wood-burning hearth, which is the core of the kitchen. There\u2019s fire-kissed white sturgeon, pork, duck, branzino and chicken. Holdovers from the previous administration (chef Junior Borges) include daily bread, a strikingly similar burger. Smoked clams are served chilled with compressed honeydew, nuoc cham and cilantro oil. The dish that will change your life, though? Foie and Sea Island Cornbread with shishitos, white cheddar, brown butter and spiced honey. Splurge for the $12 caviar do-up and thank us later. Prime seating here is the chef\u2019s table just in front of the kitchen. Meridian is a casually elegant space with a menu ripe for exploration.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Oak Lawn
4002 Oak Lawn Ave.
normansjapanese.com
Norman\u2019s? Japanese grill? Yes, the story goes that this concept is inspired by a Texan who developed an appreciation for Japan\u2019s culinary traditions while on deployment after World War II. The team behind it, Duro Hospitality, has put together a string of hits that includes Mister Charles and El Carlos Elegante, both of which are recommended in the Michelin Guide. So, the space is as meticulous as is the food. Stylistically, it\u2019s Western Japanese. Sit at one of the sushi counters, the lively bar or a cozy booth in the center of the room, each offering a different experience (the bar seats are usually saved for walk-ins). The menu ranges from fire-kissed A5 beef and a dry-aged cowboy rib-eye to dumplings and Korean fried chicken. Start with a handroll, which is a unique DIY number (don\u2019t overthink it). Servers will help you hopscotch the sections of the menu for a fantastic culinary adventure with Uncle Norman.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Trinity Groves, West Dallas
3011 Gulden Lane
pescacoastalclassics.com
Ever been baptized by a tortilla soup? Might get more converts if we started here. Jesus Cramona, who has built a taco temple at Milagro Cantina, opened this restaurant in the Trinity Groves complex in 2024. At first, he wanted to put a high-end seafood spot in this space, but read the room and decided instead for a moderately priced concept. The menu is coastal Mexican with seafood boils, aguachiles and ceviches. There are classics too, such as blackened catfish topped with crab and served with asparagus and garlic smashed potatoes, which is $28, a deal in these times. Fish and chips are solid as is the burger. The \u201cAmazing Tortilla Soup\u201d is just that. The space is colorful, and brunch is a good time out on the patio with all those big boozy cocktails.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Farmers Branch
12990 Bee St.
sroink.com
This is Maurico Gallego\u2019s second restaurant in Dallas; his other is the sexy Ayahuasca<\/a> Cantina in Oak Cliff. This Richardson outpost is a tropical ode to carnitas (hence the oink) that will teach Dallas diners the many facets of this five-tool taco. Copper pots, cazos, imported from Mexico, do the work in the kitchen, where the piglets are boiled (too much?). The menu offers four \u201ccuts\u201d of pork (shoulder, rind, rib or stomach) and includes six options for the full build-out. We like the guajiro verde with cactus and queso fresco, but the classic version with pickled onions and cilantro is great as well. You\u2019ll want to arrive extra thirsty; behind the tropical-inspired bar, they\u2019re making fruit mixes from scratch, including a tepeche, a traditional Mexican beverage made from fermented pineapple with hints of ginger.\u00a0Yes, you can buy it by the liter, and, yes, you should (whether you take it home to mix with rum or tequila is up to you). <\/p>\n![\"restaurant\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/NHR5118web.jpg\")
Cafe Madrid is a restaurant to be thankful for. <\/p>\n
<\/a>Knox-Henderson
4501 Travis St.
cafemadrid-dallas.com
This summer, we got reacquainted with Cafe Madrid after learning of owner Donica Jimenez\u2019s refusal to sell out to finance bros<\/a> (the group that has swallowed everything else on the block). A Spaniard at heart, she opened this spot 40 years ago to bring tapas culture and community to Dallas. Small plates of cheese, Ib\u00e9rico ham, albondigas and lamb spread out over tables, anchored by pitchers of sangria and glasses of wine. The broad cross-section of diners speaks to its appeal: Katy Trail walkers, moms and dads with the kids out for an early dinner, artists later at night and a variety of languages at all hours. Salud to sticking to what you believe in and maintaining an essential part of Dallas\u2019 culture.<\/p>\n
Downtown
<\/a>1510 Pacific Ave.
