Opening News

Toyota Music Factory in Irving officially unveils 3 new restaurants

Jaxon burger

Jaxon

A trio of new restaurants have debuted at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, one of which is a familiar name: The live music and entertainment venue is now home to Jaxon Texas Kitchen, Shoals Smokehouse, and Pistil Cocktail Lounge, which have opened under the management of Hospitality Alliance, the restaurant group led by CEO Kevin Lillis (AT&T Discovery District, One Victory Park).

Toyota Music Factory opened in 2017, then underwent a renovation in 2024 that included upgrades to the outdoor stage, plaza, and storefronts of several tenant spaces. The renovation was completed in January 2025.

“We’re proud to be part of this iconic space and this vibrant community,” Lillis says in a statement. “There is nothing more enjoyable than hanging out with friends and family, listening to good music, having cold drinks, and eating great food, and we’re fortunate to be able to do that every day.”

These three new restaurants and bars were each designed by The Ferro Collective, and are all overseen by Chef Andrew Dilda, the acclaimed chef whose resume includes Reata and Lonesome Dove Western Bistro. The restaurants cover a variety of dining options: Southern classics at Jaxon, barbecue at Shoals Smokehouse, and craft cocktails at Pistil.

Jaxon Texas Kitchen 340 W Las Colinas Blvd. #110
Jaxon Texas Kitchen, which originally opened at the AT&T Discovery District and which was nominated for a CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Best New Restaurant in 2021, returns to DFW in a 10,000-square-foot, two-story destination for Southern hospitality. Open for lunch and dinner daily, the menu includes signature dishes plus elevated Southern dishes crafted by chef Dilda, with an honest and authentic approach to classic Texas dishes, emphasizing substance over style.

The menu includes fried green tomatoes, chicken-fried steak, a burger, shrimp & grits, and brick chicken.

Decor features a welcoming indoor/outdoor environment that incorporates Texas-inspired elements. Design highlights include a custom-built mixed media collage of Texas-born movie stars, antler-adorned beer taps, cactus terrariums at the entrnace, and earth-toned banquette seating.

Shoals Smokehouse 340 W Las Colinas Blvd. #120
Inspired by Muscle Shoals, the famed recording studio in Alabama, Shoals combines Texas barbecue, fried chicken, and the sounds of rock and blues for an atmosphere where food and music blend seamlessly.

The menu features smoked meats, fried chicken, and Southern sides, celebrate the flavors of the South. The restaurant has patio seating facing the outdoor plaza stage, a retractable glass wall that lets the backyard in, TVs throughout and a centrally located full bar.

Courtyard at Toyota Music FactoryTMF

Pistil Cocktail Lounge 340 W Las Colinas Blvd. #220
Developed and operated by Hospitality Alliance’s Beverage Director Angela Montesclaros, and considered the “sister” joint to Jaxon, Pistil is an evening-only cocktail bar featuring a blend of gothic western and wild west flair: a stylish hangout operated and designed by women for those looking for a place to kick up their boots — for cocktails, conversation, and barbecue.

Pistil offers a wine list with wines from renowned vineyards, including sustainable and woman-owned vineyards, as well as a food menu with small plates and seasonal dishes highlight Texas farms and ranches. A secluded garden provides cocktail ingredients and garnishes picked by the bar staff. Unique design elements include an elaborate stained-glass installation of a West Texas sunset.

openings

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.