The best restaurants in Dallas

What is it? An upscale, lakeside Indian restaurant that merges traditional flavors with artful plating and modern flair to create one of the most exciting dining destinations in town.

Why we love it: The Irving area has lots of great Indian food. Most restaurants are firmly casual in service and presentation, but Sanjh goes hard in the opposite direction with its decidedly high-end experience. The two-story dining room is stunning, suited staff provide polished service and dishes appear like little works of art. Behind the glitz, serious cooking takes place in the glass-walled kitchen. Chefs stack meat and paneer onto long metal skewers, slow-cook chicken and goat until impossibly tender, apply spices with a liberal hand and infuse loads of flavor into creamy, comforting dal. Cocktails come from award-winning bartender Yangdup Lama, who enlists ingredients like Ceylon-chili tincture and chaat masala syrup to make drinks that complement the food.

 Time Out tip: Brunch buffets are often sad affairs, but Sanjh’s Sunday brunch is a celebration. It’s also your chance to try a couple dozen dishes, including butter chicken, goat curry and fresh chaat, for a set price of $50.

Address: 5250 N O'Connor Blvd Suite 146, Irving, TX 75039

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-2:30pm, 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-2:30pm, 5-11pm; Sun 11am-3pm, 5-10pm

Expect to pay: $100+ per person for dinner and drinks.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Purepecha (@purepechadallas)

What is it? An ode to Michoacán cooking from chef Regino Rojas, and a tasting menu concept that operates as an extension of the beloved Revolver Taco Lounge.

Why we love it: Rojas is one of the city’s best chefs, famous for pulpo and asada tacos on handmade corn tortillas. Purépecha lets his talents shine in a different setting, as he serves a tasting menu to small groups. The food is meticulously prepared and bursting with flavor, which feels all the more special in this casual, comfortable room surrounded by Rojas and his family members who cook each dish together. The menu changes regularly, but past dinners have included standouts like a deeply earthy chicken mole and sea bass festooned with edible flowers and swimming in a creamy, bright-pink beet sauce. 

Time Out tip: There are two options here. A four-course dinner takes place in the front room, while the seven-course dinner takes place in a hidden back room with just a couple tables. The latter is worth the cash, considering the extra dishes and an atmosphere that feels unlike anything else in Dallas.

Address: 2701 Main St #120, Dallas, TX 75226

Opening hours: Thurs-Sat 5-10pm

Expect to pay: $120 per person for the four-course menu, $180 for the seven-course menu, plus drinks.

What is it? A Lower Greenville restaurant from New Zealand chef Toby Archibald that supplies technically precise cooking and thoughtful wines in a good-looking dining room.

Why we love it: Quarter Acre manages unstuffy fine-dining better than most, serving pretty plates in a comfortable setting. One-bite snacks are a fun place to start, and include options like a rotating oyster or “fish on chip” made with smoked kingfish, caviar and citrus mayo. From there, appetizers bring ceviche, duck rillettes and a red crab eclair before moving to entrees like wagyu beef cheek and hot smoked salmon with fry bread. The menu is tight—usually six appetizers and six entrees—so you don’t have to think too hard. But if you want to leave your fate in the chef’s hands, Quarter Acre now serves a seven-course tasting menu featuring the day’s best dishes.

Time Out tip: Dinner here is an event and well-worth booking a table, but some of our favorite Quarter Acre experiences have occurred during “garden hour,” when they serve discounted wines, cocktails and snack boards, or at the bar with a quiet nightcap after having dinner elsewhere.

Address: 2023 Greenville Ave #110, Dallas, TX 75206

Opening hours: Tues-Thurs 5-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 5-10:30pm

Expect to pay: More than $100 per person for a la carte dinner and drinks, $125+ for the tasting menu.

What is it? An intimate, Michelin-starred omakase restaurant from Tatsuya Sekiguchi, one of the country’s foremost sushi masters.

