Dallas, TX
Visiting Dallas for the NBA Finals? Here are 24 restaurants to try
We’re proud of our Dallas Mavericks. We’re also proud of our food scene. Regardless of who you’re cheering for in the NBA Finals (go Mavs), we want you to eat well while you’re in town for the games. Here’s a list of restaurant recommendations for every meal of the day.
Close and convenient
Billy Can Can
This modern take on a Texas saloon is a stone’s throw from American Airlines Center, and it’s a prime spot for a nice but unfussy dinner before a game. Try the smoked fish dip and the fried quail.
Billy Can Can is located at 2386 Victory Park Ln., Dallas. Open for dinner only. Reservations available here.
Happiest Hour
If you’re looking for bar food, a drink and maybe some patio seating if the weather isn’t too hot, Happiest Hour is a good bet. It’s also a good option for a post-game post up while you wait for traffic to clear.
Happiest Hour is located at 2616 Olive St., Dallas. Open late every day of the week.
Hero
It doesn’t get any closer or more convenient than Hero. This huge sports bar is located in the main plaza near American Airlines Center. It’s got all the bar food staples plus build-your-own bowls if you’re looking for something a little lighter.
Hero is located at 3090 Nowitzki Way, Dallas. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Mercat Bistro
This little French bistro is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Come here for a pain au chocolat in the morning or tri-tip steak frites in the evening. They also have happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Mercat Bistro is located at 2501 N Harwood St., #225, Dallas. Open daily for all three meals, except for Saturday and Sunday when it opens for brunch at 10 a.m. Reservations available here.
Taqueria La Ventana
There are few things Dallasites love more than sitting on a patio with a tart margarita in hand and bowls of chips and salsa on the table. Taqueria La Ventana is great for such a moment. If you’re looking for a similar experience but with air conditioning, El Fenix, which is the oldest restaurant in Dallas, is next door.
Taqueria La Ventana is located at 1611 McKinney Ave., Dallas. There are two other locations in Oak Lawn and the Dallas Farmers Market. Open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. or later every day of the week.
The Henry
This all-day restaurant serves avocado toast in the morning and braised short rib in the evening. It also has a rooftop patio where you can snack on small bites like fritto misto while sipping cocktails like smoked pineapple margaritas.
The Henry is located at 2301 N. Akard St., #250, Dallas. Open daily for all three meals. Reservations available here.
Good for breakfast
Goodfriend Package
It’s hard to find a place that rivals Goodfriend Package when it comes to breakfast sandwiches. Try the East Point (egg, bacon, ham and white cheddar) or the Ol’ Dirty (egg, sausage, American cheese and gravy). They’ve also got a great corned beef hash here, and a lineup of non-breakfast sandwiches like pastrami on rye and an Italian sub. Cultivar Coffee is located inside, so no need to make a separate coffee stop.
Goodfriend Package is located at 1155 Peavy Rd., Dallas. Open daily for breakfast and lunch.
Mama’s Daughter’s Diner
Love a classic diner? Mama’s Daughter’s Diner is for you. You’ll find pancakes, waffles, omelets, grits and chicken fried steak (a Texas classic) here. There are a few locations in North Texas, but the Dallas location is located in the Design District near downtown.
Mama’s Daughter’s Diner is located at 2014 Irving Blvd., Dallas. Open daily for breakfast and lunch.
Starship Bagel
Dallas might not be known as a bagel destination, but we’ve got some great bagels here. Starship Bagel, which has a walk-up window location in downtown Dallas and another shop in North Dallas, won Best Bagel last year at BagelFest in New York. Try the owner’s favorite order — a plain bagel with fermented jalapeño cream cheese.
Starship Bagel is located at 1520 Elm St., #107, Dallas. Open daily for breakfast and lunch.
Good for lunch
Fond
This relatively new restaurant in Dallas has become a beloved lunch spot for many people who work in the downtown area. They serve sandwiches (try the grilled cheese with comté and tomato jam), salads (try the smoked salmon niçoise) and Detroit-style pizzas. They also have killer pickles here that are made in house. Don’t skip the soft serve, which changes daily.
Fond is located at 1601 Elm St., #110, Dallas. Open Monday through Friday for lunch, aperitivo and dinner.
