News You Can Eat

Openings galore give this round of Dallas restaurant news a happy spin

This round of restaurant news is nothing but good. No closures this time, it's all about new places and new branches, opening all around Dallas. Put on your smiley face button and get ready to get happy:

DiMassi's, the Mediterranean/Middle Eastern buffet chain from Houston, has opened a third branch in North Texas, and the first in Dallas proper. The restaurant just opened at 5500 Greenville Ave., in what was once a location of Another Broken Egg. DiMassi's, which has branches in Las Colinas and Plano, does buffets where you serve yourself, and the price includes drinks, dessert, and coffee.

DiMassi's started out in 1994 as cafeteria-style Lebanese restaurant that charged by the item, before switching to the buffet mode in 2000. It currently has eight locations in Houston, plus branches in Austin and San Antonio.

Shake Shack, a burger joint from New York, is about to make its Dallas debut. The restaurant is going into the space at the Crescent in Uptown Dallas, with an opening tentatively scheduled for the end of August.

Super Chix is opening a location at 1551 East Renner Rd., in Richardson's CityLine development, at the end of August. In tandem with the new opening, Super Chix is also launching four new dipping sauces: Nashville hot sauce, Alabama white sauce, Mississippi come back sauce, and a cucumber dill ranch, all of which are designed to pair with chicken strips or chicken sandwiches.The opening is one of six that the company plans to launch in the next two years, including three in North Texas and three internationally in countries including the United Arab Emirates.

Halal Guys joins the lineup at Richardson Restaurant Park, the complex being built on the site of the former Continental Inn, on the west side of US Highway 75, south of Belt Line Road. The super-casual, super-popular concept from New York made its Dallas debut on Lemmon Avenue in July, generating much excitement for chicken, falafel, and pita bread. Halal Guys joins VertsKebap and Rock Wood Fired Kitchen, the Tacoma pizza chain that has three locations in Fort Worth, Arlington, and Wylie.

JOQ Cafe is a vegan restaurant serving soups, salads, sandwiches, and espresso beverages. It hopes to open on the ground floor of the Mosaic residential building in downtown Dallas. JOQ, which stands for "just outstanding quality," is part of the JOQ Wellness Center, an ambitious fitness and workout hub, with training, food prep, massage therapy, juice bar, dietary programs, dance classes, health spa, and more. The facility held a grand opening of sorts in July, although construction is still ongoing. Big plans though.

Kenny's East Coast Pizza, the new pizza concept opening in Plano from restaurateur Kenny Bowers, has an opening date: August 24 for lunch and dinner. Bowers, whose lineup of restaurants runs from burgers to barbecue, will do pizza in a style more reminiscent of New York than Naples, including baking them in a classic Bakers Pride Deck Oven. In addition to a selection of 14-inch pizzas, the menu will serve Italian-American fare inspired by his Italian restaurant, Kenny's Italian Kitchen.

Pakpao, the Thai concept from Apheleia Restaurant Group, owners of Oak, Quill, El Bolero, and Royale Magnificent Burgers, will open a third branch in Plano with a fanfare: There'll be a grand opening on September 9, featuring celebrity chef Jet Tila. The menu will boast authentic Thai delicacies influenced by the streets of Bangkok. Popular dishes include vegan pad Thai, short rib with massaman curry, Thai chicken salad, and a unique "beef jerky flight" paired with three rotating local brews. The original branch opened next to Oak in the Design District in 2013; a second branch is at Preston Hollow Village.

Piada Italian Street Food opened its third branch in North Texas on August 17, on Rennder Road, near the CityLine complex. Piada is inspired by the roadside family-run food carts and markets of Rimini, Italy, serving snacks made in a thin pizza crust. Its other two branches are at the Center at Preston Ridge in Frisco and Alliance Town Center in North Fort Worth.

Flying Fish, the casual seafood spot from restaurateur Shannon Wynne, will open in the old Purple Onion spot on Irving Boulevard. It'll be the first Flying Fish in Dallas that's south of Lemmon Avenue and is plotted to open in late October.

