Best Happy Hours

Where to drink in Dallas right now: 5 spirited happy hours for November

Happy hour at Capital Grille.

Photo courtesy of Capital Grille

As the weather finally turns crisp, Dallas bars and restaurants are serving up new reasons to raise a glass this November.

This edition of Where to Drink, our monthly roundup of the best bar specials, spotlights five Dallas-area restaurants and bars that are blending sophistication with holiday cheer. Whether you’re chasing happy hour deals, sipping something seasonal, or getting into the spirit(s) at a festive pop-up, here’s where to drink in Dallas this month:

The Capital Grille
The day has finally arrived: This upscale steakhouse chain has debuted its very first happy hour, Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm in the lounge. Bites ranging from $6-$9 include sliced Kona-crusted dry aged NY strip, porcini-rubbed lollipop lamb chops, oysters Casino, Caesar salad bites, and mushroom truffle arancini. Wines by the glass are $8 and cocktails are $10, including the Greyhound Martini with grapefruit and basil, Straight Up Martini with hand-stuffed bleu cheese olives, and Peach Bourbon Smash. It's available at all DFW locations: Uptown Dallas, Plano, Southlake, and Fort Worth.

The Dream Taco by Chetra
Chef-driven taco concept has unveiled a serious new daily happy hour from 3-6 pm, plus Friday-Saturday 8-10 pm, with half-off cocktails and beer, including old-fashioneds, frozen margaritas, lemon drop martinis, and lychee martinis. The half-off also extends to their most popular tacos: bulgogi Korean BBQ regularly $8.39, now $4.20. Fajita chicken regularly $7.34, now $3.65. Catfish regularly $7.61, now $3.80. Plus supreme beef nachos, regularly $15.74, now $7.87. They have two locations: Plano and Lewisville.

Ford's Garage Plano
The vintage car-themed burger-and-craft-beer concept inspired by Henry Ford himself is bringing big value to afternoons at its location in Plano with a new happy hour. Available Monday through Friday from 2-6 pm, and all day Saturday and Sunday, it featuring drafts and drinks starting at $4 and food specials starting at $6. For $10, you can get a 16 oz. draft beer or non-alcoholic beverage and your choice of the Woodward burger, the pulled pork sandwich, or the crispy chicken sandwich.

Ocean Prime Dallas
The swanky steak and seafood restaurant is taking a cue from the TV show Somebody, Somewhere and launching Tiny Tini’s, a selection of miniature martinis at a tiny price. From 4-6 pm daily in the lounge, guests can enjoy any of Ocean Prime’s signature cocktails as a Tiny Tini for $5, served solo or customized as a personalized flight of three for $15. The tiny sips can be paired with new petite lounge menu offerings priced at $5 each, including single fish tacos, two miniature crab cakes, single Prime beef sliders, two goat cheese raviolis, and a 1/4 order of Point Judith calamari.

Ojos Locos Sports Cantina
There's no such thing as too much of a good thing at this Dallas-founded, Latino-focused sports cantina, which boasts a whole roster of daily drink specials in addition to a regular happy hour. The list is long, so here are some highlights: $2 Shorty house margaritas on Thursdays, $5 Palomas on Mondays, $10 buckets of 6 Shiners on Thursdays, and $10 Corona-ritas on Sundays. For happy hora, which happens Monday through Friday from 2-7 pm, expect — and this is just a partial list — $1 off draft and bottled beer, half-off Paleta shots, and discounted balónes, the restaurant's signature soccer ball-shaped beer towers.

capital grille cocktails fords garage plano happy hora happy hour happy hours ocean prime dallas ojos locos sports cantina omni holiday bar tiny tinis where to drink

Ramen News

Dallas' acclaimed Ten Ramen to open in Cru Wine spot in West Village

Ten Ramen

A highly acclaimed ramen spot is coming to Dallas' West Village: Ten Ramen, one of Dallas' most celebrated ramen spots, will open a location in the former Cru Wine Bar space at 3699 McKinney Ave. #107. According to a release, it'll open in spring 2026.

In other news, the concept was acquired by Vandelay Companies (Hudson House, Jack & Harry's, East Hamption Sandwich Co., El Molino), led by CEO Hunter Pond, who counts himself a big Ten Ramen fan.

“I’ve been a longtime fan of who is arguably one of Texas’ most respected chefs — founder and creator Teiichi Sakurai — and what Ten Ramen embodies,” says Pond.

Vandelay also owns Tei An, the award-winning authentic Japanese restaurant and Ten Ramen sibling which Sakurai opened at One Arts Plaza in 2008.

Ten Ramen debuted in March 2015 at the Sylvan | Thirty mixed-use project in West Dallas — a pioneering concept at the time which quickly earned a devoted following with its tiny 10-seat setup and uncompromisingly authentic flavors.

At the time, it was a ground-breaking concept for Dallas and is still one of the most beloved ramen spots in the city. Diners flocked to wait in long lines for its menu of Mazemen, Shoyu, Tonkotsu, and Lobster Ramen — recipes that will remain intact, Pond says.

“We haven’t touched the recipes, they’re perfect just as they are,” he says. “After many months under our ownership already, it remains clear that the magic is in the food, the service, and the experience. Our goal with this new location is simple: bring what we feel is the best ramen in Dallas to more people, in a space that feels both fresh and familiar.”

Ooooooh, so Vandelay has owned it for many months. Well well well.

“When the opportunity came to bring this incredible concept into our family of restaurants, I jumped at it," Pond says.

He's the one shepherding it into the West Village — a location he says will give more diners the chance to experience the concept.

The new 1,480-square-foot space will be a fresh take on the Ten Ramen experience, with a full-service bar that seats 7, and an intimate dining room seating 28 — versus the impromptu stand-up situation at Sylvan Thirty.

Their goal is to make a space that feels approachable and lively while staying true to the dishes that made Ten Ramen a local favorite.

openings