This week in gluttony

These are the 10 best food and drink events in Dallas this week

Happy 104th to El Fenix.

El Fenix

Oktoberfest events: the unofficial sign that fall is has arrived. This week brings the first of several German-themed festivals sure to dot the calendar soon, and it’s a big one that’ll draw around 50,000 guests. There are also two chocolate pairing events, two Tex-Mex restaurant birthdays (one turns two and the other, 104), and three eat-and-stroll tasting events. Practice balancing that drink and small plate now.

Wednesday, September 14

Hispanic Heritage Month at Central Market
Are you really into comida? The Texas gourmet grocer will showcase top-rated Hispanic brands from around the world for this month-long festival that kicks off Wednesday. New and noteworthy items available for purchase are Spanish-tenderized octopus, Chorizo de San Manuel from Edinburg, Texas, pastel de elote with buttery corn bread, sweetened condensed milk and white corn, and Mexican wedding cookies. The festival will run through October 11.

Thursday, September 15

El Fenix 104th Anniversary
Visit the downtown Dallas location of this Tex-Mex institution for a 104th anniversary lunch special not to be missed. The first 104 folks to arrive starting at 11 am will receive $1.04 enchiladas (up to two enchiladas). There’ll be mariachi music and Mexican dancers from 11 am-1 pm. Visit any El Fenix location for all-day happy hour and $1.04 sopapillas.

Addison Oktoberfest
Approximately 50,000 folks are expected to visit Addison Circle Park for Addison’s 35th annual four-day festival of German culture, food, music, and beer – named one of the country’s most authentic Oktoberfest celebrations by Forbes and USA Today. Expect oompah music, sing-alongs, stein-hoisting and lots of sausage, schnitzel, strudel, and sauerkraut. Admission is free Thursday and Sunday, and $10 per person on Friday and Saturday. Kids nine and under are free all weekend.

An Evening with Desert Door Sotol at Dude, Sweet Chocolate
While sotol comes from a wild plant related to agave, the spirit is not tequila and it’s not mezcal. Try Desert Door’s version in several cocktails paired with chocolate during this tasting at Dude, Sweet Chocolate’s factory. Drinks will include ranch water, old fashioned, paloma, and straight sotol paired with chocolates, sopes, and empanadas. The tasting is $45 per person and begins at 7 pm.

Friday, September 16

Time 2 Fiesta – El Patio’s 2nd Birthday Party
The Lewisville Tex-Mex restaurant, loved for its tableside trompo al pastor, will celebrate two years with birthday party. Visit from 5-9 pm for DJ music, face painting, and even a bounce house. The party will continue on Sunday with El Patio’s all-you-can-eat brunch ($25 per person, plus tax and gratuity) from 11 am-2 pm with live mariachi music. Don’t miss sopes de mariscos, green enchiladas, and an action station with Cincoro tequila infused carnitas.

Saturday, September 17

Taste of Oak Cliff
Returning for its third year, the two-day food-centric event celebrates the restaurants and eateries of the diverse Oak Cliff neighborhood. There will be more than three dozen food vendors, featuring everything from tacos and turkey legs to ice cream and snow cones. General admission is $20 per person ($13 for kids 2-12), or $35 for both Saturday and Sunday ($20 for two-day admission for kids). All food and drink items will be available for purchase from each individual vendor. The event will run from 11 am-7 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Mexican Independence Day Tea Party at Dude, Sweet Chocolate
The popular Dallas chocolatier will host a tea party with Mexican flair at its “mothership” headquarters. Menu highlights include pozole, pork tamales, chicken mole with Mexican rice, tres leches cake, and of course, chocolate. Tickets are $59 per person and the event will run from 12-2 pm.

World of Foodies at Historic Downtown Carrollton
Stroll through multiple culturally diverse food vendors during this downtown Carrollton foodie festival. A $30 “foodie passport” is good for 10 food samples and one drink from the bar with a souvenir glass. There’ll also be live performances celebrating multiple nationalities along with yard games and craft vendors. The event will run from 3-9 pm.

Sunday, September 18

Gelato Fest at Eataly
Explore 12 gelato stations across the store, featuring frozen favorites like classic gelato, boozy sorbetto, affogato, sweet focaccia with gelato, and more. Admission is free, but each taste requires a ticket. Get one ticket for $3, five tickets for $12, 15 tickets for $30 or taste all of the gelato with 24 tickets for $45. Complimentary gelato-making classes will be held at 3:30 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm, and the event will run from 3-6 pm.

Monday, September 19

Battered & Brewed Beer Dinner at Urban Seafood
Embrace all things fried. This four-course dinner at Plano’s Urban Seafood will feature four fried seafood courses paired with beer. Dinner is $75 per person and begins at 6:30 pm.

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Spicy chicken joint

TikTok-famed hot halal chicken chain The Red Chickz pecks into Carrollton

Facebook/The Red Chickz

Dipping hot chicken into sauce is a big thing at The Red Chickz.

A California hot chicken chain that's famous for being TikTok-famous is making its Dallas-Fort Worth debut in Carrollton. Called The Red Chickz, it will open at 3204 E. Hebron Pkwy. #220, Carrollton, on Saturday, July 25.

This will be The Red Chickz's second location in Texas, following a restaurant in Cypress, outside Houston.

Founded in Los Angeles in 2018, The Red Chickz serves 100 percent halal chicken with a California twist on Nashville hot chicken, says a release. Halal refers to the method in which the chicken are slaughtered, one that focuses on humane treatment of animals, cleanliness, and acknowledging the value of life.

The Red Chickz menu features chicken sandwiches, tenders, wings, tacos, and loaded fries, with seven spice levels ranging from no heat to extra hot.

Their signature item is the Honey Butter Sandwich, which pairs a Nashville hot chicken breast with honey butter, pickles, and slaw on a brioche bun. Other menu standouts include a French Toast Sandwich, Nashville Hot Chicken Tacos, cauliflower for vegetarians, plus sides such as cheese curds, corn ribs, mac and cheese, and seasoned fries.

They also offer a range of sauces for dipping, including Comeback Sauce, Honey Butter, Smoky Honey Mustard, and Homemade Buffalo Sauce.

The Carrollton restaurant is owned by franchisee Nazar Osman, an entrepreneur from Northeast Africa, who moved to the United States in 1992. He says he plans to open two more locations around Dallas.

CEO and co-founder Shawn Lalehzarian says the success of the Cypress restaurant made expanding further into Texas a logical decision.

"The incredible response we've seen in Cypress confirmed Texans have a strong appetite for bold flavors, quality food, and memorable dining experiences," he says in a release. "As the Dallas-Fort Worth region continues to attract new residents, businesses, and investment from across the country, Carrollton is a natural next step for our expansion."

Part of the chain's appeal comes from its modern social media strategy. Rather than relying on traditional advertising, The Red Chickz built its brand through TikTok videos showcasing the crunch, texture, and spice of its chicken, often tapping into viral trends and encouraging customers to create their own content.

Some (ie, those who don't work in traditional media) might say the strategy has paid off: The chain has amassed more than 1.2 million TikTok followers and recently was named a finalist for the 2026 Chicken Marketer of the Year award.

Similarly, their strategy to build buzz around the Carrollton store seems to have been to invite influencers to post videos of chicken being dipped in giant buckets of sauce, like this one and this one and this one and this one. Yummy!

To celebrate the grand opening in Carrollton, the first 150 customers on July 25 and 26 will receive a free Honey Butter Sandwich with a purchase, and all guests will get 25 percent off their order during opening weekend. Sauce for everyone!

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