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    Deep Ellum News

    2 splashy restaurant concepts open side by side in Deep Ellum Dallas

    Teresa Gubbins
    May 5, 2025 | 9:01 am
    Ghost Donkey

    Ghost Donkey

    Ghost DOnkey

    Not one but two new restaurant-bars are opening in Deep Ellum. It's a sibling arrival from Flagship Restaurant Group, the Omaha-based hospitality company (Blue Sushi Sake Grill, Plank Provisions), located at 2625 Main St., in the former Braindead Brewing space.

    Ghost Donkey is a tequila and mezcal bar, with locations in Las Vegas, Auckland, Melbourne, Chicago, Phoenix, Denver, and Omaha. Right next door will be Palma, a Tex-Asian restaurant and bar with a lush, indoor-outdoor space.

    According to a release, they'll open on May 5.

    Ghost Donkey
    Mezcal and tequila bar will offer an extensive selection with agave-forward cocktails and zero-proof creations, garnished with florals. Highlights include:

    • Mushroom Margarita: Huitlacoche-infused Montelobos, Mezcal Espadín, Nixta licor de elote, agave, and lime
    • Burro Tropical: Terralta Blanco tequila, Uruapan Charanda blended rum, Chinola passion fruit, Calpico, and lemon
    • Highland Picnic: Koch Elemental Mezcal, Terralta Reposado tequila, yuzu, lime, agave, and egg white
    • Al Pastor (Zero-Proof): Pineapple, achiote, lime, taco seasoning, and cilantro
    • Lavender Sour (Zero-Proof): Lavender, yuzu, honey, and vanilla

    The food includes tacos and quesadillas ranging from the Chicken Tinga to Carne Asada and vegetarian Mushroom & Roasted Corn; plus shareable bites, or Antojitos, like Shrimp Ceviche, Guacamole, and Esquites. Nibbles, nachos, tacos, churros.

    Decor includes a life-sized donkey adorned in parade florals; neon, eccentric accents; and a sea of multi-colored ceiling lights, with a bar staff that shines as entertainers, Latin-inspired music, and a nightly light show featuring signature red twinkle lights that cast a glow.

    Palma
    Dallas will be the second location of Palma — the first is in Phoenix — with a lush interior, towering palm trees, a mural wall animated with digital graphics, and a skylight that fills the space with natural light. The indoor-outdoor layout opens onto a sprawling patio lined with fireplaces, fountains, and a canopy of potted and hanging plants, creating a transportive oasis.

    Rooted in Asian and Southwestern influences, Palma’s menu blends bold flavors with thoughtful presentation. Offerings include classic and specialty maki rolls, inventive shareables, party platters, main dishes, and desserts. Open for lunch, dinner, happy hour, and weekend brunch, Palma delivers an energetic dining experience set to a lively soundtrack, designed for gathering and staying awhile.

    The food is a hipster global mishmash, with everything from sushi to smash burgers to a banh mi cheesesteak, as follows:

    • Thai Curry Fries with chili mayo
    • Banh Mi Cheesesteak with Oaxaca cheese, kewpie mayo, pickled daikon, jalapeño, kimchi, and herbs
    • KFC Crispy Chicken Sandwich with pickled slaw, Korean aioli, and matcha chili crisp
    • Shrimp Curry Noodles with Chinese broccoli, vadouvan curry, red onion, and ginger-scallion sauce
    • Galbi Short Ribs with sticky rice, kimchi, crispy soft egg, pickled red cabbage, Korean aioli, and pineapple chili condiment
    • Ube Bingsu Sundae with shaved ice, white chocolate, coconut, sea salt, and strawberry compote
    • Five Spice Beignets with dulce de leche and sea salt
    • Honey Butter Crunch Pain Perdu with bananas foster, corn flakes, vanilla ice cream, and powdered sugar

    “Dallas has long been an important market for us, with Blue Sushi Sake Grill thriving in Uptown and Preston Hollow Village, and Plank Provisions growing in Fort Worth,” says Flagship CEO and co-owner Nick Hogan. “With Ghost Donkey and Palma, our goal was to bring concepts that feel fresh and transportive, yet still resonate with the energy of Deep Ellum. The neighborhood is known as one of the city’s most exciting culinary and cultural districts, and we saw an opportunity to contribute something new here. Both brands have built strong followings in other major cities, and we’re excited to see the Dallas community build a connection with them.”

