The Top 100 Places to Eat and Drink Near Ricky’s Hot Chicken
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- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Hot Chicken · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Hot Chicken Sandwich · Best of Dallas
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Rank 2. Smoke'N Ash BBQ
Tex-Ethiopian Barbecue
An Arlington smoker joint where Tex-Mex barbecue meets Ethiopian spice: brisket and pulled lamb kissed with awaze, a fiery spice sauce that rewrites the regional rulebook. The platters invite grazing across smoked meats and unexpected sides—collard greens, fried okra, lentil stews—that feel like a conversation between two culinary traditions rather than a gimmick.
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Texas · Patrick Hicks and Fasicka Hicks
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Texas · Fasicka Hicks and Patrick Hicks
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Ethiopian · Best of Big D
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Rank 7. Goldee’s BAR-B•Q
Barbecue
A modest barbecue shop where young pitmasters work Black Angus brisket over post oak, yielding meat so tender it dissolves on the tongue with a clean, mineral richness. Served on homemade bread with a mustardy sauce or unadorned, it draws hours-long lines for good reason—the real test is whether you can catch them before the day's smoke clears.
- Food & Wine 2024 · Best New Chefs · Jonny White, Jalen Heard, and Lane Milne
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Texas · Jalen Heard, Lane Milne, and Jonny White
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
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- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Brisket · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer Barbecue Shops · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
- D Magazine #40 · The 50 Best Restaurants
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Rank 13. The Mansion Restaurant
French New American
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Rank 15. Fearing's
Southwestern New American
Inside the Ritz-Carlton, Chef Dean Fearing's dining room reads traditional steakhouse but operates by its own rules. A Lone Star mosaic of raw tuna, wagyu, salmon, and barbecued eel arrives like stained glass; baklava s'more pivots toward pistachio marshmallow and burnt rosemary ice cream. American cooking with Southwestern swagger, built on surprise.
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Rank 16. Lucia
Italian
In the Bishop Arts District, David Uygur works from Italian foundations, building dishes around seasonal Texas produce and house-made pasta with the restraint of someone who trusts his ingredients. The menu turns with the seasons; wine leans Italian. Jennifer's warmth at the door makes the small room feel like it's been waiting for you.
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Nominee · Outstanding Restaurant
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Nominee · Outstanding Chef · David Uygar
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Nominee · Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker · Maggie Huff
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Rank 17. Panther City BBQ
Barbecue
A former food truck now settled into a Fort Worth storefront, Panther City barbecues on offset pits in the Central Texas tradition—thick-cut brisket with a peppery bark, tender pulled pork—then folds that smoke into burritos and elote. The sides matter: smoked mac and cheese sharp enough to stand alone, a potato salad studded with cheese and green onion. Arrive early or accept the line.
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Birria · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine #28 · The 50 Best Restaurants
- Dallas Observer Taquerias, Tex-Mex and More · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
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Rank 19. Ayahuasca Cantina
Mezcal Mexican
You enter through a cafe's back hallway into a moody speakeasy where every bottle behind the bar hails from Mexico and cocktails trace the country's drinking history from pre-Columbian fermentations through modern riffs. The kitchen matches that ambition with pre-Hispanic dishes like octopus in ink and stone-cooked broths, prepared with enough authenticity that servers will happily decode the menu.
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bar
- Esquire 2024 · The Best Bars in America
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Margarita · Best of Dallas
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Rank 20. Midnight Rambler
Cocktail Bar
Dark and moody downstairs at the Joule, this subterranean cocktail bar channels speakeasy glamour with a mirrored liquor wall that glows like the crown jewels. The bartenders work with genuine precision on both classics and more obscure drinks, and they'll nail whichever direction you're heading.
