Dallas’ dining scene is known for many things—standout steakhouses, top-tier barbecue, and no shortage of special-occasion restaurants—making birthday celebrations in the Metroplex especially fun. Whether you’re booking a private room for 50 of your closest friends, planning a candlelit dinner for two, or treating yourself to a solo splurge, Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants have you covered.
Celebrate another year of life over Northern Mexican cuisine, A5 wagyu, lobster rolls, or homemade pasta. And don’t forget the cocktails.
Puerto Cocina
Local superstar chef Anastasia Quiñones-Pittman, formerly of José, partnered with Victor Rojas and the team behind Xamán Café and Ayahuasca to create a top-tier restaurant that transports diners to northern Mexico.The recipes are creative and playful, the wine list is entirely Mexican, and the dining room stuns with an open kitchen and dramatic chandeliers crafted from natural materials and imported from Guadalajara. The semifreddo is a don’t-miss—and happens to pair perfectly with a birthday candle. 155 Riveredge Dr. Ste. 119, Dallas, puertococina.com/
Ocean Prime
This steak and seafood house is one of Dallas’ most enduring special-occasion destinations, known for white tablecloths, impeccable service, champagne and martinis, and oysters on the half-shell. The menu balances timeless dishes like king crab legs, Chilean seabass, and filet mignon, with a sushi selection and a full raw bar. 2101 Cedar Springs Rd. #150, Dallas, ocean-prime.com/locations-menus/dallas/
Dee Lincoln Prime
A bustling steakhouse with a robust sushi program locate in the Star in Frisco, Dee Lincoln’s claim to fame is its beef program: It’s one of the only restaurants in Texas serving certified kobe, but it also offers other highly prized Japanese steaks, including a Kagoshima A5 strip and Sanuki Olive A5 wagyu. The festive vibe makes Dee Lincoln a perfect party venue. 6670 Winning Dr. #400, Frisco, deelincolnprime.com/
Las Palmas Tex-Mex
For an atmosphere that’s equal parts lively and chic—plus some of the city’s best chips and salsa and an agave-forward cocktail program—Las Palmas is an easy choice for a birthday celebration. Fajitas and tacos arrive in homemade tortillas, and once you try the queso flameado (tableside-melted Oaxaca cheese with poblano and your choice of meat), it’s hard to stop thinking about it. Pro tip: This is one of Dallas’ most in-demand reservations, so book well in advance. 2708 Routh St., Dallas, laspalmasdallas.com/
Lovers Seafood
It’s hard to imagine a cozier birthday celebration than an evening at Lovers with a few of your closest friends. Split a bottle of white, dig into lobster rolls, jumbo crab cakes, and crispy coconut shrimp, and settle in for impeccable service on the enclosed patio. Or, make it a daytime celebration. On Saturday afternoons, live musicians play on the patio and wine bottles are half-off. 5200 West Lover’s Ln., Dallas, loversseafoodmarket.com/
Casa Brasa
This Latin American-Japanese fusion restaurant is a feast for the eyes. The sprawling space is spectacularly opulent, with mismatched patterns covering the walls, ceilings, and furniture; a DJ booth setting the mood; a tucked-away speakeasy off the dining room; and cocktails served in sculptural glass art. Most importantly, the food delivers, from homemade tortillas and inventive maki to a slow-cooked lamb shank finished with pomegranate. 8111 Preston Rd., Dallas, thecasabrasa.com/
Via Triozzi
Leigh Hutchinson is a lifelong Dallasite with a deep love for Italy, whose Italian heritage and time in Florence inspired her to open this charming restaurant. From the Italian glassware to the exposed brick to the Italian art on the walls, Via Triozzi offers a stylish backdrop for any celebration. For the table, order the ricotta whipped in-house before moving on to homemade pasta dishes and chicken cacciatore. After dinner, enjoy drinks on one of the city’s coolest rooftop patios. 1806 Greenville Ave., Dallas, viatriozzi.com/
Nobu
Host your birthday at Nobu and expect full attendance—no one wants to miss the lobster shiitake salad with spicy lemon dressing, the tuna tacos, or the vibrant plates of maki and sashimi. Toast to another trip around the sun with lychee and elderflower martinis and enjoy the chic, buzzy ambience of everyone’s favorite Japanese-Peruvian restaurant. 400 Crescent Ct., Dallas, noburestaurants.com/dallas
BowlGames
If you’re not the sit-quietly-over-dinner type, a more active birthday celebration could be the way to go. Round up your most competitive friends and head to BowlGames in the Design District to play shuffleboard, darts, or PinToss—a mashup of football, bowling, and cornhole. Then grab a round of beers and enjoy some wings and burgers. 139 Turtle Creek Blvd. Ste. 120, Dallas, bowlgames.us/
Norman’s
The newest addition from Duro Hospitality, this chic Japanese-Texas fusion spot has decór that’s just right for birthday photos. Bold patterns, deer trophies, cowboy hats, and Japanese art juxtapose a stunning open kitchen. Everything on the menu shines—from the deconstructed hand rolls and perfectly fried tempura to the wood-fired ribeye—but it’s the cocktails that truly steal the show. Try the Crazy 88, a mezcal-fueled margarita mixed with wasabi, agave, and lemongrass, served with a side of wasabi peas. 4002 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, normansjapanese.com/
