Best Restaurants in Dallas

Want to experience Dallas’s foodie side? Then you’re in luck since the local food scene is thriving and offers a varied range of dining alternatives from seasoned pros to exciting newbies who serve up amazing food that goes above and beyond conventional Dallas menus. In reality, not all of the top restaurants in the city are pricey or fancy. Explore Regino Rojas’ modest Mexican restaurant Revolver Taco Gastro Cantina, which combines Michoacan heritage with other Mexican culinary flavors. Regino Rojas is a James Beard Award nominee. Meridian, a chic restaurant in the Village area that serves Brazilian food with a distinctively modern twist, is also south of the border. Sister Restaurant, which made the New York Times’ list of the best restaurants for 2022, and obviously SER, the storied steakhouse atop the Hilton Anatole hotel, which opened recently after a short break, are other excellent restaurants to keep on your must-try list.

In short, these ten Dallas area restaurants have to be on your radar if you’re seeking a fantastic lunch.

MERIDIAN

Since it opened in the Village arts district in 2021, Chef Junior Borges’ elegant Brazilian restaurant has become instantly popular. And it’s clear why. In contrast to typical rodizio-style steakhouses, Borges respects his cultural background by serving a modern version of the varied food of his native country. Expect to discover anything from piri piri chicken, wagyu picanha, and an excellent wood-fired entire octopus with green garlic-chili vinaigrette to Asian-inspired fluke tartare served with bonito mousse and finger lime vinaigrette. To make the most of the cuisine, go with taking the time to share with friends. No matter what you choose, make sure to order the daily bread course.

Meridian is the place to go if you want unique Brazilian cuisine and beverages, making it one of the Best Restaurants’ recommendations.

REVOLVER TACO LOUNGE GASTRO CANTINA

This Deep Ellum cantina, managed by James Beard-nominated chef Regino Rojas of Revolver Taco Lounge and La Resistencia tasting room, is situated in a once-private alley. Like his other restaurants, Gastro Cantina is a family-run business, and its food draws on both Rojas’ Michoacan heritage and Mexico’s many culinary traditions. Outstanding dishes include wontons filled with cabrito birria prepared in the Michoacan way, as well as grilled Japanese hamachi collar served with homemade corn tortillas and pineapple pico de gallo. Tacos stuffed with everything from grilled salmon to seared duck breast are also available. Don’t overlook the drink menu or the buffet for Sunday brunch.

Gastro Cantina is a recommended choice for Best Restaurants since it serves unique Mexican cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere.

FEARING’S

With its premium (but approachable) ambiance and locally made, modern Southwestern cuisine, star chef Dean Fearing’s eponymous restaurant in the opulent Uptown Ritz Carlton has remained a popular destination for more than a decade. Although the menu is constantly changing, you can always count on finding dishes like BBQ shrimp tacos, chicken fried quail, glazed antelope, and some of the best Texas Wagyu-Angus steaks in the city. Get a seat in Dean’s kitchen for a front-row view of the activity and perhaps a chance to speak with the lively Fearing. Save enough for the chocolate or the tart with banana pudding.

Fearing’s is the place to go if you want a special meal out on the town, which is why it is suggested for Top Restaurants.

LUCIA DALLAS

The location of Macellaio’s sibling restaurant is now home to perhaps one of the top Italian restaurants in the city. This means that in addition to finding Lucia’s regularly changing menu of house-cured meats, homemade pasta, game birds, and fish, customers can also enjoy it all in more spacious surroundings that include an outside terrace. The menu varies seasonally, but recent additions include a duck leg stuffed with foie gras sausage and figs, as well as semolina gnocchi with mushrooms and crispy chicken skin. Must-tries are the foie gras-stuffed prunes and homemade charcuterie. It’s also worthwhile to pursue desserts.

Because Lucia is the place to go when you want authentic Italian food but doesn’t have the time or money to travel to Italy, it is suggested for Top Restaurants.

