It may be mid-August but this roundup of dining news around Dallas does not lack for dish. There are quite a few openings, a closure or two, some new menus, limited-edition items, new brunch, vegan tidbits, and chef news.

Here's what's happening in Dallas restaurant news:

Imura Sushi & Robata is a new Asian restaurant that opened in Frisco at 8050 Preston Rd #106, in a former tech repair shop, where it's specializing in sushi and robata, aka robatayaki, referring to a method of cooking similar to barbecue, in which items of food on skewers are slow-grilled over hot charcoal. The menu includes two dozen appetizers, salads, two dozen sushi rolls, plus "rice-less" rolls, plus deep-fried rolls, plus noodle dishes, plus entrees such as chicken teriyaki and chicken katsu bowl, plus plus the robata skewers. They are cooked at a high temperature over bincho white oak charcoal, for an experience that is odorless and with little smoke or flame. The interior features cozy, high-backed booths and open seating, with lots of woods and natural materials.

SizzleIt, an Asian-fusion restaurant that served its dishes on a sizzling fajitas-like platter, has closed. "It is great sadness to inform that SizzleIt's last day of operation will be this Friday 8/11 due to personal matters beyond our control. We'd like to thank all of our patrons for their continued support since our opening in late 2019. We hope we can re-open again in the near future," they posted on their Facebook page. It opened at not the best of times, at the very start of the pandemic, by Anthony Tseng, a UTD graduate and young entrepreneur who was inspired by a similar concept he saw in Japan.

Marco’s Pizza, the national chain, is opening a location in Cedar Hill at 425 E. Pleasant Run Rd, on August 21. It's from Hoogland Restaurant Group, Marco’s Pizza’s largest franchisee. Dough is made onsite, they use three cheeses, and have a secret original pizza sauce recipe from founder Pasquale "Pat" Giammarco. Marco's is the first national pizza delivery brand to offer Specialty Pizza Bowls – a crustless pizza option. Is it really pizza without a crust?

Spin! Pizza opened a location in Frisco on August 2 in a new center at 4387 Main St. Their signature is hand-tossed pizza, with toppings ranging from pepperoni to pesto chicken, available in 7-, 12-, and 14-inch sizes; plus salads and sandwiches including deli-style and panini. This is the 16th location in the U.S. for the Kansas-based chain, and the second in the Dallas-Fort Worth area; the other is in Richardson on Campbell Road.

Slim Chickens, the chain with chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, salads, wraps, and chicken & waffles, opened a location in Little Elm at 750 Union Pl. on August 10. It's from Ali Poonja, who already owns locations of Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Subway with his son, Faisal. There are currently six Slim Chickens in the DFW area unless you count Weatherford in which case there are seven.

Dillas Quesadillas, the Dallas fast-casual restaurant chain, is opening its eighth location and its fifth in DFW in Forney, at 303 Marketplace Blvd. The menu includes Gorilla Fries, Gorilla Chips, and the Not-A-Dilla Salad.

Meridian at The Village has a new a la carte menu plus a chef's tasting option, an extension of the fixed-price menu Meridian debuted earlier this year to allow guests to embark on a culinary journey and experience a wide range of Brazilian flavors.

LVI at The Statler has a new menu featuring an exceptional bread board with sweet potato mini loaf or sourdough bread plus spreads such as Castelvetrano olive tapenade or whipped ricotta with truffle honey and fennel pollen. New starters include salmon croustades, scallop crudo, and spicy beef empanadas with red pepper aioli. Main dishes include miso yuzu glazed black cod with carrot ginger puree and sugar snap peas; and a lemon and Champagne risotto with shrimp. Sides include Parmesan truffle fries and roasted garlic pommes puree.

The Finch has rolled out a new lunch menu, served from 11 am-4 pm featuring Wagyu pastrami sandwich, A-5 Wagyu beef potstickers, Szchechuan popcorn chicken, French onion soup with swiss & havarti, tempura calamari, salmon with cauliflower rice, and a 44 farms double smash burger. Jewel beets salad has spinach, pickled grapes, almonds, & goat cheese. Chicken cordon bleu sandwich has chicken breast, ham, swiss, maple dijonaise, and pickles on an onion bun. Hot honey pizza has spicy soppressata, caramelized onions & nduja marmalade. Plus sides including crispy Brussels and port salut mac & cheese.

