The best restaurants in Dallas

Fresh off receiving a Michelin star in Texas’s inaugural guide, Tatsu continues to show why it’s one of the best dining experiences in Dallas. Book a seat at the counter and watch chef Tatsuya Sekiguchi work his magic each night, as he and the team serve a meticulously prepared omakase menu featuring about 15 courses across nigiri and other select dishes. The food is exquisite and the hospitality is always warm and inviting.

Mini Icelandic hot dogs served on traditional rugbrød. Beef cheek tacos with beef fat and mezcal emulsion. Carrot tartare with a surprisingly flavorful vegan “egg yolk.” These are just a few of the dishes on Rye’s creative, playful menu. Order a la carte to choose your own adventure, or opt for the chef’s tasting to remove the need for decision making entirely. Whichever route you go, be sure to sample the bar’s excellent cocktails or a glass from the eclectic wine list.

When it comes to izakayas, this is a clear winner on Maple Drive. From the same team behind Uchi, this sexy upstairs bar puts a twist on Japan’s greatest hits. Some of our top menu picks include a bao stuffed with juicy pork belly and pickled carrot, pork dumplings and slices of hamachi Unlike traditional izakaya, Uchiba has a massive vegetarian selection like crispy veggie rolls, cauliflower buns, mushroom skewers and avocado nigiri. If you have room for dessert, don't skip on the fried milk, a harmonious balance of vanilla custard, salted fudge and a toasted blondie. 

Since leaving the French Laundry to take the reins at Georgie, chef RJ Yoakum has infused the gorgeous restaurant with some of the most whimsical and technically precise cooking in town. The seasonal menu pulls from Texas while also nodding to global flavors. That combo results in dishes like the dry-aged duck breast with duck confit tortellini and a French onion consomme, which is a creative reinterpretation of the classic French onion soup.  

Opulence can be fun, especially when the food quality and overall experience match the scene. Mister Charles gets it right, complementing its grand, over-the-top aesthetic with coordinated service and well-executed menus. Dine under the 38-foot ceilings and choose from plates like Dover sole, wagyu short rib Wellington and veal osso bucco. Don’t miss the tableside ice cream sundae for dessert. 

Fifteen years later, Lucia is still going strong. The husband-and-wife owners make pasta and salumi in house, and the starters, vegetables and mains change with the seasons, so there’s always something fresh and new to try. The dining room is exceedingly comfortable, with service to match, so it’s the kind of place you’ll want to settle in and stay for a while. To get the most from your dining experience, sample from the thoughtfully curated menu of vermouths, wines and amari.

This lively Mexican restaurant draws a crowded room of diners each night, who gather to hangout in the stylishly retro space and to sample its mix of one-hitters (bite-size starters), wood-fired meats and fish, housemade tortillas and masa-based dishes. Order a margarita or mezcal tasting flight, then fill every available inch of your table with charred octopus, guajillo chicken, carne asada and whatever else looks good, plus a machete. It’s a long and narrow quesadilla filled with a rotating selection of proteins, vegetables and cheese, and it’s always the right call.

Carbone Vino is unlike anything else in Dallas; a step back to a time you’ll never want to return from. Next door to Carbone in the Design District, Vino is the restaurant's impressive extension with a wine cellar to end all wine cellars (we saw the list—it’s huge!). Come sample fine vintages at the bar, then sit down and say Mamma Mia! with every bite.

We recommend the shaved artichoke salad to start and persuading your table to share a bunch of pastas and entrees (you know, ‘the family way’) like the spicy rigatoni vodka pasta and grilled salmon Portofino. For the grand finale, select their cherries flambe, drizzled and sprinkled with goodies tableside. Note: all portions are bigger than you’d expect, so show up extra hungry.