MOT HAI BA

Vietnamese for “1-2-3,” chef Peja Krsticthat’s little Lakewood restaurant has received rave reviews from both local and international food critics as a top place to eat. The specialty is modern French Vietnamese cuisine, which translates to creative, vibrant dishes like banana leaf-wrapped grouper tossed with jasmine rice teamed with herbs, jicama, peanuts, and lovely lap cheong sausage. Other examples include steamed buns filled with braised brisket and topped with shallot marmalade. To Drink? H hibiscus-infused gin, citrus, and limoncello in “Southern Buddhist.” Not to be missed are desserts like buttermilk beignets with chocolate mousse and coconut creme.

Because Mot Hai Ba is the only location in the metroplex that offers a creative twist on Vietnamese cuisine, it is suggested for Top Restaurants.

TEI-AN

One of the top Japanese restaurants in the area has long been praised as being located in the stylish, darkly lighted Dallas Arts District. The vast menu, overseen by celebrated chef Teiichi Sakurai, offers a wide selection of sushi and sashimi (flown in fresh from Kyushu, Japan), as well as a variety of both raw and cooked items. Handmade soba noodles are Sakurai’s specialty; they can be ordered warm or cold and come with a variety of flavorful broths and sauces. While expensive, the omakase (tasting menu) is the greatest way to sample all Tei-An has to offer. Dessert is important, save enough for the soba ice cream with black honey. Did we mention the rooftop terrace?

Recommended for Top Restaurants because Tei-An delivers a flavorful experience on every dish when you wish to stray from the standard sushi offerings.

SISTER RESTAURANT

Listed among the “50 locations in America we’re most enthusiastic about right now” in the New York Times list for 2022. The Charles, a popular destination in the Design District, has a sister. The restaurant’s playful, laid-back ambiance aims to evoke the feeling of a local trattoria while showcasing Italian-Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. A few of the wood-fired delicacies and house-made pasta on the menu are grilled za’atar focaccia with mortadella and giardiniera relish, chicken marsala with black truffles, and a wild boar and rye mafaldine pasta Bolognese variation. There is also a short list of predominantly Italian wines and drinks available. For dessert, the banana budino is a must.

Sister is a fantastic restaurant for a dating night and is rated as the Best Restaurant.

CAFE MOMENTUM

From the beginning, Cafe Momentum had all the characteristics of a great restaurant establishment: a laid-back atmosphere, affordable prices, and inventive cuisine preparation. The facility also serves as a nonprofit that trains at-risk adolescents in the culinary arts. Dishes range from house-made charcuterie platters to smoked fried chicken with all the trimmings and coffee-rubbed, locally sourced NY strip on the restaurant’s seasonal New American menu. Craft beer and a great assortment of wine starting at $25 a bottle are available as drinks. Additionally, whatever tip you want to give will be regarded as a donation to the restaurant’s goals because the staff is paid a living salary.

Cafe Momentum is a great, economical choice for a family gathering or date night, therefore it is recommended for Best Restaurants.

SER STEAK + SPIRITS

This renowned steakhouse atop the Hilton Anatole Hotel reopened after briefly closing in late 2021. And if the views aren’t enough to impress you, the food will. The cuisine, which is now being overseen by head chef Richard Hoffmann, features hand-selected, top-quality USDA Prime beef, American Texas Wagyu, specialty game, as well as fresh fish and shellfish. Follow up with one of the prime steaks, any of which can be improved with extras like a blue cheese crust or foie gras, after beginning with bone marrow coated in green apple butter. Consider the grilled elk rack with mango chipotle chutney if beef isn’t your thing. Find artisan drinks and a selection of over 350 different types of wine to go with the meal.

Recommendation for Top Restaurants given that: SER is the place to go for a memorable special night.

UCHI DALLAS

James Beard award-winning chef Tyson Cole’s Austin-based sushi paradise has been a hot-ticket reservation since the restaurant opened near Uptown in 2015. And with good reason: The menu offers an outstanding selection of nigiri and sashimi in addition to creative twists on traditional Japanese cuisine. With crowd-pleasing dishes like thinly sliced flounder with candied quinoa and oak-grilled escolar dressed in ponzu and citrus marmalade, fresh, high-quality ingredients shine. Both the drinks and the menu leave an impression. The restaurant keeps about 40% of its tables open to walk-in customers, and Uchiba upstairs serves many of the same menu items. 

Recommended for Top Restaurants because: If you want to enjoy creative Japanese small meals while dining out, Uchi is the place to go.