Poke News

Dallas poke restaurant bops up on Lemmon Avenue with social-media slant

Poké Bop is the only restaurant you're likely to find a sushi doughnut.

Photo by Kevin Marple

Poke, the Hawaiian raw fish trend looming big in Dallas in 2017, has a new player: Poké Bop, which just opened at 4103 Lemmon Ave., in the same center as Starbucks, in a space that has been a yogurt shop and a Blimpie sub shop.

Diners unfamiliar with poke are advised to think of it as deconstructed sushi. Poké Bop's chef Tommy Hwang is a certified sushi chef with 27 years of experience. He says that poke has to be fresh and that he plans to procure locally whenever he can.

"We also intend to cure our fish on site and diners will be able to taste the difference in the cut," he says.

The menu will include signature bowls or an opportunity to build your own. It will also include a quirky item that is surely unique to Poké Bop: the "poke donut," which should really be spelled doughnut. It's a sushi roll bent in the shape of a circle, which definitely has to taste better than a sushi roll that is straight.

Diners can also enjoy a poke ritto: basically an over-sized sushi roll that hasn't been sliced into pieces, so you can pick it up and eat it with your hands, like you would a burrito. That also has to taste better, it only makes sense that it would.

Poké Bop will have Asian beers and cold sake, available by the bottle. The restaurant has tables but also standing dining options, as well.

Savvy to the world of social media, Poké Bop's interior was designed with Instagram in mind. A surfboard is displayed prominently in the back, in keeping with the Hawaiian beach culture. Stand against that and snap photos. Go ahead. Take those photos. Stand against that surfboard backdrop and take selfies of yourself at Poké Bop.

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Craft Beer News

Dallas Stars owner to open beer-centric Craft restaurant in the U.S.

Craft

Food and beer from Craft.

A restaurant concept from Canada is opening its first U.S. location in little old Dallas: Called Craft Restaurant & Beer Market, it's a small chain with an emphasis on craft beer and elevated casual dining opening in Preston Center at 5974 W Northwest Hwy.

That location is a former medical office, across the street from the Starbucks at the corner of Kate Street. According to a release, it will open in in early 2026 — their first in the American market.

The concept was founded in 2019 by craft beer wunderking PJ L'Heureux, who is partnered with Tom Gaglardi, owner of the Dallas Stars and the Moxies chain. It will feature more 100 beers on tap including local Texas brews, along with cocktails, wine, and a fresh, globally inspired menu.

L'Heureux calls Dallas "a natural fit" for Craft.

"Our large restaurant footprint, commitment to local products, and dedication to community are what Texas is all about," L'Heureux says in a statement. "Texas and specifically the Preston area of Dallas, with its booming economy, diverse culture, and love for craft cocktails and beer, is the perfect place for us to begin this exciting new chapter."

Craft will occupy a state-of-the-art, 10,500 square-foot space with a modern yet welcoming interior, featuring warm woods, industrial accents, and a massive 360-degree bar as its center.

The space will also include a 5,250 square-foot rooftop patio with a full bar, booth seating, lush greenery, and a games area — suitable for casual gatherings and special celebrations.

Craft president Scott Frank says that the chain, which has nine locations across Canada and is no relation to the Craft restaurant concept by chef Tom Colicchio, likes to create unique menus and partnerships in each of the communities they are in.

"Craft has always been about bringing people together, and we're thrilled to share our passion for craft beer, exceptional dining, and community building with our friends in the Texas market," L'Heureux says.

Gaglardi previously brought Moxie's Grill & Bar, his glossy Canadian sports-bar restaurant, to Dallas in 2016 — the first in the U.S. He's since opened locations in Plano, Southlake, and Houston.

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