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    Coming soon

    Downtown Dallas gets new modern Mexican spot with 'tacokase' twist

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Mar 25, 2026 | 2:46 pm
    Luna Roja
    Photo courtesy of Luna Roja
    Luna Roja translates to "red moon," as depicted in a striking mural in the dining room.

    A new "modern" Mexican restaurant is landing in downtown Dallas: Called Luna Roja, it will open at 1525 Elm St., near the AT&T Discovery District.

    According to a release, opening day will be Thursday, April 2. Luna Roja takes the space formerly occupied by Elm St. Cask & Kitchen inside the Hilton Garden Inn. A separate restaurant entrance that does not require diners to enter through the hotel is under construction.

    Translated as "red moon," Luna Roja promises to bring something fresh and new to the area: namely, a "tacokase" experience led by chef Omar Larson, they say. It's a fun taco-twist on omakase, one of the hottest dining trends in Dallas right now.

    Omakase is the dining experience in which the chef prepares a multicourse tasting menu of small bites made to order. While omakase has no set number of dishes, it usually ranges from 10 to 20 courses depending on how excessive the chef/restaurant is.

    "Luna Roja will introduce a tacokase experience, a chef-led tasting inspired by traditional Japanese omakase highlighting a curated progression of tacos and complementary flavors," the release says. "The experience is offered as a monthly activation, giving guests an opportunity to explore seasonal ingredients and specialty creations from the culinary team."

    Luna Roja A variety of dishes at Luna Roja.Photo courtesy of Luna Roja

    When diners at Luna Roja are not tacokase-ing, they can enjoy a menu that showcases regional Mexican flavors and fresh ingredients, with many dishes designed for sharing. The restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

    Lunchtime shareables include:

    • Shrimp and Scallop Aguachile with cucumber-radish salad, avocado purée, and spicy aguachile verde on a crispy tortilla
    • Street Corn Croquettes with cotija, jalapeño, fresh lime, and Tajín
    • Torta Luna: Bolillo roll with slow-cooked citrus pork, melted cheese, onion, cilantro, salsa verde, and avocado
    • Taqueria Smash Burger: Beef patties with Oaxaca cheese, poblano rajas, caramelized onions, Maggi burger sauce, lettuce, tomato, and pickle (served with fries)
    Larger plates served for dinner include:
    • Ancho Glazed Short Ribs with sweet potato purée and charred poblano relish
    • Chipotle Honey Glazed Half Chicken with charred poblano mashed potatoes, roasted carrot, onion escabeche, and charred lime
    • Carne Asada: 44 Ranch skirt steak with bean purée, enchilada guajillo sauce, and guacamole
    • Crispy Skin Salmon with black bean purée, salsa verde cruda, radish, lime oil, and microgreens
    • Seared Scallops with sweet corn purée, salsa macha, and charred scallion relish

    Weekend brunch will feature favorites such as Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Tostadas (layered with citrus-soy, chipotle aioli, salsa macha avocado, radish and cilantro); and Huevos en Purgatorio (with poached eggs simmered in chile de árbol tomato sauce and topped with cilantro, queso fresco, pickled red onions and radish, served with corn tortillas).

    A dedicated taqueria menu will feature heirloom corn masa tortillas filled with options like Al Pastor, Guajillo Shrimp, and Wild Mushrooms - with all the trimmings.

    The beverage program features more than 50 selections of tequila including blancos, reposados, añejos, extra añejos, mezcal, and sotol. Signature cocktails include the Mexican Mule “La Mula” with Milagro Silver tequila, ginger beer and lime; and the Spicy Mango Margarita with El Jimador Blanco Tequila, serrano, agave, mango, lime and tajin.

    Luna Roja The bar area, which looks out to the patio.Photo courtesy of Luna Roja

    Luna Roja's interiors aim to fuse contemporary Mexican design with traditional symbolisms. "Murals by FGIII Fine Art Productions, textured stone accents, and saturated colors evoke the spirit of Mexican heritage," the release says.
    There will also be a spacious bar, outdoor patio, and private dining space, they say - "creating a new gathering spot that reflects both the spirit of Mexico and the energy of downtown Dallas.

    Upon opening April 2, their entire operating schedule will be:

    Breakfast: 6 am-11 am Monday-Friday
    Lunch: 11 am-1:30 pm Monday-Friday
    Dinner: 4 pm-9 pm Sunday-Thursday / 4 pm-10 pm Friday-Saturday
    Brunch: 10 am-3 pm Saturday-Sunday
    Bar: Open-11 pm Sunday-Thursday / Open-12 am Friday-Saturday
    Happy Hour: 4-6 pm Monday-Friday

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