• Home
  • popular
  • Events
  • Submit New Event
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • News
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Home + Design
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • Innovation
  • Sports
  • Charity Guide
  • children
  • education
  • health
  • veterans
  • SOCIAL SERVICES
  • ARTS + CULTURE
  • animals
  • lgbtq
  • New Charity
  • Series
  • Delivery Limited
  • DTX Giveaway 2012
  • DTX Ski Magic
  • dtx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Your Home in the Sky
  • DTX Best of 2013
  • DTX Trailblazers
  • Tastemakers Dallas 2017
  • Healthy Perspectives
  • Neighborhood Eats 2015
  • The Art of Making Whiskey
  • DTX International Film Festival
  • DTX Tatum Brown
  • Tastemaker Awards 2016 Dallas
  • DTX McCurley 2014
  • DTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • DTX Beyond presents Party Perfect
  • DTX Texas Health Resources
  • DART 2018
  • Alexan Central
  • State Fair 2018
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Zatar
  • CityLine
  • Vision Veritas
  • Okay to Say
  • Hearts on the Trinity
  • DFW Auto Show 2015
  • Northpark 50
  • Anteks Curated
  • Red Bull Cliff Diving
  • Maggie Louise Confections Dallas
  • Gaia
  • Red Bull Global Rally Cross
  • NorthPark Holiday 2015
  • Ethan's View Dallas
  • DTX City Centre 2013
  • Galleria Dallas
  • Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty Luxury Homes in Dallas Texas
  • DTX Island Time
  • Simpson Property Group SkyHouse
  • DIFFA
  • Lotus Shop
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Dallas
  • Clothes Circuit
  • DTX Tastemakers 2014
  • Elite Dental
  • Elan City Lights
  • Dallas Charity Guide
  • DTX Music Scene 2013
  • One Arts Party at the Plaza
  • J.R. Ewing
  • AMLI Design District Vibrant Living
  • Crest at Oak Park
  • Braun Enterprises Dallas
  • NorthPark 2016
  • Victory Park
  • DTX Common Desk
  • DTX Osborne Advisors
  • DTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • DFW Showcase Tour of Homes
  • DTX Neighborhood Eats
  • DTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • DTX Auto Awards
  • Cottonwood Art Festival 2017
  • Nasher Store
  • Guardian of The Glenlivet
  • Zyn22
  • Dallas Rx
  • Yellow Rose Gala
  • Opendoor
  • DTX Sun and Ski
  • Crow Collection
  • DTX Tastes of the Season
  • Skye of Turtle Creek Dallas
  • Cottonwood Art Festival
  • DTX Charity Challenge
  • DTX Culture Motive
  • DTX Good Eats 2012
  • DTX_15Winks
  • St. Bernard Sports
  • Jose
  • DTX SMU 2014
  • DTX Up to Speed
  • st bernard
  • Ardan West Village
  • DTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Taste the Difference
  • Parktoberfest 2016
  • Bob's Steak and Chop House
  • DTX Smart Luxury
  • DTX Earth Day
  • DTX_Gaylord_Promoted_Series
  • IIDA Lavish
  • Huffhines Art Trails 2017
  • Red Bull Flying Bach Dallas
  • Y+A Real Estate
  • Beauty Basics
  • DTX Pet of the Week
  • Long Cove
  • Charity Challenge 2014
