Since its portrayal in the eponymous and infamous 1980s soap opera, Dallas has undergone an incredible amount of change. The home of Neiman Marcus, the legendary State Fair of Texas, and America’s Team, Big D also boasts a thriving, diverse culinary scene that can sometimes fly under the national radar. Dallas has always been a city of niches — if you want to fit in, you have to find yours. There might be whole parts of town that aren’t the right vibe for you, though some spots have the history and pull to rise above the fray. This guide will help you get to the heart of Dallas’ unique culinary identity.
Where to Start on Eater Dallas’s Best Maps
Eater Dallas puts together comprehensive guides to the city’s best food and drink — whether you’re looking for fried chicken, cocktails, burgers, or brunch. If you’re starving but overwhelmed by all of these options, here are some top picks that are a good bet every single time.
Hottest Restaurant
There is a lot of great barbecue to check out in North Texas, but Kafi BBQ in Irving is the hot spot of the moment. Pitmaster Salahodeen Abdul-Kafi transitioned from a job as a tech engineer at Google to smoking meats in his halal joint. The dino ribs are a highlight — and best when doused in more of the house barbecue sauce than seems proper — as is the incredible, smoky brisket with a perfect bark. This non-descript spot is in a strip mall and might be easily overlooked, but it’s got a killer patio with bespoke cushions that are among some of the most comfortable you’ll find in DFW. That’s a good thing, because you’ll want to stay a long time to work through the menu. Don’t skip the cardamom banana pudding at the end; it offers the flavor evolution that this classic Southern dish needs.
Essential Restaurant
The Mansion is a longtime Dallas staple that has hosted many of the most legendary chefs in town since it opened in the ‘80s. The latest chef to take the reigns is Charles Olalia, who moved to Dallas from L.A. He has injected the menu with just a touch of Filipino flavor, marrying it with Texas staples while meeting fine dining expectations. Case in point: His excellent salt and pepper fried quail, which made its way from the Mansion Bar menu to the tasting menu to a featured entree on the restaurant’s dinner menu. It’s savory, juicy, rich, and taps into a bird that crosses over from Texan to Filipino — all while getting elevated into a fine dining dish. It’s also a great example of the various kinds of experiences one can have at the Mansion. Eat at the bar while a band plays and folks dance (it’s a wonderful spot to people watch), enjoy the tasting menu on the picturesque patio, or go old school and have a multi-course white tablecloth dinner in the restaurant. It’s just about the most Dallas place to be in Dallas.
Tex-Mex
When in Texas, Tex-Mex as the Texans do. That means dropping in on Mia’s Tex-Mex for it’s star dish of chile relleno or heading to E Bar Tex-Mex for some down and dirty queso followed by a plate of enchiladas.
Brunch
There’s a new stellar patio brunch in town at Le PasSage that must be enjoyed while the spring weather allows it. A fleeting look at the menu might not provide diners with a complete picture of the French and Asian fusion of the classic brunch dishes, but when they land on the table, it is clear. Especially noteworthy are the light, fluffy, and photogenic Japanese pancakes, the spicy congee with chicken ported over from Rose Cafe next door, and the show-stopping and must-order dish is chicken and waffles with hot honey.
Steak
Pappa’s Bros. Steakhouse may not be in a prime Dallas location, but it is the steakhouse experience for many Dallasites — which is interesting, considering it’s a part of the Pappa’s dynasty of restaurants out of Houston. Something about it just connects. That may be the excellent cuts of meat, the over-the-top sides, the dark wood and leather everywhere, or perhaps the award-winning wine list.
Barbecue
In Texas, barbecue is a lunchtime thing. While there are places that make enough to serve it for dinner, that’s not the move. Now on to the show: Yes, you could drive to Fort Worth, and then a little bit south, to stand in line and try Goldee’s. If you’ve got the time, go for it. Another option is Baby Back Shak in the Cedars, which made a full recovery after a fire in 2024 to return to serving its Memphis-style meats.
Dallas Food Neighborhoods to Know
Dallas-Fort Worth is seriously massive, sprawling across more than 350-square miles of North Texas. As such, it’s easy to find a decent meal pretty much anywhere in the metroplex, but certain neighborhoods have developed unique culinary identities. Wherever you are, let this breakdown of the city’s most notable dining districts be your guide.
Deep Ellum
There are now many new places to eat and drink in this cool neighborhood that it’s hard to keep up. You can Terry Black’s Barbecue for a taste of Austin way outside of Austin. There’s also arguably the city’s best fried chicken at Brick & Bones. And what’s a night out in Deep Ellum without stopping into Revolver Taco Lounge?
Greenville Avenue
Another hot reservation is Via Triozzi, our Eater Award 2023 winner for Best New Restaurant in Dallas. This homey Italian joint serves some of the best plates in town, with a notable bistecca alla Fiorentina and a lasagna al forno with so many layers it will make you dizzy.
Knox-Henderson
This little collection of streets has become the home base of several of Dallas’s best restaurants. Pop into Green Point Seafood and Oyster Bar for cocktails and bites. Or stop by Michelin-recommended Georgie for the best tasting menu in town.
Downtown
The Joule’s Midnight Rambler will delight cocktail enthusiasts, while the Adolphus’s Rodeo Bar is the spot for a Texas-themed night out. And if you want a good pizza, hit up Partenope for a Neopolitan-style pie.
Bishop Arts
There’s a brand new contender for best spot in Bishop Arts: Pillar. Chef and owner Peja Krstic, who runs the Michelin-recognized Mot Hai Ba in Lakewood, finally opened a second restaurant in this super hot neighborhood and made it an American-style bistro. The prices are quite affordable and that’s a feature — keeping people in the seats every night is the plan. The menu is full of exciting, tempting dishes. It’s well worth landing a reservation to eat there.
How to Spend a Day Eating in DFW
Start at Full City Rooster for a cup of perfectly roasted coffee and a pastry or breakfast taco. There’s a room in the back and an outdoor patio, where you can linger among the mismatched furniture and eclectic wall art for as long as you like. Maybe even long enough for a second cup.
For lunch, head to Cenzo’s Pizza & Deli for a slice of its New York-style pie with a salad. For sandwich lovers, the Italian deli and fancy fried bologna sandwich with house-made pistachio butter are both incredible. The expansive porch looks out over the surrounding neighborhood of Oak Cliff, while the interiors are loaded with homages to the made-up Cenzo and the history of this building, which is a renovated laundry stop and car repair shop.
Head to Fond for a Downtown aperitivo hour. Starting at 4 p.m., it serves deals on natural wine, local craft beers, and batch cocktails, along with small plates like fried olives with roasted garlic aioli, The Carrot, a dipping board with whipped feta, or the chips and dips plate that pairs Ruffles with caviar and French onion dip.
For dinner, pop into Rex’s Seafood and Market on Northwest Highway in the Park Cities for the best selection of oysters and martinis in the city, tuna nachos, a plate of Texas redfish, and a key lime pie that will leave you set on light summer fare in a casual atmosphere.
If you’ve still got some going out in you, finish the night at the Black Swan Saloon. Owners Gabe Sanchez and Ryan Payne reopened the cult favorite bar with limited space, but it’s not a see-and-be-seen scene. It’s a place for folks who know booze and want really good cocktails, natural wines, and local beers. This is the spot if you care a little too much about what you drink.
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Source: dallas,eater.com