We kicked off June with some sad vibes thanks to the James Beard Awards, but that hasn’t slowed us down. There’s a heap of openings, reopenings, and deals for July, and the entire month is filled with hidden food gems.
The highlights:
- Selda Mediterranean Grill is back, and the food is better than ever.
- A new food truck from the team behind Rye opened in Fort Worth.
- Wild Salsa reopened in downtown Dallas after three years.
- A drink special at a Richardson beer garden is featuring 75-cent drinks this summer.
Our Favorite Dishes We Ate in June
Sonoran hot dog, Doggos El Guapo Estilo Sonora: This should be the headline: Sonoran hot dogs are finally available on a regular basis in Dallas. My first from Doggos El Guapo, a newish pop-up group, didn’t come topped with white beans, but it had everything else a Sonoran dog enthusiast could want. The dog is wrapped in bacon, piled up with pico and chorizo (an add-on I happily paid $2 extra for), and doused in mayo. Heck yeah. Follow them on Instagram to find them. – Brian Reinhart
Peking Duck at Bamboo House: I wrote about my experience at Bamboo House for a First Bite column, and it was so good that I went back two weeks later. I said what I needed to say in the post: it was hyped up, but rightfully so. It exceeded my expectations. 2301 N. Central Expy. Ste. 195, Plano. – Nataly Keomoungkhoun
Doggos El Guapo.Brian Reinhart
Summer salads, Encina: I’m a sucker for a simple tomato salad. It’s not summer without a big platter of super-local, super-juicy tomatoes. Encina’s tomato salad isn’t simple, exactly, but it is spectacular. How could it not be, after they start with Comeback Creek Farms tomatoes (from the small town of Pittsburg) and then add loads of blue cheese and bacon? There’s some healthy stuff in there, too, but we know why you read these columns. 614 W. Davis St. – B.R.
Encanto Pops: It’s been so hot lately that a popsicle as a meal honestly doesn’t sound so bad. Encanto Pops, a paleteria with a storefront in North Oak Cliff, satisfied an insane need for something cool one sweltering afternoon. They have a ton of toppings available, but on this day I had tajín and chamoy on my fruity paleta. 831 W. Davis St. – N.K.
Hunkar begendi at Selda Mediterranean Grill: My step-grandmother’s signature dish, should you ever visit her in Istanbul, is hunkar begendi, or “the sultan’s favorite,” a slow-cooked lamb stew served on what looks like mashed potatoes but is in fact a blend of smoky eggplant and cheese. Go to Selda and try it. Like, right now. 6006 Belt Line Rd. – B.R.
A trompo al pastor taco from Revolver Taco Lounge: I ended up at Revolver Taco Lounge with a friend after we attempted to dine somewhere else in Deep Ellum. While I wish the other place had worked out, I’m thankful because I had one deliciously smokey trompo al pastor taco at the bar. 2701 Main St. Ste. 120. – N.K.
Roasted peppers, Bobbie’s Airway Grill: On a first visit to this newcomer, our favorite bite was one of the simplest: roasted bell peppers, plated with good goat cheese, fresh oregano, and crumbled pistachios. It’s just a side dish, but it speaks to the restaurant’s attention to detail. Gotta love a place that can get Dallas to eat its veggies. 5959 Royal Ln. Ste. 515 – B.R.
Food News
The Adolphus: The hotel has a new executive chef and director of food and beverage. Chef Rolf Weithofer relocated from New Jersey to take on the role as executive chef to oversee Rodeo Bar, City Hall Bistro, Otto’s, and the hotel’s dining room and banquets. Anna Warren, who is moving positions internally, will take on the director of food and beverage role.
Petra and the Beast: In May, the hyper-seasonal restaurant from Misti Norris announced that it would shift to a six-course tasting menu from Thursday through Sunday as it prepares to move to a larger location in Lakewood. That means the move is coming, and we’re excited to see what that looks like.
Dress coded at Baboush: NBC5 (KXAS-TV) reported that a Black woman was asked to leave Baboush, an Uptown Mediterranean restaurant, on June 18 because she was wearing shorts. A video shows a man asking a woman and a man to leave the restaurant because her shorts weren’t up to code. NBC5 says the dress code of the restaurant doesn’t mention shorts specifically, only that clothing be “comfortable, but polished, smart-casual, business-casual and elegant-casual attire.” The video also shows other people inside the restaurant wearing shorts, and according to AccuWeather, the high in Dallas was 94 degrees.
In the Weeds: We finished up our In the Weeds series this week. This first installment was a nine-part behind-the-scenes look at the restaurant industry in Dallas, and we had insight from restaurateurs across North Texas. Check out all the parts here:
- Part one: What Must Happen Before a Restaurant Can Open?
