The temperatures have dipped. A caramel apple looms in the distance. Oh, yes. Pumpkins. Fall, you’re on your way.
There are no pumpkins in this food guide, though, because October in Dallas means things are still hot in the restaurant industry. Let this guide catch you up on the latest and greatest food news in Dallas.
Highlights
- Fried shrimp balls at Royal Kitchen absolutely rock.
- Take some time to visit Olmo Market this weekend.
- A rooftop bar with a beach theme opened in downtown Dallas.
- Cris and John is serving their own fair foods this month.
Best Meals This September
- Caliche Coffee: I’m riding solo this month for best meals, and this one is unfortunately not in North Texas. Caliche Coffee in Fredericksburg was so good my husband and I visited twice in one weekend. On our first visit, we tried a green chile chicken and grits bowl that vanished in minutes. No talking, just shoveling into our mouths. The grits were blended with a green chile salsa that gave the dish a kick I didn’t even know I wanted. 338 W. Main St., Fredericksburg.
- Berni Bean: A pretty pink latte? Sign me up. Berni Bean’s new Deep Ellum location is all kinds of cute. The beans come from Costa Rica, so there’s a tropical forest theme with pops of pink, including in the Berni Bean latte. The drink is iced only (not my favorite but it works!), and comes with a light pink frothy milk. The coffee, too, will give you a jolt. 2820 Elm St.
- Royal Kitchen: I had perhaps one of the biggest, juiciest fried shrimp balls ever at Royal Kitchen in Plano. It’s a new shop that quietly opened in August, and it’s still very much in its soft opening phase. The food took some time to get to the table after ordering, but the dishes are massive and worth the wait. The shrimp balls were coated in a flakey crust. They looked like a little nest. But when broken apart and dipped in a healthy amount of chile oil, it is absolutely divine. 3100 Independence Pkwy., Ste. 322.
News
State Fair of Texas: There’s not much to say here other than head to our Ultimate Guide to the State Fair of Texas, which includes a massive section on food and drinks.
Olmo Market: A bit of news over in Elmwood: Olmo Market had to shut down its kitchen because of a complaint that was filed against the business on Sept. 7, its owners say. The allegation was that they were operating without a health permit—it turns out a permit was paid for in October 2022 but never filed. A certificate of occupancy filed in July 2022 was approved for a general merchandise and grocery store permit. In an effort to get the market back up and running, owner Cindy Pedraza said on Instagram that she received conflicting information about next steps. At this point, she’s asking folks to bear with them while the kitchen is closed, but the market itself is still open for business. “Olmo isn’t just a small side project or an extra business venture; it is our livelihood.” 2111 S. Edgefield Ave.
New owners for McKinney Butcher Shop: Award-winning chefNoah Hesterand his wife,Lacey Hester purchased Hamm’s Meat + Marketin Historic Downtown. The 69-year-old market’s remodeled menu will include farm-raised, stress-free chicken eggs, organic local produce, beer, wine, and Hester’s signature sauces. Hamm’s will also have a monthly pairing dinner party called McKinney Supper Club and aButcher Boxsubscription service for loyal fans. 307 W. Louisiana St., McKinney.
Head Chef and Mixologist Lead Announced for Sanjh:Balpreet Singh Chadha is the new corporate chefandYangdup Lama is the director ofmixology for Sanjh, an upscale Indian restaurant that will debut in Irving later this fall. Chadha has been cooking for about 20 years and has experience cooking in all regions of India, having worked at the restaurants BukharaandDum Pukht in New Delhi. Lama also has 20 years of experience in his field and will take the helm of the drink menu at Sanjh. Last year, he was named mixologist of the yearby Travel + Leisure Asia. 5250 N. O’Connor Blvd., Ste. 146, Irving.
Openings and Closings
Banh Shop: A new Asian street food concept called Banh Shop is scheduled to open three new locations across North Texas in Fort Worth, Las Colinas, and Dallas. Banh Shop will serve bánh mì sandwiches and noodle and rice bowls. The menu will also feature a mix of handheld and shareable options, including fresh summer rolls with peanut sauce, lettuce wraps filled with curried chicken, and homemade crispy potstickers. The shops will start opening within the next six months, according to CultureMap. 8080 Park Ln.; 3051 S. University Dr., Fort Worth.; N. McArthur Blvd., Ste. 105, Las Colinas.
Baron’s Creek Vineyards: A new tasting room from a Fredericksburg winery will open in the space that was formerly operated by the Indian restaurant Âme in Bishop Arts, according to CultureMap. This will be the fifth location for the winery, which has posts in Fredericksburg, Georgetown, Granbury, and McKinney. 418 N. Bishop Ave.
Blue Maki: Later this year, Blue Maki, a sushi concept created by Dallas-based The Blue Fish Japanese Restaurants, will launch its second Dallas location at The Shops at Park Lane, according to a press release. Its first location recently opened in Carrollton and seems to be a hit. The menu includes sushi rolls, hand rolls, and sashimi. My two cents: go for a combo, because you’ll get more bang for your buck and you’ll try a variety of hand rolls or rolls.
Carina Pizzeria: A new pizza place is set to open in Preston Center in October. Carina Pizzeria is the brainchild of Eugene Plyako, known for his cottage bakery, Humble Bread, which is widely known for its sourdough bread and pastries. Plyako’s pizza concept draws inspiration from southern Italy, with a focus on Roman-style thin-crust pizzas. 6005 Berkshire Ln.