cafemomentum.org
Cafe Momentum is a nonprofit venture that employs young adults previously involved with the justice system and pays them fair, living wages to help teach them life skills, leadership and, of course, how to work in a restaurant. Because of the employees\u2019 fair wages, any tips left behind are considered donations to the mission. As such, it\u2019s easy to praise the restaurant without ever mentioning food, just by dwelling on the life-changing effects it has on young people who deserve this chance to work and grow. But here\u2019s the thing: Cafe Momentum is a genuinely great restaurant, one that consistently manages to stand out from the crowd. <\/p>\n
<\/a>Far North Dallas
6090 Campbell Road
crisandjohn.com
Cristina Mendez and John Pham opened Cris and John in 2017 in a North Dallas strip mall \u2014 bookended by a 7-Eleven and a laundromat \u2014 and have stood out with\u00a0a creative blend of Vietnamese and Mexican street fare. They recently relocated further north, with more parking. Center of the menu is the phoritto, which combines all the goodness of a bowl of pho into a toasty tortilla. From there, the menu expands to bao, tacos or banh mi with a variety of fillings, or more traditional pho and ramen. Want loaded fries and spicy wings? Cris and John has you covered, blending cuisines like few others in the city.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Addison
5100 Belt Line Road
chefgorji.com
Gorji is nearly a one-man show, with chef-owner Mansour Gorji buying the ingredients, answering phone calls for reservations, greeting each table and cooking dinner with the help of a handful of staff. The dining room is small, the atmosphere is intimate and each table is booked for only one party per night, which makes this one of the most romantic restaurants in Dallas. The food reflects Gorji\u2019s background as both an accomplished grillmaster and an Iranian-American immigrant; sample Persian-inspired appetizers and then go for a flawlessly cooked steak or a cut of wild game.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Bishop Arts\/Oak Cliff
1619 N. Beckley Ave.
jonathonsoakcliff.com
Here you\u2019ll find the city\u2019s best chicken and waffles, along with some of its best gravy with plenty of black pepper. The chicken biscuit is an ode to being \u201cso extra.\u201d Brunch is an entire event. We\u2019d tell you to dress up, but you actually better be comfortable. Breakfast is served all day, but don\u2019t skip the sandwiches, like the super-tall club sandwich or the macaroni and cheese that\u2019s full of love and no fuss. In 2022, it expanded with a second location at 5337 Forest Lane.<\/p>\n
<\/a>South Dallas
3939 S. Polk St.
At the end of a strip center under the shadow of U.S. 67, chef Kevin Winston is rethinking classic Southern food. What\u2019s remarkable about the dishes at Kendall Karsen\u2019s is their confidence. No, those baked ribs don\u2019t need a sauce, not with their peppery rub and tender meat that comes off the bone with a gentle tug. But there\u2019s a cup of deep brown barbecue sauce on the side anyway, and it\u2019s fantastic. No, these stewed collard greens don\u2019t need half a saltshaker and a pound of bacon to achieve deeply satisfying flavor. (There are inch-wide planks of pork in the cabbage, though.) What\u2019s even better than the food, though, is the outstanding hospitality of this ultra-friendly team, which serves a close-knit community of regulars. No wonder this spot has hosted celebrity visitors like Bun B.<\/p>\n
Bishop Arts District
287 N. Bishop Ave.
luciadallas.com
Walking into Lucia is much like walking into a home. The hostess (who is the chef\u2019s wife) is genuinely gleeful you\u2019ve arrived, so perhaps that makes it better than home. You\u2019ll definitely want to make a reservation. And if the long wait seems daunting, click that box for alerts, which will notify you when there\u2019s a cancellation and you\u2019ll likely get a notification within a week. Be sure to start your visit with a brown butter old-fashioned, one of the best drinks we\u2019ve ever had. Then consider chef David Uygur\u2019s prized salumi board, which is blessed with house-cured meats, p\u00e2t\u00e9s and mousse along with house-baked bread. Beyond that, the menu changes seasonally and while it is Italian at its core, this isn\u2019t your typical romp through fettuccine and red sauce. Try dishes like bucatini with mussels or Amish chicken with marinated greens and toasted pecans and croutons. There are no misses here. It\u2019s all hits.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Irving
3028 N. Belt Line Road
mrmaxtx.com
Mr. Max himself, Hare Nakamura, died in 2013, but his namesake restaurant is still thriving in its third decade of business. A casual oasis of high-quality Japanese food in an Irving strip mall that also contains five hair salons, Mr. Max offers cold and hot appetizers, grilled seafood and irresistible fried snacks such as takoyaki, the battered balls topped with dancing bonito flakes and concealing nuggets of octopus within. Half-sized bowls of ramen mean you can chow down on noodles and still have room for something else.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Deep Ellum
