The Hot List is living up to its name this month. It’s July 2026 in Dallas-Fort Worth, and we’re in the midst of a hot, hot American summer. Better make a list of cool restaurants, am I right?
This month, we’re eating light. Let’s enjoy cold seafood dishes and pretty cocktails. Let’s cheer loudly during World Cup matches and nosh on spicy mussels at the pub. Let’s not forget about cold, delicious dips! (I would never.) Let’s dream of dining someplace grand, like Paris or Mexico City or New York, but let’s find great dishes here in Dallas that remind you of all of those, without the plane ticket.
I don’t know about you, but life got busy recently. Let’s slow down, get a little sun and grab a bite.
Restaurants listed in alphabetical order.
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Alania in Old East Dallas
If you find yourself near Jimmy’s Food Store or the Dallasite, two historic spots in Old East Dallas, look for the new Alania Mediterranean Grill. A Turkish family has opened a restaurant serving mezze, flatbread, lamb chops and skewered meats. The dips were particularly good, especially the whipped Cyprus feta, carrots-and-walnuts and muhammara.
Alania Mediterranean Grill is at 4812 Bryan St., Dallas.
Finish a meal at Alania Mediterranean Grill in Old East Dallas with Turkish coffee served on a silver tray.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Angie’s in Little Elm and Plano
So you’re looking for healthful food without a big price tag. That’s Angie’s whole thing: This chain restaurant from Phoenix sells salads, build-your-own bowls, cheeseburgers, burritos, rice bowls and even lobster rolls. (Come to think of it, what doesn’t Angie’s sell?) The idea here is high-quality food at a low price, served in a drive-through. If you go, tell me what you think.
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Angie’s is at 2823 Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm, and 701 W. 15th St., Plano.
Argentina Bakery in Irving
Just in time for World Cup matches, Argentina Bakery moved to a bigger space in Irving. It’s three times the size of the former restaurant, Staff Writer Kathy Wang reported. The homey restaurant serves empanadas, sandwiches and cake, and there’s a full bar.
Argentina Bakery is at 3143 W. Airport Freeway, Irving.
In celebration of global soccer legend Leo Messi’s 39th birthday, staff at the new Argentina Bakery in Irving created a multi-tiered birthday cake.
Steve Hamm/The Dallas Morning News
Dumpling Queen in Flower Mound
There’s a dumpling queen in Dallas-Fort Worth? I can’t wait to meet her. Wang reports that Lulu Du is the owner of a new restaurant in Flower Mound serving nearly a dozen types of dumplings alongside Chinese-American dishes such as orange chicken. Chefs here spend eight to nine hours a day wrapping dumplings. I’ve got my eye on the crab xiao long bao, the pan-fried thumb buns and a chocolate lava and banana bao for dessert.
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Dumpling Queen is at 1050 Flower Mound Road, Flower Mound.
Pan-fried thumb buns look delicious at Dumpling Queen in Flower Mound.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
The Flying Fish (multiple locations)
Much of the World Cup experience in Dallas-Fort Worth has been more bizarre than we could have projected, but here’s the oddest food deal I’ve seen: The Flying Fish’s nine Dallas-area restaurants are serving a “surf or turf” summertime special. No joke: You get tinned sardines — the surf ($15), or canned Vienna sausages — the turf ($12). Both come with saltine crackers in what restaurant co-owner Shannon Wynne dryly refers to as a “mélange” of mayo, mustard, Worcestershire and lemon.” It’s a build-your-own situation, y’all, and the price is right! Worth a giggle, too.
Flying Fish’s North Texas restaurants are in Addison, Arlington, Coppell, Fort Worth, Dallas, Garland and Plano.
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Flying Fish’s “surf or turf” deal goads customers to eat saltines and sardines in a silly summer special.
Raynor Brumfield
Ghost Pizza in Lake Highlands
Lake Highlands’ newest Italian restaurant has $3 slices of pizza. That’s the first thing to know. The second thing is this “new” place comes from the family who started a pizzeria in Dallas in 1949. Their erstwhile restaurant in the Preston Hollow area closed after a 2019 tornado. The owner told our Zacharia Washington he’s “happy to be back in the business” and hopes Preston Hollow customers will make the drive a few miles east.
Ghost Pizza is at 10675 Northwest Highway, Dallas.
