News You Can Eat

This Dallas restaurant news is crammed with limited-edition special dishes

Starbucks' Chickpea Bites & Avocado Protein Box is one of the company's new plant-based offerings.

Photo courtesy of Starbucks

This round of Dallas restaurant news is extra special: It's packed with new menu items, including some exciting debuts, but many available for only a limited time, some only through March. This means you must not delay. You must get out and eat, and do it now, or miss out completely.

Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:

Jaxon Texas Kitchen & Beer Garden, the modern Texas-inspired restaurant and beer garden located in the AT&T Discovery District is celebrating its one-year anniversary on March 2 with live music in the beer garden, food and drink specials, and a gift card giveaway. Celebratory specials are available all day on Tuesday, March 2 and include $1 burgers until sold out (dine-in only), $3 Native Texan canned beer, $5 Ranch Waters, and $5 Texas Whiskey Shots (Bendt Texas Whiskey), plus live music from 6-10 pm.

Khao Gang is the new to-go-only restaurant from chef Donny Sirisavath, who closed his critically acclaimed restaurant Khao Noodle Shop and has replaced it for now with this concept showcasing Khao (rice) and Gang (stews and curries). The talker dish is his spring rolls with a wrapper made from vermicelli noodles. He plans to reopen Khao Noodle Shop once dining-in returns.

Fearing's Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas is officially reopening for lunch and brunch. Lunch begins March 4 and will run Thursday-Saturday from 11:30 am-2 pm with Mexican shrimp cocktail, buffalo tacos, Texas waygu brisket plate, and 2121 Cobb salad. Brunch returns on Sunday March 7 from 11:30 am-2 pm featuring classic favorites with a Southwest twist, including beef chorizo migas, Granny Fearing's Paper Bag Shook fried chicken, jumbo gulf crab cake Benedict, cinnamon roll, and cinnamon sugar beignets. Reservations can be made on Open Table or by calling 214-922-4848.

Jinya Ramen Bar has debuted two new items on its Chef's Specials Menu including a bowl and a wrap. Tonkotsu Curry Tsukemen has thick noodles, pork chashu, egg, onion, and bok choy in a pork curry broth. Lettuce Wrap has Soboro (sauteed ground pork) with umami miso sauce, served with iceberg lettuce and cilantro.

Thirsty Lion is serving a seasonal menu of all things Irish from March 4-17. This seasonal menu is only available for dine-in and includes Scotch eggs, Reuben sandwich, lamb burger, and Irish shepherd's pie. Reuben pizza has corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, 1000 Island, and pickled red onions baked on a thin crust. There is also Corned Beef Mac & Cheese, Beer-Braised Corned Beef & Cabbage, and Whiskey Bing Cherry Bread Pudding, plus seasonal cocktils that include an Irish Mule and an Irish Old Fashioned.

Seely's Mill at the Beeman hotel has new menu items that expand beyond its original Texas barbecue theme to include southern food staples. There's fried catfish, and a Two- or Three-Meat Plate, a Signature Sampler, Burnt End Beans, and Texas-Style Biscuits. New desserts feature neighborhood ties like the Pure Milk & Honey Ice Cream ($5/scoop) made with certified local Texas milk and raw honey; Boot Scoot Brownie Sundae; and a classic Bourbon Pecan Pie.

Tacodeli is bringing back its popular winter-inspired Carne Asada, beginning March 3 and running through March or until supplies run out. It's made with grilled Black Angus beef coulotte steak from 44 Farms, marinated in paprika, salt, and olive oil, topped with cilantro, onion, and avocado with lime.

Torchy's Tacos is bringing the fan-favorite Roscoe Taco back as March Taco of the Month. It consists of a crispy waffle, fried chicken, bacon, and egg inside a flour tortilla and drizzled with maple syrup.

Taco Ocho, the small local upscale Latin restaurant chain, is back to regular hours at all three locations in Flower Mound, Frisco, and Richardson, serving brunch and Breakfast until 3 pm. They're doing a Vegan Dream breakfast taco with chickpea scramble, poblano peppers, roasted corn, zucchini, and cilantro, served with Tajin potatoes, black beans, and two tortillas.

