This isn’t a guide to the fanciest food in town. We aren’t trying to be like the Michelin Guide. We’re normal people, who just like really, really good food. What follows is what we believe is the best food in Dallas – we ignore factors like the pedigree of the chef and the price level. Our sole criterion is how good it tastes.
1. Kenny’s Italian Kitchen
Shoutout to the adorable Samantha Cheung & Alec Smith
and the city’s most dapper dentist Chris Roc
and last but not least the lovely Lyna
Address: 5100 Belt Line Rd, Ste 764, Dallas, TX 75254
Phone: (972) 661-9380
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Fri: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sat: 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sun: 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 400+ reviews)
Website
Kenny’s Italian Kitchen serves classic “Southern Italian American” food modeled after the “Little Italy” sections of Boston and New York. It’s decorated with red checkered cloth table cloths, dark woods and the walls are adorned with black and white photos of friends, family and regular guests. A cozy patio and full service bar accompany the warm, friendly and comfortable atmosphere. You will swear you just dined at a neighborhood Italian joint in the Northeast.
- Huge portions; we’re fans of the gnocchi
- Consistently excellent service
2. Hillstone Restaurant
Cheers to the totally awesome Dallas Gift Wrap Creations
Cheers to one of the city’s coolest IG accounts: @dtxnoms
Address: 8300 A Preston Rd, Dallas, TX 75225
Phone: (214) 691-8991
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 10:30 am – 10:00 pm
Menu
Menu
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 300+ reviews)
Website
Step inside Hillstone in Dallas and you will find both the excitement of their island bar, popular among Highland Park’s most esteemed locals, as well as the action of their display kitchen. The atmosphere of low-slung wood beams, cozy leather booths and intimate patio for wine and appetizers is the perfect setting for an enjoyable evening or lunch.
- Probably the best veggie burger in town
- Horseradish sauce (on the side of anything) and grilled artichokes are delicious as well
3. Meso Maya
Address: 1611 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: (214) 484-6555
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 700+ reviews)
Website
- D Magazine’s 2015 Readers’ Choice for Best Chef & Best Regional Mexican Cuisine & 2016 Readers’ Choice for Best Brunch
- Thrillist included Meso Maya in their list of America’s top 21 Mexican restaurants
- House made sauces, the chocolate used in their mole sauce is made from specialty cocoa beans they grind in house. The garlic in the camaron al mojo de ajo is peeled from whole cloves. The skillet-baked blueberries in the pastel de mora are always fresh picked. The tomatoes in their salsa are cooked on a wood-burning grill
4. Lucia
Big thanks to Daniel Walker
Address: 408 W 8th St, Dallas, TX 75208
Phone: (214) 948-4998
Hours:
Mon: Closed
Tue – Sat: 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Sun: Closed
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 200+ reviews)
Website
Tucked into a historic building in the Bishop Arts District, Lucia is a small, chef-owned Italian restaurant. The menu changes frequently and features fresh pasta made in house daily.
- Great dessert options, well-worth the calories
5. Boulevardier
Address: 408 N Bishop Ave, Ste 108, Dallas, TX 75208
Phone: (214) 942-1828
Hours:
Mon: Closed
Tue – Fri: 4:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Sat: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm & 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 400+ reviews)
Website
- French-Inspired, Neighborhood-Friendly Bistro in the historic and beautiful Bishop Arts District
- Beverage Selections include over 150 bottles of American and French Wine, 20-something Wines by the Glass, a large Liquor selection including Proprietary Cocktails, Vintage Cognacs and Armagnacs, and Whiskeys, Whiskies and other Fine Liquors from around the World and 8 Draft Beers
6. The Grape Restaurant
Address: 2808 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
Phone: (214) 828-1981
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Sun: 10:30 am – 2:00 pm & 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 400+ reviews)
Website
- Good food, great wine and a cozy ambiance
- Solid date night spot serving the area since the 70s
7. Filament
Cheers to the super creative @rpm_o
Address: 2626 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226
Phone: (214) 760-1080
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Sun: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (3 stars 100+ reviews)
Website
Leading a culinary resurgence in Dallas’s Deep Ellum neighborhood is Filament, Chef Matt McCallister’s latest restaurant venture. Following his adventurous foray into Dallas’s food scene with the success of FT33.