Why we love it: The space is small and serene, with a 10-seat counter that gives diners a front-row seat to the nightly show. Sekiguchi meticulously works his magic to transform slices of fish and rice into perfect bites. The Edomae-style omakase experience features about 15 courses beginning with a couple small appetizers, moves into a beautiful onslaught of nigiri and ends with dessert. The drinks—a thoughtful mix of wines, sakes and Japanese beers—pair well with the food. Add in the comfortable front lounge and the warm hospitality, and dining at Tatsu is a transportative experience that feels a world away from the bustling Deep Ellum neighborhood it inhabits. It’s easy to see why Tatsu earned a star in Michelin’s inaugural Texas guide. 

Time Out tip: With just 10 seats, Tatsu is one of the hottest tables (technically counter seats) in town. Reservations are released on Tock on the 1st and 15th of each month for bookings beginning two weeks out. When the time comes, swoop in to secure your spot at one of the two seatings each evening.

Address: 3309 Elm St Ste 120, Dallas, TX 75226

Opening hours: Tues–Sat 5:30pm and 7:45pm

Expect to pay: $185 per person for omakase, plus drinks. 

What is it? A whimsical Lower Greenville restaurant adorned with vintage mirrors and lush greenery that’s become a go-to destination for creative plates and cocktails, with a tasting menu or the option to dine a la carte. 

Why we love it: 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. There’s also a vegetarian tasting menu, so veggie-eaters don’t have to miss out. The Rye team paces dinner out perfectly, so the next course arrives just when you’re ready. Whichever route you go, be sure to sample the bar’s excellent cocktails or a glass from the eclectic wine list. 

Time Out tip: Before or after dinner, get a drink at neighboring Apothecary, which comes from the same team as Rye. Its cuisine-inspired cocktails, like those modeled after Peking duck and butter curry, are some of the most unique you’ll find in the city. Or any city.

Address: 1920 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206

Opening hours: Tues-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5pm-12am

Expect to pay: About $100 per person for a la carte; the chef’s tasting is $185; the vegetarian tasting is $125. 

What is it? A good-looking spot for power dinners and romantic nights out helmed by French Laundry-trained chef, R.J. Yoakum.

Why we love it: On any given night, the space—dotted with orange upholstered booths and white-clothed tables—buzzes with energy and feels like the place to be. And since taking the reins at Georgie, Yoakum has infused the gorgeous restaurant with some of the most interesting 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. The regular menu is joined by a Taste of Georgie, so choose that if you want the restaurant to put together a sampling of the season’s best dishes. Wine pairings are available to accompany each course, or simply ask the sommelier to recommend a glass or a bottle. 

Time Out tip: As good as dinner is, don’t skip brunch. It’s still a great way to experience Georgie’s food, with dishes like smoked salmon benedict and a wagyu burger. And provided you don’t start with the platinum Ossetra caviar and a dozen oysters, it comes in at a more affordable price point.

Address: 4514 Travis St Suite 132, Dallas, TX 75205

Opening hours: Mon 4:30-9pm; Tues-Thurs 4:30-10pm; Fri-Sat 4:30-11pm; Sun 10:30am-3pm, 5-8:30pm

Expect to pay: More than $100 per person for a la carte; $185 for the chef’s tasting.

What is it? The grande dame of Duro Hospitality concepts, and the extra-luxurious big brother to The Charles.

Why we love it: The Knox Street location can’t be beat, occupying the former Highland Park Soda Fountain on a corner that’s just steps away from beloved shops and other great restaurants like Georgie, Knox Bistro and Green Point Seafood & Oyster Bar. Mister Charles proves that opulence can be fun, especially when the food quality and overall experience match the scene. The team here manages to get it right, complementing the over-the-top aesthetic with coordinated service and well-executed menus. Dine under the 38-foot ceilings, sip on ice-cold martinis and choose from kind-of-French, kind-of-Italian plates like Dover sole, wagyu short rib Wellington and veal osso bucco. Don’t miss the tableside ice cream sundae for dessert.

Time Out tip: If you can’t score a coveted table but have some flexibility, show up early and hang at the stunning bar, where you can sip cocktails and sample the menu in one of the city’s better front rooms.