Rodeo Goat Ice House has a new burger created by The Ticket Hardline host Bob Sturm, available for a limited time. It's a Wisconsin brat in burger form, with cheddar, onions, red pepper chutney, pickles, bibb lettuce, and mustard on a pretzel bun. $1 from each burger will be donated to Drop Your Pants/ Cornerstone Clothes Closet, an organization providing clothes to homeless men.

Pollo Campero, the chain known for its citrus-grilled chicken, debuts a new chicken sandwich on March 3, featuring its hand-breaded fried chicken in a sandwich for the first time, served on a buttery brioche bun with sweet pickles. It's also available in a grilled version.  The new sandwich went through multiple iterations and rounds of consumer testing, so this is not just some casual thing, OK. From March 3-31, they're doing a buy one get one free promotion, which also gets you one of their nine sides, such as corn salad, mashed potatoes, or sweet plantains.

McDonald's has three new chicken sandwiches with a new white meat chicken filet, served on a new toasted, buttered potato roll. The Crispy Chicken Sandwich is topped with pickles. The Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich has pickles and McDonald’s Spicy Pepper Sauce. The Deluxe Crispy Chicken Sandwich has shredded lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Participating North Texas restaurants will offer a free Chicken Sandwich on orders of $15 or more, from March 1-7, using code CRISPY on DoorDash. Customers can also get a free medium fry with the purchase of a Crispy Chicken Sandwich on March 7 at North Texas restaurants. The offer must be redeemed through the McDonald’s app.

Starbucks has new items that provide customers with more plant-based beverages. That includes two non-dairy iced shaken espresso beverages: Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso and  Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso. There's a new food item: Chickpea Bites & Avocado Protein Box, which offers a source of protein and is meat- and dairy-free. Starbucks has also launched Oatly oatmilk, which represents a fourth non-dairy milk option along with soymilk, coconutmilk, and almondmilk. Customers can try this oatmilk in the Honey Oatmilk Latte, which is now available to customers nationwide for the first time.

Dunkin' has debuted a new Avocado Toast, ideal for breakfast, brunch, or any time, featuring avocado spread (made with four ingredients: avocado, sea salt, black pepper, and lemon juice), spread edge-to-edge on Dunkin's authentic toasted Sourdough Bread, baked from a recipe that uses a true Sourdough starter, topped with Everything Bagel Seasoning which includes sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, and garlic, for $2.99. They've also introduced a grilled cheese Melt sandwich and Melt with black forest ham, both on sourdough bread with white cheddar and American cheese. Other new spring items include cold brew with sweet cold foam, chocolate stout cold brew with sweet cold foam, blueberry matcha latte, Irish creme flavored coffee, and a matcha-topped doughnut topped with matcha powder.

Mooyah Burger has introduced a new Bistro Burger and Coffee Shake, available through April 25. The Bistro Burger features a quarter-pound Angus Beef with provolone cheese, spring-mix lettuce, and creamy aioli flavored with Herbes de Provence and lavender syrup. The Coffee Shake has real coffee. In a statement, Mooyah VP Natalie Anderson Liu says this follows last year's Campfire Burger and S’mores Shake limited offering.

Einstein Bros. Bagels has a new breakfast sandwich: the Texas Brisket Egg Sandwich. Featuring a new jalapeño bacon bagel, it has beef brisket, cheddar cheese, and a smoky chipotle sauce, and is $6.79.

Chowbus is a food delivery app new to Dallas that is similar to other delivery apps like Uber Eats, Doordash, and Postmates, except that it specializes in Asian restaurants. Founded in 2016, Chowbus was created to spotlight Asian cuisine and independent restaurants and mom-and-pops not usually found on third-party delivery apps. It also allows customers to order from multiple restaurants with no extra charge. Chowbus woks with restaurants near each other, making the app easier to use and offering better support for its drivers. In Dallas, the restaurants will be mainly located near Plano. Dallas is the latest market, joining two dozen other U.S. cities including Houston, San Diego, Vancouver, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

news-you-can-eat

Restaurant News Roundup Time

Exclusive Prime rib and fancy lunches lead this Dallas restaurant news

Mirador

Time for another roundup of restaurant news around Dallas, and there's plenty to chew on: From new lunch and dinner menus to holiday-flavored beers. Even bigger news— the McRib is back, for those who have been anxiously awaiting its return.

Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:

Insomnia Cookies, known for serving warm cookies all day and night, has opened its first store in Grand Prairie, at 2810 S. SH-161, with in-store, pickup, and delivery. From the Classic Chocolate Chunk cookie to favorites like Snickerdoodle and Confetti Deluxe, Cookies & Ice Cream flavors, brookies, brownies, and blondies, a full slate of vegan options, and a rotating limited-edition menu, the brand’s offerings satisfy every sweet tooth. This is their 26th store in Texas and 308th location nationwide.

HoneyBaked Ham has a new Prime Rib item exclusive to Dallas. The Prime Rib averages $26 per pound, with sizes ranging from 3-8 pounds. It serves 6-16 people, depending on the size. There are limited quantities available at each store. It's available at all 10 Dallas locations.

Greenville Avenue Pizza Company is introducing the zesty chicken bacon ranch pizza, the latest from their seasonal pizza lineup. The pizza features a creamy ranch base, grilled chicken, bacon, tender artichokes, fresh spinach, garlic, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and topped with a sprinkle of lemon pepper seasoning. The pizza is available for $8.50 a slice, $21-$23 for a 12-inch pizza, and $26 for a 16-inch pizza. It’s available through February 2 at both Greenville Avenue and Peavy Road locations.

Mirador has launched a weekday three-course prix-fixe lunch menu for $30. It starts with a choice of two deviled eggs with caviar and chives, whipped ricotta toast, cup of tomato soup, or salad; second course includes choice of dishes like chicken paillard with Swiss chard, preserved orange sofrito, and aged parmesan; and a farro bowl with cauliflower green goddess, cherries, Marcona almonds. For the third course, there’s a to-go cookie. Available Tuesday through Friday from 11 am - 3 pm.

Broken Yolk Cafe in McKinney has two limited-time items: carrot cake waffle, a cinnamon spice cake batter waffle with shredded carrots and raisins, finished with candied pecans, powdered sugar and cream cheese icing starting at $9; and snickerdoodle latte, combining espresso, cinnamon bun and cookie butter syrup, vanilla cream, milk, and cinnamon sugar, available hot or iced for $6. Available through January 6.

Truluck’s has three new holiday items featuring cake and cocktails. For dessert, there’s chocolate peppermint cake made with layers of chocolate cake, frosted with peppermint cream cheese icing, topped with crushed candy and Godiva chocolate sauce; $14 per slice, $10 per petite slice, and $70 whole cake. Cocktails are $17.50 and feature Holiday Nog, a spiced cocktail with Bourbon and Bourbon cream; and Nutcracker Rum Punch, a rum ball balanced with honey and fruit. Available at Dallas, Plano, and Southlake locations until the end of December.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Plano has launched new holiday items, including a Japanese A5 Wagyu experience served rare with a sizzling hot stone tableside accompanied by miso glaze, grated horseradish and black lava salt. There’s a new $140 Season of Opulence filet and lobster four-course menu; and holiday weekend lunch starting at $28, featuring choice of steak frites, cabernet filet, or barbecue salmon fillet. Also, there's a new $94 caviar service featuring Hackleback caviar served with blinis, capers, chives, sour cream, egg, and shallots. Available through January 6.

Jinya Ramen Bar has brought back The Red Garnet and curry rice croquettes for a limited time. The Red Garnet is a red vegetable broth featuring pork chashu, spinach, green onion, kikurage, white onion and topped with chili garlic sauce, served with thick noodles for $18. The croquettes are lightly fried, seasoned rice balls stuffed with white cheddar cheese that start at $8. Available until February 28 at all Dallas locations.