- Well-executed drinks and great Southern-inspired food
- Great decor, ambiance and service
8. Tei-An
Thanks to the super cool Brandon R. Gibson
Address: One Arts Plz, 1722 Routh St, Ste 110, Dallas, TX 75201
Phone: (214) 220-2828
Hours:
Mon: Closed
Tue – Thu: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm & 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Fri: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm & 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Sat: 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Sun: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm & 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 400+ reviews)
Website
- Top notch ramen
- Easily one of Dallas’ best Japanese restaurants
9. Asian Mint
Address: 11617 N Central Expy, Ste 135, Dallas, TX 75243
Phone: (214) 363-6655
Hours:
Mon – Sat: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Menu
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 400+ reviews)
Website
10. Ellen’s Southern Kitchen & Bar
Address: 1790 N Record St, Ste 130, Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: (469) 206-3339
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 7:00 am – 9:00 pm
Fri & Sat: 7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sun: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Yelp: (4 stars 1100+ reviews)
Website
- Come for the food, not the service
- Excellent mac-n-cheese with veggies and a creaminess to die for
11. Bolsa
Cheers to the dapper Paul Grindstaff
Address: 614 W Davis St, Dallas, TX 75208
Phone: (214) 367-9367
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Fri: 4:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Sat: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 800+ reviews)
Website
- Located just west of Bishop Arts, the farm-to-table restaurant features dishes and cocktails that are seasonally inspired
- Love the white chocolate rum tile & bread pudding
12. Kenny’s Wood Fired Grill
Address: 5000 Belt Line Rd, Ste 775, Dallas, TX 75254
Phone: (972) 392-9663
Hours:
Mon: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Tue – Sat: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Sun: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 1400+ reviews)
Website
- Try the Grey Goose™ martini poured from their signature frozen tap system
- Smoked gouda mac & cheese is to die fore
13. Bread Winners Cafe & Bakery
Big thanks to the always cool Patrick Gotingco
Address: 3301 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204
Phone: (214) 754-4940
Hours:
Mon: 7:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tue – Thu: 7:00 am – 9:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sun: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 1000+ reviews)
Website
- One of our favorite spots for brunch
- Stunning dessert display with some excellent choices
14. Fearings Restaurant
Shoutout to the brilliant Joey Sturgis
Address: The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, 2121 McKinney Avenue, Dallas, TX 75201
Phone: (214) 922-4848
Hours:
Mon –Thu: 6:30 am – 10:30 pm
Fri – Sat: 6:30 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 6:30 am – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 400+ reviews)
Website
As the author of The Texas Food Bible, chef Dean Fearing is an expert when it comes to both food and the Dallas dining experience. At his namesake restaurant, Fearing’s, he’s created seven distinct settings all offering his innovative interpretation of American cuisine.
Among the restaurant’s spaces are the intimate Wine Cellar for private dining, the chef’s table in Dean’s Kitchen, the lushly landscaped Ocaso patio and the garden-facing glass pavilion in Sendero. Whether dining indoors or outdoors, guests enjoy gracious service, creative cuisine and farm-to-table specialties.