Klyde Warren Park food trucks
For a food truck experience, head to Klyde Warren Park in the heart of the city near the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. You’ll find everything from Cuban food to Italian ice. It’s also one of the only places where you can get a famous Fletcher’s Original Corny Dog outside of the annual State Fair of Texas. The Fletcher’s truck sets up shop at the park only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The Klyde Warren Park food trucks are located at 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Dallas. Open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Loro
Asian flavors and Texas barbecue join forces at Loro, a casual patio restaurant with two locations in the Dallas area. The Austin-based concept is the brainchild of Tyson Cole of Uchi and and Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue. Its quick ordering system and laid-back atmosphere make for an unfussy dining experience. We love the chicken karaage, the rice bowls and the mango slush made with sake.
Loro is located at 1812 N. Haskell Ave., Dallas and 14999 Montfort Dr., Dallas. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Sachet
Sachet’s pita, served hot from the wood-fired oven, is worth coming for alone. This Mediterranean restaurant in the Highland Park area is just as great for dinner as it is lunch, but the “salady bowls” on its lunch menu deserve a mention. It also serves a porchetta-spiced pork shoulder sandwich, which you don’t see on many other menus.
Sachet is located at 4270 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas. Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday (but closed midday between 2:30 and 5 p.m.). Closed Sunday.
Good for dinner
Beverley’s
Oysters mignonette, caviar and latkes, steak frites, matzo ball soup and pastrami are all on the menu at Beverley’s, which melds Jewish and French flavors in a beautifully designed space. Happy hour is from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Beverley’s is located at 3215 N Fitzhugh Ave., Dallas. It is open for dinner Tuesday through Friday and for brunch and dinner Saturday and Sunday. Reservations can be booked here.
José
This Mexican restaurant and its chef, Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman, have received a lot of national attention, and for good reason. Just try the coconut ceviche, tacos de tacha or the squash blossom fried quesadillas to see why.
José is located at 4931 W. Lovers Ln., Dallas. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations can be booked here.
Resident Taqueria
The tacos coming out of the kitchen at Resident Taqueria are some of the most interesting and exciting in the city. Morel mushrooms, soft shell crab, paneer — it all ends up in taco form here. But you’ll also find more expected tacos like braised pork shoulder and carne asada.
Resident Taqueria is located at 9661 Audelia Rd., #112, Dallas. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday.
Rye
Everything on the menu at Rye is interesting, and cleverly named. Ever had an Icelandic hot dog? You can experience a Wagyu version of one here. You’ll also find pork belly lollipops, a carrot and fava bean tartare, and beef cheek raviolo. Grab a drink before or after dinner next door at Apothecary — a stellar cocktail bar from Rye’s creators.
Rye is located at 1920 Greenville Ave., Dallas. Open Tuesday through Friday for dinner, and Saturday and Sunday for brunch and dinner.
As Texan as it gets
Las Palmas Tex-Mex
Looking for a Tex-Mex experience? Head to Las Palmas in Uptown. You’ll find everything you envision when you think of Tex-Mex here — queso blanco, combo plates of enchiladas and crispy tacos, fajitas, chimichangas — but it’s all done a little more delicately than at some other Tex-Mex spots. Take note of their flour tortillas, which they make in house.
Las Palmas Tex-Mex is located at 2708 Routh St., Dallas. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Nick & Sam’s
Dallas and steakhouses go hand in hand. There are plenty to choose from, but Nick & Sam’s is the place to go if you want to dine amongst the who’s who. Dallas Cowboys players, celebrities, CEOs and Luka Doncic himself are regularly spotted here. Speaking of Doncic, Nick & Sam’s has The Luka on its menu — a 77-ounce New York strip that is dry aged for 77 days in honor of the Mavs star.
Nick & Sam’s is located at 3008 Maple Ave., Dallas. Open for dinner daily.
Slow Bone
Come to this classic barbecue spot for the brisket and pork, but also come here for the fried chicken, which is a fan favorite. You’ll find all the classic barbecue sides here, plus some unique ones like squash casserole and sweet potato praline.
Slow Bone is located at 2234 Irving Blvd., Dallas. Open daily for lunch.
Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que
The Reaves family has been serving hickory-smoked barbecue at Smokey John’s for more than four decades. Try their ribs or fried catfish. If you ask for the “Steve White Plate,” you can get them both, says Texas Monthly’s barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn.
Smokey John’s is located at 1820 W Mockingbird Ln., Dallas. It is open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.
Splurge worthy
El Carlos Elegante
Masa is the star of the show at the moody and thoughtfully designed El Carlos Elegante. The corn is nixtamalized in-house and used for tetelas, tamales and tortillas. If you really want to see what this place is about, we recommend the Elegante Experience — a fixed menu where every dish is a surprise until it’s brought to the table. It’ll set you back $99 per person, but you’ll leave full and inspired.