  • Legacy West
  • Wildflower
  • Stillwater Capital
  • Tulum
  • DTX Texas Traveler
  • Dallas DART
  • Soldiers' Angels
  • Alexan Riveredge
  • Ebby Halliday Realtors
  • Zephyr Gin
  • Sixty Five Hundred Scene
  • Christy Berry
  • Entertainment Destination
  • Dallas Art Fair 2015
  • St. Bernard Sports Duck Head
  • Jameson DTX
  • Alara Uptown Dallas
  • Cottonwood Art Festival fall 2017
  • DTX Tastemakers 2015
  • Cottonwood Arts Festival
  • The Taylor
  • Decks in the Park
  • Alexan Henderson
  • Gallery at Turtle Creek
  • Omni Hotel DTX
  • Red on the Runway
  • Whole Foods Dallas 2018
  • Artizone Essential Eats
  • Galleria Dallas Runway Revue
  • State Fair 2016 Promoted
  • Trigger's Toys Ultimate Cocktail Experience
  • Dean's Texas Cuisine
  • Real Weddings Dallas
  • Real Housewives of Dallas
  • Jan Barboglio
  • Wildflower Arts and Music Festival
  • Hearts for Hounds
  • Okay to Say Dallas
  • Indochino Dallas
  • Old Forester Dallas
  • Dallas Apartment Locators
  • Dallas Summer Musicals
  • PSW Real Estate Dallas
  • Paintzen
  • DTX Dave Perry-Miller
  • DTX Reliant
  • Get in the Spirit
  • Bachendorf's
  • Holiday Wonder
  • Village on the Parkway
  • City Lifestyle
  • opportunity knox villa-o restaurant
  • Nasher Summer Sale
  • Simpson Property Group
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2017 Dallas
  • Carlisle & Vine
  • DTX New Beginnings
  • Get in the Game
  • Red Bull Air Race
  • Dallas DanceFest
  • 2015 Dallas Stylemaker
  • Youth With Faces
  • Energy Ogre
  • DTX Renewable You
  • Galleria Dallas Decadence
  • Bella MD
  • Tractorbeam
  • Young Texans Against Cancer
  • Fresh Start Dallas
  • Dallas Farmers Market
  • Soldier's Angels Dallas
  • Shipt
  • Elite Dental
  • Texas Restaurant Association 2017
  • State Fair 2017
  • Scottish Rite
  • Brooklyn Brewery
  • DTX_Stylemakers
  • Alexan Crossings
  • Ascent Victory Park
  • Top Texans Under 30 Dallas
  • Discover Downtown Dallas
  • San Luis Resort Dallas
  • Greystar The Collection
  • FIG Finale
  • Greystar M Line Tower
  • Lincoln Motor Company
  • The Shelby
  • Jonathan Goldwater Events
  • Windrose Tower
  • Gift Guide 2016
  • State Fair of Texas 2016
  • Choctaw Dallas
  • TodayTix Dallas promoted
  • Whole Foods
  • Unbranded 2014
  • Frisco Square
  • Unbranded 2016
  • Circuit of the Americas 2018
  • The Katy
  • Snap Kitchen
  • Partners Card
  • Omni Hotels Dallas
  • Landmark on Lovers
  • Harwood Herd
  • Galveston.com Dallas
  • Holiday Happenings Dallas 2018
  • TenantBase
  • Cottonwood Art Festival 2018
  • Hawkins-Welwood Homes
  • The Inner Circle Dallas
  • Eating in Season Dallas
  • ATTPAC Behind the Curtain
  • TodayTix Dallas
  • The Alexan
  • Toyota Music Factory
  • Nosh Box Eatery
  • Wildflower 2018
  • Society Style Dallas 2018
  • Texas Scottish Rite Hospital 2018
  • 5 Mockingbird
  • 4110 Fairmount
  • Visit Taos
  • Allegro Addison
  • Dallas Tastemakers 2018
  • The Village apartments
  • City of Burleson Dallas

