This edition of restaurant news around Dallas includes a few openings, a re-opening, a sad closing, and then your usual variety of new dishes, seasonal menus, cocktails, even a newly appointed chef, covering fancy restaurants and chains alike. CultureMap is an equal opportunity news site, we're not snobby like the other guys, all food news is good news, whether it's sent via press release or culled from the worldwide web.

Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:

Encanto Pops, an ice cream/paleta shop at 831 W. Davis St. in Oak Cliff, is closing on November 18, after seven years. Owners Diana, Edith, Paola, and Aureliano Diaz announced their closure on Instagram, thanking their fans and encouraging them to stay connected on social media for any future endeavors.

Cooper's Meat Market & Steakhouse in West Dallas has closed the dining room but it's a temporary measure to prep for the Thanksgiving rush. A recording by the market says that "due to circumstances beond our control, our retail store is temporarily closed," but the commissary kitchen is open and fulfilling holiday orders. A spokesperson reassures that they will reopen on November 17. "We just have a larger amount of orders this year and we wanted to be 100% ready," the spokesperson says.

Shake Shack has opened a new location in Grand Prairie 1550 Mayfield Rd. It's the 24th location in Texas and the second drive thru Shack in DFW.

Twin Peaks opened a location in Plano at 3312 N. Central Expwy, which the company says aims to be the crown jewel of all DFW Twin Peaks. How exactly, they do not say. But the stats include: 130 TVs across more than 9,300 square feet, two bars, patio with cover, fans, and firepit. It's the 11th Twin Peaks in DFW, 33rd in Texas, and 104th systemwide.

Chick-fil-A opened a location in the Shops at RedBird in south Dallas, from franchisee Consuela Jacobs. It joins 144 other Chick-fil-A locations in DFW and is the 3000th location for the chain overall.

Golden Chick has a new location in Oak Cliff at 2510 W. Illinois Ave. - the 96th location in DFW and the 220th overall. It's owned and operated by Christopher Aslam, a long-time franchisee who owns seven other Golden Chick restaurants throughout Arlington, Dallas, Forest Hills and Grand Prairie.

Oomi Kitchen, the pickup/delivery concept at 3510 Ross Ave., has a new offering: Clucky's Damn Good Chicken, featuring chicken tenders, sandwiches, bowls, and wings. But they also have a quintet of "potato salads" consisting of fried potato curls - like thick curly fries - which you can order naked, with cheese sauce for $4; loaded with cheese sauce & bacon bits; Fiesta with cheese sauce, pico de gallo, rooster pico, avocado lime crema; or the top-priced $10 Bufalo with cheese sauce, oomi buffalo sauce, buttermilk ranch, blue cheese crumbles, and cool ranch fried onions.

Sandoitchi, the Japanese sandwich stand at 1604 Main St. in downtown Dallas, has reopened. They have new extended weekday hours: Wednesday-Friday 8 am-3 pm, Saturday-Sunday 11 am-4 pm. Also, a revamped menu with breakfast items including egg sandos with cheese, potato & cheese, and sausag & cheese, plus a loaded sandwich on a brioche bun, and avocado toast. Their lunch menu features nine sandos including eggplant katsu, plus chicken meat pie and a curry beef bun.

Alice Dallas, the Asian-inspired spot near downtown Dallas, has introduced a cool new dim sum menu being served on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The menu features pork ribs, lettuce wraps, garlic noodles, pork & shrimp dumplings, chicken dumplings, veggie dumplings, crab rangoon, crispy rice with hamachi & yuzu, and veggie spring rolls. It's $40 per person and it's all you can eat. Repeat: All-You-Can-Eat.

Crown Block has a new menu for fall including surf & turf bone marrow with braised short rib & lobster, plus seasonal desserts including pumpkin pie, apple-pear lattice, and sticky bourbon cake.

Margaret’s, the restaurant at the JW Marriott Dallas Arts District, has a new menu for fall. Highlights include: squash "dumplings," Chai-spiced pear burrata with pear compote, Texas quail cassoulet with pinto beans & leeks, Chilean sea bass with turnips and pumpkin puree, apple cider pancakes with candied pecans, and pumpkin soup served in a hollowed pumpkin and topped with crispy duck.

