ABCs of new restaurants in North Texas: 26+ eateries for every letter of the alphabet (2024)

A-B-C, want to hear about new North Texas restaurants with me?

I’ve probably been reading too many alphabet books with my kids, because when I started jotting down restaurant names for the April 2024 Hot List, I realized there were nearly enough to comprise all 26 letters. And then the game really began: Does Dallas-Fort Worth have a new restaurant that begins with an H? How about W? You bet we do:

H is for Herby’s Burgers, a welcoming Oak Cliff cafe.

W is for Wagamama, a name that’s fun to say.

Things get hinky with letters I, X and Z.

But we got creative and made them work, as I think you will see!

The Ainsworth in Plano

The Ainsworth aims to be a sports-watching destination. The new bar and American restaurant in West Plano’s Shops at Legacy, formerly Shakertins, has more than a dozen TVs. Flashy items include chicken wings dusted in 24-karat gold, bacon presented on a clothesline, and a section of the menu called “amazing burgers.” The restaurant has plenty of standard bar items, too, like a jumbo pretzel, fried mozzarella, thin-crust pizzas and salads.

The Ainsworth is at 7300 Lone Star Drive, Suite C-150, Plano.

• Other new A restaurants: Armor Brewing in Allen and Abby’s Bagels on Dallas’ Greenville Avenue

Bill Smith’s Cafe in Van Alstyne

Some thought Bill Smith would have retired in his 80s after closing his family’s breakfast and lunch spot in McKinney in 2022, but the self-proclaimed “spring chicken” restaurateur moved Bill Smith’s Cafe north to Van Alstyne and opened in February 2024. The neighbors seemed thrilled to have a new breakfast spot. “Everybody knows Bill Smith,” said Van Alstyne City Manager Lane Jones, speaking both of the man and of the place.

Bill Smith’s Cafe is at 233 E. Jefferson St., Van Alstyne.

• Other new B restaurants: Bacari Tabu in Highland Park and Birdie’s Eastside in Dallas’ Lakewood

CosMc’s in Far North Dallas

(coming soon to Watauga and Arlington)

McDonald’s has launched its new drinks-centered drive-through, CosMc’s, and it’s moving fast and furious through Dallas-Fort Worth, our Claire Ballor reports. The first one in D-FW is open now at Campbell and Preston roads in Far North Dallas. By early April 2024, the brand will expand to Watauga and Arlington. The drive-through drink market is crowded, Ballor says, and CosMc’s is expected to compete with the likes of Dutch Bros, 151 Coffee and Swig.

CosMc’s is at 6033 Campbell Road, Dallas. Coming soon to 7304 Denton Highway, Watauga, and 300 E. Abram St., Arlington.

Denton Independent Hamburger Co. in Denton

Denton County residents might remember Denton Independent Hamburger Co. from its digs on Sunset Street for 35 years. The restaurant moved less than a block away and reopened in early January 2024, Ballor reports. The newer restaurant still has a lot of the same homey touches as before.

Denton Independent Hamburger Co. is now at 507 W. University Dr., Denton.

• Another new D restaurant: Del Toro Craft Que and Brew, a barbecue stand in the downtown Dallas/Uptown area

Emilia’s in Fort Worth

If you hear one thing, it’s this: Fort Worth is hotter than ever. Emilia’s in the new Crescent Hotel serves Italian food made by Preston Paine, the Jesuit grad who was on a Food Network show centered in Italy in 2023. His menu calls for burrata with roasted tomato jam, zucchini fritters with tzatziki, shellfish towers, house-made pastas and steaks. Inside Emilia’s is the Blue Room, a restaurant-within-a-restaurant for those who want an even more refined dinner.

Emilia’s is inside the Crescent Hotel at 3300 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth.

