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    Where to Eat

    Where to eat in Dallas right now: 10 hottest new restaurants for May

    Teresa Gubbins
    May 5, 2022 | 7:25 pm
    District Addison
    District in Addison opens on May 6.
    Photo by Kathy Tran

    For the May edition of our monthly Where to Eat feature, there is really no choice about what the theme should be: newly opened restaurants. That's because Dallas is saturated right now with new openings, so many that they beg for a list. It seems like only days ago that we were throwing down another list of new openings — but it just shows what a high volume of newbies are opening.

    Here's where to eat in Dallas right now:

    Akira Back
    Eponymous restaurant from award-winning chef and restaurateur Akira Back, a jetsetter who snowboards in Aspen and hangs out with the likes of Paris Hilton, opens on May 6 at The Boardwalk in The Colony, the first in the U.S. for this global chain. Akira Back serves authentic Japanese cuisine with a Korean accent, including sushi rolls and Kagoshima A5 Wagyu, the highest grade of Japanese Wagyu beef. The trademark dish is a tuna "pizza," a fusion feat with paper-thin slices of tuna "glued" onto a tortilla with mayonnaise. Beverages include sakes, including Akira Back's own brand, along with wine and cocktails.

    Big Yummy Venezuelan Restaurant
    Former food truck just opened in a former Subway at 16246 Midway Rd. in Addison, where founder Genesys Añez, a native of Venezuela, entrepreneur, and caterer, is serving amazing renditions of the food she grew up with, a perfect combination of homey-ness and polish. The menu includes sandwiches, arepas, empanadas, and sweet breads, and some dishes you don't find too often such as tequeños, cheese-filled breads, and cachapas, little corn pancakes.

    Casa Rosa
    After being dormant for more than a decade, venerable Dallas Tex-Mex that once ruled the Park Cities from its Inwood Village location, has been revived by Gilbert Cuellar Jr., at an address with its own storied past: the former El Fenix at 5622 Lemmon Ave. built in 1961. To properly evoke the spirit of the original Casa Rosa, Cuellar has brought back key elements people reminisce about, including the large murals. But also, the classic Tex-Mex — fajitas, enchiladas, tamales, quesadillas — for which Cuellar and his family (of El Chico fame) are known.

    District
    Northern California concept makes its Texas premiere on May 6 at the Village on the Parkway in Addison, in the former Mercy Wine Bar space, under the guidance of acclaimed Dallas chef and operating partner Aaron Staudenmaier. Menu focuses on seasonal and sharable dishes such as crispy squash blossoms filled with goat cheese; sweet potato pakoras; fontina & spinach arancini; and Moroccan-spiced lamb meatballs. The bar program is all about wine and whiskey, and the atmosphere is rustic yet refined.

    Knox Bistro
    This is not so much new as a rebranding: The former Up on Knox is now Knox Bistro, to properly acknowledge the input and vision of chef Bruno Davaillon, formerly of the Mansion and Bullion, who came on board last year. A release describes Knox Bistro as the full conceptualization of a French brasserie, a neighborhood destination for all occasions, with menu inspiration derived from Davaillon's native Loire Valley in France featuring dishes such as grilled salmon and bone marrow steak tartare.

    La Pesca
    Fast-casual restaurant in Oak Cliff from the owners of Yellow Rosa summons the Mexican Pacific coast with mariscos, micheladas, and a seafood market to come. The menu is influenced by different cities in Mexico including Sinaloa, Michoacan, and Veracruz, with dishes such as aguachiles, caldo de camarón, tostadas de pescado, and ceviche. They have eight varieties of Michelitros, beer on tap, wine, and margaritas. Service includes a BellaBot robotic server to deliver dishes, and they also have a pet-friendly patio.

    Maple Street Food Hall
    New concept in Dallas' Medical District features a collection of chef-driven food concepts including Asian, Mexican, healthy/organic, coffee, and a full bar. Located at 4711 Maple St., the enterprise was founded with a goal of serving hospital workers as well as diners seeking foodie adventures. Well-regarded restaurants that have already opened include Mai Eats Lao Kitchen & Tropical Juice Bar, famous for their red curry; and La Calle, specializing in tacos with handmade tortillas. There's also a full bar and a pretty patio.