Kuluntu Bakery in Oak Cliff
South African bakery Kuluntu is selling excellent croissants and loaves of sourdough in an area of east Oak Cliff called the East Dock. More than just a plate to eat, though, Kuluntu is a nonprofit business meant to empower women, offer space for the community and provide a place for kids. I inhaled sharply, feeling so seen, when I saw the private room for nursing mothers. I’d drive a long way to support a place like this.
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Kuluntu Bakery is at 900 E. Clarendon Drive, Dallas.
La Lupita Taco & Mezcal in the Dallas Design District
When Dallas Morning News food reporter Imelda García says we need to eat the famous al pastor tacos at a new Dallas Design District restaurant, we should listen. La Lupita is an established restaurant in Los Cabos, Mexico, that expanded to the Dallas Design District in early June. It’s the first U.S. restaurant from the brand, and its place in Dallas denotes the “very special connection between Dallas and Cabo,” CEO Carlos Ramirez told García. Revered American chef Thomas Keller has already dined at La Lupita — a great sign.
La Lupita Taco & Mezcal is at 1201 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas.
A drunken barbacoa taco pictured at La Lupita on Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Dallas.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Maroma in the Dallas Design District
While we’re in the Design District, stop at Maroma for lunch or dinner. This coastal Mexican restaurant is a great option for a business meal, as it has an impressive-looking dining room and an interesting menu. I love the tuna tostada with peanut salsa matcha, the guacamole to share, and an entree of gochujang adobo jumbo shrimp or red snapper in lemongrass coconut broth. Insiders know Maroma comes from chef Omar Flores, of Muchacho and Casa Brasa.
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Maroma is at 1333 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas.
Neighborhood Sushi in Highland Park
For their first act in Dallas, the Austin-based chefs from MML Hospitality opened Neighborhood Sushi on Oak Lawn Avenue. It’s a “strip mall sushi” Japanese restaurant, managing partner Larry McGuire calls it, in affluent Highland Park. You should try it out, not only because the food’s good but also because it’s the first in a series of restaurants from a Texas company doing big things. I especially like Neighborhood Sushi for an unplanned date night.
Neighborhood Sushi is at 4216 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas. It’s the newest restaurant on this list, having opened June 30, 2026. Reservations recommended but not required.
For a cold drink and some raw fish in Dallas, try the new Neighborhood Sushi on Oak Lawn Avenue.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Executive Chef In Chun holds a selection of nigiri at Neighborhood Sushi in Dallas.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Fluke, Scottish salmon, Baja bass, Madai snapper, big eyed tuna and fatty tuna are on the nigiri menu at Neighborhood Sushi, which opens June 30, 2026 on Dallas’ Oak Lawn Avenue.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Chefs toss grilled edamame at Neighborhood Sushi, a new Japanese restaurant in Dallas.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Kakigori with mango, prickly pear, pineapple and coconut cream is one of five dessert options at Neighborhood Sushi in Dallas.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Executive Chef In Chun leads the kitchen at Neighborhood Sushi, an Austin-born restaurant expanding into Dallas. The company also owns Clark’s Oyster Bar and Swedish Hill, two more brands that will expand into Dallas-Fort Worth imminently.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Osteria il Muro in Denton
Have you tried to get a reservation at this tiny Italian restaurant 45 miles north of Dallas? It’s nearly impossible. So when Denton chef Scott Girling was in the running to win Best Chef: Texas in the James Beard Awards last month and didn’t take home the award, I cheered. Really: We don’t need reservations to be even more difficult for this lovely little restaurant. If you can’t get one, follow along on Instagram. It’s delicious.
Osteria il Muro is at 311 W. Congress St., Denton.
Osteria il Muro owner and chef Scott Girling makes raschiatelli pasta before service in June 2026. The pasta-making table turns into a four-seat counter during dinner service, which adds more seats to the tiny restaurant.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Palladino’s Steak and Seafood in Preston Hollow
If you’re looking for a new steakhouse to try in Dallas-Fort Worth, make it Palladino’s, Dallas restaurateur Joseph Palladino’s new place at Preston Road and Royal Lane. The menu includes classics like Caesar salad, lobster bisque, prime steaks, and mac and cheese. But I’m intrigued by a few unexpected dishes for a steakhouse, like a crab crisp appetizer, Texas quail with ham hock gravy, sushi tacos and disco chicken. The adventure awaits.
Palladino’s Steak & Seafood is at 5959 Royal Lane, Dallas.
