More Masa

Pop-up sensation Molino Olōyō ready to debut restaurant in East Dallas

Some of the striking dishes as Olōyō.

Photo by Dan Padgett

A highly anticipated new restaurant from favorite Dallas pop-up Molino Olōyō has set an opening date - and it's soon: Olōyō will open as a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Old East Dallas on Tuesday, May 26, according to a release.

The restaurant, from acclaimed chef Olivia López and partner Jonathan Percival, is located at 4422 Gaston Ave. in the space previously occupied by the restaurant Cry Wolf.

Announced nearly a year ago, it will be the brick-and-mortar debut of the masa-obsessed concept that's built a cult-following through pop-ups, private dinners, and collaborations across Dallas.

According to the release, Olōyō will be an intimate 23-seat restaurant will center on heirloom masa, featuring seasonal produce from Texas-based ranches and sustainably sourced seafood.

Founded by James Beard Award semifinalist López and Percival, Molino Olōyō has earned national attention for its use of heirloom Mexican corn and was included in Texas Monthly's Top 50 Tacos list.

"The name, Olōyō, meaning 'cob of the corn,' symbolizes the heart that connects all kernels and embodies the brand’s mission to honor producers, preserve heirloom corn varieties, and showcase Mexican gastronomy," the owners say in the release.

Oloyo's Olivia Lopez and Jonathan Percival at work. Molino Oloyo

“We designed Olōyō to be a space where guests can fully engage all their senses, discover new flavors, and connect with the stories behind the food,” López adds. “From hand-pressed tortillas to the flavors on the plate, every dish is meant to make people feel a deep sense of home.”

The restaurant will debut with a rotating à la carte menu before introducing a chef's tasting menu. Opening dishes include:

Sope Gordo — heirloom masa sope with Rosewood Ranches wagyu brisket, bayo beans, and kohlrabi
Enmoladas — tortillas with mole dulce de Colima, lacto-fermented honey, and housemade queso fresco
Pescado Asado — grilled vermilion snapper with salsa cruda, tortillas, and tostaditas
Pulpo Asado — grilled octopus with papas al ajillo, salsa, and tortillas

The beverage program is led by beverage director Jose Gonzalez and draws inspiration from different regions of Mexico. Cocktails include:

Jefa — tequila with hibiscus and chile de árbol
Latino Heat — a smoky-spicy take on a Paloma
Para de Sufrir — a Colima-inspired white Negroni
Agua Picada — a horchata-inspired rum cocktail with toasted rice and cinnamon

Lopez has worked in some of Dallas' premier kitchens, starting out at Craft Dallas, the onetime restaurant at the W Hotel, then through the ranks of Charlie Palmer's, CBD Provisions, Mirador, and Americana. She earned a CultureMap Tastemaker Awards nomination in 2021 for Rising Star Chef, and again for Chef of the Year in 2026. She was a James Beard Award semifinalist for "Best Chef: Texas" in 2023.

In 2021, she and Percival launched out of a commercial kitchen in Dallas' Design District, following their passion for heirloom corn, delving into nixtamalization, the ancient art of processing corn, in an effort to make a higher-quality version of the masa used in Mexican staples such as tortillas and tamales.

Molino Oloyo The chef-owners have a passion for heirloom corn.Photo by Elizabeth Lavin

What started as tamales and heirloom corn tortillas delivered to doorsteps evolved into pop-ups at Wayward Coffee Co. and Strangeways; restaurant takeovers at Mot Hai Ba; and dinners at Lone Gallery, Marcello Andres Ceramics, and private homes.

Olōyō has now settled permanently into a 101-year-old building in Old East Dallas. The space incorporates Mexican artwork, handmade tile, custom ceramics, and hand-blown glassware from Mexican artisans.

But wait, there's more.

A second concept, Molino Olōyō, is expected to open next door later in 2026. The more casual restaurant will serve items such as wagyu suadero tacos, camarones zarandeados, and churros, the release says.

