Restaurateurs Jeffrey Yarbrough and Camille McDonald, part of the team that opened the popular Teddy Wongs dumpling house in Near Southside, will open a completely new concept across from Dickies Arena.
The restaurant will replace a former Taco Heads at 1812 Montgomery St.
According to records, the new business is tentatively named La Pistola. But that slang term is a placeholder, and the new name and food concept have not been decided, Yarbrough said.
The property includes two small buildings — a restaurant and bar — that were converted from homes in the 1970s. The location has been a pet grooming service, antique shop, thrift shop and small Tex-Mex restaurant until 2016, when Taco Heads opened and connected the buildings with a patio.
The former Taco Heads location in Fort Worth. Joyce Marshall Star-Telegram archives
Yarbrough, a restaurateur and real estate developer, has opened businesses such as Club Clearview and Liberty Noodle in Dallas, as well as Teddy Wongs at 812 W. Rosedale St. and a second location coming at 102 Houston Ave. in Weatherford.
He is also the founder of the Texas Chicken-Fried Steak Day statewide restaurant promotion.
McDonald opened Teddy Wongs as the “wine boss” and has been involved in her family’s upscale Restaurant506 and Sanford House lodging in central Arlington.
McDonald said the Montgomery Street project is about “building something that belongs in Fort Worth,” according to the announcement.
She and Yarbrough praised the location and potential growth on Montgomery Street, a gateway to Dickies Arena and also to the Will Rogers Memorial Center complex and regularly scheduled events.
The Taco Heads patio looks out onto Montgomery Street and the Fort Worth Cultural District, as seen March 17, 2016. Rick Press Star-Telegram archives
The restaurant is directly across from the arena and provides a patio view of Will Rogers and the downtown skyline.
Yarbrough’s BigInk Commercial Real Estate also announced a new restaurant opening in the Denton County city of Krum.
Forever Steak & BBQ, 115 W. Lake St., is expected to open the first week of March.
Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat. Support my work with a digital subscription
A new breakfast-cafe-with-cocktails is open in west Fort Worth, offering omelets, sandwiches and the now-ubiquitous avocado toast.
Top of the Morning Brunch House brings breakfast diners back to the West 7th neighborhood, where street parking is easy in mornings and where there’s always a demand for another bloody mary or Woodford bourbon cappuccino.
The new restaurant, 2948 Crockett St., comes with a pedigree. It’s owned by former Yolk executive Nick Roditis. He came from Chicago, known for restautants like Rodity’s, a Greek landmark owned by a different family in a Greek-American neighborhood..
Top of the Morning joins a neighborhood already served by some of Fort Worth’s leading brunch restaurants, including Cafe Modern; a Tavern spinoff named Little Tavern; Vickery Cafe; and the Colorado-based Snooze chain.
Top of the Morning replaced Mash’D. It’s part of the newest generation of Artisan Circle shops, along with the new Henry McCarty’s Irish Pub.
The breakfasts are “elevated” from diner fare, well worth a stop weekdays or weekends.
Lemon ricotta pancakes come with blueberry syrup, berries and toasted almonds. Chicken and waffles flip the script, offering a generous serving of fried chicken atop mini-waffles.
If you like churros, Top of the Morning has pancakes topped with churros and syrup. The cinnamon rolls are as big as the plate.
To share, Top of the Morning offers thick-cut bacon with bourbon-maple sauce, or deviled eggs with smoked brisket and jalapeños.
Sides include rosemary or garlic-parmesan fingerling potatoes, cheddar grits and biscuits with honey butter. The six kinds of bread include sourdough, jalapeño-cheddar and gluten-free.
A simple lunch menu offers salads, a chicken-pear sandwich with Gouda, a brisket sandwich with poblanos and a grilled cheese with avocado and tomato.
Prices are reasonable for this kind of stepped-up cafe: $13-$18 for most plates.
Top of the Morning is open for breakfast and lunch daily; 682-250-2215, tombrunchhouse.com.
Lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberry drizzle at Top Of The Morning. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
The dining room at Top of the Morning, a new breakfast-lunch cafe in Fort Worth. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
Top Of The Morning is new in Artisan Circle, Fort Worth. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat. Support my work with a digital subscription
The city of Fort Worth wants to prevent certain businesses from proliferating in the same area, including liquor stores and smoke shops.
Pexels
The Fort Worth City Council voted unanimously at its meeting on Jan. 27 to approve an ordinance that would reshape how the city zones liquor stores, vape shops, and credit access businesses — commonly known as ‘payday loan’ businesses — against the advice of the Zoning Commission.