    Restaurant Beatrice
    Just-opened restaurant in Oak Cliff from Zen Sushi chef Michelle Carpenter (and named for her grandmother), Beatrice features contemporary Cajun cuisine, paying homage to Cajun family traditions, rooted in Louisiana's culture and cuisine. Led by executive chef and New Orleans native Terance Jenkins, the menu includes duck & Andouille gumbo, fried chicken with pepper jelly, and a vegan gumbo made with an assortment of leafy greens. The restaurant is also selling "Aunt Bea's Pantry Staples" such as house-made pickles, jams, and rubs.

    Swig
    This drive-through chain from Utah debuting at Fairview Town Center on May 6, is here mostly as a curiosity. The chain serves fountain drinks with a twist, including their trademark-branded Dirty Soda, a combination of soft drinks with mix-ins that include cream and shaved-ice syrups such as tiger's blood. Dirty sodas have become huge in Utah because they're allowed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but more recently have emerged as a social media phenomenon, particularly on TikTok.

    Van Leeuwen
    Cult favorite ice cream from Brooklyn is making its Dallas debut at the West Village on May 7. Van Leeuwen's New York ice cream shops have earned a dedicated following for their artisanal approach to everything including using ingredients from like-minded acclaimed vendors such as Intelligentsia Coffee. They offer more than 40 flavors, some common like chocolate and cookies & cream, and some extra-gourmet like Earl Grey Tea. They're also known for their nondairy flavors, with a super creamy texture that makes them among the best vegan/nondairy ice creams on the market.

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    Celebrating the Tastemakers

    Dallas foodies toast top chefs and restaurants at 2026 Tastemaker Awards

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    May 11, 2026 | 4:52 pm
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    The Trades Delicatessen team celebrates their win for Best Sandwich.

    Dallas' very best restaurants and bars — and the talented pros behind them — were celebrated at the 2026 CultureMap Dallas Tastemaker Awards on Thursday, May 7.

    More than 600 food fans and cocktail connoisseurs gathered at Astoria Event Venue in Irving to raise a glass to the city's top restaurants, bars, and culinary masters. But first, they got to eat and drink.

    Nominated chefs and restaurants served delectable bites, and hard-working bartenders whipped up cocktails incorporating spirits from the event's sponsors. A portion of the proceeds benefited the our nonprofit partner, Harvest Project Food Rescue.

    Lines formed quickly for small plates from some of Dallas' most popular and influential eateries, spread out across the building. Lucky VIP ticketholders got in an hour early to avoid the crowds and enjoy a bar area all their own.

    CultureMap Dallas Tastemaker Awards 2026 The chef from SER prepares activated charcoal-crusted Akaushi ribeye cap and Yukon Gold potato fondant.Photo by Guillermo Rosas

    Hungry guests were spotted going back for seconds for dishes including:

    • Japanese wagyu tartare, crab meat-stuffed avocado, mini lobster rolls, and bacon-wrapped baked dates from Andreas Prime
    • Tuna tartare from Avra Estiatorio
    • Sunchoke agnolotti from Bazaar
    • Caviar and latkes from Beverly's Bistro & Bar
    • Vegan chimichurri focaccia sandwich from Beyond the Bun
    • Bread pudding from Bread Zeppelin
    • The Schmurger from Burger Schmurger
    • Ham, roast beef, and tomato and mozzarella sandwiches from Empire Baking Co.
    • Hamachi sashimi from Evelyn
    • Compressed cucumber from Frenchie
    • "Not So Fried" chicken sandwich and spicy curried couscous from Mendocino Farms
    • Foie and Sea Island cornbread from Meridian
    • Activated charcoal-crusted Akaushi ribeye cap and Yukon Gold potato fondant from SER Steak + Spirits
    • Ahi tuna Mexicano from The Mexican
    • Pastrami Reuben bites from Trades Delicatessen
    • The Dip (spinach, artichoke, and cheese blend) with tortilla chips and truffle lasagna from Winsome Prime