2701 Main St.
revolvertacolounge.com
Chef and owner Regino Rojas is fascinated with Japanese cooking, which might be an odd intro for a taco spot. A \u201cgastro cantina\u201d might also seem like an odd pairing, but when the fare is this good, you can call it what you want. Be sure to start a meal with the delicate cabrito wontons. We\u2019re also partial to the pulpo tacos<\/a>; one is served carnitas style with fried leek and a hot salsa verde. The other is served pastor style and comes with a whole tentacle lazing across a pressed-to-order tortilla with grilled pineapple, scallion and cilantro. If you\u2019re seeking elegance, try its sister concept tasting room, La Purepecha<\/a>.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Farmers Branch
13050 Bee St.
rootssoutherntable.com
Chef Tiffany Derry\u2019s triumphant Farmers Branch restaurant oozes joy. The customers are happy, the staff is enthusiastic, the mood is like a family reunion and the food tastes like a celebration. Derry\u2019s kitchen serves up Southern fare inspired by her Louisiana roots, blending traditional and modern takes together brilliantly with her team. Derry may be the area\u2019s biggest consumer of duck fat, using it for French fries, dirty rice, but most important, fried chicken. The poultry is brined to keep the meat tender and juicy, marinated to give it a gentle spicy heat, fried until a deep, dark brown and served family-style on a heaping plate.<\/p>\n
Lower Greenville
1920 Greenville Ave.
rye.restaurant
Rye serves seriously good fare that you\u2019re unlikely to find in mainstream Dallas restaurants. If you\u2019re down for a serious culinary journey, partake in the seasonal tasting menu<\/a>. A la carte items like an Icelandic hot dog are made with Rosewood wagyu beef, Icelandic sweet mustard, remoulade, rugbrod, onion and fried shallot; all in about two bites. The deconstructed chocolate cake is the only cake Guy Fieri has ever featured on his show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (of which Rye is none).<\/p>\n![\"Quarter](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/quarteracre-variety-alisonmclean-09.webp\")
Quarter Acre\u2019s menu is both classic and innovative in a casually sophisticated space.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Design District
1400 N. Riverfront Blvd.
elcarloselegante.com
From the Dallas-based group Duro Hospitality, think of El Carlos Elegante as The Charles\u2019 Mexican cousin. The restaurant is nondescript outside, but inside is a vibrant and lively space, serving authentic Mexican and South American fare with an upscale polish. The best of El Carlos\u2019 dishes center on anything made with house-made masa; the mushroom tetelas or chorizo molotes are brilliant examples. A visit to El Carlos Elegante borders on \u201cspecial occasion\u201d spending, but the brilliant dishes are worth the price of admission.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Addison
5463 Belt Line Road
even-coast.com
The premise of steaks, seafood and pasta under one roof is not unique. But at Even Coast, chef Omar Flores has jumped into the concept with both feet, and the payoff has been splendid. Fresh seafood abounds, and Even Coast\u2019s graceful handling turns out gems like a Texas redfish imbued with Creole flavors. Pastas are smartly executed, and steaks from Allen Brothers Ranch are a delight. Even Coast\u2019s beverage program is top-notch, with an impressive wine selection to go alongside a curated cocktail menu.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Knox-Henderson
3129 Knox St.
greenpointdallas.com
Dallas restaurateurs Nik and Greg Katz wanted a seafood bar reminiscent of the part of South Africa their grandparents lived in near the Atlantic Coast. Green Point is open for lunch and dinner, and a seat at the horseshoe-shaped bar in the middle of the restaurant is a great perch. The space is chic and unfussy, and the menu is chock full of fresh daily seafood and oysters sourced from waters around the globe. As impressive as the food is, Green Point\u2019s drink menu is even lengthier than the food choices, with a selection of cocktails fronting an almost daunting wine list available by the glass or bottle.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Lower Greenville
2023 Greenville Ave.
quarteracrerestaurant.com
Chef Toby Archibald says restaurants like his Quarter Acre are plentiful in his native New Zealand, but this spot on Greenville Avenue is at the vanguard of some of Dallas\u2019 most creative cooking. On the surface, the cuisine may seem pretentious, but a closer look reveals a playful sense of whimsy. There are small one-hitter bites that offer inexpensive tastes of Quarter Acre\u2019s imaginative spirit. Appetizers and entrees are frequently updated as ingredients come and go out of season, but it\u2019s the tasting menu where this spot truly shines.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Design District
1617 Hi Line Drive
tangoroomdallas.com
There are some Dallas restaurants that are great, but there are also restaurants that make Dallas great. Tango Room is both. The experience starts when you walk into the restaurant. Andy Warhol\u2019s Diamond Dust Shoes hangs to the right of the hostess stands, as do many other art pieces in the restaurant (you can ask for a book to learn more about each art piece). We hear they spend more on art insurance than rent. Tango Room originally opened in 2021 but got a refresh a year ago, along with a new executive chef and bar program. Small, with just a dozen booths and a mid-sized bar, it\u2019s sexy but quaint, exclusive but no jacket required. The steaks, seafood and pastas are all excellent. <\/p>\n