- Spirited Awards 2026 · Top 10 Nominee · Best U.S. Hotel Bar
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service · Gabe Sanchez
- Food & Wine 2025 · The Top 10 Hotel Bars in the US
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Fish and Chips · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Bloody Mary · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Veggie Burger · Best of Big D
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- D Magazine 2023 · Best Japanese · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Japanese · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Japanese · Best of Big D
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Lunch Spot for Dogs · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Restaurant for Kids · Best of Dallas
- Eater The 38 Essential Dallas Restaurants
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Brunch · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Brunch · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Burger · Best of Big D
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Rank 26. Starship Bagel
NY-Style Bakery
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Outstanding Bakery
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bakery
- Bon Appétit The Very Best Bagels in the US (Yes, Outside New York)
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Side: Grilled Leeks · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Restaurant in Oak Cliff · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · The Best New Restaurants in Dallas
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A narrow slip of a bar in Oak Cliff where bartender Hugo and chef Hugo fuss over cocktails with the same intensity they bring to small plates—the Ron Kon Cafe comes topped with a housemade Mr. Black and Guinness reduction and salted plantain puree. It's the kind of place where you meant to stay for one drink and instead linger through several, nursing oysters and watching two people who clearly love what they do.
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Seafood · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Seafood · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2025 · The Best New Restaurants in Dallas
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Rank 29. 61 Osteria
Italian
- Texas Monthly 2024 · #4 · Texas’s Best New Restaurants
- Eater Best New Restaurant
- Eater The 38 Essential Dallas Restaurants
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Rank 30. Smokey Joe's BBQ
Texas-Style Barbecue
- Texas Monthly 2025 · The 50 Best BBQ Joints in Texas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Barbecue · Best of Big D
- D Magazine #33 · The 50 Best Restaurants
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Rank 31. Written By The Seasons
Contemporary New American
In the Bishop Arts District, a bright room hums with the rhythm of a kitchen that lets the season dictate its moves. Carrots arrive dusted with dukkah, branzino glazed in harissa, vegetables commanding the plate with the same authority as protein. The cocktail list shifts with the calendar, and the focaccia alone rewards a visit.
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Vegetarian Friendly · Best of Big D
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Eater The 38 Essential Dallas Restaurants
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Rank 32. LadyLove Lounge & Sound
Cocktail Bar
Tucked into a quiet Bishop Arts corner with red-dimmed lighting and velvet-and-leather vibes, LadyLove is a lounge that strikes the rare balance of being intimate enough for conversation and lively enough for dancing. DJs spin on weekends, themed nights keep things fresh, and cocktails like the Rude Boy (tequila, aloe-peno syrup, lime) cost less than the beer.
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Lesbian Bar That Isn’t a Lesbian Bar · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Dance Party · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Dance Party · Best of Big D
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A casual spot where corridos play and Rogelio Cortez Jr. serves only birria—braised until it shreds at the merest suggestion. Corn tortillas arrive stuffed generous with meat, onion, cilantro, lime; the quesatacos, two tortillas bound with melted cheese and birria crisped at the edges, are a study in restraint and focus. One protein, infinite formats, and no need for anything else.
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- Wine Enthusiast 2025 · Top 50 New Restaurants
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Place to Celebrate an Anniversary · Best of Big D
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Rank 35. Mamani
Contemporary French
Chef Christophe De Lellis, formerly of Joël Robuchon in Vegas, opened this polished Dallas outpost around elevated bistro cooking and impeccable technique. Dover sole in brown butter and a textbook Paris-Brest suggest a kitchen that respects classical foundations while a serious wine list rewards the curious diner.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Texas Monthly 2025 · Dishes We Wanted Seconds Of: Rosa Sposa · The Best Things in Texas
- D Magazine 2025 · The Best New Restaurants in Dallas
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Rank 36. Partenope Ristorante
Neapolitan Pizza
- 50 Top Pizza 2025 · #17 · 50 Top Pizza USA
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Pizza · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Sandwich: The Super Jeff · Best of Big D
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Rank 37. Catbird
Cocktail Bar
Climb to the ninth floor of the Thompson Hotel and squeeze through a flower tunnel into Catbird, an art deco fever dream of geometric prints, fireplaces, and a bedazzled Russian doll that feels like a surrealist gallery collided with a swanky lounge. Cocktails lean playful—think gin sippers infused with green tea and cold foam concoctions made with mineral water—and the rooftop wraps around the city like you've unlocked a secret level.
