Vegan News

Restaurant from India debuts in Texas with veggie buffet and luscious breads

A combo platter lets you taste a little of everything.

Yelp

A new Indian restaurant from one of India's most famous chefs has opened in Irving. Called Vishnuji Ki Rasoi, it's part of an international concept and is located in Irving, at 2427 W. Airport Fwy.

This location opened April and is the first in Texas.

Founded in India, Vishnuji specializes in simple, comforting vegetarian food, done in a home-style manner. Recipes and spices are created under the guidance of Vishnu Manohar, a celebrity chef in his own country where he makes frequent appearances on TV and in cooking competitions. He's been called "the most admired chef in Central India."

The menu focuses on the central region of India with a mix of north and south delicacies, particularly Maharashtrian cuisine, from the central-western state of Maharasha — primarily vegetarian and considered to be diverse as far as spices go since the state is so large.

Vegetables, lentils, and grains including wheat and rice play a big role, and if you like breads, you like Maharashtrian food because they have a whole collection of goodies such as vadas (like a doughnut), pavs (like a dinner roll), and polis (like a pancake).

Some of their popular dishes and street foods include:

bhajjis (like fritters)
missal (a spicy bean dish)
ragda (a spicy pea stew)
chole bhature (chickpea curry served with a fluffy bread)
mutter paneer aka matar paneer (rich curry with peas and paneer cheese)

But the thing to get is one of their combo meals, where you get a variety of dishes in small quantities, served on a large round platter, with accompanying bread, similar to what is served at Saravana Bhavan, another international chain from India that has two locations in the DFW area, in Irving and Plano.

Vishnuji also does some fun starters such as cheese balls and masala fries, IE fries topped with Indian-style spices.

The menu has options for vegans and they'll accommodate dietary restrictions such as no onion and no garlic options available for Jain and Swaminarayan communities from India.

According to a manager, the Irving location opened just as COVID-19 landed, and has stepped up its catering business to fill in the breach. They usually do a buffet but it is currently suspended due to the virus.

There's one other Vishnuji Ki Rasoi ("rasoi" is "kitchen") in the U.S.: a location that opened in Sunnyvale, California in 2019.

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Bar News

Rodeo Dallas bar takes party to Uptown Dallas at new location

Rodeo

Rodeo bar is open in Uptown

A bar with Deep Ellum roots is expanding to Uptown Dallas: Called Rodeo Dallas, it'll open at 2922 N. Hall St. in the space previously occupied by Palms Bar. According to co-owner Joseph "JD" Ybanez, it'll open on November 28.

The first Rodeo location in Dallas opened in 2023 at 2724 Elm St. from Ybanez and partner Josh Reagan, a pair of hospitality veterans whose prior venues include Longshots in Dallas, plus two locations of Varsity Tavern, in Fort Worth and in Tempe.

Ybanez' first bar was Trophy Ranch in Fort Worth which had a mechanical bull. "That's where I learned how popular it was," he says. (He also became familiar with Fort Worth's bar scene and went on to open a Rodeo spinoff in Fort Worth's West Seventh district in 2024.)

In August 2025, the Deep Ellum location became the focal point of neighborhood concerns about crime and was closed via an order from the Dallas city attorney. Ybanez says the city is scapegoating Rodeo for other problems in the neighborhood, and that the Deep Ellum location isn't going anywhere.

“This is not a relocation,” he says. “We maintain an ongoing legal dispute with our landlord Asana Partners regarding the re-opening of our Deep Ellum establishment. The Uptown location represents an expansion of the brand.”

Prior to opening Rodeo in Deep Ellum, they opened a predecessor in Tempe in 2018, called Rodeo Ranch. It served as a template for the concept, with an "adult playground" with mechanical bull, bottle service, girls in bikinis, DJs, dancing, and light show.

According to Ybanez, visitors to the Uptown location can expect to take these factors to the next level.

“The Uptown space offers an expansive back patio,” Ybanez says. “This area will feature a massive video wall, optimizing it for communal sports viewing. Furthermore, we have executed a comprehensive refinement of our food menu, which we are confident will elevate the guest experience."

The menu is rendered by Donde Los Tacos, the highly regarded Mexican taqueria in Oak Clifff, with $3 and $4 tacos, like trompo, barbacoa, and suadero. The Uptown location will also serve brunch with dishes such as chilaquiles.

"We have meticulously preserved the core of the Rodeo experience: the unparalleled atmosphere and vibes, our commitment to genuine hospitality, the homegrown character of the brand, and the inclusive spirit that welcomes every member of the community," Ybanez says.

uptown openings