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If Chef Anastacia Quinoñes’ tacos de tacha looked appealing on Netflix’s Taco Chronicles, then you’ll want to visit her Jalisco-inspired restaurant in West Dallas—José. What makes José so special is the seafood-focused menu and dishes made with heirloom masa like crab sopesitos—lump crab stuffed masa boats—and quesadilla de huitlacoche. Expect seasonal crudo and ceviche, as well as traditional Mexican dishes like chicken mole, tacos and carne asada. There is a playfulness to the dishes that we love, like short rib enchiladas and Mexican street corn (elote) with brussels sprouts. In addition to being open for lunch and dinner, José offers brunch on the weekends and happy hour during the week. 

The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas took over the Four Seasons and replaced LAW with Knife Italian, a must-visit restaurant with a decadent menu and a modern, sultry tropical design. Knife Italian is the latest venture for Michelin Starred Chef and Restaurateur, John Tesar. While the name indicates an Italian restaurant, you’ll see a lot of Texas and global influences on the family-style eating menu. Start your meal with an antipasti, crudi, or salad, before ordering a pasta—like the lobster agnolotti—and main dish like pork chop Milanese or veal loin. The steaks are the real treasures of the menu as they’re wet- or dry-aged between 45 and 240 days! 

Opened in 2021 in Bishop Arts, Written by the Seasons is a lovely restaurant with vibrantly colored dishes that are as delicious as they look. As the name suggests, the menu features seasonal ingredients and dishes, however, there are some favorites that typically appear year-round like a delightful focaccia, a wild mushrooms dish, and a grilled shrimp and avocado salad with mango, pear, and chili. Though it’s mostly American cuisine on the menu, there are some Asian influences and dishes, too, like the Kimchi pancakes. The staff (whom are as beloved as the food) encourage visitors to share dishes and will guide you well in your dining choices, be it ordering dayboat scallops or a NY strip. Whether you sit on the patio or indoors, Written by the Seasons is open for dinner Monday-Thursday, lunch and dinner on Friday and brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

One of the oldest and most storied restaurants in the South, The French Room was remodeled a few years back, which only upgraded an already timeless experience. The chic, en pointe decor (think Louis XVI-style chairs and Italian Murano Glass chandeliers) is matched by an exquisite afternoon tea menu featuring a tier of finger sandwiches, sweet scones and sweet treats such as tarte au citron with strawberry compote and whipped mascarpone. Best washed down with some Laurent-Perrier.

You wouldn’t expect a Turkish restaurant to be inside a 1910 historic home where an Oak Cliff mayor lived in the early 1900s—but that’s exactly the case with The Mayor’s House by Selda. Owned by Mert and Becky Tezkol who partnered with acclaimed Turkish chef Habip Kargin, diners enjoy authentic Turkish food in an elegant space. Whether you’re sitting on the porch or inside, you can eat from a menu filled with kebabs, Turkish-style flatbread pizzas, lamb shank, tzatziki and kulbatsi. 

Situated in the Deep Ellum district (hence the suffix), everyone was confused when Armoury D.E. opened back in 2015, offering Hungarian food with Mexican beer and shot combos. Now, it’s a cherished cornerstone of the weekend crawlers, positioned perfectly amid a glut of boisterous bars and live music venues. Whether you’re looking for a snack (deep fried Hungarian flat bread, all the way) or a full meal (a bowl of Hungarian beef soup), the menu is brimming with options. 

The Mansion Restaurant (and its adjoining bar) have long been a Dallas institution. Dishes include fried quail, dry aged beef porterhouse, and desserts like spiced dark chocolate mousse and caramel apple mille-feuille. Toast a fine wine under exquisite European décor no matter which of the striking boudoirs of the restaurant your table lies. The Mansion Restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

Whichever way you slice it, barbecue is king in Texas. And, as pretty much any Dallasite will tell you, Pecan Lodge smokes the rest of the competition for miles around. The bad news? The line snakes for at least a block most lunchtimes. The good news? You can skip straight to the front when you order five pounds of meat or more. If it’s your first time, dive straight in and order The Trough—it comes with a beef rib, a pound of pork ribs, a pound of brisket, a half-pound of pulled pork and two sausages.