North Italia has launched a three-course prix fixe brunch with choices from Banana Coffee Cake, Sicilian Meatball, Charcuterie, Cannoli French Toast with ricotta, mascarpone, chocolate pearls, pistachio; Farmer's Market Scramble with asparagus, piquillo pepper, spinach, cipollini, English pea, and grana Padano; plus hashes, pasta, pizza, salted caramel budino, and Italian doughnuts. Available through August for $35 per person.

Weinberger's Deli, the Grapevine sandwich shop known for its authentic sub sandwiches, is expanding its vegetarian selections. They brought in a plant-based chicken which is a very convincing fake, and are using it in new offerings such as the Buffalo Chicken sandwich with melted provolone, shredded lettuce, cucumber, tomato, on a garlic toasted baguette. "If you’d like to cut the heat ask for a side of Ranch dressing," they recommend.

Birdcall is now serving a mouth-watering Crispy Cutlet sandwich featuring Meati’s 100% animal-free, MushroomRoot. Meati is an incredible, minimally-processed superfood protein with fiber, amino acids, micronutrients, and zero hidden ingredients. The Crispy Cutlet sandwich comes with kimchi slaw with cilantro, sriracha aioli, and choice of side from French fries, tater tots, salad, shaved brussels sprouts salad, slaw, or chips.

Slutty Vegan, the burger joint in Deep Ellum owned by Pinky Cole, is now open Sundays from 12 pm-1 am, serving the likes of The One Night Stand plant-based patty with vegan bacon, vegan cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato & Slut Sauce on a vegan Hawaiian bun, and the newest limited-time menu item, The Project Chik, a Crispy Chik'N sandwich with vegan bacon, jalapenos, vegan ranch, and vegan smoked Gouda on a toasted sweet Hawaiian bun.

Dive Coastal Cuisine in Snider Plaza has fantastic specials for August: Thai Noodle Salad with glass noodles, carrots, cucumber, red cabbage, Napa cabbage, peanuts, and peanut dressing; Coconut Shrimp Ceviche with mango, tomato, red onion, cilantro, ginger, coconut milk; Shrimp Enchiladas with tomatillo sauce, Monterrey jack, cilantro, cabbage, sour cream, citronelle rice, and black beans; and Pozole Rojo with chicken breast, hominy, radish, cilantro and lime. Seasonal fish includes Salmon, Kampachi, Mahi Mahi, and Halibut, served with choice of coconut rice, cilantro rice, black beans, grape tomato, portobello mushroom, cauliflower hash, chorizo squash, sweet potato, succotash, asparagus, brussels sprouts, broccoli, and spinach.

Melting Pot has a romance-infused four-course menu on Thursdays starting at $56, with cheese fondue, salad, and entrée such as filet mignon, Atlantic salmon, savory teriyaki steak, and a sparkling chocolate fondue ending. Tables are set with rose petals and candles. At 4900 Belt Line Rd. in Dallas-Addison, and Arlington 4000 Five Points Dr. in Arlington.

The Toasted Yolk Cafe has new menu items available for a limited time: Fried Banana Peppers; Strawberry Pico Pollo Pancakes featuring a chicken tender wrapped in a pancake drizzled with Siracha Aioli and topped with strawberry pico de gallo; Chicken & Waffles with chicken tenders and Belgian waffles flavored with cheddar cheese and diced jalapeños; Strawberry Casa-Hito with tequila, strawberry puree, and champagne; The Toasted Yolk Shot with Jameson Whiskey, butterscotch schnapps, and maple syrup, with OJ and candied bacon; The Cold Brew Shot with coffee, vodka, and whipped cream; The Beach-Side Shot with rum, pineapple juice, and coconut cream.

The Salty has a limited-edition Waffle & Maple Syrup Mini doughnut made with 24-hr mini brioche and maple glaze, topped with maple drizzle and mini waffle, available through August 20, for $3.65.