    There were also sweet treats and coffee-centered pick-me-ups from our Chef, Coffee Shop, and Dessert Program of the Year nominees:

    • Dubai chocolate cheesecake mini eclairs from Andreas Prime
    • Original and chocolate churros with hojicha and matcha soft serve from IYKYK Mochi Churro
    • Lavender berry and mocha chocolate tartlets from La Reve Gelato & Patisserie
    • Mini chocolate chip cannolis, an assortment of macarons, ricotta cheesecake, tiramisu cups, torta caprese, assorted Italian cookies, and Italian cream cake from Pietro's Italian Bakery
    • Rustic apple crisp, mini almond croissants, and alfajores (sandwich cookies) from San Martin Bakery & Restaurant
    • Caramelized white chocolate semifreddo miso blondies from Uchi
    • Cold brew and iced White Rockers from White Rock Coffee

    CultureMap Dallas Tastemaker Awards 2026

    Photo by Guillermo Rosas

    The Trades Delicatessen team celebrates their win for Best Sandwich.

    CultureMap Dallas Tastemaker Awards 2026 Lavender berry and mocha chocolate tartlets from La Reve Gelato & Patisserie.Photo by Guillermo Rosas

    To help wet the whistle, guests could sip brews from Lone Star Beer, still or sparkling water from S.Pellegrino Acqua Panna, mocktails from Ritual Zero Proof and Seedlip, and a popular Bourbon Sour signature cocktail from Maker's Mark Bourbon — all valued sponsors of the event. Other specialty drinks available at the bar featured Maniball Peanut Butter Tequila, Island Getaway Dark Rum, and Woody Creek Vodka. For those who wanted something sparkling, sponsor Shutto, a transportation company, was pouring bubbles.

    In the weeks leading up to the big event, we published a special editorial series highlighting nominees. A panel of expert judges helped select all of the winners, except Best New Restaurant, which was determined by our readers in a bracket-style tournament.

    The evening's emcee, NBC5 Texas Today host Cleo Greene, announced winners, who came to the stage to accept their glass trophies.

    CultureMap Dallas Tastemaker Awards 2026 Awards ceremony host Cleo Greene, of NBC5's 'Texas Today.'Photo by Guillermo Rosas

    The winners were:

    • Restaurant of the Year: Mamani
    • Chef of the Year: Peja Krstic, Mot Hai Ba, Pillar
    • Bar of the Year: Ayahuasca Cantina
    • Best New Restaurant: Frenchie
    • Rising Star Chef of the Year: Eduardo Osorio, Meridian
    • Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Beverley's Bistro & Bar
    • Dessert Program of the Year: Lucia
    • Coffee Shop of the Year: Ascension
    • Best Sandwich: Trades Delicatessen

    After the awards were handed out, winners posed for photos with colleagues, fellow winners and nominees, and guests eager to find out more about their establishments — and visit them in person.

    Between feasting and celebrating, attendees stopped to snap Insta-worthy photos at a photo booth and bought raffle tickets benefiting Harvest Project Food Rescue.

    Among the guests spotted in the crowd, having a good time, were: Caleb Wettig, Loren Wettig, Natalie Castlean, Andrew Castlean, Stephen Fagin, Emily Williams, Frank Bliss, Risa Bliss, Jason Harlow, Filipe Harlow, Sky Williams, Bianca Baidoo, Felipe Guiterrez, Carlos Presa, Clara Martinez, Brandt Wood, Megan Wood, LuisPerez, Sarah Perez, and hundreds more.

    Scroll through the gallery of nearly 50 photos, above, to see who was there, what was eaten, and who won awards.

    Hungry to be a part of it all next year? You can read about all the winners here, and we'll see you in 2027. Cheers!

    ---

    The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards ceremony was sponsored in Dallas by Maker's Mark, Shutto, NXT LVL Event, Seedlip, Ritual Zero Proof, H-E-B, Marine Foods Express, and S.Pellegrino Acqua Panna. A portion of the proceeds benefited Harvest Project Food Rescue.

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