In a restaurant-centric city like Dallas, after indulging in top-tier steakhouses, beloved barbecue joints, and family-style Italian favorites, it’s only natural to crave something lighter from time to time. As diners become increasingly interested in plant-based diets, eliminating allergens, and avoiding processed foods, plenty of restaurants are offering menus that prioritize health, but don’t sacrifice flavor.
There’s no need to give up the bolognese and garlic bread—or the tomahawk steak with truffle mashed potatoes—but the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex also offers plenty of delicious salads, bowls, and vegan dishes worth mixing into your rotation. Start with these 10 restaurants.
Written by the Seasons
As the name suggests, this Michelin-recommended restaurant centers on seasonal ingredients. Products are locally sourced and the menu provides wine pairing suggestions with a number of dishes. The suggested pairing with grilled shrimp and avocado, served with mango, cilantro, basil, mint, fried shallots, coconut, lime, and chili, is a vermentino from an Italian biodynamic winery. Multiple locations, writtenbytheseasons.com
The Market Café at Bonton Farms
Those familiar with Bonton Farms from the Dallas Farmers Market may be pleased to discover they can visit the property itself—meet the goats and chickens, relax on the patio, and enjoy some of the freshest food in the city. The deviled eggs come straight from the chickens and the garden omelet features seasonal vegetables and goat cheese procured from the goats. 6915 Bexar St., Dallas, bontonfarms.shop/pages/the-market-cafe
Tribal All Day Café
This café in the Bishop Arts District, where plants line the walls and dangle from the ceiling, emphasizes whole foods and fresh ingredients. Known for cold-pressed juices, salads, bowls, and wraps, Tribal also serves all-day breakfast, including vegan breakfast tacos stuffed with walnut and mushroom “sausage,” rosemary potatoes, avocado, jalapeño cashew cream “cheese,” and pico de gallo. 263 N. Bishop Ave., Dallas, livetribal.com
Kalachandiji’s
Ayurvedic principles guide the menu at this vegan Indian buffet. The restaurant eschews not only meat, fish, and eggs, but also onions and garlic—ingredients that, according to Ayurveda, the ancient holistic Indian system of medicine, are believed to create “excess heat” in the body. Whether you subscribe to Ayurveda or not, you’ll feel great after eating at Kalachandiji’s, where nothing contains sugar, the chutneys are made in house, and the vegetables are fresh and seasonal. 5430 Gurley Ave., Dallas, kalachandjis.com
Patina Green
This lunch spot in McKinney sources its ingredients from local farmers, so everything is fresh, seasonal, and minimally processed. Try one of the famously heaping sandwiches, like the turkey Caesar with homemade dressing, and pair it with tomato bisque. The restaurant doubles as a boutique, selling one-of-a-kind home goods, cards, books, and crafts. 116 N. Tennessee St. Ste. 102, McKinney, patinagreenhomeandmarket.com
Original ChopShop
This fast-casual spot offers bowls, salads, sandwiches, protein shakes, and more, all made with fresh, nutritious ingredients. The menu offers lots for vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free diners, and everything is customizable. The protein listed in each bowl are merely a suggestion and can be swapped for chicken, shrimp, steak, or tofu. Multiple locations, originalchopshop.com
The GEM Organic Food & Juice
A Dallas staple since 2012, this organic grab-and-go café serves vegan food, smoothies, and made-from-scratch soups under a glittery disco ball. (The owners love disco music.) Scour the fridge for pre-made entrees, order a fresh-squeezed juice, or browse the supplements. Everything is organic and nutritious. Multiple locations, insidethegem.com
Company Café & Bar
This restaurant on Lower Greenville specializes in foods that the gluten-sensitive normally have to avoid. Those accustomed to skipping over waffles, sandwiches, chicken-fried steak, and cookies on the menu will love this place because not a single menu item contains gluten. Try the buffalo burger on a gluten-free bun, made with grass-fed buffalo, topped with blue cheese, and served with a side of fries. 2104 Greenville Ave., Dallas, companycafe.com
Sachet
The Mediterranean diet is widely known to be among the world’s most nutritious, thanks to heart-healthy olive oil, fresh fish, and plentiful produce. One of Dallas’ best Mediterranean restaurants, Michelin-recommended Sachet, offers cold and warm mezze options, including red-beet hummus with pistachio and octopus with fingerling potatoes, as well as homemade pasta dishes and heartier fare like grilled lamb chops. 4270 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, sachetdallas.com
Asian Mint
This Asian-fusion spot is teeming with low-calorie options. Diners can sub out noodles in any dish for five-calorie-per-serving shirataki noodles. Other low-calorie dishes include clear-broth soups, like miso and tom yum, as well as papaya salad, grilled salmon salad, and ceviche. Multiple locations, asianmint.com
