Henderson Ave News

Newest bar on Dallas' Henderson Ave: A South Texas-style ice house

The menu will include tacos.

Willie D's

A new ice-house-style restaurant and bar has sprung up on Dallas' Henderson Avenue. Called Willie D's, it's said to pay homage to a classic South Texas icehouse, but with an elevated twist, of course, and will open on Friday, September 9 at 2929 N. Henderson Ave, AKA the former Uno Mas space.

Willie D's is from native South Texans and co-owners Gary Stapleton and chef Brad Miller, who's been cooking in Dallas for more than 15 years.

According to a release, the bar is named for Stapleton's father.

"Willie D's is a tribute to his love for the classic South Texas icehouse," Stapleton says in a statement. "It was where cold beer, good food, country music and dominoes were a nightly occurrence. The icehouse was where everyone came together and talked about their day, local sports and where business deals were solidified over a cold beer. He knew every person who came through the door; it was a spot where you could kick your feet up and relax after a long day. This is the heart and soul of Willie D's."

Miller's menu features burgers, tacos with fresh tortillas, grilled oysters, and loaded cheese fries.

"One thing I learned working in the industry almost my entire life is the ultimate necessity is consistency," Miller says. "So I designed the menu to be just that. It is simple, consistent, approachable with an elevated flair and one where you can find your go-to dishes but also explore new takes on classics."

In addition to burgers, the menu also has a Willie Dog, featuring two Wagyu hot dogs from Ham's Meat Market in McKinney, done Chicago-style with sport peppers, tomato, pickle, relish, and mustard.

Loaded fries options include:

Call Me Sous - cheddar, pepper jack, scallions, caramelized onion, diced jalapeño, over easy egg, elote corn, coleslaw
Pulling My Chain - pulled pork carnitas, red onion, bourbon BBQ sauce, cheddar, slaw, cornichons, and pickles
You Know the Spot - elote corn, cotija cheese, cilantro, lime crema, chili powder, and optional crushed Flaming Hot Cheetos

Tacos include Carnitas, Chicken Tinga, Barbacoa, and The Muchacho with a flour tortilla with refried beans wrapped around a crispy corn tortilla shell, ground beef, shredded lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese and lime crema.

Oyster options range from Rockefeller to Crab Stuffed to Black & Blue to Bacon BBQ.

The beverage program features wine by the glass, beer, and cocktails such as a Spicy Habanero Margarita, Rosemary Bourbon Cocktail, Blood Orange Sangria, and the CBD Mule with Tito’s vodka, mint, and Mad Tasty Martha Stewart CBD drops.

The restaurant is a 4,500-square-foot space with seating for 80 inside and 25 on the patio.

"Patrons will feel the heartbeat of Willie D's plastered across the walls with artwork that tells a story of who Willie D is and maybe even catch a glimpse of the man himself that inspired the restaurant," Stapleton says.

openings henderson-avenue

Sushi News

Wabi Sushi opens in Flower Mound with fun creative dishes to try

Wabi House

Sushi pockets at Wabi House

A highly creative chef has opened a new sushi spot in Flower Mound: Called Wabi Sushi, it's a Japanese restaurant which opened in May at 1450 Long Prairie Rd. #110, taking over a former Parlor Doughnuts which closed in December 2025.

Wabi Sushi (no relation to Wabi House, a small local chain) is from Dongwhun Lee, a sushi chef who learned the ropes of sushi while living in Los Angeles, and has worked at a variety of restaurants such as Avocado Roll Sushi.

"I have been working as 'Chef AK' at Japanese restaurants since 2006," Lee says. "My goal is always to make sushi accessible, both for sushi lovers as well as sushi beginners — to remove any barrier and make everything easy to eat."

Wabi Sushi's menu includes classics like sushi rolls, nigiri, rice bowls, and dumplings. But Lee is a creative chef who is constantly adding inventive dishes to capture diners' imaginations. (He once founded a breakfast concept called Three Egg Muffins, now closed.)

Signature items at Wabi Sushi include:

Korokke, a fried potato fritter that's a common comfort food in Japan. A variation of the French croquette, it's made from mashed potatoes, onion, and ground beef or pork, shaped into patties, covered with panko crumbs, and fried.
Inari sushi, AKA sushi pockets, these are another comforting dish that's almost like a cross between sushi and an open-faced dumpling. It has a paper-thin slice of tofu which is fashioned into an edible pouch, simmered in broth, then stuffed with seasoned sushi rice and choice of topping from an array that includes spicy salmon, tuna, seared salmon, spicy pork, shrimp, tamaago egg, Japanese tuna salad, avocado salad, or French carrot salad.

Many traditional inari options feature cooked ingredients, making them a good alternative for those who don't want to consume raw fish. The tofu has a sweet-savory quality that's appealing, and their handheld profile makes them great for takeout.

There are a few places in Dallas doing inari, although usually just as a single item on the menu. Wabi Sushi offers them in samplers such as three pockets for $10, or four pockets for $13. Lee calls them "the perfect bite."

"They're my daughter's favorite," he says. "We try to offer something affordable and it's a simple, easy-to-eat item that's great for lunch."

Other recent introductions include their oversized "sumo" dumplings, baked volcano rolls, and BBQ bowls — and there are more new items in the works.

"We're launching sushi tacos this summer, and shrimp ramen in the fall," he says. "We plan to keep updating the menu so there is always something new. But we always cover the basics, with food that's simple and good."

chefs openings