Fish City Grill and Half Shells are both offering three chalkboard specials throughout the month. Dishes feature $15 FishWich, with beer-battered haddock fish; $17 chimichurri shrimp tacos; and$24 horseradish Arctic char, served with a Creole mustard cream, buttermilk mashed potatoes and sugar snap peas. The specials are available at all 12 DFW locations and run through December 31.

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is bringing back its Fire & Spice seasonal menu. New winter dishes include the pepperoni diavolo pizza; the bridge board, an assortment of Italian meats and cheeses, with walnuts, dried cranberries, and oven-roasted Brussels sprouts drizzled with hot honey, served with sliced bread; and white chocolate cheesecake. Cocktails feature the desert pear margarita and Vino’rita, a classic margarita topped with a festive pour of Mille Gradi Sangiovese. Prices range from $7 for the white chocolate cheesecake to $32 for an 18-inch pepperoni diavolo. Available through March 3.

Carrabba's Italian Grill has launched two new full-sized cakes: cannoli cream cake, a vanilla cake with layers of cannoli filling, pistachios, and chocolate sauce with a chocolate chip crust for $64; and strawberry cheesecake, a New York-style cheesecake topped with strawberry puree for $51. Place orders 48 hours prior to pick up or delivery. Available through January 13.

Moxies, the Canadian pub in Uptown, is rolling out limited-time festive cocktails. There are three new drinks, including the Old Fashion Christmas Cocktail with High West Bourbon, cranberry simple syrup, and orange bitters; Peppermint Mocha Martini with a combination of Cafe Borghetti, Ketel One vodka, and peppermint syrup; and Winter Aperol Spritz, with Aperol, Ruffino Prosecco, and Moxies' cranberry syrup. Cocktails are available through January 1.

Dairy Queen has brought back their chicken and dumplings, featuring chicken, gravy, and fluffy dumplings. It comes in three sizes: 12-ounce, 16-ounce, and 32-ounce, available for dine-in, drive thru, and takeout. Chicken and dumplings are available at locations across Dallas-Fort Worth through the end of February.

Rita’s Frozen Custard has two limited-time frozen treats: Peppermint Cold Brew Frozen Coffee with vanilla Italian Ice, frozen custard, cold brew coffee, and a hint of peppermint, topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint topping; and Peppermint Milkshake with a blend of Vanilla Frozen Custard and crushed peppermint, topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint topping.

McDonald's brought back its famous McRib on December 3. To celebrate the return, they even launched half-gallon jugs of McRib sauce for those who can't get enough, which is already sold out. The McRib is available through the McDonald's app, in-restaurant and through the drive-thru.

Red Lobster has launched a new menu featuring seven new dishes including Lobster Pappardelle Pasta, Lemon Basil Mahi, bacon Wrapped Scallops, lobster bisque, Parmesan-Crusted Chicken, and Roasted Asparagus, plus the return of fan favorites Popcorn Shrimp and Hush Puppies.

Cinnaholic has launched two holiday rolls flavors and menu items. Holiday rolls feature Nutcracker Sweet, topped with crème brulee frosting, a trio of Bavarian candied almonds, walnuts, and pecans, and dusted with powdered sugar for $6;and Oh Fudge, topped with chocolate frosting, fudgy cookie dough, chocolate bark, homemade chocolate sauce, and holiday sprinkles for $7. Other items include $5 CinnaBites, $4 hot cocoa, and $33 wreath cake, with cinnamon rolls shaped into a wreath. Available through January 6.

Shiner, the Texas-based beer, has a festive brew called Shiner Holiday Cheer with flavor from Texas peaches and pecans for $11 for a six-bottle pack and $19 for a 12-bottle pack. Plus, the 12-pack Home for the Holidays collection goes for $15 and features two new flavors: FM 966, a sweet and spicy ale; and s’more, a dark ale brewed with chocolate & marshmallow with hints of graham cracker and vanilla. Both are available through the end of December.

Yelp featured two Dallas restaurants on this year's 25 Best New Restaurants of 2024 list. Wicked Butcher, the downtown steakhouse, and Casa Pollastro, the Brazilian restaurant in Far North Dallas, both made the cut at no. 6 and 20 respectively. They were two of only four Texas restaurants on the list.