El Carlos is located at 1400 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas. Open daily for dinner. Reservations can be booked here.
Lucia
Lucia, an Italian restaurant in the Bishop Arts neighborhood, has long been considered one of the best restaurants in Dallas. Reservations aren’t easy to come by, but if you show up early you might be able to snag walk-in seats.
Lucia is located at 287 N. Bishop Ave., Dallas. Open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner only. Reservations can be booked here.
Petra and the Beast
Petra and the Beast from chef Misti Norris, who was named a Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine in 2019, places its focus on local sourcing, whole utilization of ingredients, and fermentation. While the restaurant is known most widely for its cured meats and charcuterie boards, the pasta dishes here are not to be missed.
Petra and the Beast is located at 1901 Abrams Rd., Dallas. Open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner and Sunday for brunch. Reservations can be booked here.
The Dallas Mavericks are facing one of the biggest offseasons in franchise history. They hold three draft picks, which will be the last time they control their first-round pick until 2031. They have financial flexibility to improve their roster via trades or free agency for the first time in a long time.
That gives the front office a lot of pathways it can take to improve the roster. However, there are a lot of players who need to take their own steps forward. Most of last year’s roster is still under contract for next season, and while trades or cuts could always happen, a good chunk of the 2025-26 roster will be back.
Of the players under contract for next season, which one needs a big offseason if the Mavericks are going to bounce back into contention?
There are a lot of people who deserve an argument. While Cooper Flagg had an outstanding rookie season, the team will likely only go as far as he takes them. Ryan Nembhard is currently in line to be the backup point guard. Kyrie Irving hasn’t played basketball since March of 2025, and the Mavs will need him to be in top form. P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall could use a jump in three-point shooting. Max Christie needs to increase his volume. Despite all of those, there is one player whose offseason stands out more than anyone else.
Dereck Lively II’s Recovery Will Control Mavericks’ Narrative Next Season
Dereck Lively II only played in 7 games last season before he needed season-ending foot surgery. He’s entering the fourth year of his career already, but injuries have dominated his progression. He was incredibly impactful in his rookie season, especially during the team’s run to the NBA Finals, but he’s played in just 43 games in the two seasons since.
It’s safe to say that if they want to get back into the postseason next year, Dereck Lively will have to be a big part of that. Daniel Gafford is a good player, but Dallas needs the center rotation of Gafford and Lively to take advantage of their effectiveness.
Lively’s ceiling as a player can open up a lot for the offense, especially with his passing. Dallas found a lot of success with him short rolling off a screen and spraying out to a shooter or finding a cutter. Last year’s offense was a train wreck in terms of playmaking, and having a center like Lively who can just pass to an open man would be huge.
Even as he recovers, Lively needs to be more disciplined with his fouling, and he needs to keep developing his touch around the rim.
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2026 has already been a year of fresh horrors for beleaguered Downtown Dallas, and this past week dumped salt in the wound.
In the span of about 24 hours, the urban core was hit with the news that it would be losing three more iconic anchors: the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Stars and the Neiman Marcus flagship store.
After nearly convincing the city of Dallas to agree to knock down its architecturally significant City Hall to keep the team downtown, the Mavericks announced plans to decamp to Valley View — the development site at the doorstep of Preston Hollow that’s mostly been laid to waste after Beck Ventures bought it in 2012.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, whose signature political move is finger-pointing, did what he does best: issued a statement after the fact and he blamed someone else.
“We must fight for the city of tomorrow rather than worship decaying, outdated government buildings from bygone eras,” he wrote, referencing the groundswell of opposition to the City Hall demo plan from Dallasites, whom, it bears reminding, elected him to represent them.
The week got worse when the Stars confirmed they’re leaving American Airlines Center, which, like a Leonardo DiCaprio girlfriend, was deemed outdated at 25 years old. Then, bankrupt Saks Global made a final decision to shutter the Neiman Marcus flagship store at 1618 Main Street in September.
The one-two-three punch exacerbated an already dismal year for downtown, which kicked off with the news that its primary office anchor AT&T is ditching its 2 million-square-foot office footprint downtown and setting up shop in Plano.
Meanwhile, Plano’s star — and a replica of Dallas’ iconic Reunion Tower — continues to rise, buoyed by the news that Samsung is shifting its stateside business operations from Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, to the north Dallas suburb.