- Spirited Awards 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Hotel Bar – U.S. Central
- Spirited Awards 2024 · Regional Honoree · Best U.S. Hotel Bar – U.S. Central
- Spirited Awards 2025 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Hotel Bar – U.S. Central
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Philly Cheesesteak · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer Neighborhood Staples and Gems · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
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Rank 39. El Carlos Elegante
Mexican
The wood-fired grill anchors a warm dining room where crab cakes give way to pork al pastor and house-made masa for tableside taco assembly. Charred okra and Mexican chocolate pot de crème round out a menu built on grilled meats and shareable plates, paired with a serious tequila and mezcal program.
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Restaurant Patio · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2023 · Best Tequila Drink: The Negroni-ish · Best of Big D
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
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Rank 41. Sabar BBQ
Texas-Style Barbecue
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- D Magazine 2025 · Best Donuts · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Doughnuts · Best of Dallas
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Rank 44. Barbara's Pavillion
Dive Bar
Barbara's Pavilion, a low-key Oak Cliff dive that's been around for over 50 years, leans into its retro charm with karaoke nights on Thursdays and Sundays plus burlesque shows the third Wednesday of each month. The kind of unpretentious neighborhood bar where your bartender might already be a regular and the jukebox pulls everything from '70s disco to contemporary hip-hop.
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Hole-in-the-Wall Gay Bar · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer The Ultimate Dallas Bar Guide
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Rank 45. Slow Bone
Texas-Style Barbecue
- Texas Monthly 2025 · The 50 Best BBQ Joints in Texas
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Barbecue · Best of Dallas
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- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Sourdough Loaf · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Bakery for Bread · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Bakery for Bread · Best of Big D
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- D Magazine 2023 · Best Brunch · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Chilaquiles · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Brunch · Best of Big D
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- Eater 2025 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- D Magazine 2025 · The Best New Restaurants in Dallas
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Rank 49. Peticolas Brewing Company
Beer Bar
Peticolas is a small locally owned brewery in a West Dallas industrial building that helped put the city's craft beer scene on the map with brews like Velvet Hammer, a deceptively smooth imperial red ale. The split-level taproom is always tuned to some soccer match—Champions League or regional Mexican soccer—and has foosball, ping pong, and shuffleboard upstairs for when the field goes quiet.
- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Local Brewery · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Taproom · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Brewery · Best of Big D
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Rank 50. Katy Trail Ice House
Texas Beer Bar
A sprawling patio off the Katy Trail where the beer list skews all-Texas and the crowd leans outdoorsy and thirsty. This ice house does Texas whiskeys and venison chili with the kind of casual, colorful ease that makes you want to stay longer than you planned.
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Spot on the Katy Trail · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Bar Patio · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer The Ultimate Dallas Bar Guide
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- D Magazine 2025 · Best Tea Time · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Meal With a View · Best of Big D
- Eater The 38 Essential Dallas Restaurants
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Rank 53. Bar Colette
Cocktail Bar
Ruben Rolon, who built the drinks program at a Michelin-recognized restaurant, now runs this upscale cocktail bar where every drink takes days to develop and classics get thoughtful reinterpretation. The carefully curated spirits and global wines pair with refined bites like sashimi, and you'll need a reservation to secure a seat at this Dallas standout.
