Tex-Mex News

New Dallas boss takes the wheel at acclaimed Mexican restaurant Jalisco Norte

Jalisco Norte

An acclaimed Mexican restaurant has changed hands. Jalisco Norte, the authentic eatery known for its bold, authentic Mexican flavors and sophisticated cocktails, was acquired by Local Favorite Restaurant Group, the company formerly known as Firebird Restaurant Group.

Local Favorite owns El Fenix, Snuffer's Restaurant & Bar, Village Burger Bar, Meso Maya, Taqueria La Ventana, and TorTaco, for a total of 45 locations. The company also owns Sunrise Mexican Foods, which makes chips, tortillas, flautas and tamales for retail and food service operators.

Jalisco Norte founder Tim McEneny confirmed that he sold the restaurant to Local Favorites founder Mike Karns on March 6.

"When something comes to table, you do it if it makes sense," McEneny says. "I think he likes what it's about, and I hope he will be a good steward."

Jalisco opened in 2017 at Turtle Creek Village with a menu and style that felt fresh and good, and it has maintained a high standard in its two-plus years of operation.

McEneny went to great lengths to secure the employment of high-profile executive chef Jose Meza Arroyave, whose resume includes the famed NOMA in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Pujol in Mexico City.

The menu offers a crowd-pleasing variety of impeccable, sophisticated dishes ranging from osso bucco done "Cochinita pibil style," to vegan grilled cauliflower with hazelnut pipian and toasted almonds. For the quality, prices are extremely affordable, with the most expensive entree being carne asada made with an Allen Brothers rib eye steak for $35. You can also get a great taco for $5.

They've kept it fresh by introducing features such as a rotating monthly menu with specials such as suckling pig tacos and escamoles.

Jalisco Norte has been nominated for numerous CultureMap Tastemaker Awards including Rising Star Chef for Meza in 2018, Best Chef for Meza in 2019, and best bartender for Trevor Landry, who won the award for 2018's best bartender of the year.

A release says that Local Favorite "will continue the restaurant's celebration of Mexico’s people, culture, and customs through fresh, modern cuisine and craft cocktails," and that Jalisco Norte "embodies the characteristics and values that are recognizable among Local Favorite Restaurants, making it a natural fit for their family of brands."

OK, they just better not touch the cauliflower.

In November, McEneny opened Sloane's Corner, an all-day American bistro located in the inside the newly redeveloped Trammel Crow Center downtown Dallas high-rise at 2001 Ross Ave. It's already been nominated for a 2020 Tastemaker award for Best New Restaurant.

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Patio time

5 best restaurant patios in Dallas to hit on a warm spring day in 2026

Taco Y Vino

Award-winning patio at Taco Y Vino

Dallas is facing a sunny and warm spell, and that can only mean one thing: It's time to hit the patio. In a search for the best patio, deciding factors include sunshine, comfortable accommodations, an engaging view, and something good to eat and drink.

You'll find all of that at these five Dallas hotspots — one for every neighborhood, whether you're in Oak Cliff or Uptown Dallas, Plano or Addison, or good old Greenville Avenue.

Here are five patios to check out now that the weather's good:

Libertine Bar
Venerable low-key bar has an impressive selection of beer; great food like their irresistible battered portobello fries with jalapeno ranch; a bountiful brunch; and endless specials including steak night on Tuesdays, trivia night on Thursdays, and a generous happy hour Tuesday-Friday. Their street-facing patio has a fun chill vibe, and there is truly no better ringside seat to the action, sometimes rowdy, on Greenville Avenue.

Rose Cafe
Uptown cafe is an indoor-outdoor restaurant which transitions throughout the day, from pastry and coffee at breakfast to cocktails after work. (They also have some of the best made pastries in town.) The surprising decor features florals and soft pink hues pastry or brunch, and enjoying vibrant cocktails with friends. It's located right off the Katy Trail so the views are a given.

Taco y Vino
The patio at this beloved taco-and-wine restaurant in Oak Cliff is so spectacular, it has won awards: namely, a CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Best Patio in 2024. For tacos, they have 11 varieties, which you can get in a killer special: A bottle of wine and six tacos for $35, available any time. Or try one of their cool cocktails such as the frozen Kalimoxto, a refreshing combination of red wine and Coca Cola. In 2025, they opened a second location in downtown Garland, bringing their primo patio action to the east side of town.

Far Out
Restaurant in renovated Quonset hut near Dallas' Fair Park has become known in the past year among the foodie set as the place for whom acclaimed chef Misti Norris has created a new menu with dishes like crispy pig ears and lemongrass duck confit salad. (It has earned two nominations, in fact - for Chef of the Year and Best New Restaurant - in the 2026 Tastemaker Awards.) But Far Out also has a charming patio that runs along the exterior, with a Southwestern/Santa Fe vibe that includes tasteful furniture and a big collection of cacti and other desert-style plants — a serene spot in the middle of the city.

Stix Icehouse
Restaurant-bar in McKinney sitting on a 14-acre spread is really more like a park and event center with a restaurant attached. With their extensive outdoor facilities, they're a family-friendly getaway, with a second-story deck for food and drink, and a sprawling backyard area with a basketball hoop, lawn, and trees. Their menu is quintessential Texas, with burgers, Frito pie, chicken-fried steak, nachos, and loaded fries. Drinks, including a frozen margarita and a salted caramel espresso martini, top out at $12.

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