- Part two: How Do Restaurants Choose Their Locations?
- Part three: What Are the Most Surprising Hidden Costs of the Restaurant Business?
- Part four: How and When Do Restaurants Decide to Raise Prices?
- Part five: What Is the Right Number of Employees for a Restaurant?
- Part six: What Changes When a Restaurant Opens a Second Location?
- Part seven: How Are Dallas Diners Evolving?
- Part eight: The Best Advice for First-Time Restaurant Owners
- Part nine: What Is the Biggest Reward of Restaurant Ownership?
Openings, Closings, & Reopenings
Check out this list of some of the most interesting restaurants opening in Dallas this summer, including Ladylove Lounge and Sound (July 7), Mister Charles (soon-ish), and Green Point Seafood and Oyster Bar (late summer).
Barley: A food truck called Barley from the team behind Rye and Apothecary made its debut in Fort Worth June 17 at Martin House Brewing Company. Barley isn’t offering “typical” bar food—its menu boasts queso-stuffed wagyu meatballs, a crawfish roll, and buffalo chicken tacos. 220 S. Sylvania Ave., Fort Worth.
Birdcall: Chicken sandwich shop Birdcall is opening its second location in Frisco on July 10. All of the chicken sandwiches are made to order, and they can come topped with coleslaw, dipped in buffalo sauce, or drenched in melty cheese. 5350 Preston Rd., Frisco.
The Boba Plug: For the last three years, The Boba Plug has been operating as a pop-up in D-FW and partnering with small businesses. It gained a huge following, and now the tiny pop-up will have a temporary storefront for loyal fans to get their fix. The Boba Plug will operate out of a shop at 2115 E. Belt Line Rd. in Richardson for an undetermined amount of time, according to a representative. Their plan is to move into another temporary storefront, and then have a place to call their own. The hours of the shop are a bit wonky for now—Monday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.—but hours are subject to change. 2115 E. Belt Line Rd., Richardson.
Bojangles: The first Bojangles location in Texas opened June 21 in Euless. The popular fried chicken chain hails from the Carolinas, and at least three more will be opening in Frisco, Lancaster, and San Antonio. It won’t stop there: more than 20 Bojangles locations could soon be scattered throughout the state. 201 E. Euless Blvd., Euless.
Mi Cocina: A new Mi Cocina location opened in McKinney June 26, adding to its hefty lineup of about two dozen locations in Texas and Oklahoma. The new spot is located at District 121, and will join concepts 400 Gradi, Common Table, and Bob’s Steak and Chop House. 6721 Alma Rd., McKinney.
Lubbies Bagels: On a recent drive through East Dallas, I noticed a sign I hadn’t seen before: a bagel shop called Lubbies Bagels is opening across the street from Goodfriend. The shop will join a fleet of other bagel joints in the city, including Shug’s, Scalfani’s, and Starship Bagel. An opening date hasn’t been set, but their Instagram shows they’ve been busy (and giving out free bagels).
A rendering of Lyla’s interior.Courtesy of GAP Concepts
Lyla: A Mediterranean-inspired concept is opening this fall in Uptown in the former Primo’s MX Kitchen & Lounge, which held the coveted patio spot for decades. Lyla will bring “beachy” vibes, according to a press release, and will serve sharable appetizers, salads, grilled fish and chicken, and more. The place will be redecorated with woven pendant lights, blue and white tiles, arches, and more coastal-inspired decor. 3309 McKinney Ave.
The Meteor: An all-in-one café, wine bar, and bicycle shop called The Meteor will open this summer inside a high-rise apartment complex in the Design District. The Meteor has locations in Austin and Bentonville, Arkansas, and it’s known for offerings like baked goods, breakfast tacos, and pizza. The all-day café will first operate as a pop-up at 1930 Hi Line Dr., and then it’ll move into a more permanent space in The Urby’s second town next year. 1930 Hi Line Dr.
Mexican Sugar: A new location of Mexican Sugar opened its doors May 15 in a 12,000-square-foot location in Uptown Dallas. The location has an Agave library with more than 150 tequilas, mezcals, and sotols to complement its Mexican cuisine. It’s the third location in North Texas, following openings in Plano and Las Colinas. 2355 Olive St., Ste.155.
Mister O1: Trendy Miami-based pizzeria Mister O1 is opening its third Texas location in Mansfield this fall. The pizza joint made a splash last fall with its first location in Dallas. It kept the momentum going with another location in Grapevine, offering its star-shaped pizzas, burrata bar, and salads to the masses. 1520 E. Debbie Ln., Ste. 102, Mansfield.