The proposed ordinance has been making its way through Fort Worth’s city government since last fall, drawing complaints from local business owners and questions from members of the Zoning Commission about the ordinance’s language.
Here’s what you need to know about the new ordinance:
Background
In October, the city’s infrastructure and growth committee discussed possible amendments to zoning requirements for liquor, package, and smoke shops, in addition to pawn shops and some new language in the zoning code for bars and restaurants.
City Council briefly discussed the proposal in December, and the Zoning Commission reviewed it at its January meeting.
Business owners spoke in opposition to the proposal, telling commissioners that the ordinance would not solve crime in low-income neighborhoods, but instead punish businesses that have been around for years.
“What good will this ordinance actually do when there are already convenience stores on every corner of this city?” asked Danielle Tucker, a commercial real estate owner.
Commissioners, after discussing concerns that the language in the ordinance needed more specificity, recommended that the City Council deny its approval.
What’s in the proposal?
The proposed ordinance has shifted some since it was originally written. Here’s what is included in it now:
Newly operating payday loan businesses, liquor or package stores, and smoke shops would have to be 1,000 feet from the property line of existing businesses of the same kind, in a direct line across intersections.
Pawn shops were originally included in the ordinance, but have since been removed since Texas state law dictates that new pawn shops will not be approved if there is another one within two miles in counties with more than 250,000 people.
Smoke shops already must be at least 300 feet from schools, universities, and hospitals. That distance would go up to 500 feet, and public parks, places of worship, and day cares would be added to the “sensitive uses” list.
The ordinance also adds definitions in the city’s zoning code for liquor and package stores, payday loan centers, and bars, and changes the definition of smoke shops and restaurants.
Bars would become defined as establishments where 75% of gross quarterly revenue for the business come from the sale or service of alcoholic beverages.
Payday loan centers would be defined, per Texas finance code, as “a credit services organization that obtains for a consumer or assists a consumer in obtaining an extension of consumer credit in the form of a deferred presentment transaction or a motor vehicle title loan.”
Liquor and package stores would be defined as establishments primarily for the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Restaurants would be defined as places open to the public, with “suitable” seating for guests, which operate as a “permanent food service facility.”
For smoke shops, the “definition percentage threshold” — the percentage of sales that include tobacco and tobacco-related products, as well as e-cigarette products — would decrease from 90% to 50%.
The ordinance also includes some language removing liquor or package stores as a permitted use in the “E” neighborhood commercial zoning district and mixed-use form-based code district.
What next?
Even though the Zoning Commission recommended that the City Council not approve the ordinance, saying that there needed to be more clarity around some of the verbiage, council members still approved it unanimously. Council member Elizabeth Beck initiated the motion to approve.
There is no exact date when the ordinance will take effect.
“They come for the new restaurants — then they find out about us,” said chef Mark Hitri of Paris 7th Restaurant Français, keeping the 40-year French dining legacy of two restaurants on “upper West Seventh.”
The old-timey neon “cafe” arrow points to Montgomery Street Cafe across from Dickies Arena on Jan. 7, 2023. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
As a bass player in the popular 1990s Deep Ellum band Pop Poppins, Hitri learned that the more people talked about local music, the better it was for all musicians.
“It’s that way here,” he said. “The more restaurants that open, the more people talk about all of us.”
Chef Michael Thomson of Michaels Cuisine, the city’s oldest Southwestern restaurant, sees the same regulars every rodeo and horse show.
Chef Michael Thomson says he sees the same regulars at his restaurant Michaels Cuisine every rodeo and horse show. His establishment features a special stock show menu during the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
They want the same T-bone or quail, he said, “and they want to get in and get out.”
Lancarte, Hitri and Thomson have a combined 60 years of experience on West Seventh Street. They’ve served everyone from Dickies Arena rodeo cowboys to art museum patrons and sports fans, along with anyone else who might find the quiet end of West Seventh Street.
Michaels Cuisine
Thomson is in his 34th year serving beef tenderloin in ancho-bourbon sauce, pecan-smoked prime rib and orange-jalapeno quail.
His menu’s history goes back even farther.
The “Mac’s” salad is an updated version of a 1970s Fort Worth favorite. One Stock Show special is a 1-pound “M & M Steakhouse” T-bone griddled and topped with roasted garlic-herb oil, the way it was served for 60 years at a now-gone Stockyards dive.