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Best New Bar
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Cocktail Bar · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Hugo Spritz · Best of Big D
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- Dallas Observer Taquerias, Tex-Mex and More · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
- D Magazine #38 · The 50 Best Restaurants
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Rank 57. Restaurant Beatrice
Contemporary Cajun & Creole
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Nominee · Best New Restaurant
- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Cajun · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine #22 · The 50 Best Restaurants
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Rank 58. Tei-An
Japanese Noodles
In a stark, gallery-like space in the Arts District, Tei-An grounds itself in the ritualism of handmade noodles—soba and udon served hot or cold with both classical and unorthodox accompaniments. The kitchen moves beyond its foundations with equal command, turning out tempura and grilled eel alongside tonkatsu, each dish executed with the precision of someone who has thought through every detail.
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Omakase · Best of Dallas
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- D Magazine #8 · The 50 Best Restaurants
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- James Beard Awards 2024 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Texas · Regino Rojas
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Best Chef: Texas · Regino Rojas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Mexican · Best of Big D
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Rank 60. Simply South
Southern Indian
- The New York Times 2024 · The Restaurant List
- Texas Monthly 2025 · Honorable Mentions · Texas’s Best New Restaurants
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- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Korean · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Korean BBQ · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Korean · Best of Big D
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Rank 64. Double Wide
Dive Bar
A dive bar masquerading as a trailer park, Double Wide pours cheap, potent cocktails under string lights and serves as a refuge when Deep Ellum gets too packed. The real draw is the outdoor patio lined with salvaged toilets and road signs, plus a music venue across the way that hosts bands and DJs most nights.
- Wildsam The 50 Most Essential Bars in America
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Happy Hour · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer The Ultimate Dallas Bar Guide
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Restaurant for a Special Occasion · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer Splurge Worthy Spots · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
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- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Mediterranean · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Former Mayor's House · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer Neighborhood Staples and Gems · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
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Rank 67. Stillwell's
Steakhouse
On the seventh floor of the Hôtel Swexan, a clubby steakhouse named for a legendary Texas rancher serves drinks and seafood towers alongside HWD beef from the restaurant's own Akaushi breeding program north of the Red River. The white-jacketed staff move with the precision of a well-oiled machine, letting the meat speak for itself.
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Rank 69. Zoli's Pizza
Pizza
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- D Magazine 2025 · Best Ramen · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Ramen · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2023 · Best Ramen · Best of Big D
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Rank 71. Roots Southern Table
Modern Southern
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Soul Food · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Southern Cooking · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Gumbo · Best of Dallas
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- Dallas Observer 2023 · Best Chocolate · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Chocolatier · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Chocolatier · Best of Big D
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Rank 76. Four Corners Brewing Co
Beer Bar
Four Corners Brewing Co. is a sprawling neighborhood brewery in The Cedars with an industrial taproom outfitted with inventive light fixtures and serious brewing equipment visible behind the bar. They've scaled up from home operation to full production, but the real draw is the experimental seven-barrel system where they're always testing smaller-batch, one-off beers.
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Bar Game Night · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Taproom · Best of Big D
- Dallas Observer The Ultimate Dallas Bar Guide
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Place for a Post-Mountain Bike Ride Beer · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Brewery for the Whole Family · Best of Dallas
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Rank 79. Georgie
Contemporary
Georgie dresses its dining room in peachy retro-modern tones while the kitchen plays with form—crispy potato churros, roasted chicken with sauce vin jaune—without losing sight of ingredient quality and classical technique. The prices are steep, but the attentive service and indulgent desserts justify the splurge.
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Emerging Chef · RJ Yoakum
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Chef · Best of Dallas · R.J. Yoakum
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Place to Celebrate an Anniversary · Best of Big D
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Italian Market · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Neighborhood Market · Best of Big D
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Rank 81. Ginger's
Cocktail Bar
Ginger's is a subterranean cocktail lounge in the historic East Quarter where knowledgeable bartenders sling solid drinks against a good music playlist, all without the velvet-rope attitude. The vibe is glamorous but genuinely welcoming—the kind of place that wants you to come as you are rather than dress for the occasion.