Guinness World recordholder tops DFW broker charts
Home construction may have fallen off its post-pandemic peak in Texas, but the broker who made a name for himself selling Lone Star State new builds is still on top. Ben Caballero of HomesUSA.com once again towered over his peers in The Real Deal’s latest ranking of the region’s top broker teams and brokerages by total dollar volume. The Guinness World recordholder for most annual homes sold through the MLS closed $2.43 billion across 4,923 transactions between April 1, 2025, and April 1, 2026, with his average sale coming in at $493,724.
Long-stalled Four Seasons condos secure massive loan
The Four Seasons Private Residences Lake Austin, which was announced in 2021, is finally getting off the ground. Austin Capital Partners and its third development partner on the project, Lincoln Property Company, secured an $870 million construction loan to build the condo project. New York-based TYKO Capital provided the loan. Adelaide Real Estate, Cobalt Equities and JLL arranged the financing. The project will feature an unspecified number of private residences, 28 villa lots, a private marina with 50 boat slips and amenities operated by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts at 6507 Bridge Point Parkway, about 10 miles west of Downtown Austin.
Nitya Capital hits distress patch
About a year after Swapnil Agarwal’s Houston syndication firm seemed saved by a $700 million refi deal, Nitya Capital is back to fending off distress. The firm got foreclosure notices for three North Texas apartment complexes, totaling 847 units, indicating Nitya defaulted on more than $70 million in loans from New York-based One William Street Capital Management. The foreclosures aren’t the first rumblings of distress for Nitya since the refi deal. A $66 million commercial mortgage-backed securities loan tied to two apartment complexes owned by Nitya was flagged for special servicing in October.
Read more
Meet the Becks, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks arena site at Valley View
Long-awaited Four Seasons Lake Austin condo project lands $870M construction loan
Dallas Stars freeze out Downtown Dallas, American Airlines Center
Downtown Dallas flagship Neiman Marcus to shutter
DHJ Quick Take: James Barlowe Breaks Down the Mavericks’ 2026 NBA Draft Options
NBA Draft analyst James Barlowe joined the Dallas Hoops Journal podcast to assess how the Dallas Mavericks should use the No. 9, No. 30, and No. 48 picks to build around Cooper Flagg.
- What’s next? The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled for late June.
- Who broke it down? NBA Draft analyst James Barlowe of NBA Big Board and NBA Draft Junkies.
- Who could Dallas target at No. 9? Mikel Brown Jr., Kingston Flemings, Brayden Burries, and Nate Ament.
- Why does it matter? The Mavericks are building around Cooper Flagg under a new front office, with no head coach yet in place.
DALLAS — As the 2026 NBA Draft continues to approach, the Dallas Mavericks face some important decisions to continue to build around franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg.
NBA Draft expert James Barlowe made an appearance on the Dallas Hoops Journal podcast to break down the Mavericks’ options with their picks. He covers the draft for NBA Big Board on Substack and the NBA Draft Junkies YouTube channel.
The Mavericks control the No. 9, No. 30, and No. 48 overall selections, with a front office led by Masai Ujiri, who oversees basketball operations as president and alternate governor, and Mike Schmitz, the general manager. Additionally, the team has not yet hired a head coach.
“You have your box office, your franchise player,” Barlowe said, comparing Dallas to teams such as the Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz that have searched for a centerpiece for years.
Barlowe said the 19-year-old produced against the league’s top wings and improved as the season progressed, and he projected Flagg to be an All-Star soon, potentially even next season. Barlowe identified a more consistent catch-and-shoot jumper as the primary area for improvement after winning the NBA’s Rookie of the Year honor.
Barlowe also addressed Kyrie Irving, who is returning from a torn ACL. He said a smart front office would consider trade offers from teams on different timelines. If the Mavericks keep Irving, Barlowe said, the ideal selection at No. 9 would be a guard who can play alongside him and eventually take over the position.
Barlowe identified Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr., Houston’s Kingston Flemings, Arizona’s Brayden Burries, and Tennessee forward Nate Ament as top prospects likely to be available at No. 9.
He called Brown the best long-term point guard in the class and said Dallas should not hesitate to select him if he is available. Barlowe said the Mavericks should prioritize guards who can shoot, pass, and defend, citing the rosters built by the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks.
Barlowe disputed the notion that Ujiri values size above all else. “He’s a rule changer instead of a rule follower,” Barlowe said, describing Ujiri as an executive who drafts the best player available.
Barlowe detailed how the Mavericks should consider trading down to acquire assets, noting their limited control of future first-round picks. Additionally, he stated that value remains at No. 30 despite a wave of players returning to college under name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, while sharing some prospects to monitor in the late first and second rounds.
The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23 and June 24.
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