Rodeo crowds pile in by 5 p.m. They race out in time for the 7:30 p.m. rodeo grand entry. But, he said, the regulars “aren’t in that big a hurry.”
The pecan-smoked prime rib is one of the Stock Show specials at Michael’s Cuisine’s in Fort Worth. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
“It’s a strange sight,” he said. “We get a completely full restaurant, then they go to the rodeo and it’s completely empty.”
Michaels is an insiders’ neighborhood steakhouse. Besides his Stock Show specials and a first-rate chicken-fried steak, Thomson always serves a $25 prime rib special all day Tuesdays, a generous $24 Cajun fried chicken platter Wednesdays and a $24 “backyard barbecue” charbroiled chipotle chicken platter Thursdays.
The restaurant draws a crowd for lunch and dinner Tuesdays through Fridays, including guests from the Bowie House who come looking for another Western restaurant besides the hotel’s Bricks & Horses.
Michaels opens at noon Tuesdays through Fridays and at 4 p.m. Saturdays. It stays open until mid-evening; 3413 W. Seventh St., 817-877-3413, michaelscuisine.com, reserve on tock.com.
Fried chicken is a special Wednesdays at Michaels Cuisine. Courtesy of Michaels Cuisine
Eat Fajitas/Righteous Foods
Lancarte is the gourmet chef in the Joe T. Garcia’s restaurant family. He opened a high-end “alta cocina” interior Mexico restaurant 20 years ago and eventually changed it to an organic-natural cafe and bar, Righteous Foods.
But he also runs a premium delivery kitchen, Eat Fajitas.
Now, the top-quality fajitas and margaritas share the Righteous dining room at night.
For the first time, Eat Fajitas will be served at dinner all through the Stock Show.
The fajitas have “high standards — all-natural chicken [priced for two, $38], shrimp [$42] and beef sirloin [$48], tenderized, with black beans cooked the healthful way,” Lancarte said.
The bar drinks include Himalayan sea-salt margaritas with organic tequila and agave nectar.
The dinner business is now about 40% fajitas, Lancarte said. By day, Righteous Foods serves a health-conscious menu of breakfasts, sandwiches and salads.
“We’re so close, we end up getting decent business from the Stock Show,” he said. Country singer Michael Martin Murphey comes in for the healthy menu, he said.
Righteous Foods is open weekdays at 8 a.m. and weekends at 9 a.m., and it remains open through dinner. Eat Fajitas serves at night Mondays through Saturdays; 3405 W. Seventh St., 817-850-9996, eatfajitas.com.
Righteous Foods has a wraparound garden patio. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
Paris 7th Restaurant Français
Hitri’s history on West Seventh Street goes back to 2010, but it’s complicated.
In 2018, founder Bernard Tronche moved the menu and dishes from his original restaurant, Saint-Émilion, three blocks east to a more elegant new restaurant, Paris 7th Restaurant Français. Tronche eventually retired and sold both restaurants. Hitri had been the chef at Saint-Émilion and came back to take over Paris 7th for a familiar crowd.
“We don’t get as many rodeo fans,” he said. “But we do get the horse owners and the people showing horses.
“They’re steak eaters. So, I need to make sure I have a lot of tenderloin Bordelaise.”
Paris 7th is known for beef bourguignon, Dover sole meunière, Hokkaido scallops and roasted duck. The chalkboard specials change nightly.
Paris 7th is open for dinner Wednesdays through Sundays but will close Jan. 17-22 for a break; 3324 W. Seventh St., 817-489-5300, paris7th.com, reserve on opentable.com.
The tuile aux mures at Paris 7th in Fort Worth features berries warmed in raspberry liquor with fromage blanc in a crunch pistachio and coconut cup. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
Inside the Stock Show: Reata
Reata has two restaurants inside the Stock Show grounds, one in the exhibit hall and one in Will Rogers Coliseum.
● Reata at the Rodeo, 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive inside the Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall, is a full-service restaurant open for lunch and dinner most days (check first) and for lunch Sundays.
Diners relax while having lunch at Reata at the Rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. The Reata is one of the few “sit-down” dining options at the Stock Show. Ron Jenkins Star-Telegram archives
● Reata at the Backstage Club, a former private club above the horse show arena in the old coliseum, is open for dinner Wednesdays through Fridays and lunch and dinner most Fridays and Saturdays, with changing hours on a few days. It serves steaks, chicken, brisket tacos and tenderloin tamales.
