Best restaurants in Dallas

Dining in Dallas is delicious, with dedicated eateries and decadent restaurants to dive into. In fact, that’s the hard part. With such a vibrant cultural scene, you’ll be juggling much more than just southern cuisine. That’s why we’re looking at the best restaurants in Dallas, so you can spend less time looking, and more time munching.

Dallas’ collection of distinct neighborhoods and districts translates to their food scene as well, which means even the most ferocious of foodies can find something to feast on. From sushi to steak, here are the best places to eat in the 214.

Petra and the Beast

601 North Haskell Avenue, Dallas, TX 75246

Petra and the Beast presents the perfect unassuming atmosphere, with a lightly-rustic, chic surrounding. It’s a cozy experience, perfect for their farm-to-fork menu, but bright enough to add a sense of space and highlight the quirky decor. There’s something to steal your attention in every corner – in fact, everything Petra and the Beast does is eye-catching.

While food is presented with flair, it’s the seasonal and sustainable fare that really leaves Petra a cut about the rest. From house cured meats, cheeses and crackers to vegetarian snacks and inventive pastas, the curated menu is concise and delicately crafted.

Rodeo Goat

1926 Market Center Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75207

If you’re looking for a casual joint where you can kick back and chow down on some seriously stacked burgers, look no further than Rodeo Goat. With hand-punched fries and a constantly evolving portfolio of creative, flavorful and mouth-wateringly messy burgers, the menu doesn’t miss.

Tables are bench-style, with barstools to give that gastro-pub vibe. It’s busy, welcoming and easy going, with enough space to not feel crowded. In fact, there’s room for all the family – and we mean all. If you’ve got a special good boy or girl to bring along, then worry not, the Rodeo Goat is pet-friendly, making it a perfect lunch spot for the full family.

Café 43

2943 SMU Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75205

Nestled in the George W. Bush Presidential Library, you’ll find one of the best places to eat in Dallas. Café 43 is named after the 43^rd President of the United States himself but doesn’t require admission to the Library and Museum to enter. Monday-Friday, 9am-3:30pm, there’s grab-and-go options or you can dine in the Ceremonial Courtyard. Floor-to-ceiling windows give the room an open, spacious quality, with plenty of natural light.

With a seasonally-sourced menu, you can expect an ever-changing assortment of innovative and intricate interpretations of local cuisine and Texan dishes. For a sense of what to expect, the spring menu includes meals like grilled chicken, pesto and avocado on ciabatta; starters that include soup, hummus and salad, as well as iconic desserts like key lime pie.

Rise n°1

5360 West Lovers Lane #220, Dallas, TX 75209

Cooking is artistry, and every plate in this salon de soufflé is a culinary masterpiece. Simple ingredients like eggs become something new, transformed into an assortment of sweet and savory soufflés.

Rise n°1 pays homage to its culinary roots, with a classic French menu, supporting its soufflés with thrilling entrées and starters. Elevate your dining experience with artisanal cheese plates, intricate soups, sublime steak sides and quality French salads.

At Rise n°1, the soufflés embody the atmosphere of the restaurant itself, a warm space with whimsical décor and a sense of comfort. Don’t settle for subpar soufflés – Rise n°1 is one of the best restaurants in Dallas to experience this French delight again and again.

Commons Club

1445 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75207

American cuisine doesn’t need reinventing, but the creative takes on contemporary classics here are sure to delight. The palate-pleasing menu includes a wide cut of steaks, all served with green garlic purée and roasted local mushrooms, pillowy pork belly steam buns, jalapeno corn bread and their table centerpiece, the Lion’s Feast. That’s a three-guest sharing plate, including a 36oz Piedmontese beef tomahawk or short rib rack asado.

The Common Club is in the cultural cross-section that is the Virgin Hotel, making for a unique, bustling atmosphere of comers and goers. For a uniquely social atmosphere, and new takes on American cuisine, the Commons Club is one of the best restaurants in Dallas.

Sassetta

1530 Main Street STE 100, Dallas, TX 75201

With a name that harkens back to the Renaissance Tuscan painter and memories of the countryside, the newly reimagined Sassetta is a nostalgic parcel of Italy set at the foot of the Joule Hotel in Dallas. In fact, it was named one of 2022’s most beautiful new restaurants. While the elevated atmosphere and chic design is worth your adoration – the brass top, olive-green cased bar steals the show – it’s the menu that keeps patrons coming back.

Sassetta is authentically Italian, offering seasonal interpretations of casual and classic Italian cuisine. That means an eclectic collection of carbs, including pastas and pizzas, alongside a selection of mouthwatering meats and seafood specialties. Think scallops with braised chard and chorizo crumble or cavatelli pasta paired with a rich duck Bolognese.

LAW

4150 North MacArthur Boulevard, Irving, TX 75038

Inspired by the flavors of Texas, this upscale steakhouse lays down the LAW, delivering prime cuts of meat and seafood prepared with authentic, Texan inspiration. From black angus to wagyu ribeye, you’ve got a range of cuts, served with a choice of bourbon-peppercorn, bearnaise, salsa verde or LAW steak sauce.

LAW isn’t only about steak though – with calamari to pork, roasted salmon to shrimp cocktail, and an assortment of salads to boot, you’ve got choice by the fistful.

Located inside the Four Seasons Dallas, LAW offers a comfortable atmosphere, with an upscale, almost residential vibe. Windows are large, washing the restaurant in natural light. Each plate is immaculately presented, with artfully arranged cuts and garnishes that give a sense of culinary mastery.

Dragonfly

2332 Leonard Street, Dallas, TX 75201

Dragonfly offers one of the finest dining experiences in Dallas’ downtown, for a bustling atmosphere and contemporary New American cuisine perfected with an Asian theme. With a diverse menu spanning every meal of the day, there’s always an opportunity to fall into the inspiring colors and flavors of this exciting menu.

Feast on spicy, crispy chicken served with chipotle mayonnaise, served on a brioche bun. Or go for an assortment of small plates, including volcano salt garlic fries or crispy, jalapeno calamari.

Inside, you’ll discover rustic, varnished wooden tables, glowing from the ambiance of a chandelier and spotlights that illuminate the hanging artwork. Worn leather seats occupy the bar area, with an upscale, industrial sensibility promoting the sense of a speakeasy in its design. It’s a space that glitters, without sacrificing warmth or comfort.

Tatsu

3309 Elm Street STE 120, Dallas, TX 75226

Tatsu is one of best restaurants in Dallas for a curated, intimate, and exclusive dining experience unlike any other. Tatsu serves fewer than twenty guests a night, in a tailored omakase experience – a meal comprised of dishes selected by the chef. That means a unique, seasonal and elegant set of plates, artistically arranged with utmost care and creativity.

Inside the Continental Gin Building you’ll find a quaint, ten-seater restaurant designed to deliver a personalized experience built for only those in the room. The single table runs lengthways beneath small spotlights and a finely finished wooden wall. In front, an exposed brick wall and a teppanyaki-style kitchen where you can watch the Chef Tatsuya Sekiguchi prepare your plates in the moment. The quality of the sushi here has made it the most sought-after reservation in the city.

Over the years, Dallas has come into its own as foodie’s paradise, a varied and cultural melting pot of flavors, experiences and etiquettes reinvented, curated or honored. The hardest part isn’t finding somewhere to eat, it’s settling on just one.

Get to know more about Dallas

Dallas doesn’t just have some of the best restaurants around, it’s a city full of diverse neighborhoods and plenty of places to explore. Discover the must-visit districts and learn the rules of the road so you can navigate the 214 without a hitch.

• Best hotels in Dallas
• Dallas’ neighborhoods
• Dallas driving guide