Address: 3219 Knox St Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75205

Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 4:30-10pm; Fri–Sat 4:30-11pm

Expect to pay: Easily more than $100 per person, especially with wine and drinks.

What is it? One of the old-guard Bishop Arts restaurants, opened in 2010 and still going strong, now serving its beloved Italian menu in a larger location just around the corner from the original spot.

Why we love it: Fifteen years later, Lucia continues to serve some of the city’s best Italian food. 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. Think  taglierini with rock shrimp, ‘nduja and basil, and rigatoni with wagyu beef shank ragu and maitake mushrooms. The dining room is exceedingly cozy, 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.

Time Out tip: Tables at Lucia go quickly, so book early. If you can’t secure a table, the bar is first-come, first-served, and it’s a comfortable place to enjoy drinks and snacks or a full meal.

Address: 287 N Bishop Ave, Dallas, TX 75208

Opening hours: Tues-Sat 5-10pm

Expect to pay: About $100 per person.

What is it? A lively Mexico City-inspired restaurant from Duro Hospitality, the powerhouse team behind Mister Charles. 

Why we love it: From the first moment you walk into the front room, with its tile floors, colorful accents and fireplace, you feel like you’re at home. Not your own home, probably, but a cozy, eccentrically designed home in Mexico where you just know the food’s going to be amazing. El Carlos Elegante 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.

Time Out tip: Check the menu for a section called “the chef recommends,” and you’ll get a coursed-out meal featuring a one-hitter, three to four shareable dishes and dessert.

Address: 1400 N Riverfront Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207

Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri–Sat 5pm-11pm

Expect to pay: About $100 per person for a proper meal with drinks.

What is it? The upstairs sibling to Uchi, this cool and slightly-more-casual restaurant takes a modern izakaya format, with yakitori, sushi and plenty to drink.

Why we love it: Whether seated at the bar or a table, Uchiba is always a lively spot, and the menu is a hits parade of crowd-pleasing dishes. The first thing to know: If it’s served on a stick, order it. That’s your ticket to succulent chicken thigh, chicken meatballs and pork belly. Then keep the food coming with other top picks, including fresh nigiri flown straight from Tokyo, pork dumplings, crispy karaage and slices of wagyu beef cooked on a hot rock. Save room for dessert and get the fried milk, a harmonious balance of vanilla custard, salted fudge and a toasted blondie. Then again, the hot fried chicken bun with pickles and cornichon gastrique is also a fine way to end your meal.

Time Out tip: There’s never a bad time to visit Uchiba, but the daily happy hour might be the best time. That’s when you’ll get a variety of discounted drinks and dishes, including select nigiri, rolls, small plates and skewers.

Address: 2817 Maple Ave Floor 2, Dallas, TX 75201

Opening hours: Daily 5-11pm

Expect to pay: About $50-$100 per person. 

What is it? An offshoot of famed sibling Carbone that provides a smaller, more intimate setting while still serving plenty of great Italian food, wine and cocktails.

Why we love it: Carbone Vino is like taking a step back in time, to an era you may never want to return from. Situated next door to Carbone in the Design District, Carbone Vino is like an extension of the original, and it holds the restaurant's impressive wine cellar, with thousands of bottles stored away and ready for you to sample. Drink a couple fine vintages at the bar and follow with plates of soul-warming food. We recommend the shaved artichoke salad to start and then sharing a few pastas and entrees among your table, like the fennel sausage pizza, spicy rigatoni vodka pasta and grilled salmon Portofino. For the grand finale, get the ice cream sundae, loaded with toppings and presented tableside. 

Time Out tip: All portions are bigger than you’d expect, so show up hungry. But if you really want to go for it, try the bistecca Fiorentina. It’s a 32-ounce behemoth that’s easy to share among multiple diners, especially when joined by a salad and pasta.