• Another new E restaurant: Enzo’s Deli & Imports in Plano

Fortunate Son Beer Garden and Pizza House in Garland

If you’re looking for a spot to take your family for unfussy, good food, Fortunate Son Beer Garden and Pizza House in Garland is a great option. It comes from the owners of Goodfriend Beer Garden and Burger House, guys who seem to love a long restaurant name. Culinary director David Peña obsessed over the pizzas, which are New Haven, Conn.-style, made with a sourdough crust and topped with interesting options like white clams or potato and pancetta. Fortunate Son also sells house-made pastas and good appetizers like burrata with pesto and crab-artichoke dip.

Fortunate Son Beer Garden and Pizza House is at 500 Main St., Garland.

• Other new F restaurants: Fanzo in Frisco and — coming in 2024 — Uptown Dallas restaurant Feng Shui, as reported by PaperCity

Goldie’s in Lake Highlands

“This has been my dream since I was 15 years old,” Brittni Clayton said of owning a restaurant. She and her partners opened American restaurant Goldie’s a few days ago. The vibe here is upscale food like burgers, salads and mussels frites, served at a stylish neighborhood bar in Lake Highlands.

Goldie’s is at 9850 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 305, Dallas. Reservations available but not required.

• Another new G restaurant: Gilgamesh, an Iraqi bakery in Richardson, according to CI

Herby’s Burgers in Oak Cliff

We liked Herby’s Burgers so much, it was the cover story in The Dallas Morning News’ Guide section on Feb. 16, 2024. This small, uncomplicated burger joint in Oak Cliff has a small menu of great food and quirky events that keep regulars coming back. Isn’t it nice to have a great option for dinner that doesn’t require a reservation?

Herby’s Burgers is at 2109 S. Edgefield Ave., Dallas.

Italia (actually, North Italia) in Far North Dallas

Here’s where we had to get creative. I is for (North) Italia at Galleria Dallas. Will you let that one slide?

North Italia is a chain Italian restaurant that takes up a whopping 10,000 square feet at the Far North Dallas mall. (It used to be Grill on the Alley.) North Italia made its way into D-FW in 2019, launching from the Arizona parent company that created True Food Kitchen, Flower Child and others. North Italia sells pizza, pasta, entrees like roasted porchetta and bistecca marsala, plus a stout selection of co*cktails. Happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays means $15 pizzas, $18 charcuterie boards and $26 pitchers of red wine, white wine and sangria.

North Italia is at 13270 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1155, Dallas.

Joey in Dallas’ NorthPark Center

Joey is an American restaurant run by Canadians with an Australian-sounding name. Food editor Erin Booke synthesized it well in a previous episode of the Eat Drink DFW podcast. What you need to know about Joey is less complicated than our intro: It’s a nice, new spot for lunch or dinner at Dallas’ NorthPark Center. The menu has a something-for-everyone feeling: snacky appetizers, healthy salads and pricey entrees for those who want to spend.

Joey Dallas is at 8687 N. Central Expressway (on the south side of NorthPark Center, between Dillard’s and Neiman Marcus). Reservations available but not required.

Knife Italian in Irving/Las Colinas

The longtime Four Seasons Resort at Las Colinas was bought and rebranded as a Ritz-Carlton. Did you know that? Inside that redone hotel is chef John Tesar’s new restaurant Knife Italian, which serves steak, seafood and house-made pasta. The design is eye-catching.

Knife Italian is 4150 N. MacArthur Blvd. (inside the Ritz-Carlton), Irving. Reservations available on OpenTable.

• Other new K restaurants: Kaiyo on Dallas’ Greenville Avenue

Little Daisy in downtown Dallas

New French bistro Little Daisy on the ninth floor of the Thompson hotel in downtown Dallas would be a great spot for a business lunch. (And finding a great lunch spot has never been tougher.) You have to know it’s there, up in the middle of the building. The restaurant has a darling interior and thoughtful food inspired by executive chef Jeramie Robison’s Louisiana roots.

Little Daisy is at 1401 Elm St. (ninth floor), Dallas.

Mābo in Dallas’ Preston Center

It’s never been pricier to eat in Dallas, but also, dining experiences have never been more intimate. Mābo in Dallas’ Preston Center is a Japanese restaurant that seats about eight people at a time for a $200-per-person dinner of skewered meats and vegetables. Its chef-owner Masayuki Otaka previously worked at Greenville Avenue restaurant Teppo for more than 25 years.

Mābo is at 6109 Berkshire Lane, Suite B, (in Preston Center), Dallas. Two seatings a night, at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Reservations required.

• Other new M restaurants: The Mayor’s House in Oak Cliff, the reinvented Mirador in downtown Dallas, doughnut shop Mochio in East Dallas and Miami Vibes in Plano (hat tip to CI)

Nice Pizza in Fort Worth

Fridays only, Peter Cho makes pizzas from a bright blue trailer parked just off of Interstate 30 in Fort Worth. The pizzas can be simple, and that’s a good thing.

Nice Pizza is sold Friday afternoons from the Sabar Barbecue trailer at 194 Bryan Ave., Fort Worth. Skip the line and pre-order at instagram.com/nicexpizza.

• Another new N restaurant: NDA Brasserie in Dallas’ Harwood District, one of the newest restaurants on this list, with its April 1, 2024 opening date

Oishii at Preston-Forest in North Dallas (coming soon)

Finding an “O” restaurant was tough, so we’ll look ahead to late 2024, when Oishii is expected to open at Preston Road and Forest Lane in place of Pei Wei, CultureMap reports. Oishii started selling sushi rolls on Wycliff Avenue more than 20 years ago. Expansions have taken Oishii to Plano, Grapevine and Dallas’ SMU Boulevard.

Oishii is expected to open at 11700 Preston Road, Dallas.

PopStroke in The Colony

The first thing you’ll probably do at PopStroke, the new mini golf course at Grandscape in The Colony, is play golf. But the second thing? Eat and drink. That was enough to put this new eatertainment spot on our list. According to WFAA, PopStroke has two 18-hole mini golf courses. Tiger Woods is a co-owner.

PopStroke is at 5770 Grandscape Blvd., The Colony.

• Another new P restaurant: Papaya’s Kitchen, formerly Green Papaya, now open on Dallas’ Lemmon Avenue

Quarter Acre on Dallas’ Greenville Avenue

Dipping back into early 2023, our Q restaurant is Quarter Acre on Dallas’ Greenville Avenue. New Zealand chef Toby Archibald serves some of the most beautiful plates in Dallas. Dishes include a wide array of proteins like kingfish, quail, rabbit, octopus, venison, prosciutto, salmon and more.

Quarter Acre is at 2023 Greenville Ave., Suite 110, Dallas. Reservations recommended.

The Ro on Oak in Roanoke

At this point in the alphabet, we’ve hit well over a dozen neighborhoods in Dallas-Fort Worth. Next comes Roanoke, a community of about 10,600 residents west of Flower Mound. New co*cktail bar the Ro on Oak feels like it’s straight out of Los Angeles or New York, not in this quaint small town on the outskirts of Dallas and Fort Worth. The Ro is certainly worth a stop if you’re out that way.

The Ro On Oak is at 320 S. Oak St., Roanoke.

• Another new R restaurant: Ribbee’s in Fort Worth, from the owners of Goldee’s Barbecue. Barbecue fanatics are already going wild for it.

St. Martin’s Wine Bistro in East Dallas

The classic, timeless, old-school St. Martin’s Wine Bistro is back. After nearly 45 years on Greenville Avenue, St. Martin’s moved and opened on Bryan Street in Dallas. The piano and the restaurant’s nearly untouched French menu made the move as well. My suggestion: Stop in for a glass of wine and a bowl of soup at the bar. Will it be Champagne-brie or French onion? Both are rich as ever.

St. Martin’s Wine Bistro is at 4223 Bryan St., Dallas.