Deep Ellum
3309 Elm St.
tatsu-dallas.com
Tatsu, the namesake Deep Ellum omakase restaurant from chef Tatsuya Sekiguchi, is one of two Dallas restaurants with a Michelin star, but we\u2019ve been enthralled with Sekiguchi\u2019s lessons in the art of omakase well before the Michelin Guide came to town. Dallas\u2019 omakase scene is growing rapidly, but we prefer Tatsu\u2019s traditional and elegant interpretation over more flashy alternatives. Just two seatings per evening take place at the 10-seat restaurant, and reservations fill quickly even before Tatsu earned a coveted Michelin star. Tatsu\u2019s preparations are steeped in history and tradition that pay respect to the food, but the light shines brightest on the elegant brilliance on display.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Arts District
1722 Routh St.
tei-an.com
Chef and owner Teiichi Sakurai is one of the most influential figures on the Dallas dining scene. Tei-An is a masterpiece, one of the few restaurants in America to make its own soba noodles from scratch. The soba is spectacular, however you try it, from plain noodles with a trio of dipping sauces in bowls to a \u201cbolognese\u201d riff that bridges the gap between Japan and Italy. Tei-An flies in fresh seafood daily straight from Tokyo, making sushi and sashimi essential orders. Tasting menus offer a good chance to try everything, including the excellent tempura. (His ramen shop Ten in West Dallas is a worthy cult favorite.) <\/p>\n![\"whipped](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cenzos_whippedricottawithpitachios_alisonmclean_26.webp\")
Cenzo\u2019s whipped ricotta made in-house with build-your-own toppings.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Oak Cliff
1700 W. 10th St.
cenzospizzaanddeli.com
In a converted gas station at the corner of Tenth and Jefferson in Oak Cliff\u2019s Winnetka Heights neighborhood, Cenzo\u2019s has quickly woven itself into the fabric of the neighborhood. Brilliant pizzas as well as hot and cold sandwiches like the classic \u201cItalian Deli\u201d or the \u201cFancy Fried Bologna\u201d are jammed full of flavor. The beer taps pour out local suds alongside wines by the glass, and a spacious patio is bustling when the weather abides. <\/p>\n
<\/a>Oak Cliff
2015 W. Davis St.
cheesesteakhousetx.com
The Padilla family tried a few restaurant concepts before leaning into cheesesteaks, in part because patriarch Joel Padilla loved the sandwich and also because he really wanted to be his own boss. With that spirit, he now has five locations (most franchises), but the original in Oak Cliff is a bastion of the neighborhood. It sticks to Philadelphia\u2019s Amoroso\u2019s rolls, but everything else would probably make an Eagles fan big mad, which, honestly, is great. Sirloin is heated on a flat grill and mixed with onions and peppers, then topped with any of the house-made sauces or a queso-like cheese that brings it all together. Try the poblano cheesesteak for a bit more spice. A regular is less than $10, but you can order a large for about $12.<\/p>\n
Bishop Arts District
<\/a>614 W. Davis St.
encinadallas.com
Since opening in the fall of 2020, Encina has become a chef\u2019s restaurant: people who cook for a living dine here. The blue corn butterscotch pancakes have become legendary, but the full menu, which changes somewhat, offers tender wagyu beef cheek pastrami served with pimento cheese, a decadent turkey leg confit you could share (but you won\u2019t want to) and blackened red fish. The prices may say this is a place for a special night out, but the equation is there for a good neighborhood restaurant: food you crave, consistent good service and a space you want to be in.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Lower Greenvile
