Chile News

Hatch chile invasion has hit these Dallas restaurants and shops

Hatch chile trio from Blue Mesa Grill

Blue Mesa Grill

August is here, and the annual onslaught of Hatch chiles has begun, as Dallas restaurants and markets pile up stores of the seasonal pepper that is a big favorite in Dallas and across Texas.

Grown on farms in the Hatch Valley of southwestern New Mexico’s Rio Grande region, Hatch chiles are picked, packed, and shipped in a single day, hitting shelves in as little as 24-hours after harvest. Their hot days and cool nights give the pepper a flavor all its own.

One of the cool things about Hatch chile season is its brevity. Not being able to have something whenever you want it makes it that much more special.

Here's where to find Hatch chiles around DFW:

Eatzi’s Market & Bakery
Specialty chain has a lineup of limited-time Hatch-infused offerings through August 7, as follows:

Hatch Cheddar Bread: Sourdough boule baked with roasted Hatch peppers and cheddar cheese
Chicken & Hatch Empanada: Chicken breast with roasted Hatch peppers and queso fresco tucked into a flaky crust
Beef Slider with Hatch Pimento Cheese on a silver dollar pan au lait roll, topped with roasted Hatch Chile pimento cheese spread
Hatch Corn & Bean Salad: Black beans, red beans, black-eyed peas, and Hatch peppers tossed in a spiced lemon vinaigrette

Kroger
Supermarket chain has its Private Selection Hatch Chiles, available for a limited time at all DFW locations. But they are also hosting roasting events beginning August 2 through August 24 on Saturday-Sunday from 11 am-5 pm, at these designated locations:

· 2592 South Loop 288, Denton
· 2671 Little Elm Parkway, Little Elm
· 4650 West University Drive, Prosper
· 1250 North Preston Road, Prosper
· 2935 Ridge Road, Rockwall
· 1801 North Lake Forest Drive, McKinney
· 5608 West FM 544, Wylie
· 2200 FM 663, Midlothian
· 2721 Sam Rayburn Highway, Melissa

Customers can find Hatch chile inspiration via Kroger's blog, the Fresh Lane, to try recipes like Roasted Hatch Chile Chicken Enchiladas, Cheddar Bacon Cornbread Biscuits, and Salsa Verde.

Roasted Hatch chileCentral Market

Central Market
Upscale grocery chain is celebrating the 30th anniversary of their Hatch Chile Pepper celebration from August 6–19, when they offer hundreds of Hatch specialty products, from baked goods and cheeses, to sauces, desserts, and more. New offerings in 2025 include:

Stuffed Hatch and Cheese Chicken Breast: Bacon-wrapped chicken breast stuffed with diced Hatch peppers, cream cheese, cheddar.
Skinny Dips Hatch Dip: Woman-owned and produced in California, this dairy-free, vegan dip is made with pepita and sunflower seeds, vinegar, and lime juice.
Hatch Pepper and Chicken Empanada: Dark and white chicken meat blended with Hatch chile purée, Monterey Jack cheese, and lime juice, all wrapped in a golden crust. Just bake and serve—no prep needed.
Hatch Chicken & Tomatillo Tamales: Roasted chicken, Hatch chiles, tomatillo, cilantro, and lime stuffed in soft masa and wrapped in a corn husk. Available in a 2-pack or 6-pack—perfect for sharing or savoring solo.

Blue Goose Cantina
Restaurant chain celebrates its 23rd Annual Hatch Chile Fest at all seven locations — Frisco, Plano, Highland Village, McKinney, Grapevine, Fort Worth, and Grand Prairie — with new dishes that include:

Hatch shrimp tacos - fried shrimp with Hatch pico, Hatch mayo & queso fresco
Chimichurri Steak – topped with Hatch Chimichurri sauce over grilled veggies
Watermelon Hatch Margarita – a refreshing twist on a spicy favorite
Huevos Stack (brunch-only available weekends 10 am–3 pm) — Three over medium eggs on a guajillo seasoned tortilla stack, stuffed with charro beans and queso fresco and topped with Hatch salsa and roasted Hatch chiles, served with potatoes

Hatch chile season and Blue Goose's special menu typically run from the beginning of August into September, depending on weather. Once the Hatch chile harvest has ended, Blue Goose Cantina ends its menu until next year.

