Where to Eat Now

Where to eat in Dallas right now: 10 restaurants that tease with hard-to-get specials

We love restaurants that give us everything we want, whenever we want it. But sometimes the value of something increases when we can't have it all the time.

Thus explains the mystique of the limited edition. Limited-edition items are on their timetable, not ours. They make us stop what we're doing, cancel our regular appointments and hew to their agenda. They remind us we are not masters of the universe. They give us a tiny dose of humility, which we can all use.

Mark your calendars and get in line for these 10 special-case offerings:

Best Thai Signature
Vegan buffet first Sunday of every month. This small, loosely connected chain of family-owned Thai restaurants embraces innovation, from its addition of a bubble-tea outlet to its comprehensive buffet restaurant in northeast Dallas. But the hot ticket is on the first Sunday of every month when Best Thai Signature, the branch in Addison, unfurls a mega-buffet with an array of all-vegan dishes: spring rolls, pad Thai, barbecue "beef," vegetable stir-fries, crunchy fritters and more.

Bisous Bisous Patisserie
Fruit croissant on Saturdays and Sundays. This new West Village bakery has received much attention for its "cruffin," a croissant formed into a muffin-like shape that sells out quickly. But the official limited-edition item is its fruit croissant: A plain croissant is cut in half and served open-faced with almond cream, sliced strawberries and house-made streusel. It's probably a good thing that it's available only on Saturdays and Sundays; otherwise it could do serious damage to your weekdays.

Cane Rosso
Pecan Lodge pizza on Tuesdays. The Deep Ellum branch of this Neapolitan pizzeria chain is a big supporter of local ingredients — local as in, two blocks away. Every Tuesday night, Cane Rosso does a special pizza using one of the smoked meats from renowned barbecue restaurant Pecan Lodge. It could be a pizza topped with shredded brisket, crumbled sausage or pulled pork. One recent example: brisket with mozzarella, salsa verde, cilantro and cotija cheese.

Eclair Bistro
Quail with pain perdu on Saturday mornings. Charming restaurant just-transplanted from Cedar Hill to McKinney from chef Aaron Thomas is family-run, with his mom helping him in the kitchen on luscious desserts and his father running the front of the house. The contemporary American menu incorporates influences from Greece, Italy and the family's hometown of New Orleans. But its roots are French, and you can spot that in its special weekend brunch dish of buttermilk-fried quail with pain perdu.

El Bolero
Lobster fajitas on Fridays. It should be noted that the lobster fajitas at El Bolero are served every day for lunch and dinner. These are not your standard fajitas; sorry, no sizzling plate. We're talking about a 6- to 7-ounce lobster tail whose shell is filled with Mexican rice, then topped with the tail meat and a lemon-citrus sauce, served with puréed black beans and house-made tortillas. The special part is that on Fridays, the fajitas are $15 from 11 am-3 pm, as opposed to the usual market price.

Hypnotic Donuts
Vegan doughnut days. The gourmet doughnut shop offers vegan versions, but on a limited basis. Doesn't that make you want them more? At the Dallas branch, they're available only on Mondays and Tuesdays; at the new Denton outlet, they're available on Mondays and Wednesdays. But they do offer at least three to four flavors such as chocolate-coconut and cinnamon sugar.

Lockhart Smokehouse Plano
Wagyu beef belly on Fridays. It's become kind of a thing for barbecue restaurants to offer special items, and Lockhart Smokehouse is no stranger to the trend, with Beef Ribs Wednesdays and Burnt Ends Thursdays. The latest offering is available only at the Plano branch and only on Fridays: smoked Wagyu beef belly, cut into thick slices and served by the pound. Owner Jill Bergus calls it the "love child of fatty brisket and beef rib."

Luscher's Red Hots
Corn dogs on Mondays. Amid the sandwiches, hot dogs, gyros, French fries and onion rings, chef Brian Luscher's sausage-themed restaurant in Deep Ellum does one special every day such as fried smelt on Fridays and beef-tallow fries on Tuesdays. But none celebrates the restaurant's fun, casual spirit better than his Monday corn dog special, with a Red Hot sausage fried up in a thick, satisfying cornmeal crust.

Mama's Daughter's Diner
"Blue plate" daily specials are part and parcel of home-cooking places like Mama's Daughter's Diner, Dixie House, Original Market Diner and Norma's Cafe. But if there's a day to visit, it's Thursday, when everyone rolls out versions of smothered chicken. Mama's Daughter's and Norma's do chicken tetrazzini with diced chicken in a creamy sauce, served on spaghetti. At Dixie House, it's chicken and dumplings. Original Market Diner is the exception; they do chicken and dumplings on Wednesdays.

Taco Joint
Fried cod taco on Fridays. The small local taqueria chain was among the first to bring the Austin taco mindset to Dallas, with a special affinity for breakfast, including tacos and burritos. They do many spontaneous specials, depending on the whim of the branch (there are four) and the kitchen. But there is one taco you can only get on Friday and no other day of the week: battered fried cod.

The fruit croissants at Bisous Bisous are only available on Saturdays and Sundays.

Photo courtesy of Bisous Bisous

The fruit croissants at Bisous Bisous are only available on Saturdays and Sundays.

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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.