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Cocktail Bar · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Bar Stools · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer The Ultimate Dallas Bar Guide
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Rank 82. MĀBO
Omakase Sushi
- Esquire 2024 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Best New Restaurant
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Texas · Masayuki Otaka
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Rank 83. Tatsu Dallas
Sushi
Ten counter seats in a gin distillery building demand advance planning, but Chef Tatsuya Sekiguchi's edomae omakase—moving from delicate Alaskan salmon to briny Hokkaido uni to Maine eel—justifies the hunt. Rice and fish arrive in perfect proportion, each piece shaped to your preference, the ritual of a single seating binding strangers into witnesses of his craft.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Omakase · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Omakase · Best of Big D
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Rank 84. Sushi Kozy
Sushi
Chef Paul Ko's omakase unfolds across a cypress counter in a spare, modern room, opening with composed bites that wander far from tradition—duck confit in phyllo, sea bass crudo with tarragon and apple—before settling into nigiri of restraint and precision: kanpachi kissed with shiso, anago dusted with sansho. The kitchen trades cozy intimacy for elegant refinement.
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Rank 87. Mike’s Gemini Twin
Dive Bar
A Cedars bar that splits the difference between a neighborhood dive and somewhere the bartenders wear suits, Mike's Gemini Twin serves dirty martinis made with fresh-pressed olive juice and anchovy-stuffed olives alongside Meats by Linz hot dogs pulled from a roller grill. Pool table, darts, a decorative stripper pole, and a tiny back patio give the place its flirty, dark, unpretentious swagger.
- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Bar With a Stripper Pole · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Hot Dog · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer The Ultimate Dallas Bar Guide
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- Dallas Observer 2025 · Best Chicken Wings · Best of Dallas
- Dallas Observer Barbecue Shops · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
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Rank 91. Lee Harvey's
Dive Bar
Wood paneling, neon beer signs, and a patio that draws dogs and their people make this a Dallas dive bar where you can actually breathe and be yourself. The onion rings with chipotle aioli are the kind of bar snack that keeps you ordering rounds longer than you planned.
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Revelers Hall transplants 1920s New Orleans brass-band energy to a corner of Bishop Arts, where Kevin Butler's big band plays with such infectious festivity that the room practically vibrates with the urge to dance. It's a bar with flatbreads, cheese boards, and charcuterie—decidedly not the place for a quiet drink, but exactly right if you want to be swept up in something loud and joyful.
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Rank 95. José
Jalisco Mexican
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Texas · Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Texas · Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman
- Eater The 38 Essential Dallas Restaurants
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- D Magazine 2024 · Best Day-to-Night Combo · Best of Big D
- D Magazine 2025 · Best Deli · Best of Big D
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- Wine Enthusiast 2025 · Top 50 New Restaurants
- Texas Monthly 2025 · Honorable Mentions · Texas’s Best New Restaurants
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Rank 99. Opening Bell Coffee
Coffee
A longtime Dallas music venue disguised as a coffee shop, Opening Bell has hosted Leon Bridges and other now-famous acts on its open mic stage, and the crowd still comes to catch the next local breakout. The Black Eye—a 16-ounce drip coffee spiked with two shots of espresso—will wire you through sets, or grab a beer and a sandwich if you're here to listen rather than stay caffeinated.
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Rank 100. Saint Valentine
Cocktail Bar
Two experienced bartenders—one formerly of Deep Ellum's Black Swan—pour cocktails with names like Big Booty Trudy at this slinky East Dallas spot that carries itself with a studied cool. James Beard-nominated chef Misti Norris runs the kitchen, turning out obnoxiously good bar food like furikake fries that deserve a Mai Tai alongside them.
- Spirited Awards 2024 · Regional Honoree · Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar – U.S. Central
- Texas Monthly 2025 · Dishes We Wanted Seconds Of: Loaded Nugs @ Rainbowcat · The Best Things in Texas
- Eater Best New Bar