Food Events Time

9 best (non-Valentine's) food and drink events in Dallas this week

Barbie Pop-up Cookie Truck is coming to DFW.

Sweet Loren's

Valentine's is here, and now's the time to make a date, with our list of best spots for the occasion here. Or maybe Galentine's Day, a time to celebrate gal pals, takes precedence - that list of celebrations is here. As for the rest of the week, save room for a tequila pairing dinner, a big chili cook-off, a farmers market debut, Barbie cookie truck tour, and two sip-and-stroll wine tasting events. Single and ready to mingle? There's a Valentine's night party just for you.

Monday, February 10

Girl Scout Cookie Pairing at Flying Saucer
The Cypress Waters location of Flying Saucer in Coppell brings back popular Girl Scout cookie-paired flights this week, Monday through Sunday. Enjoy the classic cookies with a flight of craft brews. Cost is $25 for four 5-ounce pours and paired cookies.

Thursday, February 13

Silk Art Sweethearts at Ellie’s
The terrace level restaurant inside Hall Arts Hotel invites ladies to sip rose and enjoy light bites while creating a custom silk scarf using marble art. The $60 price, plus tax and a small fee, including a glass of rose, hors d’oeuvres, and lesson by Dallas Silk Art plus the one-of-a-kind scarf. The event will run from 5:30–7:30 pm.

Friday, February 14

Stoplight Party at Scout
Mingle and meet new people during this interactive party at Scout inside The Statler hotel. But dress accordingly: attire is part of the game. Wear green if single, red if taken, and yellow if it’s complicated. The $10 ticket includes a stop light-themed specialty cocktail. The party will run from 8 pm–1 am.

Saturday, February 15

Barbie Pop-Up Cookie Truck
The iconic Barbie brand has teamed up with Sweet Loren’s, makers of allergen-friendly cookie dough and treats, to bring a decked-out cookie food truck to Dallas. The pink mobile will showcase Sweet Loren's pink heart-shaped cookie dough and give away free cookies plus a chance to win a year of free cookie dough. Find the truck Saturday at Whole Foods in Plano (2201 Preston Rd.) from 11 am-2 pm and at H-E-B in Plano (6001 Preston Rd.) from 4-7 pm. On Sunday the truck will visit Whole Foods in Addison (5100 Belt Line Rd.) from 11 am-2 pm and H-E-B in McKinney (8700 Eldorado Pkwy) from 4-7 pm.

Valentine's Chocolate & Wine Walk in Downtown McKinney
Tickets are going fast for this Valentine’s-themed sip-and-stroll around the square in historic downtown McKinney. Tickets start at $30, plus tax, good for 12 tastes of local wines plus a souvenir wine glass and a bonus taste at Lone Star Winery. The $35 tickets also includes a Lindt chocolate truffle to pair with each wine. Or pay $50 for 15 wines, 15 truffles, a VIP glass lanyard for hands-free shopping, plus a flexible check-in time. Non-VIP check-in times are 12 pm or 2:30 pm.

Texas Harvest Wine Tasting at the Dallas Farmers Market
Sip more than 20 wines from a dozen-plus Texas wineries at the Dallas Farmers Market. There’ll be live music, charcuterie boards for purchase, and a silent auction featuring winery gift baskets. A few participating wineries include Brennan Vineyards, OG Cellars, Bull Lion Ranch & Vineyards, and Lost Oak Winery. Tickets are $55 plus tax and fee, and the event will run from 1–4 pm.

Suerte Tequila Dinner at Cantina Laredo Addison
The Addison outlet of the modern Mexican chain will host a four-course tequila pairing dinner featuring cocktails by Suerte Tequila. Start with ceviche tostadas, asparagus soup, then choose between grilled redfish with red pepper salsa or ribeye with mushroom sauce before a dessert of apple crepes. The dinner is $79.99, plus tax and gratuity. Arrive by 7 pm for a Suerte Tequila flight during a cocktail reception.

