Steakhouse News

High-energy Mexican steakhouse is coming to Dallas' East Quarter

Toca madera flaming tomahawk.

Photo by TJ Perez

A new steakhouse is coming to town: Called Toca Madera, it's a "modern Mexican steakhouse" from Noble 33, a global hospitality group known for its high-energy restaurant concepts, and will open at 2203 Commerce St. in the East Quarter district.

According to a release, it will begin development in early 2025 with an expected opening in 2026.

This marks the third concept in Texas from Noble 33, following the 2024 opening of Houston’s Toca Madera and soon to open Mēdüzā Mediterrania. Toca Madera Dallas will be the brand’s sixth outpost, with other locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Scottsdale, and Miami – opening this fall.

Toca Madera Dallas will span 13,221 square feet, seating 415 guests across the main dining room and outdoor dining patio in addition to two full-service bars, a lounge, private members’ speakeasy, and a private dining room - all paired with an elevated, high-energy atmosphere and nightly live entertainment.

“This will be the sixth location and one of the largest footprints in the Toca Madera portfolio – a testament to Dallas' international flair and rich culture,” says Noble 33 co-founder and CEO Mikey Tanha in a statement. “Bringing our version of a Mexico City Steakhouse to the great city of Dallas has been a longtime goal, and we can't wait for residents to enjoy the unique and immersive Toca Madera dining experience.”

Toca Madera’s signature design is inspired by the restaurant’s Mexican cuisine reimagined into a modern, organic aesthetic. Bold architectural elements combined with warm luxurious finishes of handcrafted custom woodwork, plush velvet upholsteries, intimate lighting, and biophilic design create a transcending multi-sensory dining experience.

Distinct highlights will include ‘The Bird’s Nest,’ an immersive art piece that encapsulates the lounge area in an incredible nest-like structure featuring a lush greenscape in addition to one-of-a-kind art pieces and a sweeping, undulated wood slat ceiling.

“Toca Madera will offer Dallas residents an unparalleled dining experience for a city known for its cuisine. Great detail and attention are given to the architecture, design and soundscape, all combined with an incredible menu for a bespoke dining journey,” says Tosh Berman, Co-founder of Noble 33.

The menu, with Executive Chef Martin Heierling at the helm, will (hopefully) transport diners to Mexico City via a selection of dishes that include

Sashimi Mexicano with ahi tuna, cucumber, avocado, pomegranate, chile de árbol, and leche de tigre

A5 Wagyu Tacos in a crispy wonton shell with kizami wasabi, cali green onions, and micro shiso

premium Australian and Japanese beef including the show-stopping Flaming Tomahawk, served flaming and floating over salsa verde, presented and sliced by chef tableside.

Helmed by beverage director Juan Carlos Santana, the bar will feature a vast selection of tequila and mezcal, in cult-favorite cocktails such as Como la Flor, served with edible flowers and rose air.

Amplifying the high-touch experience, Toca Madera offers nightly entertainment including live musicians, local and international resident DJs, and fire performers.

Noble 33 looks forward to expanding its footprint with upcoming openings including Mēdüzā Mediterrania in Houston; Mēdüzā Mediterrania and Toca Madera in Miami; and 1587 Prime, the recently announced partnership with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce in Kansas City.

openings

sudden cupcake shutter

Sprinkles Cupcakes shutters all locations, including Dallas shops & ATMs

Photo courtesy of Sprinkles

Sprinkles has closed all of its locations.

A nationwide cupcake bakery has shuttered all of its locations, including in Dallas-Fort Worth. Sprinkles Cupcakes closed all of its locations on December 31, according to multiple reports.

The company provided a brief statement about the closures to TV station KTLA: “After thoughtful consideration, we’ve made the very difficult decision to transition away from operating company-owned Sprinkles bakeries.”

Founder Candace Nelson shared her own thoughts about the news via a post on Instagram. After noting that she sold the business to private equity in 2012, Nelson stated she was disappointed by the decision.

“Even though I sold the company over a decade ago, I still have such a personal connection to it, and this isn’t how I thought the story would go. I thought Sprinkles would keep growing and be around forever,” she says in the clip.

The bakery had 20 locations in six states. In greater Dallas, Sprinkles had a location at The Plaza at Preston Center (4020 Villanova St.), in Plano's Legacy West (7500 Windrose Ave.). It had cupcake ATMs at spots around the Metroplex, including Galleria Dallas, DFW Airport, the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Southlake Town Square, and The Shops at Clearfork in Fort Worth.

Sprinkles was widely credited for creating the cupcake craze of the late aughts and early 2010s. Founded by Nelson in 2005, the shop's treats elevated the form with high quality ingredients, a wide range of flavors, and the sort of eye-catching designs that would be now be described as Instagram-worthy — but Sprinkles predates the app’s creation.

It introduced a number of innovations, including a cupcake ATM to satisfy cravings 24-hours-a-day.

As for Nelson, she pivoted to Pizzana, an Italian-style pizzeria she co-founded with her husband Charles, actor Chris O’Donnell and his wife Caroline, and chef Daniele Uditi. The restaurant, which holds a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide for its original outpost in Los Angeles, has a Dallas location that opened in 2022 and a Houston store that opened in 2024.

closings news-you-can-eat desserts