Restaurateur Joseph Palladino and Chef Sam Hazen created Palladino’s in Dallas.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Queen’s Head Pub in Deep Ellum
Soccer fans will find much to love about the new Queen’s Head Pub in Deep Ellum. Even when World Cup matches are not on TV, this bar is worth a stop for spicy mussels, fish and chips or a cheesesteak topped with Guinness beer cheese. A living-room setup with couches, chairs and a fireplace will make you feel like you’re drinking at a friend’s house.
Queen’s Head Pub is at 2713 Elm St., Dallas.
Chicken wings at the Queen’s Head Pub in Deep Ellum come tossed in choice of Buffalo, garlic Parmesan, spicy honey or spicy curry.
Courtesy of Queen’s Head Pub
El Rincón del D.F. in northwest Dallas
For the ultimate World Cup souvenir photo, Dallas restaurant El Rincón del D.F. is stamping its tortas with the shape of a soccer ball. It’s, frankly, adorable, and the sandwich sounds great, too: grilled beef or chicken, with guac, melted cheese and lettuce. Get ’em until July 19, 2026, García says.
El Rincón del D.F. is at 2900 Walnut Hill Lane (near Harry Hines Boulevard), Dallas.
Imelda García/Staff writer
Smokey Joe’s BBQ in Redbird
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico stopped at Smokey Joe’s BBQ in early June for a bite of beef, striking down jabs he’s vegan. But his favorite bite, he told a group of reporters, were brakes. Wait, I mused. Not brisket? Nope: Talarico loved owner Kris Manning’s “rib nuggets,” a more affordable version of brisket burnt ends. You can’t find them very many places in D-FW, and Manning calls them a “Southern Dallas thing.”
Smokey Joe’s BBQ is at 6403 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas.
Stay Darlin’ in East Dallas
Looking for a Fort Worth vibe, but in Dallas? Henderson Avenue has become the country-chic center of the city, and its newest two-stepper is a bar and restaurant called Stay Darlin’, or Darlin’ for short. It’s a place for dirty martinis and cucumber margaritas and a sandwich called the Million Dollar Club that does not, in fact, cost $1 million. (It’s $18.) When that one friend says “I want to dress up,” wear your boots or hats and scoot to Darlin’.
Stay Darlin’ is at 2929 N. Henderson Ave., Dallas.
New Dallas restaurant Stay Darlin’ is located next to Dudley’s Sports Grill and across Henderson Avenue from Tecovas and Rancher Hat Bar. Wear your boots.
Courtesy of Stay Darlin’
Sueño in University Park
Snider Plaza is home to a Mexican restaurant called Sueño, a stylish place for dinner. It’s in a new red-roof building near SMU that long-timers will remember as the site of the former Peggy Sue BBQ. Beyond the dinnertime food and drinks, Sueño has a tequila lounge called Alma Agave.
Sueño and Alma Agave are at 6600 Snider Plaza, Dallas. Reservations recommended.
Victory Tap in West Plano
So you’re looking for a bar with 32 TVs to watch the World Cup. Alberto Lombardi, the prolific Italian-born Dallas restaurateur who owns Toulouse, Taverna, Bistro 31 and more, has opened a sports bar in West Plano that’s his most casual so far. Victory Tap has plenty to keep sports fans occupied: cornhole, shuffleboard, foosball, a Formula 1 simulator and an outdoor bocce court.
Victory Tap is located at 5973 W. Parker Road, Plano.
Walkers’ in East Dallas
New Greenville Avenue restaurant Walkers’ is the wine bar East Dallas needs. Why? It’s open during the day, selling great sandwiches. It serves wine starting at happy hour, at a bar where reservations are not required. And it has a short but stout menu of New American food served at dinnertime. This is the Dallas restaurant everyone’s talking about right now.
Walkers’ is at 3016 Greenville Ave., Dallas. Reservations recommended for dinner.
WokStar Chinese in Dallas’ West Village and on Walnut Hill Lane
If you’ve got a hankering for orange chicken, xiao long bao, firecracker shrimp or lo mein, WokStar Chinese is now open in Uptown. The West Village restaurant has a temperature-controlled patio — a must this season — and a cozy interior with booths and a bar. It’s an easy answer for neighbors wanting a quick dinner or Chinese takeout.
WokStar Chinese is at 3699 McKinney Ave., Suite 307 (in West Village), Dallas. The original WokStar remains open at 8041 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas.