An Asian fusion concept with locations around the world is coming to Dallas: Salvaje, a Japanese-Spanish fusion restaurant founded by international chef Fermin Azkue, will open on the ground floor of the 17Seventeen building at 1717 McKinney Ave., in the space previously occupied by chef Stephan Pyles' former restaurant Stampede 66, which closed in 2018.

The Dallas location has been in the works for more than a year but they're finally starting to make headway on construction, and according to a spokesperson, it will open in late 2024.

Azkue, who was born in Venezuela, worked in restaurants in Barcelona, France, Panama, and England, including Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London, before joining the first Salvaje location in Panama in 2018. They've since opened locations in Madrid, Dubai, Guatemala, Bogota, Al Khobar, Miami, and more, with one set to open in Mexico City this fall.

The menu is a hyper-creative mix of Japanese cuisine with Latin influences drawn from Azkue's experience, in dishes such as Salvaje's Japanese tacos, with a shell made from crispy nori, filled with wok-sautéed tenderloin steak, yuzu, and napa cabbage paste; and Mushroom Japanese Risotto, with Kushihikari rice infused with Japanese mushroom, finished with vegetables and beef demiglace.

In addition to a seasonally changing sushi and omakase menu, signature dishes include lobster dumplings and lamb shank with teriyaki sauce, crispy wonton, and brussel salsa kimchi.

There's sushi, a raw bar, a robata section of fire-grilled items like salmon and bluefin tuna belly, and three kinds of fried rice: duck fried rice, veggie fried rice, and fried rice with Wagyu beef. There is also that essential meal, brunch.

Prices are high, topping out at an amusing Australian Wagyu Tomahawk with wasabi chimichurri for $290; but the idea, as is often the case with these "vibe" places, is that you're here for a night out with drinks and shared dishes.

Cocktails are highly specialized such as the Salvaje colada featuring coconut liqueur, pandan and coconut syrup, pineapple, lime and coconut cream, for $22, and are served in whimsical vessels such as a skull cup and a horn. There's also wine, beer, sake, Japanese whisky, and mocktails.

No details yet on decor, but other locations feature a massive - as in nearly life-size - bronze rhinocerous sculpture hanging over the bar, as well as multiple rooms and experiences for the ever-restless millennial diner bored with sitting in one place. They promise fulfillment "for lovers of haute cuisine and the bold ones looking to go beyond the limits to enjoy a whole new experience of gastronomy and entertainment that truly raises the bar."

“We at Salvaje have put the quality of our food and nature of the ultimate guest experience, at the forefront of our brand,” Azkue said to the Miami New Times. “Since opening our doors in Latin America, Salvaje has become a must-visit restaurant for tourists and locals alike. Its success is a true testament to our teams’ hard work and ability to create an environment that people crave.”

The weird coincidence about the Dallas Salvaje taking a space that used to be a Stephan Pyles restaurant, is that Stephan Pyles also owned a restaurant just down the street on Ross Avenue called San Salvaje.