    Banh Mi on the Quick

    Yum! Brands debuts Banh Shop Vietnamese sandwich concept in Dallas

    Teresa Gubbins
    Sep 9, 2014 | 8:00 am

    Yum! Brands will debut Banh Shop, its fast-casual banh mi sandwich concept, in Dallas, with an opening date set for September 12. The shop is located at 5629 SMU Blvd., not far from Southern Methodist University. A second location will open at DFW International Airport later in September.

    The concept reflects a collaboration between Yum! Brands' VP Christophe Poirier; Dallas-based consultant Mark Brezinski; and Dallas restaurateurs Braden and Yasmin Wages, owners of Malai Kitchen, the Asian restaurant in West Village.

    At a press preview event, Poirier said that he observed a growing interest in Southeast Asian cuisine. "We saw an opportunity to design a unique fast-casual concept that emulates Saigon street food, with a focus on the Vietnamese banh mi sandwich," he said.

    Brezinski, who most recently served as consultant at the Trinity Groves development in West Dallas, is co-founder of brands such as Bengal Coast and Pei Wei, giving him expertise in translating Asian cuisine to a wider audience. "Banh Shop is our way of expressing the abundance of bold flavors of Vietnam and parts of Southeast Asia with a tightly focused menu," he said.

    The team chose Dallas as the city in which to debut the concept because of the players involved, and because Poirier works out of the Plano office.

    Braden and Yasmin Wages have been fusing Thai and Vietnamese flavors at Malai Kitchen since they opened in 2011, and have taken frequent trips to Vietnam to absorb authentic flavors.

    Conceived as an upscale Southeast Asian street stall market, Banh Shop spotlights a number of options of banh mi, the Vietnamese sandwich on a baguette with cilantro, Thai basil, pickled carrot and daikon, ribbon-cut cucumber, and aioli. Banh mi fillings include steak, pork meatball, chicken and tofu. Prices are $5.95 to $6.95.

    Beyond the banh mi, there's a selection of more Americanized sandwiches: the American with ham, salami and mortadella; steak and egg; and "breakfast all day" with eggs, pork and ham.

    For its baguettes, a key component of the banh mi sandwich, the team went with Dallas-based Village Baking Co., with whom they developed an exclusive recipe that combines both rice and wheat flours to achieve the desirable texture of crisp yet substantive.

    Banh Shop also features Southeast Asian salads, soups and wok-fired bowls, including a spicy one called Banh Fire served over white rice. The structure of the menu resembles that of Velvet Taco, the taco concept from Front Burner Restaurants, on which Brezinski also consulted; there's even an Asian version of Velvet Taco's elotes, a side dish of corn in coconut milk spiked with fiery chiles.

    The restaurant occupies a former garage and has been given a minimalist renovation, with original cement floors, community-table benches and a color palette that uses lime green as an accent. Service style is fast-fast-casual, with a queue whose speed is calibrated so that orders are ready by the time the customer gets to the end of the line.

    Banh Shop decor incorporates a Vespa scooter theme.

    Banh Shop in Dallas
    Photo by Marc Lee
    Banh Shop decor incorporates a Vespa scooter theme.
    unspecified
    news/restaurants-bars
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Dallas intel delivered daily.

    Good cheer

    All the holiday pop-up bars keeping Dallas' spirits bright in 2025

    Lindsey Wilson
    Nov 20, 2025 | 1:31 pm
    Leela's Wine Bar holiday
    Leela's/Facebook
    Leela's Holiday House is really three different festive destinations.

    The holiday pop-up season has arrived, and Dallas-Fort Worth is absolutely frosted in festive takeovers. From immersive elf villages to British ski lodges 48 stories in the sky, the region is sparkling with over-the-top decor, special-edition cocktails, and more photo ops than Santa’s workshop.

    Whether you love your holidays kitschy, classy, tropical, or with a Texas twist, this list has your perfect jolly pop-up.

    Miracle holiday pop-up bar Raise a Christmaspolitan at Miracle.Photo by Melissa Hom

    Miracle
    Locations: Hide Bar (Lower Greenville, Dallas), The Puttery (The Colony), Texas Live! (Arlington), Nickel City (Fort Worth)
    Dates: Now through December 31

    The global holiday pop-up sensation returns with kitschy decor, collectible mugs, and a signature menu of festive cocktails like the Christmapolitan and Snowball Old-Fashioned. New drinks this year include Candy Cane Lane and Blitzen Barrel, each served in over-the-top glassware you’ll want to take home (and can). Expect the bars to be decked wall-to-wall in tinsel-clad maximalism, with the kind of joyous energy that has made Miracle a national favorite. Lines can be long, but the holiday chaos is part of the charm.