Blue Mesa Grill
Southwestern chain is celebrating its 29th Annual Hatch Chile Festival — a long way since the early days when they would send a driver to Hatch, New Mexico, to fill a truck. This year’s specials will run through August or whenever the last crop comes in and include :

Fried Hatch Strips with ancho crema and poblano ranch
Hatch Crispy Mac and Cheese Balls
Santa Fe Stacked Chicken Enchiladas with an egg over easy
Hatch Cheese Relleno and Steak Taco Combo
Cajeta Swirl Hatch Brownie with vanilla ice cream and berries
Pineapple Hatch Margarita with grilled pineapple and Teremana Blanco Tequila

It'll take place at all three locations in Addison, Plano, and Fort Worth.

festivals

Closure News

Deep Ellum sushi tops 5 surprising restaurant closures in Dallas

Deep Sushi

In the cyclical world of Dallas restaurants, January is often a time for closures — not only because it's the beginning of a new year but also because the post-holiday lull, with all its New Year's resolutions and diets and dry spells, can make January a challenging month for business.

These five closures all come as a surprise: from a longtime location of a bakery chain to a BBQ startup to a veteran vegan spot. Two closures involve restaurants that have been open in Dallas — one in the Park Cities, the other in Deep Ellum — for decades.

Here are five sad closings that just occurred around Dallas:

Bread Winners Cafe & Bakery
Revered local cafe chain closed its location in Plano at 4021 Preston Rd. after 20 years. In a post on Instagram, the bakery said that their lease had come to an end, and they closed on December 24. The chain has three other locations: NorthPark Center, Allen, and the original on McKinney Avenue in Uptown Dallas.

Casa del Vegano
Popular vegan Mexican restaurant on Jefferson Avenue in Oak Cliff closed on January 2, after five years. On their Instagram post, they said that they fought hard to stay alive. "We pushed, adjusted, sacrificed, and held on as long as we could. Unfortunately, after falling two months behind and facing heavy fees and penalties, we reached a point where we could no longer continue," they said. They may offer some of their dishes at their more casual sister restaurant, Vegan Food House, also in Oak Cliff.

Deep Sushi
Longtime sushi restaurant in Deep Ellum has closed after 30 years — impressive for any restaurant, but especially in Deep Ellum. A notice on their website says "closed until further notice," but a spokesperson for the ownership confirmed that it has closed for good. Deep Sushi opened in 1996, just as the neighborhood was shifting from an underground rock nexus into a broader entertainment zone with restaurants and bars. It was founded by a group of physicians with sushi savvy, at a time when there were only a handful of sushi spots in the city. They engaged Tetsuji Yamaguchi, who had his own eponymous restaurant on Inwood Road, to consult on the menu, and for a few years, it was one of the hottest destinations in town.

New York Sub
Park Cities sandwich shop that's been open at 3411 Asbury St. across the street from SMU since 1974, is closing at the end of February. According to an Instagram post, owners Andrew and Edith Kelley were in the middle of negotiating another 10-year lease when their landlord sold the building. "While the new owners have been kind, we simply can’t make the new financial terms work," their post says. Their goal is to find a new location nearby or else find someone who wants to take over the shop.

Tejas Brisket Co.
Fast-casual BBQ takeout spot in East Dallas is closing its storefront at 1318 N. Peak St. Owners Tifany Swulius and Antonio Guevara gave it their all, including adding breakfast tacos, but to no avail. In a Facebook post, they said they were no longer able to continue to operate a storefront with their current hours -- not even after a tout in November in TX Monthly. They'll maintain a catering operation, and meanwhile will keep serving brisket until they run out, which they predict will be on or around January 16.

deep-ellum closings