This episode of Dallas restaurant news is filled with little bites, ranging from new bakeries, limited-edition dishes, new brunch, Girl Scout cookies, and an eye-catching doughnut from a beloved Texas chain.
Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:
Paris Baguette, the buzzy Korean bakery chain, is opening a location in Allen, at 824 W. Stacy Rd. #800, taking over the former Liberty Burger space, on the same corner of US-75 and Stacy Road as the premium outlets. Their menu includes cakes, pastries, croissants, cookies, breads, baguettes, doughnuts both regular filled and mochi-style, and croissants, many with rich and creamy fillings. They also have a cafe menu with sandwiches, salads, soup, and quiche, plus coffee drinks. Founded in 1988, Paris Baguette has more than 3,600 stores in South Korea, and 150-plus locations in 30 U.S. states, including Lewisville, Grand Prairie, Caarrollton, Coppell, Austin, and Houston.
85 Degree Bakery and Cafe, the buzzy Taiwanese chain, is opening a location at Asia Times Square in Grand Prairie. Known for its exotic lineup of breads and sweets, featuring items like milk buns, brioche, croissants, cookies, and pastries, the chain was founded in 2003, then debuted in the U.S. in 2008 and has become a global bakery loved worldwide. This is the fifth location in the area, following Carrollton, Plano, Richardson, and Frisco. There was also a location in Fort Worth on West 7th, but it has closed. Grand Prairie is anticipated to open in the spring.
Miruku Creamery + Cafe has a special for the month of January: Coco Mango, a spinoff of the Thai dessert, mango sticky rice, featuring coconut ice cream, fresh mango, sticky rice, coconut pandan sauce, and Rice Krispies. It's like an exotic tropical sundae.
Shipley Do-Nuts has introduced its first-ever systemwide limited-time doughnut - made with freeze-dried Skittles, available now at all Dallas and the 350+ Shipley locations nationwide through March 31, or while supplies last. Shipley Do-Nuts is the first brand in the U.S. to feature the freeze-dried Skittles. It's a classic yeast doughnut with strawberry or cherry icing, topped with tangy, fruity freeze-dried Skittles bringing a light yet crunchy texture to the famed hexagon-shaped Shipley doughnut known for its fluffiness.
Shipley's Do-Nut topped with SkittlesShipley's
Mendocino Farms is kicking off the new year with limited time entrées including Fable, the mushroom-based meat alternative, making Mendocino Farms the first fast-casual brand in the U.S. to offer it on its menu. In partnership with Fable, Mendo has created a plant-based Philly Shroomsteak Sandwich, with meaty Fable shiitake steak, red pepper, onions, choice of hot or mild giardiniera, plant-based American cheese and green peppercorn aioli on a toasted sesame roll. Other new dishes include The Farmer’s Market Pesto Salad with Romaine and mixed greens, mozzarella, marinated peppers, kumato tomatoes, carrots, red onions, and honey roasted almonds in basil pesto vinaigrette; Thai Sweet Potato Soup; Turkey Sausage & Kale Soup; Spicy Dijon Potato Salad; and Chopped Italian Chickpea Salad.
Aw Shucks and Big Shucks Oyster Bar will be offering a weekly grilled tilapia special, featuring two fillets with rice and vegetable medley for $9, available on Fridays from February 16 through March 29. They'll also have soups: Maria's Clam Chowder, a New England-style chowder topped with bacon and parsley, or Caldo de Mariscos, a fish and head-on shrimp concoction with vegetables in a spicy broth. At all locations in Dallas, Richardson, Lewisville, and Frisco.
Yogurtland has limited-edition items to celebrate the season of love: the new Chocolate Hazelnut Lava Cake froyo made with real roasted hazelnuts and molten chocolate; the return of Chocolate Covered Strawberry froyo, inspired by the classic treat of milk chocolate-dipped strawberries; and Sour Gummy Hearts, a seasonal topping.
Del Sur Tacos, the small local taqueria chain founded by Ismael Sanchez, with locations in Oak Cliff and McKinney, has begun to expand its offerings. This includes a new brunch they are serving at the Oak Cliff location on Saturdays and Sundays with not only their excellent tacos but also waffles and other brunch specialties. And at the original location in McKinney, they've extended their hours until 7 pm.
BarNone has new limited time menu items: wings in a variety of sauces, an excessive BLT with more than 1/3 pound of bacon plus American and Swiss cheese, Jennifer’s Salad with spinach, Romaine, avocado, red pepper, garlic mushrooms, eggs, strawberries, and sesame parmesan crisps with house-made buttermilk pesto; chili, solo or on a chili dog or chili cheese fries, calamari, and baked beans. Friday-Sunday, there's Todd’s Sunday Gravy and the Gigaton sandwich, a large Italian loaf stuffed with Sunday Gravy, provolone, and Romano cheese. Plus sausage gravy on toasted white bread, and a frittata, at weekend brunch.
Seasons 52, the grill and wine bar where everything on the menu is under 595 calories, has two seasonal, low-calorie mocktails during January: Citrus Sparkling Refresher featuring Seedlip Grove 42 (a citrus blend of Mediterranean orange, lemon peel, lemongrass, and ginger), blood orange puree, soda water and rosemary; and Botanical Smash with Seedlip Garden 108 (an herbal blend of peas, rosemary, thyme, and spearmint), white cranberry juice, cucumber, lime and soda water. Sadly, the Dallas location was given the heave-ho by NorthPark Center, but there's still a Seasons 52 in Plano.
The Mexican in Dallas was named one of the World's Most Beautiful Restaurants by Prix Versailles – the prestigious World Architecture and Design Award at UNESCO. This recognition highlights The Mexican's eloquent design, inspired by Monterrey, Mexico. The interiors were designed by Paulina Moran, Cancun-based designer who has garnered national recognition throughout Latin America and abroad for her transformative design styles.
Toasted Walnut Cafe, a bistro in downtown Celina open for lunch and dinner serving Southern comfort food, said goodbye to co-founder chef Joey Dawkins, who has taken a new gig which they do not reveal, although there's a hint he's going to Forge, another restaurant in Celina. Dawkins started Toasted Walnut Cafe on his own, but at its current location, Toasted Walnut was conceived by an ownership group who designed and opened the restaurant and are still involved today.
Girl Scout Cookie season in Northeast Texas us underway, with cookies available through February 25. You can get them from a registered Girl Scout as well as online Use the Girl Scout Cookie Finder to locate a nearby booth and support local Girl Scout troops. The cookies are being sold at the same price despite changes in our 32 counties. Little Brownie Bakers produces kosher and halal-certified cookies for the Northeast Texas Council with no high-fructose corn syrup or trans fat. This year, the cookies have also inspired beverages at two local outlets: cocktails at Sweet Tooth Hotel in downtown Dallas; and milkshakes at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer in Victory Park.
