Drive-Thru BBQ

Buzzy Ono Hawaiian BBQ chain from California says aloha to McKinney

Ono Hawaiian's second DFW location opens this week.

Photo courtesy of Ono Hawaiian

A popular Hawaiian barbecue chain from California is opening its newest eatery in McKinney: Ono Hawaiian BBQ, which made its Texas debut in Plano two months ago, will open at 4610 W. University Dr., Suite 110 on Friday, October 2.

McKinney marks the second of a slew of locations the company plans to open across North Texas.

Ono, which in Hawaii means "delicious," specializes in tried-and-true Hawaiian-style plate lunches, featuring grilled meats served with scoops of rice and macaroni salad.

Menu options include BBQ chicken, BBQ beef, kalbi short ribs, Island Fire Chicken, chicken katsu, and seafood dishes, plus Hawaiian favorites like Spam musubi. Food is freshly prepared, made from scratch daily in each restaurant, and grilled to order. Island flavors will be served through its drive-thru, dine-in, or takeout services.

The L.A.-based chain boasts some 130 locations throughout California and Arizona. They are just getting started in Texas, where locations are planned throughout Dallas-Fort Worth:

Burleson, at the intersection of Summerset and Southwest Wilshire Boulevard
Carrollton, 3328 E. Hebron Pkwy. #101, in a former Schlotzky's
Dallas, 6216 Retail Rd., in a former Del Taco at Skillman and Northwest Highway
Haltom City, 6360 N. Beach St., in a former Schlotzky's
Hurst, 1840 Precinct Line Rd., in a former Taco Cabana
Rowlett, 4510 Lakeview Pkwy., in a former Dairy Queen
Royse City, 506 W. Interstate 30, in a former Dairy Queen
Wylie, 2020 N. State Hwy 78, in a former Hwy 55 Burgers & Shakes

“We’re thrilled to continue building our presence in Texas and to welcome the McKinney community to Ono Hawaiian BBQ,” Joshua Liang, co-founder and CEO, said in a press release. “The response to our Plano opening has been incredibly encouraging, and we’re excited to bring the same food, hospitality and aloha spirit to McKinney.”

Guests attending the opening celebration in McKinney can enjoy buy-one-get-one offers all day, along with live Hawaiian dancing, Ono Hawaiian BBQ merch giveaways, and a special raffle featuring 25 $100 Ono promo cards.

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Sweet life

Dessert and wine pair up at new Bordeaux & Creme lounge coming to Plano

Photo by Sobremesa Studios

Bordeaux & Crème's Pistachio Romance features a Sicilian pistachio macaron layered with raspberry confit, pistachio ganache, fresh raspberry, and rose sugar.

A unique new lounge that gives wine and dessert equal billing is coming to Plano: Called Bordeaux & Creme, it will open this fall in The Shops at Legacy North, 5840 Legacy Circ., Ste. D165, joining notable neighbors including The Capital Grille and Seasons 52.

Noting that traditional wine bars often treat dessert as an afterthought, founder Shanice Williams says Bordeaux & Crème is designed around the pairing experience.

"Wine and dessert are often treated separately, but they're capable of creating something truly memorable when they're thoughtfully paired," Williams says in a release.

Her wine and dessert lounge will offer "curated wine flights, house-made desserts, table-side experiences, and an atmosphere designed for everything from date nights to celebrations with friends," she says. "Some of life's best conversations happen after dinner and there should be a space worthy of them."

The intimate, 1,426-square-foot lounge will seat about 40 guests. It will debut with approximately 30 wines by the glass and bottle, with plans to expand more selections. Williams says sparkling, white, rosé, and red wines, alongside curated wine flights, will encourage guests to discover and explore.

Desserts will be made in-house, seasonal, and created specifically with pairing in mind, she says. Among the offerings will be a brûlée cheesecake: a vanilla bean crème fraîche cheesecake layered atop a brown butter sablé and finished with a brûléed sugar crust and transparent sugar dome. It will be paired with a sweet wine, whose honeyed notes complement its rich, caramelized finish, the release says.

Another standout, the owner says, will be the Pistachio Romance: a Sicilian pistachio macaron layered with raspberry confit, pistachio ganache, fresh raspberry, and rose sugar. The dessert will be paired with a sparkling rosé wine, balancing fruit, texture, and freshness in a single experience.

“A glass of wine, something sweet, and music that sets the mood is an evening experience I always wanted but could never quite find," Williams says.

They're aiming for mid-November opening; updates will be posted on their Instagram page. Hours will be 4-10 pm Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, and 4 pm-midnight Friday-Saturday. The lounge will be closed Mondays.

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