August’s sweltering heat brought with it a series of unfortunate events. While restaurant closures outpaced openings, a few beacons of light shone through. Despite the setbacks, Dallas-Fort Worth’s dining scene still managed to give diners plenty of reasons to get excited, with fresh concepts and familiar names making their mark. And as summer winds down, these newcomers offer a promising glimpse at what’s ahead.
From New York favorites expanding across DFW and sold-out local favorites to long-awaited debuts decades in the making, these are the restaurant openings to know right now.
Almacén El Gallo
Now leading his own hospitality group alongside Martin Quirarte, Adrian Burchiaga has debuted one of Fort Worth’s most highly anticipated openings: Almacén El Gallo. The fine-dining restaurant opened July 27, evoking the essence of Mexican fondas and cantinas. The menu comes from Monterrey’s chef Rodrigo Rivera-Rio of Michelin-starred KOLI. The utmost precision and care shine through in the interiors, hospitality, and dishes such as tuétanos asados, roasted beets served over pink mole, soft-shell crab al pastor tacos, and short rib in chile mixe. 500 West 7th St., Ste. 175, Fort Worth, almacenelgallo.com
PopUp Bagels
New York’s “not famous, but known” PopUp Bagels opened its fifth Texas location on August 21 in McKinney. Known for fresh-out-of-the-oven bagels, PopUp Bagels is fueling Dallas’ bagel fandom with straightforward minimalism. The grand opening brought out suburbanites who lined up for steaming bagels ready to rip and dip into rotating schmears, including McKinney’s exclusive limited-edition Banana Cloud Schmear, created in collaboration with La La Land. 8565 W. University Dr., McKinney, popupbagels.com
Salisbury’s Pizza
Opened August 18, Salisbury’s Pizza comes to Casa Linda Plaza by way of Will and Julie Salisbury. Both are Dallas hospitality veterans with fine-dining credentials from Monarch, Carbone, Urbano Cafe, but this one is different: it’s theirs. The couple bootstrapped their dream into reality with 18-inch New York-style pizzas starting at $3.95 a slice. The second-generation restaurant space is filled with relics of the couple’s lives, including photos and a loaded baked ziti pizza that takes Will right back to his childhood. 9640 Garland Rd., Ste. 407, Dallas, salisburyspizza.com
El Molino
Vandelay Companies traded sushi for fajitas when it flipped Preston Royal Shopping Center’s Anchor Sushi Bar into El Molino on August 10. Marking the second El Molino location, the 6,000-square-foot restaurant brings an expanded menu to Preston Royal. Pair USDA Prime tenderloin fajitas, brisket tacos, guajillo-pineapple-marinated Las Vegas Ribeye, grilled Sonora quail, and combination plates with the signature frozen flaming margaritas. The expansion also introduces a daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. at the bar. 6025 Royal Ln., Ste. 250, Dallas, elmolinofajitas.com
maman
New York transplant maman has expanded its rustic-chic footprint in Dallas-Fort Worth with a new Plano location. Located in Legacy East, the French-inspired café’s third location opened August 7, bringing maman’s full beverage program, pastries, and made-fresh savory menu to the growing North Texas shopping and lifestyle district. Take a break from the screen at the laptop-free café with Dallas-exclusive Magnolia Sweet Tea Fizz, Lone Star Cinnamon Bun, and Salted Caramel Pecan Pie Roll, alongside French-influenced breakfast and lunch fare. 7200 Bishop Rd., Ste. D, Plano, mamannyc.com
Rock N Roll Sushi
Rock N Roll Sushi is pumping up the volume in Mansfield. The “Dine Out Loud” sushi spot opened August 10 at the Shops at Mansfield Towne Square, marking the first of three planned North Texas locations. Classic rock is at the heart of the American-style sushi restaurant, which has more than 75 locations across the country. The locally owned Mansfield location keeps the rhythm going with music filling the space, approachable specialty rolls, hibachi entrées, ramen, and shareable cocktails. 2301 E. Broad St., Bldg. 100, Mansfield, rocknrollsushi.com
La Rue Doughnuts
La Rue Doughnuts expanded to Frisco on August 15, and to say the suburbanites were excited is an understatement. Owned by husband-and-wife team Amy and Casey La Rue, the Trinity Groves doughnut shop has grown a cult following for its beef-tallow-fried brioche doughnuts, crullers, croissants, savory bites, and rotating specialties. The Frisco location opened with chocolate banana and caramel pain suisse, drawing lines out the door and selling out of 1,400 baked and fried goods. 4747 4th Army Dr., Ste. 120, Frisco, laruedoughnuts.com
