Best Neighborhood Eats

Dallas' best neighborhood restaurants serve more than just a good meal

We're on the home stretch of our annual Tastemaker Awards, where we celebrate the best among Dallas restaurants and bars, culminating in a grand tasting event on May 14 at the Empire Room.

We've already spotlighted the best breweries, bartenders, bars, burgers and up-and-coming chefs. And you still have the opportunity to pick best new restaurant; our tournament is down to a close race, and your vote will determine the winner.

This entry celebrates the nominees for Neighborhood Restaurant the Year, the places that both serve and reflect the neighborhood where they reside.

Babe's
Fried chicken is the nominal draw at this home-cooking old-timer, and it's an epic specimen with a crunchy crust. Communal-style sides not only mean you can help yourself to Babe's creamed corn, mashed potatoes and other excellent options, but they also give a clue to Babe's enduring appeal, which extends across numerous suburban branches, from Garland to Roanoke. It's a place where you break bread together.

Blind Butcher
Greenville Avenue restaurant from Matt Tobin and Josh Yingling, owners of Goodfriend in East Dallas, rides two trends: an obsession with meat and a fondness for craft beer. Chef Oliver Sitrin, who cures meat and stuffs sausage, gets radical with options such as pig ears and oxtail scrapple, but the restaurant's signature has become poutine, the Canadian-born dish of French fries topped with cheese curds and mushroom gravy.

Canary By Gorji
Small, sweet Far North Dallas restaurant is a sleeper, with gracious service and an exotic "new Mediterranean" menu that's as impressive as it is unexpected. Dedicated chef-owner Mansour Gorji uses novel ingredients such as pomegranate on dishes that incorporate a swath of influences, including French, Greek, Italian, Spanish and North African. You'll feel like this is your special discovery.

Cane Rosso
Authentic Neapolitan pizzeria chain slings the best pizzas in town, which not only draws the most discriminating pizza fanatics, but it also elevates the pizza conversation in Dallas-Fort Worth. Its use of top ingredients, some local, transforms pizza from its former stature as throwaway grub into a true gourmet experience. Despite a mini-expansion, each branch fits its neighborhood, from hipster Deep Ellum to patio-happy White Rock Lake.

Fireside Pies
Pioneering pizza chain changed owners in 2014 — it's now owned by the Genghis Grill team — but it remains a collection of neighborhood restaurants dedicated to serving artisan pizza baked in a wood-fired oven. Each branch reflects the character of its neighborhood, so no two are the same, from the date haunt on Henderson to the family-friendly atmosphere in Plano.

Monkey King Noodle Co.
It's easy to be fooled by the fast-casual model and low prices at Monkey King Noodle Co., but this tiny noodle stand is seriously special. Its menu of Chinese street food is small, but everything — noodles, dumplings, cucumber salad — is hand-made. There's nothing quite like standing on the street in Deep Ellum, gazing into a display window as a ball of dough is transformed into a batch of noodles that'll go into your spicy soup.

The Porch
When it opened on Henderson in 2007, The Porch was a reflection of owner Tristan Simon and chef Nick Badovinus. Somehow it has survived turnover and remains enduringly popular as an unpretentious but satisfying foodie hang, with a Southern twang that's evident in dishes such as the buttermilk fried chicken Cobb salad. Wisely, they've kept the signature Stodg burger topped with bacon and a fried egg.

The Rustic
Partly owned by singer-songwriter Pat Green, the Rustic is just what Uptown Dallas ordered, with its combination of food, drink and live music. Patrons can go for one and indulge in the other. A menu of sandwiches, salads and grilled steaks covers all diners, and there are dozens of local and regional beers on tap.

Shinsei
A favorite haunt of the Park Cities crowd, pan-Asian restaurant Shinsei serves sushi that's at the head of the pack thanks to the craft of master sushi chef Shuji "Elvis" Sugawara. But owners Tracy Rathbun and Lynae Fearing keep things fresh: The duo recently hired chef Jeramie Robison, formerly of Uchi, and revamped their second-floor lounge with izakaya-style service.

Urban Taco
This small, cosmopolitan taqueria chain with bright flavorful food and flashy cocktails set the standard locally for the "gourmet taco" trend, which has since become a crowded field. It has locations in only the hippest parts of town, but with a well-studied owner of Mexican descent, Urban Taco can stake a claim to an authenticity that the competition cannot.

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Buy tickets now to the Tastemaker Awards on May 14.

A hearty pork chop to accompany your craft beer at The Rustic.

The Rustic/Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/therusticdallas/photos_stream]

A hearty pork chop to accompany your craft beer at The Rustic.

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Roundup of Restaurant News

Surprising string of closures surfaces in this Dallas restaurant news

Mom's Cafe

Farewell Mom's Cafe

This roundup of dining news around Dallas has more than the usual number of closures, from chains to small indie spots — and that's not even counting Dick's Last Resort, which closed after 40 years. But there are openings and comebacks, not to mention new menus for the season, and maybe even better, new cocktails, too.

Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:

Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill, a small Middle Eastern restaurant chain from Chicago which made its debut in Dallas market with a location in Frisco in 2022, has unfortunately closed. The chain is still opening locations in more receptive places like California, but is officially out of Texas.

Mom’s Cafe, a modest restaurant at 602 Main St. in Allen that was revered for its basic, reasonably-priced fare, closed in November after 10 years. The restaurant changed ownership in 2024 and the beloved founder known as "Grandma" recently passed away.

Natuur, the smoothie and bowls concept from Denver, closed its Dallas location at 1902 Henderson Ave. They opened in 2022 with great smoothies and smoothie bowls in blends such as açaí or super green, to which you could add fruits, toppings, and granola; plus sourdough toasts, salads, hot bowls such as oatmeal and tomato basil soup, and cold brew coffee. They also had a location in Austin, which recently closed as well.

Theo's Drive-In, an iconic favorite in Grand Prairie, closed on November 30, after decades of serving late-night burgers, curly fries, and memories. The restaurant was founded in 1956 by Theo Chokas, then subsequently taken over by his nephew Theo. It wasn't until 2013 that they finally accepted credit cards. With its classic red roadside sign, it was a longtime staple on East Main Street, serving as a hangout after games, dates, and long nights with burgers, hot dogs, floats, and more.

Jack in the Box at 6308 Gaston Ave. has mounted a comeback with a retro-inspired renovation. It's one of the original locations in Dallas which opened in 1969, and has been rebuilt with retro visuals and nostalgic touches such as an old-school speaker box, vintage signage, and a recreated classic menu board. The throwback is not a chain-wide initiative, but is only taking place at this location, which is owned by franchisee Chris Aslam, who operates 27 Jack in the Box locations in Dallas and more throughout the system.

Jack in the Box on Gaston AveJITB

Naturals Rolls & Ice Cream is now open in Frisco at 5266 Independence Pkwy #105, serving rolled ice cream — the third place to open doing rolled ice cream place to open in the last year, following Maya Creamery in Las Colinas, and Cream and Crepes at the Shops at Park Lane, in a trend that weirdly seems to be making a comeback. In addition to rolled ice cream, the oddly-plural Naturals also serves shakes, juices, bubble waffles, and Indian desserts.

Hugs Cafe, a nonprofit that employs adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will open in East Dallas on December 8 at 2918 Live Oak St. Hugs creates opportunities for adults with IDD to gain independence, confidence, and purpose through work. They'll be open for breakfast and lunch with dishes such as the Chickie Hug, Cheddar Biscuit Sandwich, salads, soups, and specials.

Kimiya Japanese Cuisine McKinney is a new All-You-Can-Eat restaurant which just opened in McKinney in a former Denny's (and before that, a TGI Friday's) at 1615 N Central Expy. The AYCE option features sushi, sushi rolls, appetizers like edamame and crab puffs, and is $24 at lunch, when it's limited to 90 minutes. In addition to AYCE, they have a huge a la carte menu with sushi rolls, teriyaki, tempura, hibachi lunch, ramen, kalbi, bento boxes, fried rice, udon noodles, and more.

Yemandi Yemeni Cuisine, a unique Middle Eastern restaurant at 888 S. Greenville Ave. #210 in Richardson, opened in May but only just celebrated a ribbon-cutting. The restaurant, which specializes in dishes from Yemen, the small coastal country south of Saudi Arabia, has enjoyed a whirlwind existence since it was featured in a TikTok video that showed its unique Sunnah-style dining option, available in a few secluded booths where you sit on the floor while you eat. The menu features familiar Middle Eastern staples such as hummus, but also less familiar dishes like hummus with liver.

Café Momentum, the non-profit and culinary training facility, has unveiled a new seasonal menu created by chef de cuisine Aaron Collins in collaboration with Café Momentum’s youth interns. Dishes include fried oysters with Cajun spice with caviar ranch; delicata squash with tahini, pomegranate molasses, & toasted pecans; mushroom bisque; cider-brined pork tenderloin with spaetzle & apple-cabbage slaw; halibut with sweet potato, cauliflower, & Brussels sprouts; coffee-rubbed 44 Farms NY strip with broccolini & potato gratin; butternut squash rigatoni with kale & pancetta; Moroccan chickpea and vegetable stew with couscous; fennel zucchini salad with candied pecans; bourbon pecan pie; and chai-spiced sweet potato cake.

White Rock Brewing Co. which is located in Oak Cliff, is serving holiday-themed cocktails through December that include a Cranberry Margarita and a Peppermint Espresso Martini. They're also making seasonal beers brewed with Noble Coffee including the Imperial Coffee Stout and Pumpkin Spice Ale.