Hutchins BBQ is undertaking a renovation of its flagship restaurant in McKinney. It'll add 80 seats, a banquet room, and an updated patio to seat 20. Other additional features include a new drive-through, two new pits, new restrooms, dry storage, and a walk-in cooler. Construction is anticipated to start by September and will be completed before 2017.

Stirr, the Deep Ellum eatery coming soon from the owners of Citizen, has named a chef: Chad Bowden. Bowden has worked at Beau Nash, The Grape, 2900, and Culpepper Steakhouse. His menu will include foie gras with purple hull pea hash and blackberry balsamic coulis, and filet with cheddar chorizo grits, shishito peppers, cilantro cream, and melty asadero.

The Cedars Social, the cocktail den and restaurant on South Lamar Street, welcomes Justin Box as executive chef. Box has worked at Fearing's, Café Momentum, Bolsa, and Restaurant Ava. He'll introduce a new fall menu September 23.

Hutchins BBQ is getting a remodel.

Photo by John Miller

Hutchins BBQ is getting a remodel.

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Pub News

Queens Head English pub to open in storied Deep Ellum Dallas location

Courtesy photo

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There's a new English pub coming to Deep Ellum: Called Queens Head Pub, it'll open at 2713 Elm St. in the storied space that was once home to the legendary Green Room.

The opening is slated for May, timed to coincide with the arrival of the FIFA World Cup 2026, with a goal to serve as a destination for match-day celebrations, live music, and neighborhood gatherings — an authentic and spirited setting where fans can unite over the game. (FIFA matches in Dallas will run from June 14-July 14.)

The Queens Head Pub will mark the second concept from Deep Ellum Collective, who in September 2025 launched The Terrace, an elevated event space at 2554 Elm St. with a spacious rooftop patio boasting views of downtown Dallas.

Led by longtime neighborhood veteran Eric Bradford (of Bomb Factory fame), Deep Ellum Collective is working on a series of projects aimed at revitalizing this iconic entertainment district while introducing fresh, community-driven hospitality experiences.

“Queens Head Pub captures the spirit of a traditional English pub while embracing the energy and authenticity of Deep Ellum,” Bradford says in a statement. “This is more than just a pub — it’s a gathering place that celebrates tradition, camaraderie, and the vibrant culture of the neighborhood. As our second concept, it sets the tone for what’s to come as we continue to introduce projects that contribute to the revitalization of this historic district.”

They promise that the pub will deliver the charm and tradition of a classic British public house, but with a Texan sense of hospitality, with full pints, hearty plates, and a welcoming atmosphere for "after-work regulars, match-day diehards, first dates, old mates, or anyone seeking a place that feels instantly familiar."

Food & drink
The menu will comprise elevated Britain pub fare, with entrees such as fish & chips, shepherd’s pie, steak & ale pie, and bangers & mash. Starters include Scotch eggs, sausage rolls, and curried mussels.

Other highlights include Guinness beef stew, the QHP Burger, and indulgent desserts such as toffee bread pudding.

The bar will serve imported and domestic draft beers, English ales, full pints, and expertly poured Guinness. There'll be craft cocktails, and an approachable wine and spirits menu.

Rendering of interior of Queens Head Pub, opening in Deep Ellum.Courtesy rendering

Design
Led by Droese Raney, the design recreates a traditional English public house that preserves the history of the space. The project combines the former Green Room space with the neighboring property to create a venue spanning 6,000 square feet. At its heart stands a striking 40-foot bar that incorporates the original Green Room bar — believed to date back to the 19th century — maintaining a tangible connection to the building’s storied past.

The space includes cozy nooks, communal tables, a relaxed lounge area, and a private dining space. A rooftop patio spanning 2,000 square feet will offer both covered and open-air areas designed for year-round use and a variety of social experiences.

Materials used include reclaimed hardwoods, stained wood, brass accents, tin ceilings, and hand-painted mirrors — many sourced from antique dealers in Round Top, Texas. They'll be open Tuesday-Sunday starting at 11 am. Follow the progress on Instagram at @queensheadpubde.

deep-ellum openings