"Together, the dual concepts allow guests to experience both a refined, curated menu and more relaxed, everyday Mexican comforts, reflecting the brand’s commitment to craftsmanship, accessibility and community," the owners say in the release.

First things first: Olōyō opens May 26. Reservations will be available on Resy beginning Saturday, May 23 at 10 am.

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Teresa Gubbins contributed to this story.

tex-mex openings east dallas chefs pop-ups mexican cuisine

Benedict News

West End Dallas breakfast favorite Ellen's makes sudden comeback

Ellen's

Ellen's Southern Kitchen will return

A beloved breakfast spot in downtown Dallas is making a surprise comeback: Ellen's Southern Kitchen, the all-day restaurant concept founded in Dallas in 2012, is reopening its original location in downtown's West End.

According to founder Joe Groves, the restaurant, located at 1790 N. Record St., will open in June, following a "temporary" closure that lasted nearly two years.

The restaurant will reopen with the same hours, menu, and down-to-earth personality, serving breakfast, brunch, and Southern comfort food such as chicken-fried steak, fried catfish, meatloaf, shrimp & grits, and macaroni & cheese.

"We're still going to be the same — but better," Groves says. "We've kept the same management team, and we're thrilled that some of our waiters and bartenders and familiar faces are coming back. We're not taking anything for granted."

Groves is a voluble sort who disappeared from public view, due to landlord lawsuits that have since been resolved.

"There were two years of silence, we didn't know if we were going to be able to reopen or not," he says.

Named in honor of Groves' mother, Ellen's made its debut in 2012 with a special focus on breakfast — pre-dating the explosion of breakfast-and-brunch concepts that have opened across DFW in recent years.

Opening at time when the West End was on the upswing, Ellen's drew tourists, conventioneers, and downtown residents, with its menu of steak & eggs, migas, huevos rancheros, and Ellen's omelet with spinach, bacon, strawberries, mushrooms, and bleu cheese, served with toast and hash browns.

Signature dishes include pancake pot pie, a layered creation with pancakes, maple cream sausage gravy, bacon, sausage, hash browns, scrambled eggs, and cheddar cheese; and benedicts in eight options including Cajun shrimp benedict and crab cake benedict.

They were open for lunch and dinner hours as well, with a full bar. Groves' mischievous charm earned a following of its own, with stunts like his fearless 2018 run-in with the NRA in which he advocated for gun regulations during the organization's convention.

Bolstered by their success in the West End, Groves and his partners Andrew Chooljian and Russell Mertz went into what Groves calls "aggressive expansion mode," opening locations in Casa Linda and Allen, with plans for more. Casa Linda remains open; Allen closed in 2023. (They also opened Jack Ruby's, a restaurant-bar in the West End, which is thriving.)

But their momentum was derailed when one of their main financiers hit a wall. They closed the West End location temporarily, but the New York-based landlord at the time locked them out, spurring a domino effect with their other landlords, as well.

The building at 1701 N. Market St. where Ellen's resides has since been acquired by Five Smooth Stones, the development company owned by Owen Hannay, a longtime proponent of the neighborhood. He's working with Groves and company to get it back open.

"I've known Joe for a long time, and feel like Ellen's has always been such a great draw for the West End," Hannay says. "We're delighted that it's reopening and that we're able to get it going so quickly."

Once Groves and his staff were able to get back inside the beloved location, they found a time capsule — a romantic concept but one that also called for updates to the furniture, AC, and kitchen gear.

"After a couple years away, those holes in the upholstery became more obvious, and some of the kitchen equipment needed to be replaced," he says.

Ellen's reopening will restore breakfast and brunch to the West End, and Groves says they also hope it will bring them back to where they started.

"We have a big hole to dig out of — we want every vendor and individual we still owe to be fully paid," he says. "Reopening finally gives us hope for that."

"Ellen is my mom, this is our home location, and I've always felt a personal connection to the West End," he says. "I want the legacy of Ellen's to continue."

openings downtown west end