Nothing Bundt Cakes has two holiday flavors for December: Coconut Cream Snowflake, a coconut cake filled with vanilla pudding, topped with coconut, available in personal-sized Bundtlets from December 1-14; and Peppermint Chocolate Chip chocolate cake with chocolate chips and peppermint pieces, available in all sizes December 8-January 4.

Dave’s Hot Chicken, the chain from California, has launched a new core menu offering: Saucy Bites, featuring Dave's Chicken Bites tossed in one of three sauces: Spicy Buffalo, Spicy BBQ, or Mike’s Hot Honey. They're also debuting a Ranch dip and a spicy version called the Reaper Ranch.

Snooze, the buzzy brunch chain, has unveil a new lineup of holiday specials as follows: Sticky toffee buttermilk pancakes topped with pecan sticky toffee sauce, espresso-date mascarpone and candied orange zest; spiked peppermint hot chocolate with blanco tequila, coffee liqueur, and peppermint syrup; gingerbread latte with espresso, milk, gingerbread syrup, and a ginger snap cookie; caramel haze hot chocolate with hazelnut and caramel syrup; peppermint hot chocolate, and peppermint mocha hot with crushed peppermint.

Toastique, the toast-loving chain with a location in Addison, has an amazing smoothie of the season: a spiced pumpkin smoothie with pumpkin, banana, almond milk, maple syrup, and pumpkin spice.

Jinya Ramen Bar has new winter chef’s specials by chef Kazuya Takebe: Tokyo Yatai Classic, a clear chicken broth with pork chashu, seasoned egg, spinach, green onion, chopped, onion and a slice of naruto Japanese fish cake, with thin noodles nori; and Crispy Chicken Wings in Asian sweet-sour sauce. Guests who order the Tokyo Yatai Classic will receive one of three limited-edition ramen spoons featuring Demon Slayer characters Tanjiro Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, or Inosuke Hashibara.

North Italia is offering a Holiday Lunch Prix Fixe where you can order a small plate and entrée duo for $25. The menu is available from 11 am-4 pm daily, featuring standouts from North’s latest seasonal menu like the Sunday Night Lasagna and Arancini along with exclusive dishes like the Chicken Parmigiana Verde, Bruschetta Duo, and Brussels Sprout & Medjool Pizza. It's available through December 23.

Chili’s is bringing back a top-selling Margarita of the Month for December: the Merry Maker Marg for $6, with Lunazul Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, Monin Blackberry, strawberry puree, and house-made sour, served with a reusable Santa ‘stache straw.

Fish City Grill and Half Shells have rolled out a wave of new menu items upgraded oyster nachos with housemade chips, chargrilled oysters, moked troup dip, the omega bowl with salmon, Havarti-cheddar mac & cheese, Mediterranean sea bass, and Texas redfish.

Perch Bistro & Bar is launching 12 holiday cocktails which they'll serve from December 1-12. They include frozen spiced cranberry paloma, pomegranate spritz, gingersnap martini, spiced cranberry whisky sour, banana bread old fashioned, and a stuffing martini.

Bellagreen American Bistro, the Texas-based healthy chain, has launched a new winter seasonal menu that will run through February in all Houston and Dallas locations. It's built around the Golden Glow diet, featuring nutrient-dense ingredients like turmeric, ginger, sweet potatoes, kale, berries, and green tea. Highlights include chicken soup; golden grain & arugula salad (with butternut wild rice pilaf, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, and goat cheese); roasted veggie quinoa-kale bowl with sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and tahini-sriracha sauce; seared salmon over turmeric cauliflower rice; peppermint cheesecake; and German chocolate cheesecake.

White Rhino Coffee, the DFW coffeehouse chain, has three new seasonal beverages: Chumpkin, a blend of spiced chai and pumpkin with steamed milk which can be made "dirty" by adding espresso or matcha; Gingerbread Latte with espresso, milk, and gingerbread spice; and Banana Bread Latte with oat milk, banana purée, cinnamon, and choice of espresso or matcha.

Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, the Italian Ice concept, is teaming up with Andes mint with holiday specials spotlighting Andes' chocolate-mint flavor in two new frozen treats: Mint Fudge Sundae features Rita’s Vanilla and Chocolate Twist Frozen Custard topped with Andes Mints, hot fudge, and whipped cream; Mint Cookie Crunch Concrete features Vanilla Frozen Custard blended with Andes Mints and Oreo cookie pieces. Available through January 11.

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is ringing in the holiday season with a festive limited-time cocktail: the Jingle Berry ‘Rita, available through December 31. It blends Fuzzy’s Frozen House Margarita with blackberry syrup, Ole Smoky Blackberry Moonshine, and a Black Cherry White Claw dunk, bringing a burst of berry-forward cheer to every sip.

Mister Charles, the acclaimed restaurant on Knox Street from Duro Hospitality, made the list in OpenTable's prestigious Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2025 — the only restaurant in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to earn a spot on this coveted list and one of only 10 in the entire state of Texas.

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