    Sippin’ Santa
    Locations: Hide Rooftop (Dallas), The Down ’n Out (Fort Worth)
    Dates: Now through December 31

    The tropical cousin to Miracle, Sippin' Santa comes courtesy of tiki legend Jeff “Beachbum” Berry. Santa may be on vacation, but this pop-up still brings plenty of festive cheer with whimsical glassware and beachy decor. The menu blends holiday flavors with island vibes — think Pineapple Upside-Down Cask or the rum-forward Jingle Bird. For anyone who prefers palm trees to pines, this is your holiday escape.

    Holiday House
    Locations: Leela's Wine Bar (Lower Greenville, Uptown, Trophy Club)
    Dates: Now through the holiday season

    Each location of this pizza and wine bar is a different winter wonderland: The original on Greenville got the Ralph Lauren Christmas memo and is decked out in deep reds, evergreen accents, and golden details. Uptown is a pink and teal confection dotted with nutcrackers, bows, and pearls. And Trophy Club is an enchanted forest retreat in lust green and silvers.

    Electric Shuffle
    Location: Electric Shuffle
    Dates: Now through December 31

    Electric Shuffle is diving headfirst into the season with twinkling lights, festive backdrops, and a menu packed with winter flavors. Guests can sip their way through handcrafted holiday cocktails like the Gingerbread Espresso Martini, Merry Mezcal Margarita, and Cranberry Mistletoe Mule, plus lighter options like the Harvest Spritz Mocktail and local winter brews. New this year is the Home for the Holidays package, offered December 22-January 4. Get unlimited shuffleboard, food specials, and unlimited beer and wine at a discounted price: $40 per person for the boozy version or $25 for non-boozy.

    Boxcar Holiday Takeover
    Location: Boxcar
    Dates: Now through December 31

    Boxcar’s already-immersive railcar aesthetic levels up with a Polar Express–inspired transformation in a palette of snowy blues, whites, and silvers. Guests “ride” through the holidays with moving-screen vistas of the Swiss Alps and classic films like The Polar Express and Elf. Expect an entirely new cocktail menu with imaginative drinks crafted by the owners, who are almost always behind the bar making custom creations on request. Bonus: Happy hour runs for the first three hours daily.

    Tinsel Tavern
    Location: The Exchange Hall, AT&T Discovery District
    Dates: November 22-January 4

    Guests can trek upstairs to the second floor daily from 3-11 pm for a lineup of holiday cocktails, from peppermint shots to Gingerbread Martinis, plus a selection of beers and spirits. Festive photo ops complete the spirited vibe.

    The Henry Winter Wonderland St. Henry's Winter Wonderland has taken over The Henry.Photo by Kathy Tran

    St. Henry’s Winter Wonderland
    Location: The Henry
    Dates: Now through January 4

    The Henry’s rooftop becomes a twinkling winter hideaway with fire pits, seasonal cocktails, and a menu of cozy dishes, all supporting the North Texas Food Bank via a $7 entry donation. Drinks such as the Whiskey & Doughnuts and Junior & Mrs. Mint lean indulgent and festive, while the food menu features hits like brie and prosciutto s’mores and bacon-wrapped shrimp. With skyline views and a sophisticated but lively vibe, this is one of Dallas’ most sought-after holiday rooftop experiences.

    TGI Elf Days
    Location: Select DFW TGI Fridays
    Dates: Now through January 5

    TGI Fridays goes full holiday universe with mischievous elf characters, themed zones (hello Candy Cane Corner and Naughty Elf Bar), and wildly festive decor. Special menus include merry shareables, holiday cocktails, and interactive desserts like the Melting Snowman Sundae. Expect in-restaurant movie nights, trivia, Friday giveaways, and glitzy decor that transforms the familiar chain into a quirky winter playground. This one is joyful chaos for families, groups, and anyone craving a big-budget holiday takeover.

    Tipsy Elf
    Location: Bishop Lane in the Bishop Arts District
    Dates: November 21-December 21

    The sprawling pop-up returns with an entire “Tipsy Town” led by Larry the Elf and packed with karaoke dens, mini themed bars, DJs, outrageous decor, and photo ops around every corner. Think honky-tonk meets North Pole chaos with plenty of glitter. Expect over-the-top cocktails, immersive event nights, and surprise performances.

