On the Go

Let Central Market do all the work in the kitchen with to-go meals

Every day, Central Market chefs craft restaurant-quality entrees and an array of seasonal sides, salads, dips, and sweets to make meal planning or last-minute menus a breeze.

With a variety of options — from brisket and beef bourguignon to lobster mac 'n cheese and overnight oats — there’s something to please everyone.

So whether you're feeding a houseful or grabbing dinner for one this weekend, stop by Central Market for mealtime in no time.

Here are a few favorites for you to simply heat, serve, and savor:

Feed the family
Family casseroles are hearty and delicious one-dish dinners that are ready to heat and eat. Look for flavors like baked ziti, ranch chicken, and cowboy casserole. These family-sized meals feed four to six people.

Or gather your hungry crew around a plump and juicy fire-roasted rotisserie chicken with your favorite chef-made sides, like the fall specialty Moroccan barley salad.

Dinner for one or two
Right-sized dinners with mains and sides made fresh daily, prepackaged, and ready for easy pickup. Enjoy chef-made meals such as harissa chicken, grilled flank steak, and grilled salmon with orzo.

Or build your own meal, choosing from the chef-prepared case that's filled with such mouthwatering items as rosemary chicken breasts, turkey meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, and green beans amandine.

Forget the drive-thru
It’s not just dinner where Central Market chefs shine. Start the day with breakfast tacos, overnight oats, cold-pressed juices, and your morning coffee.

Or take a lunch break and enjoy a towering, freshly prepared deli sandwich starring the signature in-house roasted meats, bakery breads, and not a sad fast-food burger in sight.

You’ll also find salads, sushi, and soups galore, all ready for easy grab-and-go. Be sure to look for salad medley snack packs featuring grilled shrimp, tarragon chicken, and even vegan options.

Easy entertaining
Inviting folks over for a little happy hour reprieve or a simple patio gathering with the neighbors on a Saturday night is a no-hassle event when you pick up pre-made cheese and charcuterie boards.

Serve pairings such as sopressata salami and Manchego cheese with Marcona almonds, dried apricots, and cranberries. You’ll also find Genoa salami, creminelli calabrese, pepperoni, and more. Just grab a few bottles (or cans!) of wine or six-packs of beer, and you’re ready to roll.

Game-day ready
Sports and snacks go hand in hand, so make sure you get your hands on Central Market's scratch-made dips, spreads, salsas, and queso.

Try signature items like the beer cheddar cheese spread, chile con queso, and spinach dip, all made fresh daily. And whatever you do, don’t miss the famous Love Dip — it’s a Central Market cult favorite. Serve the tomatoey, garlicky dip cold with crackers, chips, veggies, or anything, really.

For the kids
You’ll also find plenty of tasty options for small hands, like brown-bag lunches featuring PBJ and fruit, kid-friendly salad medleys with savory tuna and couscous or grilled chicken and hummus, and fresh-cut fruit, veggies, and pre-packed dips.

Did you know you can ask the sushi chefs to make special rolls filled with your child’s favorite sushi ingredients? There really is something for everyone at Central Market.

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Central Market Preston Royal is now open — stop by at 10720 Preston Rd.

Hosting? Central Market's got your cheese boards all ready.

Photo courtesy of Central Market

Hosting? Central Market's got your cheese boards all ready.

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Where to Drink

Where to drink in Dallas right now: 5 fun cocktail spots for October

dallas.culturemap.com

The October edition of Where to Drink, CultureMap's monthly column offering advice on the best cocktails to try around Dallas, has a slightly spooky theme. It includes the popular happy hours that are a common theme of Where to Drink, but also some special menus that celebrate fall.

Here's where to drink in Dallas for October 2026:

Beau Nash
In-house restaurant at Hotel Crescent Court joins the property's celebration of fall with "Boos and Brews," an autumn-themed menu of seasonal cocktails. For example, the Campfire Martini has Oak and Eden bourbon, espresso, chocolate liqueur, and a toasted marshmallow. Blood Orange Paloma has G4 tequila, Solerno blood orange liqueur, blood orange juice, lime, and a black cherry float garnished with a dehydrated blood orange. The Night Shade contains Appleton spiced rum, black currant syrup, Chambord, grapefruit juice, basil, and a dehydrated lemon. Lastly, the ultra-decadent Affogato, which combines Monkey Shoulder scotch, espresso, vanilla ice cream, and chopped pistachios on top.

Fortune House
Restaurant acclaimed for its dumplings has an excellent happy hour with 50 percent off all house cocktails, wines by the glass, draft beer, and hot sake. Notable drinks include the 5-spice espresso martini with Weber Ranch vodka, Patron XO Coffee Liqueur, five-spice oleo, and Cultivar cold brew, for $7.50; and the Forbidden Ube Daiquiri with rum, ube coconut syrup, and lime for $6.50 instead of the standard $13. HH snacks include pork xiao long bao, four for $6; pan-fried pork buns, three for $7; beef potstickers, three for $6; and veggie eggrolls for $1 each. What a deal. The happy hour runs Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm at both locations: 8150 N. MacArthur Blvd. in Irving, and 2010 Greenville Ave. in Dallas.

The Reserve at The Highland
In-house restaurant at the Highland Dallas hotel has launched Golden Hour, offering 50 percent off select signature cocktails daily from 4-7 pm, with a rotating lineup of drinks changing seasonally. The menu boasts a mischievous Texas-inspired theme, named for some of Dallas' poshest neighborhoods: for example, the Preston Hollow Gimlet has Hendrick’s Gin, Orange Curaçao, lime, and bitters. The sparkly Highland Park Blush combines Bluecoat American Dry Gin with lemon juice, cranberry juice, and La Marca Prosecco. The Bluebonnet Bubbles is another sparkler with Ketel One Vodka, Caravella Limoncello, Reàl Blueberry, lemon juice, and La Marca Prosecco. Regularly priced from $16 to $18, they're 50 percent off during happy hour.

Sor Juana
New botanería at the Dallas Farmers Market is inspired by traditional Mexican establishments where drinks are served alongside complimentary snacks and bar bites. The bar program is managed by Saúl Hernández (previously of Midnight Rambler, La Viuda Negra, and Las Almas Rotas), with creative cocktails such as the signature La Nueva Sangre — an orange blossom gin cocktail with beet juice, lemon, passion fruit, and lavender bitters. Happy hour runs Wednesday-Friday from 5:30-7:30 pm, featuring $6 beers, $8 wines, and $8 cocktails infused with house-made Mexican chili oil macha sauce.

III Forks
In 2025, this classy steakhouse chain reopened its Addison location in a glorious new setting at 5100 Belt Line Rd. #800 at the Village on the Parkway. Now, they've introduced a brand-new happy hour, Monday-Saturday from 3-6 pm. It features half-priced wines by the glass, $1 oysters, and half-price Tito's Martinis, with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, 1888 Hand-Pressed Olive Juice, and garnished with bacon and bleu cheese-stuffed olives. The promotion is a celebration of this flagship location in Addison, and is the only location that has a happy hour offering.

cocktails nightlife happy-hours where to drink