2905 Greenville Ave.
goodwinsdallas.com
Occupying the longtime home of the Blue Goose Cantina on Greenville Avenue, Goodwin\u2019s is already an instant neighborhood go-to. Inside is lovely, with art deco meets mid-century luxe style, and the menu, with playful riffs on classic American bar-and-grill, is chock-full of winners. In the back is the Goose Bar, a nod to the former tenant, with cocktails and small bites served against a darker lounge backdrop. No matter which section you choose to eat or drink in, it becomes readily apparent why Goodwin\u2019s appeal has blossomed so quickly.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Downtown
1011 S. Pearl Expressway
katipthaidallas.com
From the moment it opened, Ka-Tip offered what was probably the best Thai food within the Dallas city limits. Nearly everything on Ka-Tip\u2019s tiny menu is sensational, and spicy-sour noodle soups like tom yum are perfect both for takeout and for winter months. Because the kitchen here doesn\u2019t Americanize, sweeten or tone down its flavors and ingredients, each dish is more vivid than the equivalent at many Thai spots around town. If you\u2019re a seafood fan, grab an order of hoi tod, a crispy grilled pancake filled with morsels of shellfish. Otherwise, go for the excellent noodle dishes.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Downtown
1933 Elm St.
kitchenkocktailsusa.com
The menu at Kitchen + Kocktails is packed with comfort food staples such as Southern-fried catfish, shrimp and grits, and crispy fried green tomatoes. But don\u2019t ignore the lamb chops here, or the blackened-shrimp-topped deviled eggs, both of which are on a budget-friendly happy hour menu. There\u2019s also an impressive cocktail game. On the weekends, they run a clinic: How to Brunch. Pull out those nice heels you\u2019d been saving, make reservations and buckle up. The oxtail here is epic.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Knox-Henderson
3230 Knox St.
knoxbistro.com
Too often, we associate French cuisine with stuffiness, arrogance, overpriced fare or some combination of the three. Thankfully, Dallas has Knox Bistro to showcase the best that French cuisine has to offer in a much more approachable fashion. The menu offers ingredients that aren\u2019t at all complex but are so brilliantly executed that they taste like something new and fresh. There are delicate souffl\u00e9s, naturally, seafood (try the branzino) and perfectly prepared vegetables. It\u2019s all reminiscent of chef-partner Bruno Davaillon\u2019s home in the Loire Valley.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Bishop Arts-Oak Cliff
635 Zang Blvd.
themayorshousebyselda.com
The Mayor\u2019s House by Selda is an offshoot of North Dallas\u2019 Selda Mediterranean Grill. At this second home near Oak Cliff\u2019s Bishop Art\u2019s District, it\u2019s taken up residence in a two-story house built in the early 1900s that was at one-time home to Dallas\u2019 mayor, George Sergeant. The space is both historical and modern with Turkish rugs and colorful pendant lights adding a Mediterranean flair. The menu is large, and things can get out of hand quickly, but just let that happen. You\u2019ll want to get as many breads as you can (like the cheese pide) and don\u2019t skip the halloumi cheese. Kebabs are a signature dish: hand-chopped lamb and red peppers are cooked over charcoal. Then, there\u2019s the dessert tray: everything is made in-house with some traditional desserts, including cheesecake and tres leches, with a Mediterranean spin.<\/p>\n
East Dallas
6047 Lewis St.
mothaibadallas.com
Chef Peja Krstic\u2019s East Dallas fusion restaurant is a local favorite. Over the past several years, Krstic has sharpened his focus with notable results. M\u1ed9t Hai Ba\u2019s Vietnamese influences are still there, but the menu demonstrates Krstic\u2019s global chops, with house-made pastas or seafood grilled over Japanese binch\u014d-tan charcoal. Michelin took note and assigned it a Bib Gourmand distinction for the past two years for its high-quality food at a reasonable price point. The kimchi and foie gras dumplings show off a medley of flavors and are adorned with caramelized pears and Wagyu ribeye. The blend of cuisines symbolizes everything\u00a0M\u1ed9t Hai Ba is about.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Lower Greenville
1907 Greenville Ave.
ngonvietkitchen.com
Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen has brought a delightful menu to Lower Greenville. Start with spring rolls, fried exteriors wrapping shrimp, pork and leafy greens. The broken rice plate offers tender rice, shrimp, cucumber, pickled veggies and a sunny-side-up egg. Choose your protein, but you can\u2019t go wrong with the lemongrass pork. The best part may be pouring over as much fish sauce as you like. The banh mi is welcoming and simple, with layers of meat, foie gras p\u00e2t\u00e9 and plenty of pickled vegetables and cilantro. A dish you shouldn\u2019t skip is the bun bo Hue, with the bite of spice from chili oil alongside fragrant lemongrass. Ngon received a Bib Gourmand distinction from Michelin in 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Downtown
