Gastropub News

Thirsty Lion Gastropub to open on Dallas' most restaurant-friendly row

They're known for hefty sandwiches and scratch-made food.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill

One of the most restaurant-friendly streets in Dallas-Fort Worth is getting a gastropub: Thirsty Lion Gastropub, a prosperous chain based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is opening a location along Addison's restaurant strip at 5225 Belt Line Rd. #220, in Dallas.

The restaurant takes over the highly visible space facing Belt Line Road that was previously home to Houlihan's, which closed in 2019 following a bankruptcy filing.

According to a release, it will open in 2023.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub is known for scratch-made food, craft cocktails, big selection of beer, and a commitment to sports viewing. Restaurants are equipped with dozens of HD flat screens inside and out, and they specifically program their sports schedules to make sure all sports viewing requests are met.

Culinarily speaking, they incorporate a wide variety of dishes with influences from multicultural cuisines, plus vegetarian and GF. The menu features appetizers, salads, sandwiches, seafood, half-pound burgers, and steaks. They also regularly roll out seasonal menus, which is not always easy for a chain (even a small chain) to deploy.

Signature dishes include

Gorgonzola-infused Gastropub Burger
Bacon Wrapped BBQ Prawns
Beer Battered Fish & Chips
Gochujang BBQ Pork & Kimchi Fried Rice
Seared Ahi Salad
Baja Fish Tacos
Scotch Eggs

They're big on weekend brunch and weekday happy hour, with drink and food specials from 3-6 pm.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub has been expanding since its launch in 2010 with 10 locations in Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, and Texas. The chain definitely likes North Texas: They just opened their first location in Dallas at Preston Hollow Village, on the northwest corner of US-75 and Walnut Hill Lane, and in May, they opened a deluxe rendition in The Colony at Grandscape, their first two-story version with interactive green space called The Frontyard and double decker patios that overlook Grandscape's Ferris wheel.

Their first DFW location was at Toyota Music Factory in Irving which opened in 2017, and they also have a location in Euless' Glade Park. The Addison-adjacent location will be their fifth.

craft-beer

Drive-Thru BBQ

Buzzy Ono Hawaiian BBQ chain from California says aloha to McKinney

Ono Hawaiian

Ono Hawaiian Aloha Plate with Chicken Katsu & Island Fire Chicken

A popular Hawaiian barbecue chain from California is opening its newest eatery in McKinney: Ono Hawaiian BBQ, which made its Texas debut in Plano two months ago, will open at 4610 W. University Dr., Suite 110 on Friday, October 2.

McKinney marks the second of a slew of locations the company plans to open across North Texas.

Ono, which in Hawaii means "delicious," specializes in tried-and-true Hawaiian-style plate lunches, featuring grilled meats served with scoops of rice and macaroni salad.

Menu options include BBQ chicken, BBQ beef, kalbi short ribs, Island Fire Chicken, chicken katsu, and seafood dishes, plus Hawaiian favorites like Spam musubi. Food is freshly prepared, made from scratch daily in each restaurant, and grilled to order. Island flavors will be served through its drive-thru, dine-in, or takeout services.

The L.A.-based chain boasts some 130 locations throughout California and Arizona. They are just getting started in Texas, where locations are planned throughout Dallas-Fort Worth:

Burleson, at the intersection of Summerset and Southwest Wilshire Boulevard
Carrollton, 3328 E. Hebron Pkwy. #101, in a former Schlotzky's
Dallas, 6216 Retail Rd., in a former Del Taco at Skillman and Northwest Highway
Haltom City, 6360 N. Beach St., in a former Schlotzky's
Hurst, 1840 Precinct Line Rd., in a former Taco Cabana
Rowlett, 4510 Lakeview Pkwy., in a former Dairy Queen
Royse City, 506 W. Interstate 30, in a former Dairy Queen
Wylie, 2020 N. State Hwy 78, in a former Hwy 55 Burgers & Shakes

“We’re thrilled to continue building our presence in Texas and to welcome the McKinney community to Ono Hawaiian BBQ,” Joshua Liang, co-founder and CEO, said in a press release. “The response to our Plano opening has been incredibly encouraging, and we’re excited to bring the same food, hospitality and aloha spirit to McKinney.”

Guests attending the opening celebration in McKinney can enjoy buy-one-get-one offers all day, along with live Hawaiian dancing, Ono Hawaiian BBQ merch giveaways, and a special raffle featuring 25 $100 Ono promo cards.

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