Musume: Asian-fusion sushi restaurant Musume (pronounced like “muh-sah-may,” per a press release) opened a second location inside the Sandman Signature Hotel in downtown Fort Worth earlier this week. It claims to have the city’s largest selection of sake and Japanese whisky, and fish flown in daily from Japan. The menu include sashimi, sushi, vegetarian and vegan dishes, tableside ramen noodles, and more. Omakase is also available for those wanting a more authentic Japanese dining experience. Musume’s first location opened in the Dallas Arts District in 2017. 810 Houston St., Fort Worth.
Red Mango and Pizza Jukebox Collab: If you crave frozen yogurt immediately after pizza, or perhaps the other way around, a new froyo-pizza concept inside a Frisco Walmart may be the thing for you. Red Mango and Pizza Jukebox have partnered up to create an automated café with a robot that pumps out pizzas right next to the frozen yogurt shop. Watch how it works here. 16066 TX-121, Frisco.
Slow and Steady: Graph Coffee, a coffee shop in Elmwood that was roadblocked by the city at every turn, is finally making progress on its opening after getting all the right city permits, according to an Instagram post. A soft opening is slated for July and a grand opening in August. It also changed its name to Slow and Steady, a fitting name for a little coffee shop playing the long game. 1805 S. Edgefield Ave.
Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews: A garage-themed restaurant known for its menu of 50 burgers and 50 brews opened in Irving June 21, selling over-the-top burgers of all kinds. Menu highlights include a glazed doughnut burger (yes, a glazed doughnut bun!) and apple pie nachos. The drink menu includes boozy and non-alcoholic shakes. Most burgers are made with a beef patty, but diners can also switch it up with wagyu beef, ground turkey, chicken breast, or a Beyond Meat patty. 3165 Regent Blvd., Irving.
Tupelo Honey: A second location of North Carolina-based Tupelo Honey opened June 13 in Las Colinas, where it serves Southern-inspired fare like fried chicken with mac and cheese waffles, shrimp and grits, and lots of fried chicken. Its first location in D-FW was at The Star in Frisco, but this new spot will have a dog-friendly patio. 5981 High Point Dr., Ste. 160, Irving.
Wild Salsa: After a three-year closure, Wild Salsa in downtown Dallas reopened for dinner service June 27. The restaurant opened in 2011 on the corner of Main and St. Paul Streets with a Mexico City theme and menu to match. The menu has some new additions: beef barbacoa tostada, grilled mahi mahi tacos, elote, and more. It’s currently open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. 1800 Main St.
CLOSURES:
- Barbecue restaurant 18th & Vine on Maple Avenue closed June 17 due to “outside factors.” The restaurant served Kansas City-style barbecue in a sit-down setting, but has been surrounded by construction for months.
- Azucar, a Cuban ice cream shop from Miami, is closing its Bishop Arts location after its lease expired in March. Dallas’ Botolino Gelato Artigianale will take it place.
- Great American Hero has closed after it changed hands last year. CultureMap says it shuttered in early June.
- Lucky’s Hot Chicken closed its Oak Lawn location, the second to have closed this year. The Nashville Fried Chicken concept from Vandelay Hospitality is now down to just one location, it’s original on Gaston Avenue.
- Tampopo, a sushi restaurant on Upper Greenville, also closed after more than 15 years in the business.
New Menu Items and Specials
Billy Can Can has a new happy hour menu with a fresh set of bites and drinks. Happy hour is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and includes pulpo puppies—octopus hushpuppies—and baked oysters. 2386 Victory Park Ln.
The Douglas in Snider Plaza is having a July pasta special that will include a cheesy 21-layer lasagna with béchamel, mozzarella, and parmigiano Reggiano that is seared and served on a bed of tomato sauce or Bolognese. The Douglas is also bringing back the brisket Bolognese, a fettucine pasta with wagyu brisket. 6818 Snider Plaza.
Old 75 Beer Garden is having a pretty sweet drink special this summer: 75 cents for featured frozen drinks on Wednesdays through August 30, and 75-cent featured beers on Thursdays through August 31. Count me in. 740 S. Central Expy., Richardson.
Quarter Acre will have a fresh summer menu that will include oysters with kiwi bubbles and rosé mignonette and grilled asparagus with duck fat scrambled eggs, trout roe, and herbs. What I’ve got my eye on is the grilled amberjack, paired with salt and vinegar potatoes, brown butter vinaigrette, and lemon. Check out the menu here. 2023 Greenville Ave., Ste. 110.
