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New coffee shop nestles inside art store in Dallas' Oak Cliff

Happening Café is officially open inside Dallas Art Supply.

Photo courtesy of Happening Cafe

A hidden-gem coffee shop has opened inside a Dallas art store: Called Happening Cafe, it's nestled within Dallas Art Supply, at 623 Fort Worth Ave., in Oak Cliff.

The small coffee space is designed to enhance the retail experience inside the creative, women-owned shop, which operates out of a repurposed vintage gas station. Patrons can now browse professional-grade oil paints, watercolor blocks, and unique stationery with an espresso in hand.

Dallas Art Supply is the retail arm of Oil & Cotton, an art studio, workshop space, and creative hub founded in 2010 by Shannon Driscoll and Kayli House, located a few blocks down on Beatrice Street. The shop moved to its current spot on Fort Worth Avenue in late 2024 for street visibility.

The owners say they introduced Happening Cafe to help fuel the neighborhood's artistic spirit with the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee.

Dallas Art Supply features a unique selection of art tools for all skill levels.Photo courtesy of Happening Cafe

“We were inspired by the ‘60’s countercultural movement with stores playing with commerce as art,” House says. “Art supplies can be intimidating, coffee is not.”

The shop serves drinks make with a La Marzocco Linea Mini espresso machine and beans from local Full City Roasters. Their menu includes espressos, lattes, cappuccinos, teas and matchas, ranging from $2 to $6, and a few grab-and-go healthy snacks such as granola bars and beef jerky.

Guests can sip while they shop.Photo courtesy of Happening Cafe

“We are hoping it can evolve the coffee shop to a truck trailer, eventually plant roots somewhere,” Driscoll says.

The addition of Happening Cafe to the retail space at Dallas Art Supply follows a growing trend in Dallas with built-in cafés or bars in retail stores. Hey Konẽko opened Good Boy Cafe in 2023, bookstores Read Shop in Dallas and Daydream in Arlington both have coffee offerings for visitors, and Outpost Fine Goods added a bar where people can enjoy a drink while shopping.

“Retail alone can’t make it; every retail store has something going on,” Driscoll says.

The coffee shop fills a neighborhood need for caffeine while naturally inviting patrons to linger, browse, and connect inside the shop, which caters to everyone from novice hobbyists to professional studio artists.

The owners opened Happening Cafe quietly.

“It is a sleepy little thing and we like that,” House says.

Both Happening Cafe and Dallas Art Supply are open 10 am-6 pm Tuesday-Saturday.

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Now open

Taiwanese restaurant in Frisco brings soup dumplings to 2nd DFW location

Photo courtesy of Kitchen Master

Kitchen Master's menu spans traditional dumplings, fresh sashimi, prime cuts, and house noodles.

A Taiwanese restaurant known for its handmade soup dumplings has debuted in Southlake: Kitchen Master is now open at 3311 E. State Hwy. 114, in the space previously occupied by Mughlai Fine Indian Cuisine, which closed in 2024.

The first restaurant opened in Frisco in 2020, followed by locations in Tamsui, Taiwan, and Suwanee, Georgia.

Kitchen Master is owned by Ian Peng, a Taiwanese entrepreneur who moved to the U.S. when he was 8 years old. He comes from a family of restaurant owners in Taipei and grew up working in the kitchen before moving on to Japanese restaurants and eventually launching his own concept.

While the original Frisco location focused on authentic Taiwanese cuisine, the Southlake restaurant expands into broader Pan-Asian influences, along with a deep selection of Japanese dishes inspired by Peng’s background.

Highlights of the Southlake menu include:

Mala Berkshire pork house soup dumplings
Szechuan Berkshire pork wontons infused with Chinese spices
Lamb chops with homemade chimichurri and lemongrass aioli
Hamachi crudo with strawberry vinaigrette and yuzu juice

There’s also a nigiri tasting sampler, described as a mini omakase experience featuring chef-selected fish and toppings.

Most entrees are priced under $30, while noodle and rice dishes stay under $20. The restaurant also features a raw bar with traditional sushi rolls starting at $10 and signature rolls at $16. For lunch during the week, an assortment of stir-fry options is available for around $15, each served with soup and a rice bowl.

“Our focus is on the best ingredients we can use," Peng says. "We elevated our menu with prime cuts and better meats that result in a more flavorful and delicate dish."

A full bar serves cocktails made with premium spirits, with an emphasis on artful presentation. A happy hour menu will launch soon, they say.

Craft cocktails at Kitchen Master feature house-made syrups, fresh garnishes, and premium spirits.Photo courtesy of Kitchen Master

Spanning 9,000 square feet, the Southlake location includes a raw bar, dedicated cocktail bar, spacious main dining room, and patio.

“For our new restaurants in Georgia and Taiwan, we introduced a more modern look and a relaxed eating environment, and we’ve brought that same vision to Southlake,” Peng says.

Hours are 11am-9 pm Tuesday-Thursday and 11 am-11 pm Friday-Saturday. It is closed Sunday and Monday.

While the restaurant is already open for service, they are planning a grand opening event in September, they say.

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