Foodies Under 30 Unite

12 signs of the new Dallas foodie revolution

The Truck Yard on Lower Greenville is a bellwether item that separates the youngfoodie from the old.
Truck Yard/Facebook
Ramen is the dish that, by simply ordering it, confirms a New Foodie's hipness.
Photo courtesy of Tanoshii
Yesterday's Caesar has become today's kale.
Photo by Teresa Gubbins
The one single ingredient that defines a generation.
BBQDroid.org
Tacos are a major food group in the New Foodie diet.
Fuel City/Facebook

Dallas has two kinds of foodies, and if you were searching for a bellwether to distinguish between the two, it would be the opening of Truck Yard, the Austin-esque food truck park on Lower Greenville, the most surprising foodie neighborhood in Dallas.

Since it opened barely a week ago, the Truck Yard has been hailed by some as possibly the hottest hangout in the city; has earned nearly 6,000 "likes" on Facebook; and has drawn a crowd of fans eager to hang out, have some beers and maybe a snack.

But not everyone has been enchanted. Dallas Morning News posted a cranky screed about the truck yard, complaining that the ice cream stand was hard to find and decreeing it "not awesome."

We totally sympathize. We don't "get" why sitting outside on a picnic bench is "cool" when we'd rather be ensconced on a leather banquette, fighting off waiters who recognize Who We Are and feebly try to give us the VIP treatment.

It's a generational thing. There is the Belo-style foodie, a.k.a. the Old Foodie, aged 55 and up. They may be a dying breed, but they're still out there, reading news off dead trees and hungry as ever to find the cool new thing (as long as it doesn't, god forbid, involve sitting on a stool that has no padding).

And then there is the New Foodie. The one that's under 30, ready to line up for anyplace that has tacos or BBQ or doughnuts or pizza or burgers or food trucks. Especially food trucks.

Here's our cheat sheet to help differentiate what's important to these two distinct groups.

Old Foodie vs. New Foodie

1. Ingredient. The devil-may-care indulgence that defines their generation.

Old: foie gras
New: bacon

2. Destination. Where they go (or went) to see and be seen.

Old: Star Canyon
New: Truck Yard

3. Patron saint. The person whose creed became their creed.

Old: Julia Child
New: Anthony Bourdain

4. Ethnic find. Ordering this dish makes them in-the-know.

Old: Sushi
New: Pho

5. Salad. Young or old, everyone needs greens.

Old: Caesar
New: Kale

6. Cocktail. This category is complicated by the current trendy embrace of vintage drinks.

Old: Old-fashioned
New: Old-fashioned

7. Nostalgia item. What they seek out when they want to revisit their carefree youth.

Old: King Ranch casserole
New: Mac and cheese

8. Hipster trend. The item that, by simply ordering it, confirms their hotness.

Old: Arugula
New: Ramen

9. Pilgrimage. The place they go to make their foodie bones.

Old: Napa Valley
New: Austin's Franklin BBQ

10. Must-have gear. The gadget or item that confers foodie savvy.

Old: Rabbit wine openers
New: Monogrammed beer growler

11. Signature activity. Where they rub shoulders with their fellow foodies.

Old: Pot lucks
New: Festivals such as TacoCon, Untapped, MeatFight

12. Guilty pleasure. Some things never change.

Old foodie: Whataburger
New foodie: Whataburger

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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!

hot chicken carrollton trends chicken