Calif's Mendocino Farms brings stacked sandwiches to West Village Dallas

UPDATE 7-11-2022: The West Village location will open July 12.

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A cool sandwich concept from California is expanding its Dallas presence: Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market is opening two new locations in the Dallas area, both in high-profile mixed-use centers.

According to a release, one will open in Uptown Dallas, the other in Plano, as follows:

• West Village, at 3700 McKinney Ave., #110. Opening July 12.
• Legacy West, at 7000 Windrose Ave. Opening July 26.

The West Village address was previously Lorna Jane, which sold workout wear in that space since 2014, but closed all of their stores due to the pandemic.

"Known for bringing people together, West Village embodies the spirit of hospitality at the heart of Mendocino Farms," says Mendocino Farms CEO Kevin Miles. "This vibrant community of foodies is a perfect fit for our next Dallas location. We're eager to raise the bar on what guests can expect from a fast casual culinary experience, welcoming the West Village community to our herd whether they are nearby residents, professionals, or regulars on the Katy Trail."

Mendocino Farms was founded by husband-and-wife duo Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen, and is known for bountiful versions of sandwiches like the pork belly banh mi and the "Not So Fried" Chicken, a shaved, roasted chicken breast sandwich on ciabatta bread. And while not a sandwich, the avocado-quinoa superfood salad is a top seller in Texas.

The company has been on the upswing since receiving an investment from Whole Foods in 2015; the chain has nearly 40 locations in California, and will have nine in Texas including downtown Dallas and Addison, plus five in Houston.

Mendocino Farms calls itself a fun, fast-paced, upbeat, gourmet sandwich shop.

They're extremely practical if you want good-quality food at an affordable price. They're friendly to many cuisines including vegan, which they embraced ahead of the curve with two regular options: a vegan banh mi with great tofu, and their Reuben sandwich made with Unreal Deli "corned beef," which made CultureMap's list of 5 best tastes for 2020. Served on rye bread, the sandwich has apple-celery root slaw, pickles, and smoky Thousand Island dressing.

They made their Dallas debut in March 2020, and opened their second DFW-area location in Addison in March 2021. West Village will be the third.

According to a representative, these two openings will likely coincide with the chain's new spring/summer menu offerings, so diners will see new dishes along with the core classics.

A spokesperson says that, with West Village set to undergo a major redevelopment and repositioning, they saw an opportunity to increase brand awareness in Dallas in a prime space for reaching millennials and Gen Z, a growing audience for Mendocino Farms.

The center has had some big changes including the departures of both Mi Cocina and Taco Diner, replaced by Hugos Invitados and Honest Taco.