Columbian Country Club: A martini lounge will take over the old Bar & Garden space on Ross Avenue in October, according to CultureMap. Columbian Country Club pays homage to the Jewish country club of the same name that operated for decades in Carrollton. Hospitality veterans Brian Rutt, Justin Kallhoff, and Jonathan Rosenberg plan to serve martinis along with a tequila program. Expect food like Cobb salad and thinly sliced Parmesan bagels, which happened to be a thing at the real country club. 1900 N. Haskell.
German Doner Kebab: German Doner Kebab, a renowned chain known for its heavily stuffed doner kebabs, opened its first DFW location in Frisco on Sept. 25. Originally established in Berlin in 1989, German Doner Kebab is known for its waffle bread packed with layers of halal meat, vegetables, and signature sauces. Don’t get it twisted with a gyro: the meat used in these kebabs are of lamb and pork. 12025 E. University Dr., Ste. 100, Frisco.
La Mina at The Village: La Mina is adding itself to the nightlife scene at The Village. The restaurant will have more of a “clubsterant” vibe. (That phrase sound familiar? Check out this column from Brian Reinhart.) There will be themed nights, including Thursday cultural music night, Friday Latin nights, and tribal and house music on Saturday nights. 5630 Village Glen Dr.
Maji Sushi: Maji Sushi has opened in Uptown at the former site of Yutaka Sushi Bistro. Yutaka was known for its high-quality sushi and was open for 17 years before closing in August. Maji owner Christina Park told CultureMap she’s revamping the menu, but she plans to include Yutaka’s popular rolls and Maji’s own creations. 2633 McKinney Ave.
Patrick Kennedy’s: Patrick Kennedy’s Irish Pub has opened its doors on the ground floor of Dallas’ Downtown Westin Hotel. Despite being a newcomer, the team behind Patrick Kennedy’s has experience with several sister concepts in North Texas, such as Playwright Irish Pub and The Crafty Irishman Public House. The menu includes Irish comfort staples such as Irish breakfast and Scotch eggs, and a variety of happy hour specials. (It is not, as far as we know, related to the DART board trustee Patrick Kennedy.) 1201 Main St., Ste. 100.
Portillo’s: Portillo’s is set to open its third location in Denton, near the intersection of I-35 and University Drive. The opening is expected by the end of the year, with existing locations in The Colony and Allen.
Regines: Alberto Lombardi and Lombardi Family Concepts opened a speakeasy called Regines on September 8 next to Maison Chinoise, the group’s new swanky Chinese restaurant in Uptown. Guests of Maison Chinoise can hop over for more bites, co*cktails, and live entertainment. 4152 Cole Ave., Ste. 106.
Shug’s Bagels: The opening of the second location of Shug’s Bagels is upon us, but it looks like they’re dealing with some city of Dallas inspection delays. Either way, keep an eye out. More bagels are coming. 4001 Lemmon Ave.
Surf Camp: There’s a new rooftop bar in downtown Dallas. Surf Camp from Nick Badovinus is a beach-themed bar perched on top of the triangular building on Commerce, the same building that houses Badovinus concepts National Anthem and Brass Ram. If you’ve been to Mama Shelter in Los Angeles, you know what to expect—relaxed and inviting. But it won’t last long. The theme is expected to change in the spring. 2130 Commerce St.
Tycoon: A new restaurant, bar, and lounge in Flower Mound called Tycoon recently opened, and it’s serving brunch, lunch, and dinner filled with plenty of American classics. The menu has a focus on steaks and beef, and its drink menu includes more than a dozen martinis and co*cktails for a nice little nightcap. 811 International Pkwy., Flower Mound.
The Wilfred: Plano’s first speakeasy is now open. Sea Breeze Fish Market & Grill owner Ryan Oruch opened The Wilfred adjacent to the seafood restaurant in mid-September. The Wilfred is named after the owner’s dog, who also goes by Freddy. Check out the drinks and small bites during their happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 4017 Preston Rd., Ste. 530,Plano.
New Menu Items
BarNone: East Dallas’ BarNone started a whiskey club to promote its whiskey list, which has expanded to more than 170 different varieties. The whiskey club includes exclusive access to BarNone distillery and brewery tours, priority access to ryes, scotches, and world whiskeys, and access to private barrels. 718 N. Buckner Blvd., Ste. 100.
Cris and John: In light of the fair foods controversy earlier this year, North Dallas’ Cris and John is putting their own spin on State Fair of Texas Foods with four new dishes through the month of October. Check out carne asada bao buns, bò kho tacos, sugared birria bao buns, and the chicken mole ramen burrito. 5555 Preston Oaks Rd., Ste. 5.
Crown Block: Crown Block, the restaurant atop the Reunion Tower, is now serving Sunday brunch. Get an early start to city views with doughnuts, pancakes, and fried chicken and waffles. I300 Reunion Blvd. E.
Nobu Dallas: On Wednesday evenings, Nobu Dallas will have a new omakase experience called “At the Sushi Bar” with yellowtail jalapeño, grill otoro, lobster miso soup, and more. It’ll run $225 per person. 400 Crescent Ct.
Quarter Acre: A new happy hour has launched at Quarter Acre on Lower Greenville. “Garden Hour” guests can buy three snacks for $11, select co*cktails for $8, and certain bottles of wine for $40. Happy hour is Tuesday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 2023GreenvilleAve., Ste. 110.
Author
Nataly Keomoungkhoun
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Nataly Keomoungkhoun joined D Magazine as the online dining editor in 2022. She previously worked at the Dallas Morning News,…
