Hummus News

Chicago falafel king Naf Naf Grill makes Texas debut in Dallas market

Yes yes to Naf Naf.

Naf Naf Grill

Great middle Eastern food is coming to Texas via the Windy City: Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill, a small Middle Eastern restaurant chain based in Chicago is making its Texas debut with three locations in the Dallas area, beginning with Frisco at 1525 US 380, in a new center between Preston and Coit roads, which is slated to open in early July.

According to a release, that will be followed by locations in McKinney and Las Colinas. Much much Naf Naf coming to town.

Naf Naf is doing its best to make Middle Eastern mainstream across the U.S., with dishes derived from Old World recipes served in a welcoming atmosphere. Signature dishes include:

chicken shawarma roasted on a vertical spit
falafel, made with chickpea, jalapeno, and onion, crispy outside and tender inside
pita baked in-restaurant throughout the day

Entrées options include a stuffed pita sandwich or a bowl, which can be customized with choices ranging from basmati rice, couscous, salad greens, hummus, and baba ghanoush, plus chicken, falafel, middle Eastern steak, or crispy chicken schnitzel.

Toppings include sumac onions, purple cabbage, pickles, and tomato-cucumber salad.

Bringing Naf Naf Grill to Texas is Amirali Didarali, a successful entrepreneur and self-professed foodie, plus operating partner Aamir Rajan, a Chipotle veteran and seasoned operator who is from Chicago.

"I fell in love with Naf in Chicago and saw how much potential the brand has, so I wanted to bring its fresh and flavorful food to Texas," Rajan says. "Dallas-Fort Worth is a hub for great restaurants, but Naf offers a culinary experience unlike any other, which will make it a standout brand in Frisco."

Naf currently has 33 locations. Frisco will mark the first in Texas and the 35th systemwide.

openings

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.

openings