The 11 Hottest Restaurants in Dallas, May 2023
New restaurants are opening rapidly in Dallas, and this map answers the vital question, “Where are the buzziest places to eat right now?”
In this month’s update of the Eater Dallas Heatmap, spring fever is burning everything up, and so are a few exciting dining destinations. July welcomes a can’t-miss steakhouse in the newly opened Hotel Swexan, a karaoke and hookah lounge serving small plates of Mediterranean-style tapas, a Dallas Asian fusion spot opens in Fort Worth, and a good old fashioned American grill.
For all the latest Dallas dining intel, subscribe to Eater Dallas’ newsletter.
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.
Bobbie's Airway Grill
Dallasites looking for a classy lunch are in luck — Bobbie’s Airway Grill is open in Preston Hollow, with a menu offering a Nicoise salad, an Italian beef sandwich, loads of seafood options, and the expected rotisserie chicken. A few additional dishes are on the dinner menu, including a pork chop, a few steaks, and Texas red chili.
Bobbie’s nicoise salad at the newest American grill in town. | Bobbie’s Airway Grill
JOA Korean BBQ
The owners of the former Nuri Grill have flipped the space, and now it is Joa, a Korean barbecue restaurant that aims to transport diners to traditional Korean restaurants with food. It serves the expected assortment of meats to grill: beef, pork, shrimp, and rack of lamb, and offers hot pot. Those come with kimchi radish, napa cabbage and green onion, potato salad, green onion salad, pickled vegetables, beef and radish soup, chilled cucumber soup, and steamed rice.
The meat on meat on meat spread at Joa. | Kathy Tran
Barsotti's
The dust has cleared on Barsotti’s Fine Food and Liquors, the remake/remodel/reopen version of Julian Barsotti’s endeavor formerly known as Carbone’s, in Oak Lawn. It is still serving up classic Italian, including the owner’s favorite dish of linguine with white clam sauce, as well as new dishes including ravioli spinach and ricotta and meatballs with provolone. Cin cin!
Enjoy a big plate of clam pasta at Barsotti’s. | Daniel Barsotti
Cuates Kitchen
Making the jump from taco truck to a restaurant space in Oak Lawn. The family-run spot will serve the tacos and empanadas they’ve become known for, in a 24-seat space. Diners can expect to continue enjoying the mix of passed-down family recipes and recipes the Rodriguezes have developed to be on the menu.
Stillwell's
Cozy up in a velvet chair for a steak at Stillwell’s — and so much more. It also has one of the longest and most thorough wine lists in town and beef from Harwood Hospitality’s proprietary line of ultra-high-end cattle. There are, of course, caviar services and seafood towers, but some less gems are there for the taking, like the rich beef dumplings and lobster corn dogs
Steak from Stillwell’s in Uptown. | Samantha Marie Photography
Mexican Sugar
This restaurant may have started with the mission to bring Uptown to Plano, but now it’s working in reverse with the opening of a massive, 12,000 square foot space in, you guessed it, Uptown. Before opening, the team revamped much of the menu, shifting to made to order masa tortillas, and this location includes an agave library with 150 mezcals and tequilas.
The Mexican Sugar bone-in pork chop, now found in Uptown. | Mexican Sugar
Saaya
The district north of Deep Ellum keeps racking up new clubstaurant, and Saaya is the latest entry. This spot offers hookah and karaoke, along with Mediterranean-influenced tapas. Think Lebanese pizza, kebabs, lamb sliders, and za’atar popcorn chicken.
The spread at Saaya. | Saaya
Komodo
Tap into some Miami flavor in Dallas. Visit Komodo for the food, which is top notch, but also for the vibes, which are akin to intense people watching. Don’t miss ordering the Pretty Fly for a Cacti, a spicy margarita for Sriracha lovers, and the restaurant’s star dish, it’s roast crispy duck.
A decadent taste of Komodo. | Ashley Estave
Temakeria
Julian and Alexa Rodarte have opened a Japanese restaurant in Trinity Groves that serves temaki-style sushi — aka hand rolls. It also features sashimi, ramen, and apps. The decor is a big swing, where everything is done in 2D, including the vessels its hand rolls are served in. It’s vegan-friendly, with an array of vegetable-
Crown Block
The biggest opening so far this year has been Crown Block in Reunion Tower. The steak and seafood restaurant brings Texas vibes with it’s locally sourced beef and sushi options. There’s a lot of flare in the menu, but nothing matches the views from every seat in the house.
Filet and fries at Crown Block in Reunion Tower. | Kathy Tran
Musume - Fort Worth
This Dallas Asian fusion spot opened a second location in Downtown Fort Worth, filling a hole in the market. With fresh fish flown in daily and housing what will reportedly be the city’s largest selections of premium sake and Japanese whiskey, this is a spot for sushi like Cowtown has had to come to Big D to see.
Maria Diss