Address: 1617 Hi Line Dr, Dallas, TX 75207

Opening hours: Sun-Wed 5-10pm; Thurs-Sat 5-11pm

Expect to pay: About $75-$100 per person, or more if you’re ordering fancy wines. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by José (@joseonlovers)

What is it? A modern, lively Mexican restaurant from chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman that’s inspired by the food and culture of Jalisco.

Why we love it: Chef AQ’s tacos looked good on Netflix’s “Taco Chronicles,” but we can assure you they’re even better in person. José’s menu features seafood-focused dishes and heirloom masa, seen in plates like crab sopesitos—lump crab stuffed masa boats with poblano crema—and quesadillas filled with huitlacoche and Oaxacan cheese. Expect seasonal crudo and ceviche, as well as traditional Mexican dishes like chicken mole, tacos and carne asada. José nails the classics but also dabbles in playfulness, as seen in the brussels equites, a riff on Mexican street corn. Between bites, note the restaurant’s gorgeous ceramics crafted by its namesake, José Noe Suro of Ceramica Suro, and the murals depicting scenes from Guadalajara and Tequila.

Time Out tip: Lunch and dinner are two great reasons to visit, but José also serves brunch on the weekends and has a weekday happy hour beginning at 3pm. The latter features half-off select dishes and drinks, so load up on guacamole, flautas, beers and Ranch Waters.

Address: 4931 W Lovers Ln, Dallas, TX 75209

Opening hours: Sun-Tues 11am-9pm; Wed-Sat 11am-10pm

Expect to pay: About $50 per person.

What is it? A breezy Bishop Arts restaurant that, as the name implies, serves seasonal, market-driven cuisine. A second location recently opened at The Quad, so now diners have double the options to eat here.

Why we love it: Since opening in 2021, Written by the Seasons has become a local favorite, serving a vibrant and varied menu where vegetables get as much attention as meat and seafood. Colorful plates showcase what’s fresh, and dishes change regularly to accommodate seasonality, but a few recent standouts included kimchi pancakes, Thai-style mussels, a grilled shrimp and avocado salad, and a grilled pork chop with carrots, peppers, grapes and persimmons. The friendly staff are quick with recommendations and will guide diners toward items that just came in from the market. And don’t hesitate to ask for a wine suggestion to pair with your meal—the bar’s stocking a lot more than just the usual suspects.

Time Out tip: The main dining room is plenty comfortable, but when the weather’s nice, request a seat on the patio. Beyond providing some fresh air, it’s the perfect perch to take in the bustling sights and sounds of the surrounding Bishop Arts neighborhood.

Address: 380 Melba St, Dallas, TX 75208

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri 12-10pm; Sat 10:30am-10pm; Sun 10:30am-2:30pm

Expect to pay: About $75-100 per person for dinner, a bit less for brunch.

What is it? A historic home that was built in 1910, once housed Dallas mayor George Sargeant, and today serves a smorgasbord of excellent Turkish food.

Why we love it: For years, the white house on North Zang, just outside of Bishop Arts, was an uninhabited eyesore. But some renovations over the past decade finally resulted in a new tenant, and they happen to serve some seriously good lamb. The Mayor’s House by Selda comes from the same team as Selda Mediterranean and serves authentic Turkish food in an elegant, two-story space with a front porch, patterned rugs, and ornate lamps and mirrors. It’s an equally good choice for date nights, family outings and dinner with friends. Bring your favorite people and sample all parts of the menu, including a variety of dips and spreads, halloumi, grilled kebabs and Turkish-style flatbread pizzas topped with meat, cheese and spinach. The wine list includes several bottles from Turkey, Lebanon and Macedonia, so unless you’re a somm, you’ll likely try something new.

Time Out tip: If you like hookahs, you can smoke them on the patio. Said patio isn’t covered, but the restaurant has heaters and provides blankets during the colder months.

Address: 635 N Zang Blvd, Dallas, TX 75208

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 12am-12pm; Fri 12pm-1am; Sat 11-1am; Sun 11-12 am

Expect to pay: About $50-$75 per person for dinner and a glass of wine.

