DFW Restaurant Openings to Know in January

DFW Restaurant Openings to Know in January

Loads of openings this month all over the Metroplex, including two State Fair food winners, several coffee shops, and some damn good restaurants.

4343 W. Northwest Highway

The latest drop from the Katz family of restaurants (see Beverly’s, Green Point, and Clifton Club) is officially certified a banger by the Commission of Neighborhood Restaurant Customers. Just kidding, that’s not a thing — but a quick drop in on one chilly January night yielded a menu full of comforting, warm dishes and a killer wine list. The roast chicken with au jus and crispy potatoes is a winter dream. Another bonus: the entire restaurant is booth seating, so everywhere you go is comfy and cozy.

8140 N. MacArthur Boulevard, #100 in Irving

Holy smokes (pun intended), this place is a must-visit at the speed of ASAP. Pitmaster Salahodeen Abdul-Kafi has done his homework. He’s carefully crafted amazing rubs and barbecue sauce, sourced high-quality meats that happen to be halal, and tapped into his family recipes to create incredible sides and desserts. Load up a tray with the dino ribs, cole slaw in a vinegar-based dressing, pinto beans baked in barbecue sauce, and all the pickled jalapeños they’ll give you. The beef tallow fries are awesome, too.

408 N. Bishop Avenue, #108

Chef Peja Krstic opened a chic neighborhood bistro in Bishop Arts with an American food focus, but hints of South Asian influences still sneak in, mainly in the choice of spices. Must-try dishes include the Nashville hot oysters, fried and served in the shell with a sweet and spicy sauce; beef tartare served atop piping hot hash brown circles; and the duck leek pie, which is ideal winter weather food.

320 W. Eighth Street

Right across the street from Pillar is another cute new spot. From Olivia Genthe of Faunt Board + Table, this wine bar with a small menu is a wonderful hangout. It’s moody and dark, especially while the sun is setting so darn early, but when spring comes, it’s also got a massive outdoor patio. The masterfully crafted wine list features naturals — many bottles not found on other menus in town. The must-order food item is the escargot. Even if you don’t like escargot, this is the one that will convert you.

334 W. Davis Street

A new raw bar hits Bishop Arts, thanks to (and named after) chef Hugo Galvan (formerly of Flora Street Cafe) and mixologist Hugo Osorio. Look for scallops crudo served on a beautiful half-shell, ahi tuna tostadas, a daily variety of oysters, and cocktails galore. There are also lobster rolls and burgers worth a try — with one of the house martinis.

17390 Preston Road, Suite 246

This wine bar in North Dallas is going for a homey vibe with a wine menu accessibly sorted by descriptors (think a “zippy, velvety + bold” section next to “soft, silky + smooth”), plus a weekly by-the-glass sommelier selection. There are also fun-sounding cocktails — the Caribbean mezcal with passionfruit and Paula’s Texas lime stands out — and a bite-oriented menu with flatbreads, salads, handheld sandwiches, and more.

3905 Eastside Avenue

Very happy to see Easy Slider return in a new storefront after its Deep Ellum location shuttered. The slider revolution continues in Old East Dallas, and in a much more adult spot. This smaller location has a bar with classic cocktails, plus a few high tops — but it’s tiny compared to the sprawling size of the previous space. And that’s just fine. A little space for delicious little burgers. It works.

3011 Gulden Lane, #109

Another day, another omakase in Dallas. The latest can be found in Trinity Groves, and it’s open for both lunch and dinner, which is a nice change of pace. It’s also got some lower price point options, where folks can eat for less than $100 each. Progress!

2721 Main Street

The local cider brewery teamed up with the State Fair of Texas winner for 2024 Best Taste: Savory for his Dominican Fritura Dog to offer Dominican bites at this new spot — basically, they’re roommates. Pop by for a cider (or three), and while you’re there, get a Dominican smash burger, which comes with all the usual ingredients plus grilled onions, a smashed avocado, fried plantains, and secret sauce.

6651 Alma Road, Suite 200 in McKinney

McKinney has a new sushi spot helmed by chef Shigekazu Tateno, who already has Yama Izakaya and Sushi in Dallas and Plano, and former Shoyo chef Kenny Chong. Shun is a gorgeous black and white space with industrial decor elements and a piece of ceiling art made of glass that looks like a school of fish. Read: this is fine dining. In addition to a sushi menu, it offers robata grill items and a section of the menu entirely devoted to wagyu.

600 S. Harwood Street

This new restaurant from chef Victor Hugo (Al Biernat’s, Bistro 31, Victor Hugo’s Dining & Bar) replaces the Green Door Public House. The space stays much the same, and the menu, with lunch, brunch, and dinner options, is bistro-style comfort food. Options include steak frites, brick chicken with mashed potatoes, wagyu beef roast, a grilled vegetable salad, a daily soup, and more.

2001 Coit Road, Suite 165 in Plano

Hand-pulled noodles, anyone? This casual spot in Plano is drawing attention for its Japanese-inspired decor, drool-worthy bowls of beef noodle soup, and dishes like spicy crispy lamb rib and a cucumber salad that is architectural enough in its presentation to land the cover of Architectural Digest.

514 Lockwood Drive, in Richardson

Richardson gets an adorable little pizzeria serving Neopolitan-style pies. There are a couple of vegetarian options, and the prices top out at $17 for a pie — pretty good. The top priority to order is the Italian sparkling cola and see how it stands up to Coke.

310 W Las Colinas Boulevard, #110 in Irving

If you had these cheesecakes on a stick when they won Best Taste at the 2023 State Fair of Texas, then you already know why this is a big deal. The Biscoff delight version of this ran away with every accolade and the hearts of fairgoers, but the folks behind it had all kinds of cheesecakes drizzled with sweet things and served on a stick in their booth. Now, it has a storefront in Toyota Music Factory’s new suite of restaurants.

7700 W. Northwest Highway, Suite 600

This morning-centric chain opened its first location in Dallas proper, serving breakfast, brunch, and lunch — a boon for folks who are always on the hunt for an all-day breakfast. For those who enjoy a sweet breakfast, there are oodles of options under pancakes, waffles, and French toast (stuffed and regular). It also serves traditional eggs, bread, and meat combo plates, omelets, and bowls of oatmeal/fruit/eggs. Most importantly, there are cheesy grits.

4013 14th Street, Unit 407 in Plano

This cute and quite sizable coffee shop in Plano has been popping up all over social media since it opened — and it does have that Insta/TikTok vibe born of a digital movement. The origins of this shop came from the start of the Muslims of the World Instagram account, which is a nonprofit that provides a platform for Muslim people to combat racism and hate against them. MOTW shifts that into a real gathering place where anyone is welcome. The drinks are the same as in most places: lavender and vanilla lattes, cappuccinos and cortados, refresher drinks, hot teas, and chai. It also offers latte flavors such as cardamom, rosemary honey, Biscoff, and peanut butter. There are also muffins, baklava, cookies, and pound cake.

1941 Preston Road, Unit 1012 in Plano

This spot has also been a social media sensation for its over-the-top doughnuts. Flavors spanning creme brulee, strawberry shortcake, s’mores, banana pudding, and blueberry cheesecake from the display cabinet, but lowkey, the breakfast sandwiches are the move. Obviously, there is also coffee of all kinds.

1619 N Hall Street

More coffee? Heck yes! Put it in a hair salon in Deep Ellum? Why the heck not? There are guest DJs on the weekends and a menu of drinks by Jesse Nava (previously of Xaman Coffee), who keeps it tight with a few specialty drinks. The pistachio matcha and Mexican mocha, in particular, are notable.