Tex-Mex News

Dallas Tex-Mex chain Uncle Julio's has a muy buena surprise for Frisco

Bacon-wrapped shrimp, or as we like to say, camarones envueltos en tocino.

Photo courtesy of Uncle Julio's

A famous Dallas Tex-Mex name is headed for where the action is: Uncle Julio's, the longtime Dallas chain, is opening a new location in Frisco, near Stonebriar Centre, at the intersection of Highway 121 and Preston Road.

According to a release, the restaurant is expected to open in the second half of 2022.

Like the food itself, the restaurant will be built from scratch, with more than 8,500 square feet plus a spacious 2,500-square-foot patio overlooking a pond. Outdoor spaces have become increasingly important, and the open area will accommodate outdoor celebrations, live music, game-watching parties, and more.

The first Uncle Julio’s opened in 1986. There are currently more than 30 locations, with seven around Dallas-Fort Worth including Lemmon Avenue, Keller Springs, Allen, Arlington, Grapevine, and Fort Worth.

Frisco's VP of operations John Johnson, a resident of Frisco, says in a statement that the city has been on their list.

"We have wanted to open in Frisco for years, and now with the perfect location, we have all the ingredients we need to create something truly special here," he says.

Menu favorites include made-to-order guacamole, margaritas muddled with fresh fruit, and mesquite-grilled meats.

Specials include Bacon Wrapped Camarones, which is a crafty mix of English and Spanish. "Camarones" being "shrimp." This dish has six shrimp stuffed with Monterey Jack and jalapeño, then wrapped in bacon. Did you know that bacon in Spanish is "tocineta"? The shrimp are served with guacamole, Mexican rice, and frijoles a la charra — there again! Another cunning English-Spanish mash-up, frijoles being Spanish for "beans."

CultureMap is muy bilingual, sí?

Other menu items include quesadillas, fajitas, enchiladas, tacos, salads, churros, sopapillas, and don't forget margaritas, which are well known in any language.

In more recent years, they've become known for their Chocolate Piñata, a handmade chocolate globe filled with churros and berries, with sauce and whipped cream, perfect not only for personal consumption but also for gatherings and Instagram moments.

openings tex-mex

Quonset Hut News

Familiar names take over Quonset hut for new Far-Out Dallas bar

Yelp

Wriggly Tin is now Far-Out Dallas

There's a new Dallas restaurant and bar coming to everyone's favorite Quonset hut: Called Far-Out, it'll take over the space at 1906 E. Haskell Ave. in East Dallas that was previously home to Wriggly Tin, with a grand opening slated for 2025.

Founders Caroline and James Lee are calling it Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria and promise that a culinary adventure awaits.

"After months of creative brainstorming and a bit of furniture rearranging, we are thrilled to announce an exciting new pioneering concept that will open its doors in 2025," the duo says. "Introducing Far-Out & La Hermana Cerveceria, a dynamic new restaurant and brewery born from the collaboration of industry veterans."

The team includes some beloved East Dallas names:

Marc Cassel of The Green Room and 20 Feet Seafood Joint
Christopher Jeffers of Bolsa and Smoke
Stephanie Houston, the trailblazing first Latina Production distillery owner in America

Also joining the team is Bar Director Adam Mercado, whose resume includes stints at Billy Can Can and Brass Ram.

Marcado will crafting a unique beverage program, with support from mixologist Brian McCullough. Together, they will create what the founders call "unforgettable drink experiences to complement our delicious culinary offerings."

Wriggly Tin opened in November 2023 as an ultra-hip pizza and craft beer spot inside a renovated Quonset hut near Dallas' Fair Park — a former Cajun fried turkey place which they gave doting makeover with custom plaster walls and art objects from around the world. They replaced one whole side of the hut with glass for sunsets and created a spacious outdoor patio in front.

They earned two nomination in CultureMap's 2024 Tastemaker Awards, one for Best Bar and another for Best Patio.

Alas, the original founders, who'd previously owned Small Brewpub in Oak Cliff, parted ways shortly after it opened. And the bar closed down in September 2024, for what they called "internal changes."

Now the hut is back: The new Far-Out bar is already up and running a few days a week. In the coming days, they will offer updates and sneak peeks as they gear up for the opening of their kitchen.

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