Pho News

Dallas Asian restaurant Wabi House is first of 3 openings at Star in Frisco

Pho from Wabi House.

Photo courtesy of Wabi House

Frisco has three super-buzzy new restaurants coming soon, featuring Asian food, bistro fare, and burgers. All three are high-caliber concepts, and all will open at the Star District, located in the heart of the 91-acre campus of the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters and practice facility at The Star in Frisco.

Wabi House, the first of the three out of the gate, will open in May at 3675 Gaylord Pkwy. #1100.

Wabi House is the acclaimed local concept is from founders Dien “Chef D” Nguyen, head chef at Texas sushi restaurant Piranha Killer Sushi, and Piranha owner; and chef Kenzo Tran, owner of Pho District in Fort Worth. It'll go into a Raising Cane's that closed during the pandemic. The first Wabi House opened on Greenville Avenue in 2015, and a second location opened in Fort Worth in 2018. Famous for its ramen, izakaya-style Japanese dishes, sake and cocktails all served from its industrial-chic digs, Wabi House brings the perfect blend of Japanese inspired dishes to the Frisco area.

Rachel’s Kitchen, a fresh casual concept from Las Vegas, will open at 3620 Star Blvd., #1200 in early June.

This location will be its first in Texas. Owner Debbie Roxarzade founded Rachel’s Kitchen in 2006 as a quaint café featuring reasonably priced bistro fare. They're open for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner, usually from 7 am-8 pm. They serve breakfast all day, featuring hearty dishes such as burritos, wraps, avocado toast, pancakes, French toast, oatmeal and more.

Dee’s Table Burgers & More, a new burger joint from Dallas steakhouse queen Dee Lincoln, will open at 3685 The Star Blvd. #205, in mid-June.

Lincoln already has a location of her Dee Lincoln Prime at The Star, but this is a more casual concept which draws inspiration from her Louisiana roots and the memories of family gatherings around the dinner table. The menu includes burgers, salads, appetizers, and sides, plus a selection of local beer and cocktails, both on tap, and wine.

openings

Closing News

Mediterranean restaurant in Dallas' Deep Ellum to close after 11 years

Zatar

Chicken at Zatar

A restaurant in Deep Ellum will close after more than a decade: Zåtar Lebanese Tapas & Bar, which opened at 2827 Commerce St. in December 2016 as a rare Lebanese restaurant in Dallas, has decided to close.

According to the owners, they're closing due to ongoing construction and other operational challenges, and will be closing by the end of August.

"This wasn’t an easy decision," they say. "Over the last two years, we’ve fought through one challenge after another. We poured everything we had into keeping our doors open because we truly believed things would turn around. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the ongoing construction and other challenges have made it impossible for us to continue."

Zatar was originally opened by partners Marc Mansour and C.K. Khoury, both natives of Lebanon, with a menu that included tapas, specialty dishes, and Lebanese desserts such as the traditional knafeh. The restaurant stood out both for its authentic Lebanese cuisine and its welcoming ambiance.

Mansour and Khoury sold the restaurant in 2019 to restaurant veteran Sam Fawal, who also owns Pokeworks in Uptown Dallas and Addison. (Mansour and Khoury relocated to Atlanta where they are currently wowing diners with Bey Mediterranean, which they opened in Roswell in 2024.)

In recent years, Zatar shifted from its original focus on "authentic Lebanese" and more towards a casual destination with a nightlife component, including the addition of hookah pipes.

Meanwhile, the conversion of Commerce Street in Deep Ellum from one-way to two-way street has dragged on and on through multiple delays. Completion just got pushed back again to 2027 — which Fawal confirms was a factor.

"Yes, the continued delays with Commerce Street construction definitely played a big part in the decision," Fawal says. "It's been a frustrating situation, the project started in June, 2024 and it is still going. Unfortunately, I think we're going to see more businesses impacted by it."

His post gives thanks to the staff and to "everyone who walked through our doors, shared a meal with family and friends, celebrated special occasions, or simply made Zatar part of your life," before inviting fans to come visit before they close.

Fawal says they're finalizing the closing date, but anticipates on or around August 23.

"We still have a few weeks left, and we’d love the opportunity to see our customers one last time," he says. "Come enjoy your favorite dishes, have one more drink, smoke one more hookah, and help us celebrate the memories we’ve created together."

deep-ellum closings