Sunday, February 16

Lakewood Tower Farmers Market Opening Day
Shop fresh, local producer-only vendors, including farmers, ranchers, bakers, and makers during the first day of Lakewood Tower’s Farmers Market. The market is located at 6301 Gaston Ave. and will run from 9 am–1 pm.

Great Bowls of Fire Chili Cook-Off at Stan’s Blue Note
The 13th annual event will award cash prizes to chili cook-off winners in two categories: people’s choice and judges’ choice. Entry is $25 and chilis can be of any variety, from beef and beans to vegetarian. Guests can pay $10 to judge all entries. A Busch Light draft is included in both the judging fee and the entry fee. The event will run from 2–6 pm and proceeds will benefit Foundation 45 mental health awareness group.

event-planner

Best Happy Hours

Where to drink in Dallas right now: 5 special happy hours for September

Malai Kitchen

This is a most distinguished edition of Where to Drink, CultureMap's monthly column bringing news of the best happy hours around. Distinguished, because these aren't just the cheapest deals. These happy hours are all a little extra, whether it's gourmet chef-driven food, unique location, or a special Korean twist.

Here are the best happy hour destinations for September 2026:

Cipher Lounge
Unique new entertainment venue and lounge in downtown McKinney is an escape room-plus-restaurant and bar, combining food, cocktails, and escape-room experiences under one roof. The Cipher Lounge is not your typical bar or escape room. The lounge boasts a sophisticated atmosphere with craft cocktails and upscale bites. You can stop in before or after the escape room, but you can also just come in for food and drink. And fortunately, they do a happy hour Wednesday-Friday from 2-6 pm with $3 off flatbreads & dips, $3 off well cocktails, $2 off domestic beers, and $1 off import and craft beers.

Malai Kitchen
Small local chain specializing in southeast Asian cuisine is a perennial, with four locations including the original at West Village in Uptown Dallas. They recently expanded their already generous happy hour with more to eat and more to drink, still with the same scratch-made kitchen behind all of it. Signature cocktails are $4 off. Their celebrated house-brewed beer is $6, and their happy hour wines are a cut above: Aveleda Vinho Verde white from Portugal, and Vina Eguia Tempranillo red from Spain, $8 per glass. Bites are $8 or two for $15 including Vietnamese meatballs, cucumber salad, shishito peppers, grilled satay, fried imperial rolls, spicy edamame, Thai chicken wings, and potstickers. Hours are Monday-Friday 3-6 pm, and all day Sunday.

Nuri Steakhouse
Korean steakhouse in Uptown recently launched "Geonbae Hour," its elevated take on happy hour, inspired by the Korean tradition of “Geonbae,” meaning cheers. Featured bites include oysters, bulgogi beef tacos, steak tartare cigar, and truffle popcorn, $7 to $9, plus a Wagyu burger with kimchi-glazed bacon and white cheddar for $20. Drinks include their unique renditions of classic drinks like an old-fashioned, margarita, and negroni for $10; plus beer, wine, and soju, the Korean spirit. It's offered Monday-Thursday 4- 6 pm and all day Sunday.

Two Hands
Australian-style all-day cafe founded in New York, which opened a location at The Quad in 2025, has what it calls a "snacky hour," which is short and to the point: a smashburger for $10, plus $10 cocktails, $3 off glasses of wine (including red, white, and sparkling), and $5 draft beer. Cocktails include martinis (dry or dirty), espresso martini, margarita, aperol spritz, old-fashioned, Negroni, and bloody Mary.

Written By the Seasons
Chef-driven concept has two locations in Dallas: Bishop Arts and The Quad. Both host an admirable happy hour 3:30-5 pm Monday-Saturday, with half-off on bottles of wine and significant snacks, including some of their signature dishes. There are smoked Texas pecans, cheese & charcuterie board, boquerones with arugula & crostini, mutabal (the middle-Eastern eggplant dip) with olives and crispy flatbread, and their acclaimed kimchi pancakes, priced from $5 to $12. There's also a burger with American cheese, and a veggie sandwich with cucumber, avocado, daikon sprouts, and shaved carrots on wheat — both $18.

happy-hours cocktails lists bests where-drink