One of the U.S.’ most populous cities, Dallas is a sprawling metropolis that embodies the maxim “everything’s bigger in Texas.” Outside state lines, the perception of The Big D aligns with the eponymous prime time soap opera saga, often mistaking the Stockyards as within city limits (much to neighboring Fort Worth’s dismay).
Yes, you will still see police on horseback and hairstyles that reach to the heavens, but Dallas leans more modern than western. Among Texans, it’s known for flashy aesthetics, larger-than-life restaurants, and a perpetual cycle of new and grand places to strut your stuff.
It’s easy to get lost in these conflicting mythologies, and the city has sometimes become a caricature of itself, where Vegas-esque showmanship puts on a cowboy hat and calls it a day. (We don’t like to talk about the Salt Bae- era of gold- encrusted Tomahawk steaks.) But underneath the glitz and glam the true soul of Dallas shines bright. Ripe with opportunity (and land, lots and lots of land) the Lone Star state has proven to be a talent magnet with homegrown chefs and transplants alike bringing their culture and creative visions to life. Those with the grit to tough it out have reshaped the culinary landscape in Dallas, garnering attention from the James Beard Foundation and catching the eye of the coveted Michelin Guide. More than simply BBQ and Tex-Mex (although both are good, and abundant), the patchwork quilt of regional and world cuisine have set the culinary standard in North Texas and made dining in Dallas more exciting than ever.
With a long-standing history as a neighborhood bakery in Guatemala City, San Martin’s first U.S. location is a stunning addition to Uptown Dallas. Like a glass cathedral dedicated to fresh bread, the skylights and hanging gardens give the dining space an ethereal feel (aided in no small part by the heavenly smell of artisan pastries baking in the next room). Start off with a coffee and sampling of bread and butter for the table. Then order the motuleño, a large fried corn tortilla doused in a spicy chipotle sauce and topped with refried beans, eggs, and the trifecta of ham, chorizo, and bacon. You can add an order of fried sweet plantains and crema to balance out the heat, or ask for their house made hot sauce if you really need to wake up. Here you will find racks of European-style pastries like pain aux raisins and glossy almost-too-pretty-to-eat fruit tartlets, as well as Mexican pan dulce like conchas. The Guatemalan-style pan de queso is a little sweet, a little savory, and pairs perfectly with a strong coffee.
While Shug’s Bagels owner and founder Justin Shugrue is originally from New York, don't waste your time debating whether or not Shug's makes New York-style bagels. That's beside the point. Yes they are kettle-boiled, baked to perfection and deliciously chewy. But these are Dallas bagels which, in this case, just means they are damn good. The Build Your Own bagel menu is divided in three sections: egg sandwich, deli sandwich, and bagel & spread. With fifteen flavors ranging from jalapeño cheddar to French toast there are a plethora of options (although you can't miss with the classic plain). The Spicy Shug is a must-have breakfast option with scrambled eggs, crispy hashbrowns, pepper jack cheese, and loads of bacon smothered in hot sauce (don’t worry, it’s not too spicy). Seating is available, but the chalkboard menus, row of grab-your-own drink coolers, and steady call of order numbers communicate a "get in, get out" vibe. The energy is always high and the line moves quickly, so please know what you want ahead of time.
Stepping into Bird’s Bookstore feels like entering an interior designer’s private library. Gently curving architecture leads you from the showroom entrance into the cozy, circular display room. Lush, dark wood shelving and the rolling library ladder of every bookish person's dreams complete the fantasy. Tucked between bookshelves and smart seating, you will find a proper in-house espresso bar. Coffee is sourced from local powerhouse Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters, with housemade seasonal syrups for specialty beverages. You can't go wrong with the classic mocha, made with chocolate from local chocolatier Five Mile Chocolate, who work directly with cacao farmers to craft their confections using minimal ingredients. The perfect midday escape from an increasingly toxic digital landscape, Bird’s Bookstore offers a refreshingly analog experience and reminds us that true style can only be found IRL.
Long before digital nomads and TikTok travelers realized Mexico City was a stunning food paradise just a three hour flight away, El Come Taco was dishing out the vibrant flavors of that city’s taco scene right here in Dallas. Nestled among apartments, laundromats, and liquor stores, this unpretentious taqueria with its signature Mexican pink walls is a staple of Dallas taco culture. Here you can expect to find a robust menu of CDMX-style tacos such as al pastor (chile marinated pork), campechano (brisket and chorizo), cabeza (head) and sesos (veal brains). If you’re lucky to catch them on the menu, order the chapulines, a corn tortilla with guacamole, salsa verde, and topped with spicy, roasted crickets (don’t think about it, just trust me). For the less adventurous (no judgement) there are Texas-style tacos with your choice of meat, cheese and avocado. While you’re at it, order a side of cebollitas, deceptively simple grilled green onions that are crunchy, salty, and completely addictive. Don’t skip the nearby speakeasy La Viuda Negra, a compact and competent mezcal bar disguised as a bridal shop.