- Cannot go wrong with the cornbread muffins and carrot cake
15. Hattie’s Restaurant
Big ups to the awesome @dbarealestate
Address: 418 N Bishop Ave, Dallas, TX 75208
Phone: (214) 942-7400
Hours:
Mon: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Tue – Thu: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm & 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm & 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Sun: 11:00 am – 2:30 pm & 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Yelp: (4 stars 600+ reviews)
Website
- Excellent Low country (Carolinas, Georgia) fare in a semi-upscale setting
- We love the brunch here, but food is great all day
16. Pepe’s & Mito’s Mexican Cafe
Address: 2911 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75226
Phone: (214) 741-1901
Hours:
Mon – Tue: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Wed – Thu: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 300+ reviews)
Website
- They like to say they are Mex-Tex and not Tex-Mex
17. Knuckle Sandwich Co
Cheers to the dapper Alaster Johnson
Address: 3619 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
Phone: (469) 364-1239
Hours: Mon – Sun: 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Yelp: (4 stars 40+ reviews)
Website
- Excellent cocktails and sandwiches
- The chips and queso are a fun treat
18. Bubba’s Cooks Country
Address: 6617 Hillcrest Ave, Dallas, TX 75205
Phone: (214) 373-6527
Hours: Mon – Sun: 6:30 am – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 300+ reviews)
Website
Most southern families have a “Bubba” and most love fried food. You’ll find both at Bubba’s Cooks Country. At Bubba’s, they only serve food the family loves and, luckily, they love mashed potatoes, green beans, yeast rolls, black-eyed peas and fried chicken.
19. Knife
Big thanks to Todd Rodgers
Address: 5300 E Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, TX 75206
Phone: (214) 443-9339
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 6:30 am – 10:30 am & 11:30 am – 2:00 pm & 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 6:30 am – 10:30 am & 11:30 am – 2:00 pm & 5:00 pm – 12:00 pm
Sun: 6:30 am – 10:30 am & 11:15 am – 2:30 pm & 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 200+ reviews)
Website
A reinvention of the steakhouse experience, Knife is the highly anticipated restaurant created by nationally acclaimed, James Beard-nominated and Bravo’s “Top Chef ” contestant Chef John Tesar for The Highland Dallas.
20. Mia’s Tex-Mex Restaurant
Address: 4322 Lemmon Ave, Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (214) 526-1020
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 500+ reviews)
Website
Founded by Butch and Ana Enriquez (Mama Mia to those in–the–know), the restaurant on Lemmon Avenue has been a destination for Dallas Cowboys, film and TV stars, local celebrities, and just about everyone who visits Dallas or calls the city home.
- Enchiladas, chips and salsa are all amazing
21. Cosmic Cafe
Shoutout to the always chill Flavio Evangelho
Shoutout to the super cool Isaac Shaw
and super compassionate @eastsideveganariesgoddess
Address: 2912 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (214) 521-6157
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:00 am – 10:30 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Menu: Not Available
Yelp: (4 stars 500+ reviews)
Website
- One of the best vegetarian spots in Dallas
- Very hippy, peace-loving, conscious vibe
- Not exactly “authentic” Indian, but still pretty darn good
22. Original Market Diner
Address: 4434 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (214) 521-0992
Hours:
Mon – Fri: 6:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sat: 6:30 am – 9:00 pm
Sun: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 200+ reviews)
Website
- Excellent, award-worthy breakfast
- Love the rolls and mac-n-cheese bites
23. Avila’s Mexican Restaurant
Cheer to the oh so fly @sassy.hiking.lady
Address: 4714 Maple Ave, Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (214) 520-2700
Hours:
Mon – Thu: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 200+ reviews)
Website
- Vegetarian friendly menu
- Fantastic, spicy salsa
- Their bread pudding is insanely good
24. Teppo Yakitori and Sushi Bar
Address: 2014 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
Phone: (214) 826-8989
Hours:
Mon: Closed
Tue – Thu: 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 5:30 pm – 12:00 am
Sun: 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 300+ reviews)
Website
25. Gemma
Address: 2323 N Henderson Ave, Ste 109, Dallas, TX 75206
Phone: (214) 370-9426
Hours:
Mon: Closed
Tue – Sun: 5:00 pm – 1:00 am
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 200+ reviews)
Website
- Excellent food and even better service
- Quickly rising to become on of our favorite-go-to spots for special meals
26. El Come Taco
Big thanks to one of our favorite reporters – Jason Whitely
Address: 2513 N Fitzhugh Ave, Dallas, TX 75204
Phone: (214) 821-3738
Hours:
Mon: Closed
Tue – Thu: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Sun: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Menu
Yelp: (4 stars 200+ reviews)
Website
- Jose’s taco was great
- Street corn is killer!
- Favorite taco joint in Dallas at the moment
