Taco News

Debonair dinner party guy goes bigtime with new taco lounge in Frisco

Tacos and cocktails make the world go round.

Photo courtesy of Chido

Frisco gets a new taqueria from a resident known for his fabulous dinner parties: Called Chido Taco Lounge, it'll open in a former SmashBurger at 6959 Lebanon Rd. #123, and is set to open in early 2021.

Chido, which means "cool" in Spanish, is from first-timer Blaine McGowan, who developed a following after having hosted underground ticketed dinner parties out of his Frisco home.

Inspired by the enthusiasm of his followers, McGowan decided to take the next step, and has launched the restaurant in partnership with Gabe Zeller, a friend.

According to a release, Chido's menu will spotlight flavors from across the globe.

"Our goal at Chido is to capture a multi-cultural fusion with a focus on tacos as the main vehicle for delivering flavor and fun," McGowan says in a statement.

Tacos will be the core, but they'll also have entrees and secret menu items.

Running the kitchen is chef Jerry de la Riva, with a consult by chef Samir Dhurandhar of Nick & Sam's.

They'll also do craft cocktails created by Kareem Dula and David Wright of Craft Culture, and keep late-night hours.

McGowan says that they'll have an open door policy and none of that attitude you get in Dallas. Burn!

"Frisco is missing a local watering hole—something that is casual and cool but with killer food, too," he says. "Chido will provide diners an opportunity to enjoy craft cocktails & cuisine without the pretentious attitude of most institutions throughout Dallas. It's the kind of place where everybody is a somebody!"

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Opening News

Dallas diner & music venue will open in former Ferris Wheeler space

Courtesy

Pancakes

A new restaurant has been unveiled that will take over the former Ferris Wheeler space near Dallas' Design District at 1950 Market Center Blvd.: Called AM/FM, it'll be an all-day diner and lounge with a big backyard and a stage for live music, and it's from Spune Productions, the music and event production company.

According to a release, it'll open in early January initially with evening hours, cocktails, and a few afternoon soccer matches. Music acts are already booked beginning January 8. More hours will be added down the road.

Ferris Wheelers BBQ, which was also a restaurant with a big backyard and a stage for live music, closed in November after eight years. Spune had already been involved since 2023 to help ramp up the live music side. Now they'll take it over with a fresh new personality and long hours.

They were famous for having a Ferris wheel on-site; an inquiry on its status went unanswered.

The diner will open daily at 7 am, serving "musicians coming off late nights, workers heading into morning shifts, and neighbors who want a place that remembers their name," says the release very poetically.

They've redecorated the interior with a new bar and banquettes that wrap the room. Alongside the renovations inside, the set-up outdoors will evolve over the coming weeks, with extra care given to the concert experience,

Menu
The food at AM/FM will be rooted in elevated Diner classics, with a menu overseen by chef Anastacia Quinones-Pittman (Oh, Hi! Hospitality) that's influenced by Mexican-American kitchens and Nuevo Southern traditions.

Breakfast offerings include huevos rancheros, breakfast tacos, breakfast empanadas, French toast, avocado toast, pork belly toast, and an intriguing twist on pancakes called masa pancakes, made using masa harina AKA corn flour.

Lunch includes a chicken Milanesa Caesar salad, Sonoran hot dog, fried catfish po'boy, kale salad, Cobb salad, and a Mexican twist on chicken noodle soup with fideo noodles.

Entree plates include pot roast, meatloaf, fried chicken, and a weekly pot pie.

The beverage program will aim for accessibility with coffee, cocktails, and craft beer, says Victor Rojas, Quinones-Pittman's partner at Oh, Hi! Hospitality.

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