Tiff’s Treats has continued its partnership with Sprinkles Cupcakes with two new Sprinkles cupcakes flavors, available through October 1: Sprinkles Cookie Cupcake, a chocolate chip-studded yellow cupcake lined with a cookie crust, topped with brown sugar frosting; and Sprinkles Dark Chocolate, a Belgian dark chocolate cupcake topped with bittersweet chocolate frosting and chocolate paillettes.

Chuck E. Cheese is now serving slices of "Cake Boss" Buddy V’s cakes at the 16 Chuck E. Cheese locations in the DFW metro-area, in three flavors: Confetti, Vanilla Rainbow, and Chocolate Fudge, for $10 per slice, individually or as an add-on to a party package.

Van Leeuwen ice cream has partnered with Uber One on a limited edition flavor called Uber One BBQ Gold Cornbread Crumble, featuring corn ice cream with honey cornbread chunks and a BBQ swirl. Uber One Exclusives are limited to members only. Pints are $10.50 and available exclusively on Uber Eats as well as at Van Leeuwen stores with a membership flash.

Bar Louie has a new Martini of the Month: Envy Martini with Grey Goose L’Orange, Grey Goose Le Citron, melon liqueur, pineapple, simple syrup, Sprite, and an orange twist. Bar Louie has 65-plus locations nationwide, including four in the DFW area. They donate $1 to No Kid Hungry for each sale.

City Works Eatery & Pour House has updated its Rewards Club by giving access to hidden menu items, starting with churro pretzel bites. This sugar-coated gem will be available at all City Works locations throughout August, but hidden and for members only.

Roots Southern Table is hosting Moveable Feast which spotlights restaurants around the U.S. by organizing a dinner every month from a different chef. For the month of August, chef Tiffany Derry is doing a meal with Cornbread with Steen's Syrup, Butter, & Strawberry-Rhubarb Preserves; Mothers Gumbo with Chicken, Sausage, & Shrimp; and Mango Key Lime Pie with Mango Coulis & Lime Scented Creme. It's $385 for four people.

Bushi Bushi Dim Sum, which has been open since 2021, is abuzz right now with the fresh arrival of Charlie Zhang, Dallas' most famous and personable master at hand-pulled noodles. Zhang developed a following while at Royal China, the longtime Chinese restaurant at Preston Road and Royal Lane, and has more recently worked at Wok Star. Bushi Bushi owner Patrick Ru is also opening Teddy Wong's Dumplings & Wine, a Chinese restaurant in Fort Worth with a high-powered team that includes Fort Worth chef Stefon Rishel and hospitality veteran Jeffrey Yarbrough, owner of bigInk Commercial Real Estate.

FC Dallas has expanded its culinary menu with new mid-season concession offerings that will be available at Toyota Stadium: Fruit served inside of a halved pineapple, ice cream sandwich, Jalapeno cheddar sausage on sauerkraut, Pasta Salad, Cherry Pepper Relish Burger, birria on white rice, Chicken Wings, Burrito Bowl, Philly Steak Nachos, and Banana Pudding.

Yogurtland has a new limited-edition Cinnamon Churro Cereal frozen yogurt, which they're calling a breakfast-inspired treat although are churros not dessert? It's made with "real cinnamon," none of that fake cinnamon stuff, and available through the fall.

Cinemark Holdings, Inc. is partnering with DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats to deliver movie snacks to customers across Texas, with plans to expand nationally. Available items include popcorn, candy, ice cream, nachos, hot dogs, ice-cold sodas, and ICEEs. A spokesperson says there is consumer demand for this; go figure. It's available at Cinemark West Plano, Cinemark Dallas XD and IMAX on 11819 Webb Chapel Rd, Cinemark Allen, Cinemark Legacy and XD in Plano, Cinemark Frisco Square, CUT! by Cinemark Frisco, Cinemark Roanoke, Cinemark Grand Prairie, Cedar Hill, Mansfield, Rockwall, Denton, Lewisville, North McKinney, Tinseltown Grapevine, Alliance Town Center, North East Mall, and Ridgmar.