1903 Main St.
partenopedallas.com
It\u2019s hard to argue with the Neapolitan pizza-making prowess of Dino Santonicola, the Naples-born chef who opened Partenope after years at the popular Cane Rosso chain. His pizza crusts have a sourdough-type flavor, which underpins any combination of toppings. But Partenope is a well-rounded Italian restaurant that also has terrific made-from-scratch pastas, unusually interesting salads and more. A must-try is the monster-sized sandwiches, which use extraordinary pillowy loaves of bread made in-house. The bread is our favorite part, to be honest, but if you want a truly spicy sandwich, grab the Super Jeff, featuring hot soppressata and a mayo spiked with Calabrian chile peppers. There\u2019s also a location in Richardson.<\/p>\n
Farmers Branch
12990 Bee St.
radiciwoodfiredgrill.com
Next door to her already lauded Roots Southern Table, Radici is chef Tiffany Derry\u2019s homage to the Italian-style cooking with which she began her career. To develop Radici\u2019s menu, Derry traveled to Italy for culinary and cultural inspiration, which is evident in her interpretations of Italian classics. Pastas are on point, but Radici\u2019s real work comes via the wood grill where gems like a roasted half chicken, striped bass or smoky eggplant come to life. Try the oniglio alla gricia: braised shredded rabbit blended into a pecorino\u00a0and guanciale sauce, then tossed together with twisted pasta and a few bitter greens to contrast the richness. <\/p>\n
Fair Park
3125 Al Lipscomb Way
southsidesteaksandcakes.com
Southside Steaks and Cakes first popped up on radar when the family-owned restaurant in South Dallas \u2014 situated within 1,000 feet of Fair Park \u2014 was added as a concessionaire to the State Fair in 2021. Then, in 2022, fireworks went off when its Peanut Butter Paradise won a Big Tex Choice Award. The more we got to know the owners, Chris Easter and Nicole Sternes, the more we were enthralled not only by the food but also by their infectious spirit and ambition. Southside has a big party vibe inside. The Philly cheesesteaks are two-handed sandwiches overflowing with meat and cheese. The wing menu has more than two dozen dry and wet rubs. For variety, get a\u00a0Dime Bag, one of many menu items that play on cultural colloquialisms of a trap house, which the owners nickname the spot. And absolutely don\u2019t skip dessert here.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Plano
2001 Coit Road
turanuyghurkitchen.com
As one of the Dallas area\u2019s only Uyghur restaurants, Turan Uyghur Kitchen educates as well as nourishes. Uyghur cuisine prominently features roasted mutton and beef, rice dishes and kebabs. Since the majority of Uyghurs are Muslim, the food is predominantly halal. Dishes like the big plate chicken are simply marvelous, and a small portion was huge, easily feeding two people. This is a braised bone-in chicken stew served on a bed of flat noodles and piled high with potatoes, spring onions, garlic, and red and green bell peppers. Try the polow if it\u2019s available, a slightly sweet pilaf-style rice cooked with onions and carrots and served with a lamb shank. We can\u2019t say enough about the deep and savory flavors in the big plate chicken. Bone-in chicken and noodles are seasoned with star anise, cinnamon, clove, white and black pepper \u201cand so on\u201d (according to the menu).<\/p>\n
<\/a>Lower Greenville
1806 Greenville Ave.
viatriozzi.com
There\u2019s a common refrain that, for all its talent, Dallas doesn\u2019t have many real Italian restaurants. Via Triozzi aims to change our minds by checking many requisite Italian boxes: an exquisite lasagna, daily house-made pasta and several other well-executed Italian basics. Naturally, there\u2019s an impressive, red-heavy wine selection and a full bar with an inspired assortment of cocktails. Via Triozzi\u2019s space is lovely, with every detail considered, and meals there feel like you\u2019ve been invited into the home of your long-lost Italian family. It all adds up to an Italian restaurant Dallas can be proud of. If butternut squash ravioli is on the menu, it\u2019s a must-order. <\/p>\n![\"baby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/baby_back_shak_-_brisket_and_clareance_-_nathan_hunsinger.webp\")
Owner Clarence Cohens shows off a brisket at his spot, Baby Back Shak, an essential stop for barbecue in Dallas.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The Cedars
