Hot List: 6 of our favorite healthy restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth

If you’re starting 2024 with ambitions to eat healthfully, we’re here to support you. Dallas-Fort Worth has plenty of restaurants selling delicious veggies and lean proteins. Some of you might be abstaining from alcohol during Dry January, and many of these restaurants have alcohol alternatives, kombucha or sparkling water. Happy 2024!

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order.

Brix Barbecue in Fort Worth

One of the most exciting barbecue restaurants in Texas right now is Brix, the former food trailer that moved into its permanent home in Fort Worth in 2023. We met Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn at Brix last fall to record an episode of our Eat Drink DFW podcast (listen here!), and we were enthralled by pitmaster Jeremiah Jemente’s Texas porchetta pork belly, Wagyu beef belly burnt ends and house-made jalapeño-cheddar sausage.

Now here’s the rub: You might not think “healthy” when you think of barbecue, but I want you to think again. Whole30 warriors can mostly eat all the protein they like as long as there’s not sugar added, and Brix’s brisket, barbacoa, Texas porchetta and pulled pork meet those requirements deliciously. (Just try to eat some veggies, too.)

Brix Barbecue is at 1012 S. Main St., Fort Worth. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Cava in Addison, Arlington, Coppell, Frisco, Dallas, Denton, Euless, Flower Mound, Forney, Fort Worth, Plano, Richardson and University Park

We like Cava because it has something for everyone. The salads are a great way to pack a ton of veggies in one bowl and jazz it up with a vinaigrette, food editor Erin Booke says. The pitas, especially the crispy falafel, are comforting and can be vegetarian. The bowls with grains are filling but still healthy. And there’s even a build-your-own kid’s meal.

Every time I build a bowl — often, a Mediterranean spin with grilled chicken, hummus, cucumber and tomato — I giggle when I ask for Crazy Feta. It’s just feta with jalapeño, onions and olive oil, but it feels so much more dangerous.

Find a Cava at cava.com/locations.

Manhattan Project Beer Company in Dallas

The food at breweries can be great. We’ve known that since we ate BrainDead Brewing’s Coma Burger (may it rest in peace), since Community Beer Company reworked its menu, and since the new Wriggly Tin started selling pizza with its Small Beer Works pints. Problem is, it’s easy to splurge at a brewery instead of eating light. Food reporter Claire Ballor says the salmon salad with lemon-oregano vinaigrette at Manhattan Project is great. The menu confirms it’s “just as delicious as the fried chicken.” This is just the kind of positive peer pressure we need when we’re trying to eat healthfully.

Manhattan Project is at 2215 Sulphur St., Dallas.

Modern Market in Plano, Richardson, Las Colinas, Southlake and Dallas

Let’s hear it for soup season. Modern Market has three great ones: tomato-basil, green chicken chili and curry sweet potato. Then, pick your favorite veggies and fruit for a main course. The Urban Farmer salad has roasted butternut squash, red beets, dried cranberries and goat cheese with a maple-mustard dressing. The Jerk Tuna comes with roasted red peppers, cucumbers, avocado, mango salsa and a dressing made with Caribbean spices and Greek yogurt. Modern Market is one of food reporter Imelda García’s favorite spots for a salad or a bowl.

Find a Modern Market at modernmarket.com/locations.

Sachet in Highland Park

Sachet is one of the best places in Dallas for a business lunch. We crave the crudité with muhammara and herb labne; just ask for more veggies instead of the warm pita. (But oh! The pita is so good.) The “salady bowls” section of the menu is full of vegetables with chickpeas, chicken or salmon. If you’re extra hungry, opt for the chicken shawarma with spicy baba ghanoush; it’s so filling, you might have some left over for dinner.

Sachet is at 4270 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas. Closed Sundays. Reservations recommended.

Sweetgreen in Addison, Dallas, Fort Worth and Southlake

I don’t want to know how much money I spent in 2023 just on the Chicken Pesto Parm salad at Sweetgreen. It’s my midday comfort-bowl go-to, with bright notes of hot sauce and pesto vinaigrette mixed with spinach, quinoa, spicy broccoli, tomatoes, Parmesan and za’atar breadcrumbs. If you’re watching your dairy or carb intake, cut the Parm and breadcrumbs — I’ve done it and still love it. The employees at Sweetgreen are attentive to allergies and dietary restrictions, so tell them what you can or can’t eat, and they can make a recommendation. Salads like the Italian Chopped and Kale Caesar are also great.

Find a Sweetgreen at sweetgreen.com/locations.

Claire Ballor, Erin Booke and Imelda García contributed to this story.

For more food news, follow Sarah Blaskovich on X (formerly Twitter) at @sblaskovich.