![]() ![]() Top pick: The shawarma sandwiches, served on loaves of fresh Iraqi bread with fluffy soft interiors, are no-doubt, unanimous-vote choices for the Texas Sandwich Hall of Fame, especially if you ask that your sandwich be made spicy.įun fact: Bilad makes a point of providing food to penniless customers or people experiencing homelessness free of charge. Grab a bag of that samoon bread as you leave, or visit the small grocery next door. Kebab meat may look charred on the outside, but the interior is still perfectly tender. Bilad has also had an excellent kitchen serving Iraqi specialties, including some of the region’s better shawarma and falafel, zhug (an acidic hot pepper sauce), fresh tabbouleh and garlicky hummus. The superb bakery got its start turning out excellent samoon bread from Iraq and trays of delightful desserts like pistachio puffs and baklava. ![]() Some of Richardson’s other Iraqi restaurants have shut down in recent years - we still miss the kebabs at Chai Khanah - but Bilad, the original and perhaps best of them all, remains a neighborhood institution. The fall-apart tender block of protein is stacked with Moroccan carrots and thin shards of fried okra. Here it's served as a sweet and smoky sauce alongside a braised lamb shoulder. De Leon got a taste of a muhammara while working in Dubai. Top Pick: A lamb pressé was a dish we just couldn't forget. We'd be remiss not to mention house sommelier Amelia Henderson, who has crafted a Mediterranean-focused wine selection. The bar and patio on the front side of the restaurant offer a more casual experience, but in the back is one of the prettiest dining rooms in Dallas. A gaggle of rattan lampshades hangs over an impeccably designed dining room. The whipped ricotta topped with grilled fruit is beautiful. Chef De Leon added pan-Meditteranean dishes to the menu such as light bacalao fritters (the dried and salted cod are popular market fare in Spain) with a sunny touch of citrus, and ever-so-slightly fried octopus over gigante beans. He's a chef whose resume includes the lauded Alinea in Chicago, French Laundry, Noma and the now-closed Bullion closer to home. Located in the Drey Hotel, Anise snagged Rene De Leon Jr. Come to think of it, all our favorite dishes at AllGood have huge quantities of black pepper.įun fact: The restaurant’s atmosphere, eclecticism and charm are best described by the slogan emblazoned across its website: “It’s like going to Austin, without having to go through Waco.” Top pick: Either the fabulous chicken club sandwich, with crisp, peppery bacon and avocado, or literally any dish that comes with the restaurant’s smooth mashed potatoes and ultra-peppery gravy. The chicken-fried steak, with enormous, crisp batter that sprawls across a whole takeout container, is advertised as the “world’s best.” We don’t know if that’s true, but to find better, you’d probably have to drive to some tiny town in the Hill Country. The food here adds gentle Texan touches to American classics, like the fat slices of roasted poblano pepper in the terrific grilled cheese sandwich, or the fact that all sandwiches come with a side of tortilla chips rather than fries. If you designed the diner of your dreams, and you happened to be from south-central Texas rather than, say, New York or the Midwest, the result would look a lot like AllGood Cafe. Exploring the city's foodways with you will always be our passion, and we can't wait to see what the new year brings. This year, our Top 100 Restaurants list welcomes a dozen new establishments as we do our part to shine a light on the locally owned spots serving a wide range of flavors and cuisines. ![]() While diners are being smarter with their spending, there are still plenty of faces to feed, and Dallas' restaurant scene stands ready with old favorites and innovative new concepts to cater to the masses. Inflation and a tight labor market continue to weigh heavily on restaurants. Publications like The New York Times and Bon Appetit have highlighted local restaurants frequently, which only reinforces Dallas' status as a great dining city.Īs we head into a new year, there are still challenges ahead for the industry. The breadth of skill and creativity in Dallas' dining scene never ceases to thrill us, and we're not alone. ![]() Our 100 Favorite DFW Restaurants for 2023. ![]()
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