● The Pulido’s restaurants operate a Tex-Mex cafe, Pulido’s Rodeo Kitchen, in the Moncrief Building at the corner of Burnett Tandy Drive and Rip Johnson Drive. It serves enchilada dinners, tacos, quesadillas and margaritas.
Reata at the Backstage Club is a restaurant and bar atop the old Will Rogers Coliseum rodeo arena. Rodger Mallison Star-Telegram archives
Eatzi’s Market & Bakery
Eatzi’s Market & Bakery, 1540 S. University Drive, is a grill, grab-and-go restaurant and cake bakery with wines and coffees.
It will celebrate its 30th anniversary Jan. 20, offering cake tastings and events.
A dessert case at Eatzi’s Market & Bakery, a grab-and-go market celebrating 30 years in North Texas. Ashley Estave Courtesy of Eatzi’s Market & Bakery
Daily grill specials include steak or pork chops Mondays, brisket or salmon Tuesdays, chicken-fried steak or trout Wednesdays, burgers or pork loin Thursdays, catfish or tri-tip Fridays, brisket tacos Saturdays and meat loaf or fried chicken Sundays.
Eatzi’s is open for breakfast through dinner daily, with some food marked down to buy-one-get-one from 8:15 p.m. to the 8:30 closing; 817-945-9095, eatzis.com.
In 1999, famous chef Julia Child visited Eatzi’s Market & Bakery in Dallas for a tour with the corporate pastry chef, Rosemarie Concepcion. Carolyn Bauman Cruz Star-Telegram archives
Rodeo specials
● Don Artemio Mexican Heritage, 3268 W. Seventh St., is offering a $69 three-course rodeo special featuring a choice of three entrees: salmon in green mole sauce, a filet or a chile hojaldrado (in pastry) with deconstructed tres leches cake; 817-470-1439, donartemio.us.
● Dos Mares, 3260 W. Seventh St., is offering a $59 rodeo special featuring a choice of fish Veracruz or skirt steak with deconstructed Key lime pie; 682-480-2143, dosmares.us.
● Bricks & Horses, 3700 Camp Bowie Blvd. inside the Bowie House hotel, will serve its regular breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner menus but will stay open later, seating diners until 10 p.m. nightly and offering the bar menu until midnight; 682-786-6688, bricksandhorses.com.
French toast with a goat-milk caramel sauce at Don Artemio. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
A rib-eye at Bricks and Horses in the Bowie House, Auberge Collection hotel, in Fort Worth. Noe DeWitt Courtesy of the Bowie House, Auberge Collection
Nearby
● The Secret Garden Restaurant, 2601 Montgomery St. inside the Montgomery Street Antique Mall, is a lunch cafe and tea room with $9-$11 combos and sandwiches, plus salads and desserts.
● Cafe Modern, 3200 Darnell St. inside the Modern Art Museum, has a new seasonal menu, It serves lunch and dinner Fridays, lunch Tuesdays through Thursdays, and lunch or brunch Saturdays and Sundays; 817-840-2157, themodern.org.
● Rodeo Goat, 2836 Bledsoe St., serves a wide variety of custom burgers, fries and sides; 817-877-4628, rodeogoat.com.
● Rex’s Bar & Grill, 1501 S. University Drive, is a new sports grill and bar with a happy hour all afternoon, chicken-fried steaks with jalapeño gravy, burgers, salads and a weekend brunch; 817-968-7397, rexsftw.com.
● For breakfasts, plate lunches or chicken-fried steak in an old-time Texas cafe seen on “Landman,” go to the 1949-vintage Montgomery Street Cafe, 2000 Montgomery St.
The namesake Rodeo Goat hangs over the bar at the Fort Worth location, as seen August 9, 2013. Joyce Marshall Star-Telegram archives
The Chaca Oaxaca burger at Rodeo Goat, seen August 9, 2013. Joyce Marshall Star-Telegram archives
The old-timey neon “cafe” arrow points to Montgomery Street Cafe across from Dickies Arena, Jan. 7, 2023. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
Claudette Finley at the Montgomery Street Cafe in Fort Worth Jan. 7, 2023. The background mural depicts the cafe in the 1950s. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
Montgomery Street Cafe is across from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth in a scene Jan. 7, 2023. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
The 1950s mural at Montgomery Street Cafe, which opened in 1949. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
Coconut pie at Montgomery Street Cafe. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
Scrambled eggs with jalapenos, a pork chop, biscuits and hash browns at Montgomery Street Cafe. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
This story was originally published January 15, 2026 at 4:42 AM.
Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat. Support my work with a digital subscription
More steaks and lots more pizzas lie ahead for Fort Worth in a 2026 that will be dominated by new restaurants in downtown Fort Worth, Southlake and summer specials for the FIFA World Cup.
What is usually a slow time for restaurants — mid-June to mid-July — will bring a boom to downtown and north Arlington, with soccer tourists all over North Texas looking for grilled Argentine chorizo, Texas brisket or anything American.
The biggest opening in 2026 is obvious: the new Roy Hutchins BBQ Factory, taking shape at 1600 E. Copeland Road (Interstate 30) in Arlington on the corner at Nolan Ryan Expressway just north of AT&T Stadium.
The Roy Hutchins side of the divided North Texas barbecue family already opened one thriving restaurant in far north Tarrant County at 3000 Texas 114 in Trophy Club.
Barbecue fans used to debate whether that Hutchins is better than the other side of the family’s Hutchins Barbeque locations in Frisco and McKinney. But there’s not much difference anymore, and the new Roy Hutchins will get its share of crowds.
Smoked chicken with brisket, sausage and sides at The Original Roy Hutchins BBQ in Trophy Club, as seen May 4, 2024. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
Meanwhile, the ruling barbecue king of Arlington is opening a location up north.
Hurtado Barbecue, a mainstay at Globe Life Park, will open at 421 S. U.S. 377 in Argyle, moving into a market currently dominated by Roy Hutchins and by 407 BBQ.
Here are a few more of the most anticipated new restaurants that will open in 2026, with opening dates dependent on construction and hiring:
Central Fort Worth
— Felina, 411 Bryan Ave., is a new Roman-style pizzeria from the founders of the excellent Bocca Osteria Romana restaurant. It will open the first week of January and serve thin, crunchy pizza, in contrast to other Italian pizza restaurants’ Neapolitan style.
Co-owner Alessandro Salvatore serves a pizza salame piccante, similar to pepperoni, at Felina in Fort Worth, Texas. Courtesy of Felina
— Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse, 969 Commerce St., will be a prime steakhouse from Oklahoma City opening in the new Deco 969 condo tower.
— Madrone, 1400 Henderson St., is coming to the historic Public Market building and apartments in downtown Fort Worth along with Public Market Cafe.
— Partenope Ristorante, 2949 Crockett St. in Artisan Circle, will be a new location for a popular Dallas restaurant known for Neapolitan pizza.
— Cafe Mirador, 3220 W. Seventh St., will be an upscale restaurant inside the Forty Five Ten boutique from Dallas.
Rendering of Cafe Mirador inside Forty Five Ten at 3220 W. 7th St. in Fort Worth. Courtesy of Headington Companies
— Meraki, 1615 Rogers Road, is promoted as a new Mediterranean restaurant from chef Tim Love. It replaces the dining room at Courtside Kitchen.
— Bella Italia, 6115 Camp Bowie Blvd., is the new location for a 45-year Fort Worth favorite that lost its lease at its old location in the boulevard.
— Brooklyn’s, 401 S. Main St., opened the first week of January. It’s a stylish bar that also serves bacon-jam cheeseburgers, teriyaki quesadillas, pizzas on naan, wraps and Phillys.
— Shug’s Bagels, 5101 Camp Bowie Blvd., is a prize-winning Dallas bagel shop known for New York-style bagels and deli-quality bagel sandwiches.
— Top of the Morning, 2948 Crockett St., will be a new brunchy restaurant along the lines of Snooze or Yolk.
— Beverly’s Mexican Cuisine, 901 Houston St., has run into some delays but will open as an interior-Mexico restaurant in the historic Hogan Building.
A turkey club sandwich at Shug’s Bagels with spicy Boar’s Head turkey, and a bacon-egg-and-cheese bagel in the background, as seen Nov. 7, 2025. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
— One Trick Pony Pizza Tavern, 313 S. Main St., will be a new thin-crust, New York-style pizza tavern from Emma and Travis Heim, founders of Heim Barbecue.
— The Original Mexican Eats Cafe, 4735 Camp Bowie Blvd., is designed as a small tacos-and-margaritas stand near the first location of The Original, now at 1400 N. Main St.
Southlake
— Dakota’s, 1901 W. Kirkwood Blvd. in Southlake, is a new suburban location for a 40-year-old downtown Dallas fine-dining landmark.
