Game-day grub

Your first look at the all-star menu for CultureMap Dallas' Tailgate

Kona Grill is bringing fried chicken sandwiches.

Facebook/Kona Grill

Heads up, Dallas sports lovers: The Tailgate is almost here. CultureMap’s signature sports celebration kicks off 12-4 pm Sunday, October 5 at The Empire Room, and trust us, you’ll want to be part of the action.

Not a die-hard football fan? No worries. Whether you’re into hockey, soccer, basketball, baseball — or just incredible food and drinks — this party’s for you.

Every Tailgate ticket includes delicious bites from local restaurants, premium complimentary beverages, meet-and-greet with star athletes, an auction of sports memorabilia, and more game-day fun.

And before the big night, you can get in on the competition. Voting is now open for our Top Taco Tournament, where local taco all-stars go head-to-head in an online bracket showdown. The champion revealed live at The Tailgate.

Still hungry? Some of Dallas’ hottest restaurants and chefs will be serving up tailgate-inspired creations that you’ll get to taste during the event.

Here’s just a taste of what’s cooking at The Tailgate:

Assorted po'boys from Antone's Famous Po' Boys
Chicken and tofu lettuce wraps from Feng Shui
Roast beef sandwiches on Heritage wheat bread from Empire Baking
Dee's Table is bringing Pastalaya: penne pasta with shrimp, andouille sausage, chicken, and Creole cream sauce
Football-shaped Jamaican jerk pork tostadas from Loro
Fried chicken sandwich with gochujang, caramelized onion, mayo, and pickles from Kona Grill
JOA Grill's bulgogi ssam and akaushi sausage kimbap
Five spice slow-braised pork bao from Komodo
McRae's American Bistro & Cocktails' cherry BBQ short rib sliders with feta cheese and apple-cabbage slaw
Pork belly burnt ends from One90 Smoked Meats
Harissa-glazed chicken wings with black garlic ranch and scallions from Fearing Restaurant Group
Taqueria La Ventana's bistek and al pastor tacos
The All American, Kevin Bacon, and The Western burgers from Twisted Root Burger Co.
Slow-cooked pork carnitas tacos from Señor Oink
Lil' BRGs from STK Steakhouse
Richardson International Food Festival (RIFF) is bringing Corn Holes (petite deep-fried Better Balance vegan hot dogs dipped in a cornmeal-infused beignet batter on a stick, and drizzled with a spicy bourbon mustard)
Scout at the Statler's pineapple char siu pulled pork sliders
Spiced apple crisp cups from Ruby Baking Co.

To wet your whistle, there will be beer from our sponsor FLIGHT by Yuengling and other fun beverages.

We'll keep you up to date on all things Tailgate-related in a special editorial series of stories leading up to the event.

Get your tickets now ($50) before they sell out, and we’ll see you on October 5.

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The Tailgate is sponsored by FLIGHT by Yuengling, Sportsmo, Puttshack, Mizzen+Main, Antone's Famous Po' Boys, NXL LVL Events, and more to be announced.

culturemap event sports tailgate

Sushi News

Wabi Sushi opens in Flower Mound with fun creative dishes to try

Wabi House

Sushi pockets at Wabi House

A highly creative chef has opened a new sushi spot in Flower Mound: Called Wabi Sushi, it's a Japanese restaurant which opened in May at 1450 Long Prairie Rd. #110, taking over a former Parlor Doughnuts which closed in December 2025.

Wabi Sushi (no relation to Wabi House, a small local chain) is from Dongwhun Lee, a sushi chef who learned the ropes of sushi while living in Los Angeles, and has worked at a variety of restaurants such as Avocado Roll Sushi.

"I have been working as 'Chef AK' at Japanese restaurants since 2006," Lee says. "My goal is always to make sushi accessible, both for sushi lovers as well as sushi beginners — to remove any barrier and make everything easy to eat."

Wabi Sushi's menu includes classics like sushi rolls, nigiri, rice bowls, and dumplings. But Lee is a creative chef who is constantly adding inventive dishes to capture diners' imaginations. (He once founded a breakfast concept called Three Egg Muffins, now closed.)

Signature items at Wabi Sushi include:

Korokke, a fried potato fritter that's a common comfort food in Japan. A variation of the French croquette, it's made from mashed potatoes, onion, and ground beef or pork, shaped into patties, covered with panko crumbs, and fried.
Inari sushi, AKA sushi pockets, these are another comforting dish that's almost like a cross between sushi and an open-faced dumpling. It has a paper-thin slice of tofu which is fashioned into an edible pouch, simmered in broth, then stuffed with seasoned sushi rice and choice of topping from an array that includes spicy salmon, tuna, seared salmon, spicy pork, shrimp, tamaago egg, Japanese tuna salad, avocado salad, or French carrot salad.

Many traditional inari options feature cooked ingredients, making them a good alternative for those who don't want to consume raw fish. The tofu has a sweet-savory quality that's appealing, and their handheld profile makes them great for takeout.

There are a few places in Dallas doing inari, although usually just as a single item on the menu. Wabi Sushi offers them in samplers such as three pockets for $10, or four pockets for $13. Lee calls them "the perfect bite."

"They're my daughter's favorite," he says. "We try to offer something affordable and it's a simple, easy-to-eat item that's great for lunch."

Other recent introductions include their oversized "sumo" dumplings, baked volcano rolls, and BBQ bowls — and there are more new items in the works.

"We're launching sushi tacos this summer, and shrimp ramen in the fall," he says. "We plan to keep updating the menu so there is always something new. But we always cover the basics, with food that's simple and good."

chefs openings