<\/p>\n
David Beckham dined at Terry Black’s Barbecue,\u00a0immediately making\u00a0this Deep Ellum restaurant one of the most talked-about Dallas spots during the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Ben Torres\/Special Contributor<\/p>\n
After we spent the first half of summer in Dallas eating burgers for our Best Burgers list<\/a>, you\u2019d think we\u2019d dive straight into salads. But cyclosporiasis changed our plans<\/a>, so we retreated to safety: barbecue, burgers, chicken-fried steak and pasta, all of which you\u2019ll find in this August 2026 edition of where to eat in Dallas-Fort Worth.<\/p>\n That\u2019s right, this summer we\u2019re making the drive<\/a> to iconic restaurant Ranchman\u2019s, which is back in business and nearly 80 years old. We\u2019re showing up at a tiny East Dallas coffee shop impacted by construction. We\u2019re stopping in Fort Worth for Turkish food, ceviche, burgers and barbecue. And we\u2019re sipping cold sake cocktails at a new sushi restaurant on Dallas\u2019 Oak Lawn<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tell me which restaurant you\u2019re most excited about by emailing sblaskovich@dallasnews.com<\/a>. We may feature your picks on our Eat Drink D-FW podcast<\/a>, which will soon return from summer vacation.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Restaurants listed in alphabetical order.<\/p>\n Bavarian Grill in Plano<\/p>\n German restaurant Bavarian Grill recently lost its owner, Juergen Mahneke, who died in June at age 67<\/a>. He worked at the restaurant for over 30 years and introduced Texans to his family\u2019s German recipes like h\u00fchnersuppe (chicken soup) and a list of schnitzels. Reading Kathy Wang\u2019s obituary will make you want to raise a glass to longtime Plano restaurateur Mahneke<\/a>, whose restaurant will remain open and run by family members.<\/p>\n Bavarian Grill is at 3425 Premier Drive, Plano.<\/p>\n Juergen Mahneke owned\u00a0Bavarian Grill in Plano for over 30 years.<\/p>\n Jason Janik\/Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Beren in Fort Worth<\/p>\n It was tough to see Fort Worth vegan tasting-menu restaurant Maiden close<\/a>, but the new Turkish restaurant that replaced it is just as interesting. Beren comes from a Turkish couple who sold baklava at markets and festivals in D-FW for years. Their new full-service restaurant would make for a great business lunch midday, and you can\u2019t beat the price: $20 for three dishes, including grilled kabobs. For date night, Beren\u2019s mezze trio is a great option \u2014 and don\u2019t miss the girit ezme, or whipped feta and yogurt \u2014 followed by generous portions of salmon, lamb chops, steak and more.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Beren is at 1216 6th Ave. Fort Worth.<\/p>\n Bharat Bhavan in Irving and Frisco<\/p>\n The owners of Bharat Bhavan tell our Imelda Garc\u00eda they\u2019ve opened \u201cthe world\u2019s largest Indian vegetarian restaurant.\u201d<\/a> That\u2019s hard to fact check, but it sounds possible: The new Irving location can seat up to 1,000 people and has the square-footage of about two Trader Joe\u2019s. The menu is all vegetarian, and it\u2019s large as well. Signature dishes include paneer pasanda in an onion-tomato sauce, jackfruit biryani and a spicy cauliflower dish called karampodi gobi.<\/p>\n Bharat Bhavan has two locations: The nearly 20,000-square-foot restaurant at 530 W. Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, Irving, and another restaurant at 13355 Main St., Frisco.<\/p>\n Gustos Burger Bar in Fort Worth<\/p>\n Despite what you may have seen on social media<\/a>, Gustos Burger Bar was not damaged in a fire in Fort Worth on July 4. Videos show a neighboring house ablaze, with orange flames reaching high into the trees, but firefighters arrived before it spread to Gustos. Happily, then, it sounds like it\u2019s time to head back to the little house near Magnolia Avenue for a smashburger and tots.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Gustos Burger Bar is at 1229 7th Ave., Fort Worth.<\/p>\n The fire wasn’t at Gustos Burger Bar, it was two houses down.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Sakura Lounge<\/p>\n Juju\u2019s Coffee in East Dallas<\/p>\n Ignore the\u00a0large excavator in front of Juju\u2019s Coffee in East Dallas.