1800 S. Akard St.
babybackshak.com
A half slab at this barbecue joint means seven baby back ribs kissed with smoke, spiced with pepper and just-right tender: The meat doesn\u2019t fall off the bone, but pulls off with the gentlest of tugs. It just narrowly beats out the boudin plate as our favorite order, but the boudin (here spelled boudain) is top-notch, too, especially dunked in a cup of sauce. The small dining room pays loving tribute to great blues musicians and displays two decades\u2019 worth of media praise. We love two meaty sides: excellent, peppery, lick-the-takeout-container baked beans and the boudin links.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/a>Farmers Branch
13628 Gamma Road
cattleackbbq.com
In an industrial park in Farmers Branch, Cattleack Barbeque lives up to every bit of hype it\u2019s received, including a Bib Gourmand from Micheline Guide. Fabulous fatty brisket and extraordinary pulled whole hog are the stars, as is a vinegar-based coleslaw. Grab another bite of slaw and you\u2019ll be prepared to tackle that next slice of Texas hot link. Some weeks, the Cattleack crew smokes beef ribs rubbed with a pastrami spice mix. The ribs are jaw-dropping; order an extra, take it home and throw it in a pot of beans the next day. In fact, order extra of everything in general, and you\u2019ll be cooking the best beans of your life.<\/p>\n
<\/a>South Dallas
6403 S. R L Thornton Freeway
smokeyjoesbbqdallas.com
Regulars at Smokey Joe\u2019s know that its bricks of fabulously tender and minimally treated pork ribs are unbeatable. And owner Kris Manning\u2019s personal passion happens to be brisket, which might be why his has become the best brisket between Cattleack and Waco. Its balance \u2014 not overly smoky, not harshly seasoned, fabulously tender and moist \u2014 is just right. There are some great barbecue sandwiches here, including the GF, with heaping brisket, pickles and onion rings that stay crisp on the drive home.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Grand Prairie
421 W. Main St.
zavalasbarbecue.com
Zavala\u2019s Mexican-influenced barbecue is deeply satisfying. Every Friday is taco night, but every barbecue tray can be converted into a taco plate if you ask for tortillas. You may argue, but tortillas are a better accompaniment to barbecue than white bread. A slice of Zavala\u2019s lean brisket, nestled in a fluffy tortilla, topped with a cilantro-heavy house salsa verde, is perfection. The ribs are perfectly cooked, too, especially with a house barbecue sauce that leans heavily on spice. Making the whole experience even better, Zavala\u2019s is housed in a tiny 1967 building in Grand Prairie\u2019s mid-century downtown, with a big canopy hanging over the picnic tables out front. It\u2019s an architectural gem, and a metaphor for the way that Zavala\u2019s takes past traditions and uses them to build new traditions of its own.<\/p>\n![\"Del](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/delsurtacos_elsanto_sanchez_maximotacos_alisonmclean_005.webp\")
Maximo, Sanchez and el Santo tacos at Del Sur Tacos in Oak Cliff<\/p>\n
<\/a>South Dallas
720 E. Jefferson Blvd.
instagram.com\/DelsurTacos
<\/a>Del Sur Tacos competes with the best of Jefferson Boulevard\u2019s crowd of rival taquerias, with inspired specialty tacos featuring fillings such as a chile relleno, excellent carnitas, cochinita pibil and birria. This is a fun space (luchadora-inspired), and it recently upgraded its patio, which is now party-ready; check out karaoke night on Wednesday nights, too. Grab some mulitas and enjoy a dish of meat, beans and stacked tortillas. We\u2019re in love with El Santo, a taco with a nearly even mixture of grilled pork and julienned radishes doused in fiery guajillo pepper salsa. Grab your tacos as a platter to get the excellent side cup of beans. There\u2019s also a location in McKinney.<\/p>\n
<\/a>East Dallas
2513 N. Fitzhugh Ave.
elcometaco.com
This Old East Dallas taco joint is officially an institution. Everything at El Come is good, even the simple Jose taco with beans, cheese and avocado, but look out for unusual offerings like tripe, lengua, sesos (veal brains) and chapulines (grasshoppers). Big TVs make this a good place to watch a soccer game, too. The patio here is great and, even better, is the adjacent speakeasy, La Viuda Negra. The facade of La Viuda is a bridal shop and has its own separate, ever-changing food menu to pair with its showy cocktails. Getting the check at the bar is the real adventure. (The check is tucked into a leather journal where imbibers leave poems, thoughts and \u2026 well, we can\u2019t say everything, just go find out.)<\/p>\n
Oak Cliff
525 E. Jefferson Blvd.
Some of the best enchiladas verdes in Dallas can be found at El Pueblo, and if you agree with us, you can order them in an enormous platter of six, or just get two as they come with sides of rice and beans. There are other hits on the menu too, including picadillo gorditas, lengua tacos and divine mole. Stacks of tortillas make a carnitas platter or a plate of pollo en mole even more enticing. This is some of Oak Cliff\u2019s best Mexican comfort food.<\/p>\n
Oak Cliff
<\/a>415 W. 12th St.
