There sure are a lot of spicy items these days. At the Observer, we’ve recently noted spicy nuggets from McDonald’s and a spicy chicken sandwich from Shake Shack. Of course, Popeyes included a spicy option when introducing its chicken sandwich. Why the emphasis on spicy? One contributing factor could be…
Two years ago, Ichigoh Ramen Lounge quietly took over the Deep Ellum space previously occupied by Tanoshii. It’s owned by George Itoh and Andy Tam, who came from New York City to Dallas after falling in love with the Deep Ellum neighborhood. Itoh has more than 26 non-consecutive years of…
With parties, haunted houses and trick-or-treating canceled or adapted for social distancing, Halloween is looking a little grim this year, but not all is lost. If you want to raise your spirits, so to speak, upgrading your candy game is a great option. Whether you’re looking for spooky-themed sweets or…
We might not be able to go out and about in the streets right now, but Crushcraft Thai Eats is still serving some tasty dishes. Plus, many of the items are under $10 and make for filling, comforting meals. Your safest bet is home delivery, but if you go to…
Chef Stephan Pyles has partnered with Fireside Pies to offer a special menu at select locations. The alliance came together in a Cambodian restaurant during a meeting between Mark Parmerlee, the owner of Fireside Pies, and Pyles. That restaurant had created a separate menu in collaboration with a local chef,…
It’s that time of year again when the leaves redden, the pumpkins sleep on the porches, and you, all besweatered, warm your hands by the box of klobasneks in your passenger seat. “Want them warmed?” is a question Texans should know already — it means your bouquet of sausage rolls,…
Some of Tokyo’s best sushi bars feel like secrets. They’re hidden away down alleys, inside multistory buildings or in bustling shopping centers. A few don’t have formal names. Only the most devoted sushi lovers know where to find them. It’s hard to get away with a nameless restaurant in the…
“I have all very yummy days,” is one of the first things Donna Collins told me about herself on the phone recently. It’s not a bad introduction. Collins is the jelly queen, even though she says there are many, all of whom she’s worked or cooked with over the years. It…
Palmer’s Hot Chicken opens in the Hillside neighborhood of East Dallas Oct. 19, serving the spicy bird that continues its trend through Dallas. Observer writer Alex Gonzalez spoke with owner Palmer Fortune in June, when we got to learn a little more about what this Texas native, Nashville-bred restaurateur is…
There’s hardly ever a morning when a spicy guiso can’t hit the spot. One such place that accomplishes that is Morales Restaurant. Recent visits had us at the location on West Davis Street — on our latest stop, staff told us they’re closing this location and opening another on South…
A new spot for sweet goods is coming to West Lovers Lane this winter. J. Rae’s, a family-owned business out of Fort Worth, will serve cupcakes, cheesecakes, cake balls, cookies and seasonal desserts. Owner Audrey Dixon will open the bakery in the Pavilion on Lovers Lane, adjacent to the Devonshire…
Once upon a time, there was a tiny little taco stand in West Dallas called Taquero. Just a few steps away from the Singleton Avenue traffic, Taquero opened in 2017 with two outdoor tables and seven bar stools. Owner Fino Rodriguez served his food out of a tiny kitchen, passing…
This fall is different in so many ways, but one thing that’s making its usual return is Florida stone crab at Truluck’s. It’s a long season (and we’re thankful for that) running Oct. 17 through May 2. The restaurants work exclusively with their fisheries in South Florida to capture crab…
The number of fried chicken restaurants in Dallas has grown, particularly those of the Nashville hot chicken variety. But if you thought Dallas didn’t need another fried chicken joint, you’re wrong. There’s no such thing as too many. To prove it, we tried out Gus’s World Famous Hot and Spicy…
The space that was once home to Bolsa is alive again, this time through the lens of Encina. Chef Matt Balke and co-owner Corey McCombs took inspiration from the former’s hometown of Uvalde for the restaurant. “Encina” is Spanish for “holm oak,” which is also the original name of Uvalde…
There’s something nearly magical about the reliable neighborhood restaurant. You find yourself craving it, you have a favorite item — even though you tell yourself you should venture out and try a different dish — and you end the meal happy that you’ve returned here. That’s the case with TJ’s…
Good to Go is a column in which our food writers explore Dallas’ restaurant scene through takeout orders, delivery boxes and reheated leftovers. Weekday lunches these days can be great — I’ve perfectly cooked steak in the middle of a Wednesday and felt proud of myself. Other days, it’s tougher…
Encina has its planned opening date: As of Oct. 9 the North Oak Cliff spot by Matt Balke and Corey McCombs will be serving a menu with influences from Texas, California and the South. We’re particularly excited for the expanded, climate-controlled patio. Observer writer Alex Gonzalez has more to come…
Good to Go is a column in which our food writers explore Dallas’ restaurant scene through takeout orders, delivery boxes and reheated leftovers. As critic Brian Reinhart reminded us last week, now is the perfect time to make your takeout meal a picnic, and a perfect choice for that is…
During the pandemic, we’re all trying to find ways to celebrate, and the upcoming National Taco Day is just another reason. There are countless national food holidays, but considering many of us like to eat tacos every day, we’ll go ahead and use this Oct. 4 “holiday” as an excuse…
First, Kelly Ball wowed us with baked goods at farmers markets, then we heard she would open up her own brick-and-mortar. Ball had just gotten the dining room of Leila Bakery and Cafe running, then the pandemic swept over Dallas. “I think, as a bakery, we’ve been fortunate we haven’t…
Welcome to October. Opening Soon Basic Taco and Yellow Rosa cocktaileria will open Oct. 8 in Deep Ellum. This week’s release says these two concepts are “designed specifically with COVID safety guidelines and health protocols in mind” (which is nice when we see other restaurants opening with menus involving so…
