Once the center of all things musical, Deep Ellum has morphed into a place offering the replacement entertainment: eating out. While the neighborhood has never had a shortage of eats, it has more recently seen an influx of restaurants, each slightly different than the other. (Well, except for pizza. There is a lot of pizza in Deep Ellum.)
One nice thing is that most are independently-owned. The live music may be gone, but the Deep Ellum spirit remains. Here's our list of the hot new places to eat:
Armoury D.E.
Hungarian food is the twist at this restaurant-bar in Deep Ellum, where chicken paprikash served over spaetzle sits side by side with craft beer and cocktails such as the Stagger Lee, with fernet branca, cynar, lemon syrup, and acid phosphate, that are anything but humdrum. Exposed brick and a vintage decor fit the neighborhood to a T.
Braindead Brewing
Craft beer rules at this brewpub founded by Andrew Huerter (Deep Ellum Brewing Co.), Sam Wynne (Flying Saucer), and Jeff Fryman (Common Table). Avant-garde lineup of brews is accompanied by a down-home menu from chef David Pena with burgers, chili, and queso.
Brick and Bones
This bar is getting raves for its spicy fried chicken, served in 3-piece, 6-piece, and 10-piece bucket options, plus chicken tenders, and chicken & waffles. Homey sides include deviled eggs, poblano potato salad, jalapeno biscuits and gravy, Mexican corn, and more, all priced between $3 and $5.
Cafe Salsera
Look for a dual personality here: It's a cafe during the day and a place to salsa dance at night and on the weekends. Menu includes Puerto Rican-inspired dumplings, made with mashed plantains and topped with shrimp mojo. A well-stocked pastry case features house-made treats such as brownies, cookies, and individual Key lime and coconut pies.
Luscher's Red Hots
Chicago-style hot dog restaurant revolved around chef Brian Luscher's Post Oak Red Hots line of sausages, such as the Polish kielbasa with grilled onions, mustard, and sport peppers in a poppy-seed bun. There's also an Italian beef sandwich, cheeseburger, chili, and notable sides such as onion rings and hand-cut fries.
On Premise
Unusual restaurant-bar has a strange Alice-in-Wonderland vibe, with ornate decor, fussy cocktails, and a big menu of bar snacks, from charred okra to chicken wings to beef satay to thick yucca fries.
Rocket Fizz
This candy and soda shop is not exactly the kind of place you want to have dinner at, unless you have a serious sugar problem. But it's new and edible, and that's all we need. The store has more than 3,000 items, with candy from England, Europe, Japan, and all around the world.
Wild About Harry's
Third location of this little chain opened at 111 Hall St., at the corner of Commerce in the old Theo's Diner space. It serves a similar menu as the Knox original, with frozen custard, hot dogs, and grilled cheese sandwiches. (There's also a location in Burleson.)
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We've already covered the best neighborhood eats in downtown Dallas, Oak Cliff and Greenville Avenue. Meanwhile, here are some of the classic restaurants in Deep Ellum: Allgood Cafe, Angry Dog, Anvil Pub, Buzzbrews, Cafe Brazil, Cane Rosso, Deep Sushi, Fuzzy's Taco, Glazed Donut Works, Green Room, Local, Monkey King Noodle Co., Murray Street Coffee Shop, Pecan Lodge, Pepe & Mito's, Stonedeck Pizza Pub, St Pete's Dancing Marlin, Twisted Root, Uncle Uber's.
Braindead Brewing has burgers.