Located in the bustling restaurant row of Dallas’s Lower Greenville neighborhood, Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen serves elegant Vietnamese classics in the style of Hanoi. Drawing inspiration from both family recipes and a buzzing street food culture, Ngon’s dishes are vibrant and packed with flavor. Portions are ample, but not "Texas sized," meaning you don't have to worry about the after lunch food coma. A breakout success even before being awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2024, Ngon has become a cornerstone restaurant in the area. You can't go wrong with any of the dry or wet noodle dishes as a main, but an absolute non-negotiable is the mango salad appetizer. The perfect balance of tangy, crunchy green mango with gently poached shrimp and squid, tossed in a mouthwatering fish sauce dressing and topped with fried shallots and peanuts. It's sweet, salty, pungent and aromatic. There's a reason every table orders it.
Just outside the city limits in neighboring Richardson, TX you can find the best Iraqi food in the Metroplex. While the sandwiches and small plates are fantastic, Al Baghdadi’s restaurant Salam Grill excels at family style dining. Order a platter with tender lamb tikka, the yogurt and spice marinated chicken known as shish tawook, saffron rice, hummus, and baskets full of warm-from-the oven khubz (flatbread). Food is prepared on charcoal- burning grills, giving it a mouthwatering char and aroma that electric grills could never dream of replicating. After dinner, stroll on over to the bakery side and satisfy your sweet tooth. Beautiful spiraling displays of z'labia (Texans might call it a funnel cake), fried just behind the counter. Trays of pistachio-bejeweled, diamond- shaped baklava emerge from the ovens in the back. Thick squares of daheen, a gooey, rich, aromatic cake soaked in cardamom syrup, are cut to order. In short, you can't skip the bakery, no matter how full you are.
The high, rounded ceiling of this repurposed Quonset hut frames the horseshoe bar of local watering hole Far Out. With intimate seating and terra cotta bound cacti inside and out, it has the West Texas rugged-chic thing going for it. Located near the state fair grounds in a largely uninhabited area just outside of Downtown, Far Out feels shielded from the chaos of the big city. The menu bears a familiar DNA from chef Misti Norris (formally of Petra and the Beast), with ferments, pickles, and preserves making appearances throughout. The menu is playful and draws from a number of inspirations, but Texas remains the center of its universe. On a warm summer night, try the duck confit salad: A trio of cool herbs (mint, basil, cilantro) tossed with red cabbage, crunchy pickled jicama, a creamy chile emulsion dressing topped with juicy duck confit and a crispy fermented black rice crisp. With a heaping helping of Western style (and an even bigger patio) Far Out creates an inviting, casual-cool environment that encourages another round of stories (and cocktails) under the Texas sky.
A trip to Dallas isn’t complete without a steakhouse dinner. I’m talking high-backed, leather bound booths. Low lighting. Fresh bread served in a crisp white linen. While there are more steakhouses in Dallas than you can shake a stick at, Pappas Bros. has maintained its status as a top destination for decades. It's charming in its opulence, a place where the bigness of Texas makes sense. As you enter through the gold revolving door you are greeted by a butcher case proudly displaying gorgeous cuts of beef. Filet. New York Strip. Bone-in ribeye. Most dry-aged on the premises for a minimum of 28 days before landing on your plate. There's also a lobster tank and beautiful shellfish on ice. Their much lauded wine and spirits menu (it’s actually a binder) is extensive and, frankly, intimidating. Despite its thousands of bottle options, you'll be happy to know that friendly sommeliers walk the floor on any given night, ready to assist. Pappas Bros. stands out in a saturated market because it knows exactly the restaurant it wants to be. No gimmicks, no cut corners. Just salt, pepper, butter, and an amazing cut of beef. It’s the Texas way.
Descending into Downtown's subterranean listening bar, Shyboy HiFi, is like entering another dimension. The chaotic noise of Main Street traffic dissolves into the walls of this former bank vault, replaced by high-fidelity global sounds. Low, blue lighting, chrome furniture, and brutalist design features materialize the Y2K future we were promised. The concept of high-fidelity sound reproduction has been around since the 1930s and denotes a sound system with no distortion or degradation in quality. In essence, a sound recording just as good as listening live. Shyboy's main space as well as the blue listening room (both with respective bars) are outfitted by HiFi poster boy Devon Turnbull, known for crafting one-of-a-kind stereo systems. The nine-foot-tall speakers are flanked by contemporary art installations that interact and respond with the music, making sound a synesthetic experience. Come for the nightly DJs, come for the succinct menu of highball cocktails, or just come for the Japanese soft serve ice cream. Matcha sesame scoop, anyone?