Once considered little more than a suburb of Dallas, Plano’s population has doubled since the mid-‘90s and is now a thriving city in its own right. Gone are the days when residents had to brave the Tollway to get a decent meal; now many Dallasites, not to mention travelers from other parts of Texas and beyond, travel to eat in Plano.
Plano has range, with restaurants that spotlight global cuisines, fine dining establishments, classic old-guard institutions, top notch coffee shops, and even a fish market with a speakeasy inside. While crowds flock to the Downtown area and the Shops of Legacy, the hidden gems are worth seeking out, too. Let this list function as a starting point as you begin eating your way through Plano.
Brya Zan Thai Noodle + Brew
This new fast-casual Thai spot from the husband-wife team behind Malai Kitchen (a Thai-Vietnamese fusion restaurant with four locations around the Metroplex) is all about customization. Choose your protein and preparation—including Drunken Noodles prepared with house-made noodles, panang curry, and basil fried rice—and modify ingredients to your heart’s content. Brya Zan is a Thai restaurant and brewery in one, so pair your meal with a Peach Tea Wheat beer or a Malai Thai-P-A. 1909 Preston Rd., Plano, bryazan.com
Uchiko Plano
When Hai Hospitality brought chef Tyson Cole’s Uchi to Dallas in 2015, the city rejoiced, and the Japanese restaurant, as well as its sister restaurant Uchibā next door, have remained local favorites ever since. The brand’s newest addition in the Metroplex, Uchiko Plano, is similar to Uchi, but adds depth to the menu with dishes cooked on a wood-fired grill. Try interesting sushi options, like soft-shell crab maki with apple and fried shallot, before digging into lobster from the hearth. 7801 Windrose Ave. Ste. H 150, Plano, uchiko.uchirestaurants.com/location/sushi-plano
Whiskey Cake
This restaurant that changes its menu with the seasons and sources from local farms may have 12 locations around the U.S., but it is nothing short of a Plano institution. Find it bustling any night of the week, as regulars flock for goat-cheese fondue made with Texas olive oil, rotisserie-fired Amish chicken with roasted vegetables, and of course, whiskey cake: a sticky toffee cake in a bourbon-based custard sauce, topped with spiced pecans and whipped cream made in-house. 3601 Dallas Pkwy., Plano, whiskeycake.com
Flamant
From the team behind Rye and Apothecary in Dallas, Flamant is the newest restaurant in the collection, known for live-fire European cooking and innovative cocktails, including a squid ink mojito with a charred octopus garnish. Flamant’s awe-inspiring aesthetic, with crystal chandeliers, a cubist wall mural, and sprawling patio with fire pits, is another reason to venture in. 5880 State Hwy. 121 Ste. 103-b, Plano, flamant.bar
Mama Vicky’s Pupusas and Mas
Although it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of place, this unassuming restaurant slings the best Mexican-Salvadoran fusion food Plano has to offer. A thick tortilla, stuffed with various fillings, the pupusa is to Salvadoran cuisine what the taco is to Mexican cuisine. Here, you can get both, but seeing as tacos are a dime a dozen throughout the Metroplex, take this opportunity to try any of the seven pupusas on offer, including chicharron, flor de calabaza, or bean and cheese. 1112 E. 15th St., Plano, mamavickys.uorder.io
DeRa Coffee
At this cozy, contemporary Middle Eastern café with the Persian throw rugs on the wooden floors, Arabic coffee served in silver dallahs (ornate coffee pots with tapered middles and long spouts) pairs with savory options like chicken shawarma pastry and sweet bakery items like date bread and honey-comb brioche. 2320 Los Rios Blvd. #101, Plano, deracoffee.com
Wu Wei Din
This restaurant rakes in accolades for its classic Taiwanese cuisine, and for good reason. Diners can choose among six kinds of beef noodle soup, one of the signature dishes of Taiwan, and more than a dozen kinds of dumplings. The extensive menu has something for every whim, whether you’re in the mood to try something new or you’re craving Chinese-restaurant comfort food like lo mein or Kung Pao. 1505 N. Central Expy., Plano, wuweidinchinesecuisine.com
BAR-Ranch Steak Company
Dry-aging nerds rejoice when they see the 2,000 cubic-foot dry-aging room made of Himalayan salt bricks. Wednesday through Saturday, the butchery that is BAR-Ranch transforms into a fine-dining steakhouse with a handful of tables. The tightly curated menu offers a choice of three American Wagyu entrees: filet, New York strip, or boneless ribeye. Appetizers, sides, and desserts round out the meal. 1016 E. 15th St., Plano, barranchco.com
WON BBQ
Watch servers grill meat right at the table at this Korean-Chinese fusion barbecue restaurant. Start with a hot pot, like the kimchi-tofu soup or spicy short rib stew, and then choose among various cuts of pork and beef for grilling. Unique dishes from the kitchen include a northern Chinese dessert called silk pulling sweet potato: The fried potato is covered in molten sugar, so when you pull off a piece, you’ll get a long, silky sugar string. 1301 Custer Rd. #360, Plano, wonbbqtx.com
Seabreeze Fish Market and Grill
The fish on the menu is flown in daily; the lobster roll options include not just the New England version (lobster mixed with mayo), but the Connecticut version (lobster with butter); and Seabreeze isn’t just a fish market and restaurant, but a speakeasy, too. Named the Wilfred after the owner’s dog, the little cocktail lounge is hidden inside the market. Hint: The password to the speakeasy is the year we landed on the moon. 4017 Preston Rd. #530, Plano, seabreezefish.com
West African Way
At this cozy West African restaurant, sample flavors from the owner’s home country the Gambia, including a hearty peanut stew called Domoda, as well as recipes from throughout the region, like beef or lamb Benachin, a one-pot rice dish with plenty of spices. Try one of the traditional West African drinks, like Baobab from the Baobab tree. In Africa, people make the drink by picking the fruit pod, pouring water directly inside, and giving it a shake. 1405 Jupiter Rd. #116, Plano
Lemma Coffee Co
This specialty coffee shop with three locations in the Dallas suburbs is the place for aficionados. At Lemma, they’re serious about coffee, working with small importers to source beans from the best coffee regions all over the world. In Plano, relax with a Lemma Latte and a maple pecan scone, surrounded by exposed-brick walls and clean polished wood floors. 1023 E. 15th St., Plano, lemmacoffeeco.com
Vickery Park
This restaurant with its straightforward menu, always-bustling bar scene, and classic-rock wall art will warm you up any night of the week. It’s a great place to play a little shuffleboard, meet locals, throw some darts, and enjoy a few craft beers and a burger. 1011 E. 15th St., Plano, vickeryparkplano.com
Ye Ole Butcher Shop
This iconic meat-lover’s haven has been around for more than half a century and has racked up quite the crowd of regulars. An order-at-the-counter spot with deer trophies on the walls, Ye Ole Butcher whips up jumbo buffalo burgers, hot link sandwiches, and sausage on a stick. It’s a restaurant and butcher shop in one, so stay for a burger or grab a side of beef to go. 811 E. 15th St., Plano, yeolebutchershop.com
Lily’s Café
Start your day with a traditional Guatemalan breakfast at this all-day café with the white tables and blue chairs. Hearty options like El Chapin include chorizo stir-fried with jalapeño, tomato, and onion, and come with eggs and beans. Go back for dinner and try any of Guatemala’s signature dishes, like a chicken curry called Pepian. 3100 Independence Pkwy. Ste. 299, Plano, sites.google.com/lilyscafeplano.com/menu/home
