Sushi on a Roll

California sushi restaurant finds welcoming berth at Galleria Dallas

Kabuki will open its first Texas location at Galleria Dallas.

Photo courtesy of Kabuki

A California sushi concept is coming to Galleria Dallas: Kabuki Japanese Restaurant will open a 6,000-square-foot location on level I. It'll be the first Kabuki in Texas.

The chain was founded in Pasadena in 1991, and it has 17 locations in California, Arizona, and Nevada. It's a full-service, casual dining experience with high-quality sushi and other Japanese specialties, both "traditional and innovative."

The menu is executed by a team of sushi chefs, each trained by executive corporate chef Masa Kurihara. Appetizers range from traditional options such as edamame to more Americanized dishes such as Brussels sprouts and sweet potato fries.

There are buns, calamari, noodles, rice, and tempura. There are many sushi rolls, including one Texan twist with barbecue short ribs and jalapenos.

In the bar, there are sake drinks created by Master Sake Sommelier Yuji Matsumoto, the first Master Sake Sommelier in North America. Kabuki also says it will provide a family-friendly environment for both suburban and urban families.

Kabuki has been itching to get into the Dallas area. The chain initially had designs on Irving's Music Factory, where it announced plans to open a branch more than a year ago. At the time, the company's founder and president David Lee said he wanted to open in Dallas for quite some time.

Although the Galleria does have a small outlet of Little Katana, and there is a Hibashi Teppan Grill a block away, the mall hasn't had a big-time sushi restaurant since Miami sushi chain Sushi Samba opened a branch there, rather short-lived, in 2007.

Kabuki will open in summer 2016.

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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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