lacalledoce-dallas.com
Sitting on the porch at La Calle Doce in Oak Cliff, you could easily believe you were lunching in San Antonio, not Dallas. Upscale but not stuffy, this local institution (which also has an East Dallas location) serves some of the best-quality Mexican seafood in town, from ceviche cocktails and tostadas to seafood chiles rellenos and perfectly grilled shrimp alambres. Many of the main courses come with appetizer cups of fish stew, so be careful not to overindulge in chips and salsa.<\/p>\n
<\/a>South Dallas
2423 W. Kiest Blvd.
maskarasmexicangrill.com
Some of the best Guadalajaran food in Dallas comes from this luchador-themed restaurant in the heart of Oak Cliff. Many first-timers come to Maskaras for its extraordinary collection of lucha libre masks, costumes and vintage posters, but they stay because of the awesome tacos ahogados (\u201cdrowned\u201d tacos bathing in salsa), enormous tortas and rich carne en su jugo. The spicy shrimp burrito is more than a foot long, and the hospitality here is as big-hearted as the plates are, well, big. The sudden internet popularity of birria, a Jalisco specialty, became a fan favorite at Maskaras, as the restaurant serves birria three ways: plated as a stew, in soft-tortilla \u201cstreet\u201d tacos or, most indulgently of all, in fried tacos that are also stuffed with gooey cheese.<\/p>\n
<\/a>West Dallas
440 Singleton Blvd.
milagrotacocantina.com
This second iteration of the once-popular taqueria, Tacos Mariachi, just a stone\u2019s throw away from the original, reprised much of the menu along with a whole new slate of ceviche tostadas and a shrimp burger that comes topped with chicharron crumbles and a jalape\u00f1o glaze. The standards include a fillet of smoked salmon wrapped in griddled cheese. The shrimp taco, or \u201ctaco gobernador\u201d on the menu, is topped with sweet-sour pickled red onions, pico and a punchy salsa. Try the campechano, a surf-and-turf combination of carne asada, octopus and shrimp. We hear that in 2026, this spot will transition to a full-service restaurant, which will elevate the experience here. <\/p>\n
Cafe Madrid, Knox-Henderson
Cafe Momentum, Downtown
Cattleack Barbeque, Farmers Branch
Cenzo\u2019s, Oak Cliff
Cheesesteak House, Fair Park
Cris <\/a>and John Viet\u2013<\/a>Mex Kitchen, Far North Dallas
Del Sur Tacos, South Dallas
El Carlos Elegante, The Design District
El Come Taco, East Dallas
El Pueblo, Oak Cliff
Encina, Bishop Arts
Even Coast, Far North Dallas
Flamant, Plano
Goodwins, Lower Greenville
Gorji Restaurant, Addison
Greepoint Seafood and Oyster Bar, Knox-Henderson
Hugo\u2019s Seafood, Bishop Arts District
Jonathon\u2019s Diner, Oak Cliff
Ka-Tip Thai Street Food, Downtown
Kendall Karsen\u2019s Upscale Soul Food, South Dallas
Kitchen and Koctails by Kevin Kelly, Downtown
Knox Bistro, Knox-Henderson
La Calle Doce, Oak Cliff
La Tiki Paisa, North Dallas
Lucia, Bishop Arts District
Maskaras Mexican Grill, Oak Cliff
Mayor\u2019s House by Selda, Oak Cliff
Meridian, Northeast Dallas (The Village)
Milagro Taco Cantina, West Dallas
Mot Hai Ba, East Dallas
Mr. Max Izakaya, Irving
Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen, Lower Greenville
Norman\u2019s Japanese Grill, Oak Lawn
Partenope Ristorante, Downtown and Richardson
Pesca Coastal Classics and Boozy Cocktails, West Dallas
Quarter Acre, Lower Greenville
Radici, Farmers Branch
Revolver Taco Lounge, Deep Ellum
Roots Southern Table, Farmers Branch
Rye, Lower Greenville
Se\u00f1or Oink, Farmers Branch
Smokey Joe\u2019s BBQ, South Dallas
Southside Steaks and Cake, Fair Park
Tango Room, The Design District
Tatsu, Deep Ellum
Tei-An, Arts District
Turan Uyghur, Plano
Via Triozzi, Lower Greenville
Zavala\u2019s Barbecue, Grand Prairie
<\/a><\/p>\n