    Tower Club's Indoor Ski Lodge
    Location: Tower Club Dallas, Santander Tower
    Dates: November 26 through January

    The private, members-only Tower Club transforms its 48th floor into a chic alpine escape, complete with flocked trees, wreaths, and a Santa-hatted stuffed bear named Bruce. High above the city, the space hosts holiday parties (non-members can book these, too), cocktail nights, and luxe winter photo ops.

    The Après Chalet at CultureMap City Rink
    Location: Main Street Garden, downtown Dallas
    Dates: November 26-January 5

    When the chill sets in, skaters at the new, outdoor CultureMap City Rink can warm up at the Après Chalet, a cozy, heated on-site lounge serving rinkside holiday drinks (with or without spirits). Try a twist on a classic, like a Moonshine Margarita (made with Shiner Moonshine), or enjoy a season sippers such as Cinnamon Cider, Peppermint Patty hot chocolate, and more.

    A Very Merry Village
    Location: The Village Dallas
    Dates: November 28-December 27

    The Village turns into a glowing small-town Christmas square, complete with thousands of lights, immersive decor, and a 50-foot Christmas tree anchoring the whole experience. Sip themed cocktails, grab bites, wander “Main Street,” and snap pics under dazzling installations. The pop-up offers free entry (a rare holiday miracle!) and hosts events ranging from DIY gift wrapping nights to "carol-oke" and holiday movie screenings.

    Mercat Bistro Polar Bear Room Sip alongside these sweet bears at Mercat Bistro.Photo courtesy of Mercat Bistro

    Polar Bear Room
    Location: Mercat Bistro
    Dates: November 28-December 31

    Mercat Bistro’s ultra-popular Polar Bear Room returns with its whimsical, animated polar bear tableau to entertain during breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. The charmingly wintry room features full dining service of the new menu, with special tables directly in front of the dancing bears (requiring a higher-reservation fee and booked quickly). Reservations are essential, and each table comes with a two-hour dining window.

    Holiday Pub Pop-Up
    Location: Harwood Arms
    Dates: November 28-December 31

    The Hardwood District's British pub gets a holly-jolly makeover with festive decor and holiday-themed bites and drinks. Expect a cozy, classic vibe with warm woods, twinkle lights, and the feeling of stepping into a London pub at Christmastime.

    Blitzen’s Bar
    Location: Omni Hotels (Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, Irving)
    Dates: November 28-January 9

    All across Texas, Omni’s bars morph into high-energy winter wonderlands with a special cocktail lineup crafted by NYC mixologist and Drink Masters judge Julie Reiner. Expect creative drinks served in ornaments, light-up ice cubes, and festive glassware, plus a decadent Dubai hot chocolate served in a gold mug. Snacks like Reindeer Fuel and holiday cookie trays round out the experience.

    The Evergreen
    Location: Commons Club, Virgin Hotel Dallas
    Dates: December 3-31

    The Commons Club becomes drenched in deep greens, plaids, and candlelit ambience for the month of December. Elevated seasonal dishes and inventive cocktails headline the menu, including a show-stopping Upside Down Hot Cocoa with tableside theatrics and a tower of treats at weekend brunch. Reservations aren’t required, but you’ll probably want one.

    Elf Bar Dallas
    Location: Will Call Bar
    Dates: December 4-24

    The Elf Bar transforms Will Call Bar into a merry, mischievous elf village packed with games, photo ops, themed bites, and enough twinkling decor to make Buddy the Elf weep. Expect a family-friendly, all-ages experience by day and a cheerful night-out destination after dark. Guests can snack on elf-themed food and join interactive fun that leans into the whimsical spirit of the season. Every corner is built for holiday-card-ready photos, making this one of Dallas’ most joyful and camera-happy pop-ups.

    dallas holiday barfestive cocktailsholiday barspop-up barspolar bear roomchristmas barchristmas pop-upfestive photo opcocktails
    news/restaurants-bars
    Loading...