Coupes in The Shops at Highland Park has unveiled a new Sunday brunch menu served from 12-4 pm, featuring a Fizzy Fruit Bowl with carbonated & champagne fruits; waffle cut truffle Parmesan fries; avocado toast; crab croquettes; breakfast pie gratin with bacon & cheese; and bananas Foster French toast. Prices are $6 to $17. Specialty cocktails include peach, pear, pamplemousse, or raspberry Bellinis by the glass or flight of three.

True Food Kitchen has a three-course Holiday Tasting Tower for two available through New Year’s Eve for $30 featuring butternut squash soup, turkey meatballs, apple cranberry stuffing bites, charred cauliflower, and butternut squash pizza. A Holiday Meal for two is $75 and includes choice of meatloaf or salmon, cacio pepe, and choice of squash pie or egg nog crème brulee.

Commons Club at Virgin Dallas hote is hosting a family-style "Friendsgiving" menu with apple-kale salad, ham, choice of roast turkey with mashed potatoes or smoked mole turkey with tortillas, and pumpkin crunch or cranberry orange bar, plus 50 percent off select wines. It's $50 and it runs November 15-22 (but not on Thanksgiving Day) from 5-10 pm. 469-436-7150.

Melting Pot has a new over-the-top "Ultimate 5-Course experience" that ends with some wow. It starts with a Green Goddess and bacon-stuffed Tomato; then cheese fondue paired with new "Double Dippers" – first dip in the cheese fondue, then dip in one of six crunchy dippers: scallions, bacon, everything bagel seasoning, crispy pickle chips, beet sticks, and parmesan. Then salad, then entree from choice of filet mignon, teriyaki steak, chicken, shrimp, or lobster tail; then a smoking mountain of chocolate fondue with bundt cake, cotton candy, fireworks, and choice of Raspberry Dark Chocolate Fondue topped with Red Velvet Cake or Birthday Cake White Chocolate Fondue topped with Confetti Cake, served with sweet treats and fresh fruit, $93 for the whole shebang.

Fish City Grill and Half Shells are offering two chalkboard specials throughout November: blackened barramundi with blue cheese butter, caramelized onion, mashed potatoes, and red chili asparagus for $24; and Chipotle BBQ Salmon Tacos, with apple cider slaw, shredded romaine, cilantro, Cuban black beans, and rice for $16.

Dive Coastal Cuisine in Snider Plaza has amazing-sounding specials for November: butternut squash soup with candied pecans; seared scallops with forbidden rice, bok choy, & mint; Little Gem salad with walnuts, grapes, apples, in tarragon mustard yogurt dressing; and spaghetti squash with coconut milk and leeks.

Snowbird at the Star in Frisco has new menus featuring Peruvian and Argentinian dishes created by executive chef Walter Bandt including Peruvian ceviche, Causa Trilogy (a trilogy of potatoes paired with seafood), Wagyu tacos, hummus, chicken sliders; and entrees including Lomo Montado, an Argentinian dish featuring grilled zabuton with chimichurri, thyme-garlic French fries, and a poached egg; Lomo Salteado, a Peruvian dish featuring Wagyu steak stir-fried with onions and tomatoes, served with fries and white rice; and Mahi Mahi on roasted corn citric salad. Brunch features shakshuka (poached eggs in spicy tomato sauce), green chicken tamales, pork cochinita tamales, or Huevos Pericos, a Columbian-style dish with scrambled eggs, avocado, bacon, and an arepa.

Maple Street Biscuit Company has a limited time winter menu featuring French Toast biscuit with vanilla cream and maple syrup; BBQ pork, sausage, bacon, cheddar, egg, and potato; a peppermint mocha latte, a peppermint hot chocolate, and a mimosa with prosecco and cranberry juice. Keller, Richardson, and Frisco.

Blaze Pizza has a special pizza for November: the Naked Chicken Parm Pizza, made with a classic Italian flavor profile, including grilled chicken, sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, banana peppers, and basil. It's $9. Blaze has 11 locations around DFW including Dallas, Arlington, Fort Worth, Richardson, Mesquite, Rowlett, Irving, and Frisco.

Haystack Burgers has November specials including cheeseburger with fig jam, bacon, goat cheese, sauteed onions, and arugula; pimento cheeseburger with pepper pimento cheese, bacon, arugula, and chipotle mayo; tomato basil soup and grilled cheese; tomato basil soup; tomato basil soup and side salad; and a pumpkin spice shake. At all five locations in Preston Hollow, Richardson, Lakewood, Hillcrest, and Frisco.