What is it? A bar first, but also a great place to eat. It’s been situated in Deep Ellum (hence the D.E. suffix) since 2015 and is one of the only places in town serving Hungarian food.

Why we love it: There just aren’t enough places to score a good bowl of goulash, deep-fried Hungarian flatbreads and grilled cheese sandwiches topped with körözött, a type of soft cheese. Armoury D.E. solves that issue by offering all of the above, in addition to a solid burger and a paprika-spiced chicken thigh sandwich. The bar is stocked with draft and bottled beers and all manner of spirits, which are enlisted for creative cocktails and also for boilermakers, like the Slav Squat, which pairs pilsner with slivovitz plum brandy. The industrial designed bar is perfect for quiet after-work drinks and boisterous nightcaps, and there’s a back patio that’s popular with day-drinkers (the bar opens early on weekends).  

Time Out tip: It’s easy to get entranced by the extensive beer list, but don’t miss the cocktails. While good mixed drinks are everywhere these days, Armoury features spirit combos you don’t often see, like pisco, slivovitz and port, or Hungarian poppy seed liqueur with Italian vermouth and coffee.

Address: 2714 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75226

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 4pm-2am; Sat-Sun 2pm-2am

Expect to pay: About $50 per person for dinner and a couple drinks.

What is it? A fine-dining institution since 1980 that’s been helmed over the years by some of Dallas’s best chefs. The latest to take the reins is executive chef Charles Olalia, who refreshed the menus to showcase his French and Filipino culinary backgrounds. It remains a popular spot for hotel guests, locals and visitors.

Why we love it: The Mansion Restaurant has gone through a few iterations over the past 45 years, but it remains a steady source of well-executed food and refined service. Olalia’s touches are there, seen in dishes like caviar and lobster lumpia and salt and pepper fried quail punched up with five-spice and served with garlic rice. Otherwise, breakfast and brunch are still prime occasions for eggs Benedict, huevos rancheros and crispy waffles, while dinner brings the Mansion’s famous tortilla soup, dry-aged A5 wagyu striploin and desserts like spiced dark chocolate mousse and caramel apple mille-feuille. Toast with a glass of fine wine, and note the old-world-meets-new European-style décor across the restaurant’s multiple rooms. When you’re celebrating or just want to ensure a special experience, book the secluded chef’s table that seats up to eight guests.

Time Out tip: When you’re here for dinner, allow some extra time to visit the Mansion Bar. The dark, moody den looks like an estate-owner’s library, slings good cocktails and wines and showcases live jazz Thursday through Saturday.

Address: 2821 Turtle Creek Blvd, Dallas, TX 75219

Opening hours: Daily 7am-2pm; Tues-Wed 5:30-9pm; Thurs-Sat 5:30-9:30pm

Expect to pay: More than $100 per person for dinner and wine, a bit less for breakfast and brunch.

What it is: A former farmers market darling that moved to Deep Ellum in 2014 and still pumps out great examples of classic Texas barbecue and sides.

Why we love it: Pecan Lodge set the DFW barbecue world alight when it debuted in 2010, drawing top marks from Texas Monthly and starring on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” All these years later, it’s still smoking great brisket along with pork ribs, beef ribs, jalapeño sausages and sides, plus a few Southern staples like fried chicken and homemade peach cobbler. One fan-favorite, and Pecan Lodge original, is the “Hot Mess,” a jumbo salt-crusted sweet potato that’s loaded with barbacoa, chipotle cream, cheese, butter, bacon and green onions. Fill up a tray and hunker down at one of the picnic tables to enjoy your feast. After eating the above, it’s usually best to cancel any remaining plans for the day.

Time Out tip: Get there early, lest you miss out on your favorite cuts. Dallas’s barbecue scene has changed, and grown, significantly since Pecan Lodge’s debut, but you’ll still find a line out the doors on most days. 

Address: 2702 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226

Opening hours: Mon 11am-3pm; Tues-Thurs 11am-8pm; Fri-Sat 11am-9pm; Sun 11am-8pm (or until they sell out)

Expect to pay: About $30 per person for a couple meats and sides.