The August edition of Where to Eat, CultureMap's monthly column giving advice on best restaurants to try, has seven new gems worth checking out. There's an ultra-buzzy new Japanese restaurant, a trendy smash burger place, and an Australian-inspired concept from New York.

Here's where to eat in Dallas right now:

Allegory Kitchen and Bar
Independently owned restaurant now open in Grand Prairie serves Southern fare with a full bar and live music. Menu items include fried catfish, a half-pound burger, pork chop, and roasted half chicken. There are also vegan options such as roasted butternut squash tabouli. Make a meal of the small plates such as lobster mac & cheese, crab cakes, and collard green spring rolls filled with collard greens, onions and peppers, then deep-fried.

Dad Jokes Cheesyburger
Food truck-turned-restaurant in Frisco is a family-owned burger joint that offers a little humor on the side. The restaurant specializes in smash burgers and fries, accompanied by corny dad jokes printed on paper like a fortune cookie. There are also chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, and Henry's Homemade Ice Cream, a customer favorite. Mom-and-pop owners Gabby and Clayton Jones say their goal is "to celebrate the dads in our lives and bring some laughter."

Hendy's on Henderson
New restaurant and bar from This and That Hospitality takes over the former Sfuzzi space, which they closed in March after three years. Hendy's is an upscale sports bar with a menu conceived by chef Peja Krstic (Mot Hai Ba) featuring salmon dip, beef tartare, lasagna, fish tacos, and steak frites. Plus cocktails such as the Coconut Matcha Martini, Orange Julius, and a Sour Patch Kid Margarita.

Norman's Western Japanese Grill
Japanese restaurant from Duro Hospitality (The Charles, Mister Charles, Cafe Duro) opened in August and like all Duro concepts is sizzling hot. Located in the former Homewood space, it boasts an Argentinian-style wood-fired grill for larger cuts of meat, and a Japanese charcoal robata for skewers to share. Fun dishes include a clever udon carbonara, Korean fried chicken, and edamame hummus, and there's a raw program with sashimi and handrolls. The bar has pina coladas and seven different sakes by the glass.

Senor Oink
New taqueria in Farmers Branch has a thing for pork carnitas, done in all kinds of ways: tacos, carnitas bowls, carnitas tortas, and carnitas flautas, as well as selling carnitas by the pound. Owner Mauricio Gallegos, who also owns the Mexican coffee shop Xaman in Oak Cliff, is recreating a true carnitas taquería you'd find in Mexico. It also has a bar with beer, cocktails, and mezcal.

Texano Cocina
Tex-Mex restaurant at 5622 Lemmon Ave. in the former El Fenix is a rebrand of Eddie’s Cocina & Cantina after owner Eddie Cervantes and his partners parted ways. They've kept some of the Tex-Mex classics including tacos, fajitas, chicken mole, and chile relleno, but have also added blackened redfish, a smashburger, and a Mexican cheesesteak. Plus lunch specials including combo plates with rice and beans priced from $12-$14.

Two Hands
All-day cafe now open at The Quad was founded in New York in 2014 and has eight locations across the U.S. They draw their inspiration from Australian café culture. They're open long hours with a crowd-pleasing menu that includes a salmon quinoa bowl, corn jalapeno fritters, steak au poivre, a burger; plus brunch and lunch with an acai bowl, a breakfast burrito, and avocado toast. There are thoughtful menus for kids, and a full bar with cocktails, mimosas, and an intriguing wine list.