Lazy Dog has a new menu featuring Bacon Cheddar Biscuits, Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Schnitzel with apple cider slaw & bacon potato salad, Pumpkin Cheesecake with chocolate sauce & toasted pumpkin seeds, S'more Brownie Sundae, Mountain Berry Pancakes with berry medley compote, Cuban sandwich with ham, pork, & Swiss cheese, Kid’s Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich on milk bread, and Shrimp Yakisoba Noodles Bowl. Beverages include a Blood Orange Margarita, Spiced Apple Smash with Rum, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, and Apple Cider, and a Mocha Martini.

Birdcall has a new seasonal salad: curry chicken salad with spinach, carrots, red cabbage, quinoa, and curry chicken in a curry-lime dressing. it replaces the kale-quinoa salad, which is sad. At Texas' two locations in Carrollton and Frisco.

Panda Express has teamed up with Hot Ones to introduce a new limited time dish: Blazing Bourbon Chicken, an exclusive spin on the classic Southern bourbon chicken, featuring chicken bites and fresh veggies wok-tossed in a spicy-sweet bourbon sauce alongside the Hot Ones Last Dab Apollo hot sauce. Available at 50 select Panda locations nationwide, including six locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, Grand Prairie, and Denton), through January 2.

Kenny’s Burger Joint has a new Brontosaurus Burger, features a half-pound burger topped with two pork ribs, bacon, brisket, cheddar, onion, pickle and chipotle mayo. It's $17 and available through the end of November at both locations in Plano and Frisco.

Denny’s has expanded its permanent menu with decadent new dishes including Brioche French Toast, Strawberry Stuffed French Toast, Sweet Cream Cold Brew, Hershey’s Chocolate Pancakes with cream cheese icing, Chicken Cobb Salad, Prime Rib Cobb Salad, Mama's Fried Chicken House Salad, Salmon Salad, and fried Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich with white cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and ranch dressing on grilled artisan bread.

Braum’s is all in with pimento cheese on two new menu items: Spicy Pimento Bacon Cheeseburger and Chicken Sandwiches, topped with Braum’s Pimento Cheese. You can also just order a side of the pimento cheese. They'll be available through the end of the year.

Yogurtland has brought back a favorite holiday flavor: White Chocolate Peppermint Froyo, made with real white chocolate and peppermint. They also have a limited-edition Churro Cookie Bites topping, which they recommend you combine together.

DQ restaurants in Texas have a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Pie Blizzard flavor for November, featuring soft-serve with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and graham.

Wendy's has a new frosty flavor: Peppermint Frosty, a replacement of its most recent seasonal flavor which was the pumpkin spice. The peppermint, which joins the chocolate Frosty, was first released in 2022, the first-ever holiday-flavored Frosty the chain introduced. It's just peppermint, not chocolate-peppermint; one review notes that it has a vanilla-peppermint vibe. There's a new companion item that debuted this year: Peppermint Frosty Cream Cold Brew featuring peppermint syrup swirled in smooth cold-brewed coffee with classic Frosty creamer over ice.

Gong Cha, the Taiwanese tea chain, has a new limited-edition Gingerbread Milk Tea featuring gingerbread spices, milk foam, and pearls. Available through December 31, it can be ordered hot, iced and in three collectible bingerbread person-shaped bottles, available at participating locations, while supplies last.

Tommy Bahama in Plano has two new seasonal cocktails, available through Decmber 31: The Festive Figgy and Partridge & Pear with rye, fig syrup infused with five spice, and bitters; and The Partridge & Pear, with gin, pear liqueur, cinnamon syrup, and pear puree.

Caked by Shef, a DFW baker, is offering Diwali boxes with Gulab Jaman Cheesecake, Badam Barfi Bark, Lemon Cardamom Sugar Cookies, and Chocolate Peda, for $55. They're available through the end of November. Order online or email cakedbysehf@gmail.com or call 651-283-0336.

Amanda Walker, founder of cottage bakery It’s a Cakewalk, recently competed on Food Network's The Big Bake, where she was part of a team that won $10,000 for baking a five-foot-tall holiday themed cake.

Loews Hotels in Arlington has appointed a new chef: Mouhssine “Moose” Benhamacht, previously executive chef at Live! By Loews – Arlington, to be chef at the new Loews Arlington Hotel and Convention Center which is slated to open in February 2024. Robert Carr will assume the role of Executive Chef at Live! By Loews – Arlington.