\u00a0Oncor crews are digging underneath Skillman Street and have set up orange blockades feet from Juju\u2019s doorstep. The important part: Juju\u2019s is open, and husband-wife owners Nick Rocha and Julia Rocha are asking customers to come back this summer, even if parking is trickier than usual. Its peanut butter milk latte called the Do-Si-Do is worth the trek.<\/p>\n Juju\u2019s Coffee is at 6038 La Vista Drive, Dallas. Closed Tuesdays.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Construction in front of Juju’s Coffee in East Dallas has its owners worried customers will think the shop is closed.<\/p>\n Anja Schlein\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Mariscos Cortez in Fort Worth<\/p>\n Check out a series of successes for the family who just opened seafood restaurant Mariscos Cortez<\/a>. The story starts with their Fort Worth food truck, Birrieria Cortez, which opened in February 2020. The timing could have been a death sentence, given the COVID-19 uncertainties one month later, but Birrieria Cortez was an outdoor business, and it thrived. By 2021, Birrieria Cortez moved into a bricks-and-mortar restaurant and sold as many as 6,000 tacos per day.<\/a> In 2024 and 2025, Michelin named it a Recommended restaurant<\/a>. The Cortez family is now cooking at Mariscos Cortez, a Jalisco-style seafood restaurant selling ceviches, tostadas and more, reports Garc\u00eda. I can\u2019t wait to try it.<\/p>\n Mariscos Cortez is at 1151 Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway, Fort Worth. Closed Mondays.<\/p>\n Battered fish tacos at Mariscos Cortez in Fort Worth are a must-try.<\/p>\n Shafkat Anowar\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Neighborhood Sushi on Dallas\u2019 Oak Lawn<\/p>\n In a city flush with omakase restaurants, Dallas diners might desire more casual Japanese dining<\/a>, said Austin restaurateur Larry McGuire. At his Neighborhood Sushi, which opened this summer, diners order by the piece: sashimi, nigiri, tempuraed veggies, grilled proteins and a few rolls. If you\u2019re drinking, don\u2019t miss Neighborhood Sushi\u2019s inventive list of sake cocktails.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Neighborhood Sushi is at 4216 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> What are Dallas\u2019 only Michelin-starred restaurants? Omakase spot Tatsu is one<\/a><\/p>\n Executive Chef In Chun poses with a spot prawn at Neighborhood Sushi, a new Japanese restaurant in Dallas\u2019 Oak Lawn area.<\/p>\n Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Ono Hawaiian BBQ in\u00a0Plano<\/p>\n So you\u2019re looking for a restaurant that won\u2019t cost big bucks. Ono Hawaiian BBQ is a chain from California that just opened its first-in-Texas restaurant in Plano. Soon, you\u2019ll see them all over Dallas-Fort Worth, as the company has picked 10 cities<\/a> for its initial Texas expansion. Most meals cost $13.99, but deal-seekers might like the $8 special of chicken teriyaki over rice with a small drink.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Ono Hawaiian BBQ in Plano is at 8724 Preston Road (at the southeast corner of Preston Road and State Highway 121), Plano.<\/p>\n Pablo Pete\u2019s in northwest Dallas<\/p>\n If you read one of my food stories this month, make it Pablo Pete\u2019s<\/a>. This small smashburger shop is tucked inside a warehouse full of commercial kitchens, where chef John \u201cChormaic\u201d Sullivan is quietly making food that wants to be heard. Like, have you ever seen a burger slathered with caviar? I hadn\u2019t, until a few weeks ago. I\u2019m interested in \u2014 and perplexed by \u2014 the food coming out of this small, mighty kitchen.<\/p>\n Pablo Pete\u2019s is at 1499 Regal Row, Dallas. Closed Sundays and Mondays, and hours may vary. Go if you want to, but customers are also ordering delivery<\/a>.<\/p>\n Chef John \u201cChormaic\u201d Sullivan owns Pablo Pete’s, a smashburger shop.<\/p>\n Steve Nurenberg\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Patty Lou\u2019s\u00a0Smashburgers in Plano<\/p>\n New Plano restaurant Patty Lou\u2019s is named after Texas musician Patty Lou Peters<\/a>, who fronted an all-female band in Texas in the 1940s. Patty Lou\u2019s daughter, Plano restaurateur Bonnie Shea, opened the restaurant in July 2026 in honor of her mom, and Wang has an inside look. I love a story about history-making women \u2014 and I\u2019m always on the hunt for a great burger<\/a> \u2014 so first up for me to try is the Texas Sweetheart ($10.50): a double smashburger with American cheese, grilled onions and jalape\u00f1o relish on a potato bun.