This Is Juicy

Texas joint debuts impossible veggie burger with meaty taste

This meatless burger is on the menu at Hopdoddy.

Photo courtesy of Impossible Foods

Austin's Hopdoddy Burger Bar is going meatless. Starting Friday, June 23, Hopdoddy is adding Impossible Foods' plant-based patty to the menu at all Texas locations. The homegrown chain is among the first in the U.S. to offer the meatless wonder.

The patty, which hit the scene in 2016, is lauded for being one of the most convincing imitations of ground beef. Developed by scientist and physician Patrick Brown, the Impossible Burger is made from a mix of wheat; coconut oil; potato protein; and heme, a plant-based protein described as the "magic ingredient" that gives the burger its meaty taste and signature look.

Hopdoddy will feature the plant-based patty in its new Impossible Burger, a version of the restaurant's Classic Burger. It is served with Tillamook cheddar, lettuce, onion, tomatoes, and "Sassy Sauce."

"We are proud to partner with a brand that aligns perfectly with the pillars that Hopdoddy was founded on: a unique and honest product made the right way, with the freshest and best available ingredients." says Hopdoddy CEO Jeff Chandler in a release.

Impossible Foods strives to craft the tastiest, most authentic "meats" made entirely of plants. The California-based company aims to grow production to over 4 million patties per month, partner with more restaurants, and eventually expand its offerings. Targeting Texas is essential to that plan.

"While this isn't our first restaurant launch, Texas is crucial to Impossible Foods' expansion and mission," a spokesperson tells CultureMap. "Texas has some of the most discerning burger experts and meat lovers on the planet, and this will be the ultimate test for the Impossible Burger. If the Impossible Burger is a hit here, we are confident it will be everywhere."

The patty is also available at Underbelly and The Hay Merchant in Houston.

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Opening News

7 new restaurants open in Dallas in a single week

Kayla Enright

Le Bistrot Bar Sardine

Dallas is brimming with an unexpected bounty of openings this week. Who would have thought? From sweet crepes and rolled ice cream to a unique dual-restaurant in Frisco, these are the absolute newest places to check out, all in time for the holidays. (And if you want more ideas on where to take your out-of-town guests, we have that list right here.)

Here are the hottest brand new restaurants around Dallas:

Cream & Crepes Cafe
Dessert shop with crepes and ice cream opens on December 20 in the Shops at Turtle Creek Village, at 3858 Oak Lawn Ave #405 (near the now-closed Jalisco Norte). They do creative crepes in flavors such as Biscoff cookie butter, berry cheesecake, dulce de leche, and mango banana. They also do the once-trendy rolled ice cream in 10 flavors, such as brownie melt and spicy mango, plus scoops and pints, vegan ice cream, and milkshakes.

Donatos Pizza
Ohio-based pizza chain opened in Flower Mound at 1400 Long Prairie Rd. #160 on December 17. Known for their edge-to-edge toppings that stretch to the crusts, their menu features more than a dozen varieties of pizza, including veggie, four cheese, and pepperoni with hot honey. Their signature crust is a thin-crust but they also offer thicker alternatives as well as a cauliflower crust. There are also oven-baked wings, meatball subs, Italian cold cut sandwiches, appetizers, and salads.

Elephant Indian Bar and Grill
Indian restaurant opens on December 20 in a legendary spot in the former Buzzbrews space at 4154 N. Central Expwy., which closed in 2023. It's another concept from chef Praveen Prasanan, who also owns of Shiva’s Bar and Grill. The menu includes Indian classics, Indo-Chinese fusion, and vegetarian dishes, including chicken tikka masala, butter masala, tandoori, and a variety of biryani. Prasanan says, “it seemed to be a great location, so I picked it up.”

Stuffed French toast at Keke's Breakfast CafeKeke's

Keke's Breakfast Cafe
Fast-growing chain that's a sibling to Denny's just made its big Texas debut on December 10 in the Lincoln Park center at 7700 W Northwest Hwy. #600, across from NorthPark Center. They're open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch with pancakes, waffles, omelets, and an assortment of stuffed French toasts, plus sandwiches, wraps, and salads for lunch. This is the first of five new Keke's cafes coming to DFW (A second location in Fort Worth at the Victory Shops at Heritage Trace, 9821 North Fwy. #120, opened on December 20.)

Le Bistrot Bar Sardine
Parisian bistro concept from Vandelay Hospitality opens on December 20 at 6805 Snider Plaza with a menu of small plates and dishes that showcase chef Elliot Azoulay's mastery of French cooking techniques: escargot, salmon tartare, and scallops with leeks and Osestra beurre blanc. Their goal: to transport diners to the cobblestone streets of Paris.

Mudbugs and Revel Grill
Frisco seafood boil restaurant Mudbugs closed in November, and now they reopen on December 20 as a dual-concept with Revel Grill at 9305 Preston Rd. On the Mudbugs side, they'll have Cajun seafood eats — gumbo, po'boys, snow crab boil, shrimp etouffe, oysters, crawfish. On the Revel Grill side, they'll have burgers, quesadillas, and wings. They'll also feature live music, sports, and bar bites.

Seager & Sons
Retro-leaning restaurant just opened at the Boardwalk at Granite Park, at 5864 SH-121 #106 in Plano with a nostalgic '70s theme including decorative elements like vintage records, guitars, and lo-fi stereos. The menu features pizza and fried chicken, plus fun specials like cacio e pepe fritters. A full bar includes cocktails and their own craft beer. Seager & Sons is from 33 Restaurant Group, who also own Union Bear, The Yard, and Suburban Yacht Club.

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