• Other new S restaurants: Saint Valentine in East Dallas, Sanjh in Las Colinas and Si Tapas in Fort Worth

Tacos El Metro in Dallas

We’re interested in trying Tacos El Metro, which should open any day now on Walnut Hill Lane, near Webb Chapel Road, in northwest Dallas. According to CultureMap, owner Sergio Cuijano has partnered with chef Michael Garcia, formerly of Highland Park Village Italian restaurant Fachini. Their menu at Tacos El Metro is Mexico City street tacos.

Tacos El Metro is expected to open at 3720 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas. Stay up to date at instagram.com/tacoselmetro.

UnaVida in Dallas’ West Village

The team that runs new barbecue stand Del Toro in downtown Dallas and legacy restaurants El Fenix and Snuffer’s burgers debuted modern Mexican restaurant UnaVida in late 2023. Gourmands might feel drawn to the restaurant because fine-dining Dallas chef Matt McCallister is behind it. UnaVida’s menu includes stacked enchiladas, protein-packed bowls and breakfast all day.

UnaVida is at 3699 McKinney Ave., Suite 307 (in West Village), Dallas.

• Another new(ish) U restaurant: Urbano Cafe, which is under new ownership in Old East Dallas

Voodoo Brewing Co. in Plano

Franchise brewery Voodoo has been expanding quickly across the U.S. It first landed in Texas in Grand Prairie. The company now has a location in East Plano, around the corner from Urban Crust and The Fillmore Pub. Voodoo’s menu includes beer snacks like pretzels as well as pizzas and sandwiches.

Voodoo Brewing Co. is at 1001 14th St., Plano.

• Another new V restaurant: Via Triozzi on Dallas’ Greenville Avenue

Wagamama in Uptown Dallas

In 2023, an onslaught of not-from-here restaurants descended upon Dallas. There was Nando’s Peri-Peri from South Africa; new Jollibees from the Philippines; more Portillo’s restaurants from Chicago; Voodoo Doughnut from Portland; and Wagamama from London. Wagamama’s dishes include ramen, curries, fried rice and teppanyaki. It’s been around since the early 1990s, though its entry into the United States has been limited so far to Boston, New York, Tampa and Dallas. It’s a fun stop for lunch if you’re in the Uptown Dallas area.

Wagamama is at 2425 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas.

• Other new W restaurants: Wriggly Tin in Fair Park, WOW Donuts in Plano and Wicked Butcher in downtown Dallas

X ... pensive omakase

So you’ve got $175ish to spend on dinner and you love raw fish. Omakase restaurants are easy to find in Dallas — though not easy to snag a seat. New options include Sushi Bar in downtown Dallas’ East Quarter and Sushi by Scratch, hidden in an Adolphus hotel room. Two that have been around for a few years are Tatsu in Deep Ellum and Shoyo in East Dallas. Each of these restaurants have tiny dining rooms and feed you about 20 courses of food. Better make a reservation.

Yujo in North Dallas

Speaking of omakase restaurants, Yujo also offers a fixed menu of one-bite Japanese dishes, but the price here is $75 for 13 courses. Customers can also order off the regular menu.

Yujo is at 12835 Preston Road, Dallas. Yujo Nori, at 2626 N. Josey Lane in Carrollton, offers $60 omakase on Tuesdays.

miZnon in Deep Ellum

We’re going to borrow the Z in the middle of Miznon to finish out the ABCs of new North Texas restaurants. Miznon is an Israeli-born street-food shop that is growing across the world. Texas’ first is in Deep Ellum, on Main Street. The menu includes pitas stuffed with steak and veggies, cauliflower so tender you can eat it with a spoon, and a platter of lamb skewers that could be shared by several adults. I can’t wait to go back.

Miznon is at 2639 Main St., Dallas.

Check out past Hot Lists

• March 2024
• February 2024 — theme was date night spots
• January 2024 — theme was healthy
• December 2023 — theme was restaurants with holiday decor
• November 2023 — theme was budget-friendly
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• June and July 2023
• May 2023
• April 2023 — theme was patios

For more food news, follow Sarah Blaskovich on X (formerly Twitter) at @sblaskovich.