Opening News

3 Dallas restaurants open and one closes in a surprise July spree

Satisfy your Malaysian-inspired cravings.

Photo by Logan Crable

July is generally not a time for news about Dallas restaurants opening and closing. It's the sleepy summer. Restaurateurs usually prefer to wait until the fall, after everyone gets back from Aspen.

But with the pandemic turning 2021 upside down, everyone's ready to get back with a vengeance, and this is why we have three high-profile restaurants that opened this very week, as well as a Greenville Avenue restaurant that closed.

Here's the 411 on four restaurants in Dallas, three opening, and one closing, good news first.

OPENINGS

Dream Cafe
The Dream is back, and what joyful news for this beloved, healthy-ish Uptown Dallas restaurant which left its longtime location at the Quadrangle after 33 years to relocate to 2811 McKinney Ave., where they officially opened on June 30.

They've effected a magical transformation of the former Christies Sports Bar into a bright, cheerful, modern space, with handsome pale wood tables set off by deep blue fabric banquettes. (They've made a special place on the wall for their signature neon moon.)

The breakfasts and weekend brunch are as fab as ever, with pancakes, chicken & waffles, beignets, French toast, smoothies, avocado toast, and more. They've added a few new items such as froses, and are lending a hand to other local businesses such as Joy Macarons, featuring a freezer filled with Joy's macaron ice cream sandwiches.

A patio facing McKinney Avenue give it a new see-and-be-seen buzz.

Loro Dallas
Asian smokehouse and bar from two of Austin's biggest restaurant names, Aaron Franklin (Franklin Barbecue) and Tyson Cole (Uchi), officially opened on July 5.

The restaurant is in old East Dallas at 1812 N. Haskell Ave., at the corner of Munger, with lots of pandemic-friendly outdoor seating, where it's combining Southeast Asian flavors with traditional Texas BBQ.

They drummed up the excitement by hosting an #exclusive friends & family weekend, serving up fish & chips, rice bowls, French onion brisket melt, and Malaysian-inspired dishes including curry chicken and brisket coconut rice.

Dallas is the second Loro; the original opened in Austin in April 2018. A third location is opening in Houston later this year.

Milagro
New restaurant from Jesus Carmona opened at Trinity Groves on Tuesday July 6. Carmona gained fame when his previous restaurant Tacos Mariachi was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. He also owns Chimichurri, an Argentinian bistro in the Bishop Arts District.

Milagro's menu features Tijuana street tacos, with some carryover from Mariachi, but with new options as well. Dishes include Ceviche and Veggie Bowls, Mahi Mahi Birria Tacos, Pork Belly Al Pipil Tacos and the Campeona Burger on a brioche bun with avocado mousse, shrimp, asado cheese, crumbled chicharron, and a jalapeno glaze, served with house-made fries.

CLOSING

Ragin' Crab
Seafood restaurant and crab house at 2100 Greenville Ave. closed on July 1, letting diners know with a sad hand-scrawled message taped to the door that said, "Sorry we are not opened today - Manager."

The restaurant opened there on January 1, 2016, taking over the former rather sketchy Kush space spotlighting Louisiana-style boiled crab, plus shrimp, scallops, lobster, crawfish, and clams, as well as Cajun dishes and an oyster bar.

The restaurant was a sister concept to Hibashi Teppan Grill & Sushi Bar in North Dallas, from restaurateurs Steven Sohn and Tiger Park.

Closing in July seems like odd timing, especially when you consider that the restaurant stuck it through and remained open throughout the pandemic, although with the same staffing issues that every restaurant is suffering right now. But a spokesperson said that it was a lease issue (they'd been there five years), and they hope to reopen in a new location in Dallas by the fall.

closings openings

Now open

Taiwanese restaurant in Frisco brings soup dumplings to 2nd DFW location

Photo courtesy of Kitchen Master

Kitchen Master's menu spans traditional dumplings, fresh sashimi, prime cuts, and house noodles.

A Taiwanese restaurant known for its handmade soup dumplings has debuted in Southlake: Kitchen Master is now open at 3311 E. State Hwy. 114, in the space previously occupied by Mughlai Fine Indian Cuisine, which closed in 2024.

The first restaurant opened in Frisco in 2020, followed by locations in Tamsui, Taiwan, and Suwanee, Georgia.

Kitchen Master is owned by Ian Peng, a Taiwanese entrepreneur who moved to the U.S. when he was 8 years old. He comes from a family of restaurant owners in Taipei and grew up working in the kitchen before moving on to Japanese restaurants and eventually launching his own concept.

While the original Frisco location focused on authentic Taiwanese cuisine, the Southlake restaurant expands into broader Pan-Asian influences, along with a deep selection of Japanese dishes inspired by Peng’s background.

Highlights of the Southlake menu include:

Mala Berkshire pork house soup dumplings
Szechuan Berkshire pork wontons infused with Chinese spices
Lamb chops with homemade chimichurri and lemongrass aioli
Hamachi crudo with strawberry vinaigrette and yuzu juice

There’s also a nigiri tasting sampler, described as a mini omakase experience featuring chef-selected fish and toppings.

Most entrees are priced under $30, while noodle and rice dishes stay under $20. The restaurant also features a raw bar with traditional sushi rolls starting at $10 and signature rolls at $16. For lunch during the week, an assortment of stir-fry options is available for around $15, each served with soup and a rice bowl.

“Our focus is on the best ingredients we can use," Peng says. "We elevated our menu with prime cuts and better meats that result in a more flavorful and delicate dish."

A full bar serves cocktails made with premium spirits, with an emphasis on artful presentation. A happy hour menu will launch soon, they say.

Craft cocktails at Kitchen Master feature house-made syrups, fresh garnishes, and premium spirits.Photo courtesy of Kitchen Master

Spanning 9,000 square feet, the Southlake location includes a raw bar, dedicated cocktail bar, spacious main dining room, and patio.

“For our new restaurants in Georgia and Taiwan, we introduced a more modern look and a relaxed eating environment, and we’ve brought that same vision to Southlake,” Peng says.

Hours are 11am-9 pm Tuesday-Thursday and 11 am-11 pm Friday-Saturday. It is closed Sunday and Monday.

While the restaurant is already open for service, they are planning a grand opening event in September, they say.

asian cuisine openings southlake