<\/p>\n Patty Lou\u2019s Smashburgers is at 1000 14th St., Plano.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Pony in Denton<\/p>\n Have you been to a pottery studio that\u2019s also a restaurant? I haven\u2019t. When The Pony opens in mid-August, it\u2019ll offer Denton a place to mold clay, paint ceramics, listen to live music, look at art and eat Italian food. I\u2019m intrigued. Check out Garc\u00eda\u2019s story and you might be, too.<\/a><\/p>\n The Pony is at 314 E. Hickory St., Denton. It\u2019s expected to open in mid-August 2026.<\/p>\n Ranchman\u2019s by Marty B in Ponder<\/p>\n Texas roadtrippers, Ranchman\u2019s is back<\/a>. This historic chicken-fried steak spot<\/a> in the tiny Texas town of Ponder closed around its 75th birthday<\/a>, struggling under the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>. It seemed like this small restaurant with a big personality might have retired for good<\/a>. But no, Denton restaurateur Marty Bryan (of Marty B\u2019s in Bartonville and a dozen other eateries) bought it and reopened Ranchman\u2019s this summer. A lot has changed, but plenty more hasn\u2019t. Go get another look.<\/p>\n Ranchman\u2019s by Marty B is at 110 W. Bailey St., Ponder. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Follow on social media to see live music schedules.<\/a><\/p>\n In its nearly 80 years,\u00a0Marty Bryan is the just third owner of Ranchman’s in Ponder.<\/p>\n Chitose Suzuki\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Scilla in Dallas\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Looking to impress? Head to Scilla, the new coastal Italian restaurant near the Park Cities,<\/a> from the team that owns Mister Charles and El Carlos Elegante. Your first glance inside is a stunning pink bar, a great spot for a drink or dinner if you can\u2019t get a seat. Which will be tough, as Scilla is a top spot in Dallas right now for fine food like caviar toast, tuna crudo and paella with clams, mussels and shrimp. I\u2019ll be back as soon as I can; don\u2019t take my seat!<\/p>\n Scilla is at 8111 Douglas Ave., Dallas.\u00a0<\/p>\n You know where cyclospora isn’t? Pasta.\u00a0<\/p>\n Juan Figueroa\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Terry Black\u2019s Barbecue in Dallas and Fort Worth<\/p>\n We\u2019ll probably spend years debating whether the World Cup brought D-FW the shine we hoped for. Not up for debate is that Terry Black\u2019s Barbecue won big. Its pinnacle moment was when David Beckham ate at the Deep Ellum barbecue joint<\/a>, then posted photos on Instagram about it. Norwegian football player Erling Haaland gave Terry Black\u2019s a shoutout on social media the same week. How\u2019d they attract two of soccer\u2019s most famous athletes? Right place, right time, said co-owner Mark Black: “Barbecue is an experience people want to have when they come to Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n Terry Black\u2019s has two locations in North Texas: 3025 Main St., Dallas, and 2926 W. 7th St., Fort Worth.<\/p>\n Tortas Insurgentes near Dallas Love Field<\/p>\n With the State Fair of Texas about 50 days away<\/a>, it\u2019s time to get in festival shape. Head to Tortas Insurgentes, where owners Oscar and Haydee Rodriguez challenge customers to eat a massive Mexican sandwich in 20 minutes or less. Specifically: Gulp down 1 pound of breaded chicken, 1 pound of breaded beef, 1 pound of ham, 1 pound of sausage, a half-pound of chorizo, quarter-pound of bacon, three eggs, an avocado, beans, cheese, pineapple, tomato, onion and jalape\u00f1o. I was pretty sure this would be impossible, but can you believe one guy did it<\/a>? Those who succeed get $150, Garc\u00eda reports. Those who don\u2019t have to pay $75 for the sandwich and leave with a stomachache.<\/p>\n Tortas Insurgentes has several locations in the D-FW area, but the Mega Torta is served at the location at 3701 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas.<\/p>\n Walkers\u2019 in East Dallas<\/p>\n When Greenville Avenue restaurant Walkers\u2019 opened this summer, I said it \u201ccould be the next restaurant and bar Dallas needs.\u201d<\/a> It\u2019s been fun watching Dallasites discover this neighborhood spot for great food and drinks. Walkers\u2019 is a coffee and sandwich shop at lunchtime, a refined dinner spot at dinnertime and a wine bar most of the time. As a fun bonus, it also sells the scent of the season<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n