— Hudson House, 1131 E. Southlake Blvd., is a popular New England-style restaurant from Dallas known for mussels, oysters and light grill dishes such as French chicken and cheeseburgers.
All around
— Teddy Wong’s Dumplings & Wine, 102 Houston Ave., Weatherford, will be the second location for the popular Fort Worth restaurant.
— Fred’s Texas Cafe, 100 N. Texas St., Crowley, will be the third location for the iconic Fort Worth burger tavern and chicken-fried steak cafe.
The Diablo burger at Fred’s Texas Cafe on Friday, June 17, 2022. The Diablo burger, one of Fred’s iconic menu items, features chipotle brown butter, grilled onions, Swiss cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomato and mustard. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com
— il Capo Italian, 9300 Team Ranch Road, will be new from the company behind the Tavern, Pacific Table and Press Cafe.
— Duong DeVille, 405 S. Jim Wright Freeway, White Settlement, will be a new Vietnamese restaurant by chef Hao Tran in the Entrepreneur Park development.
— Pulido’s Mexican Kitchen, 104 S. Ranch House Road, Willow Park, will be the fourth location for the renewed Tex-Mex restaurant chain with new owners and 60 years of history.
— White Castle, 4520 Destination Drive, The Colony, will bring the famous Ohio-based slider restaurants to Texas for the first time.
White Castle’s Original Slider. Hand-out Courtesy of White Castle
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 4:21 AM.
Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat. Support my work with a digital subscription
The Great Restaurant Bust of 2025 is part headlines and part hype.
Fort Worth saw just as many good new restaurants opening in 2025 as closing — maybe more.
Yes, the quadruple whammy of high food costs, a severe immigrant labor shortage, spiraling rents and shrinking waistlines drove some restaurants to close. But that didn’t stop new competitors from launching startups.
For every Cat City Grill that closed, a Fort Redemption neighborhood steakhouse opened.
For every Fitzgerald seafood restaurant that closed, a Hudson House opened.
The enclosed all-weather Nikuya Rooftop sushi bar at the Sinclair hotel in Fort Worth, seen Oct. 31, 2025. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
For every Taco Heads artisan taco bar that closed, a dozen taquerias opened, along with super-cute coffee and taco sensation Cafecito.
Yes, at times the restaurant business seemed dire. But that was easy to forget on a sunny day in the beer garden at Crystal Springs Hideaway, an all-new hamburger patio and bar that felt as comfortable as an old Fort Worth dive.
In fact, 2025 was a great year for Fort Worth-area restaurants. We gained:
—Ko Thai, 725 W. Magnolia Ave., a flashy new Thai restaurant and bar with the decor of an upscale Asian dinner house.
Beef kaphrao with basil and garlic at Ko Thai, seen April 15, 2025, in Fort Worth. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
—Hudson House, 4600 Dexter Ave., a New England-style grill and oyster bar that officially opened in January and quickly became one of the most-booked restaurants in Fort Worth.
—Stewart’s Croquet & Cocktails, 4424 White Settlement Road, an intimate bar, restaurant and croquet club with country-club-style service, by restaurateur Tim Love.
—Dan’s Bagels, 2430 Forest Park Blvd., a Connecticut-style sourdough bagel sandwich shop and deli with a regional following at its original location in Trophy Club.
Dan’s Bagels has sandwiches on sourdough bagels, including a BLT, left, and a bacon-and-egg breakfast sandwich. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
—Cocodrie’s Bayou Kitchen, 5209 Rufe Snow Drive, a well-spiced and near-perfect casual Cajun restaurant that feels as comfortable as an old bait shack.
—Nikuya Rooftop, on the 17th floor at 512 Main St., a glassed-in sushi bar with a 360-degree view of Fort Worth from atop the Sinclair Hotel.
—Cattlemen’s Steak House, 2458 N. Main St., now with a patio and private club added to the remodeled and updated 1947 Stockyards landmark seen in “Landman.”
—Margie’s Italian Gardens, 9805 Camp Bowie West Blvd., a restored and updated revival of a 1953 Italian favorite.
Margie’s Italian Gardens, a west Fort Worth landmark for half a century, has reopened under new ownership. Courtesy of Margie’s Italian Gardens
—Dos Mares, 3260 W. Seventh St., an upscale interior Mexico-style seafood restaurant from the noted steak and cabrito chef behind Don Artemio.
—The Mont, 4729 Saint Amand Circle, an ambitious and luxurious fine-dining restaurant with a bustling bar, a busy patio and a reasonable weekend brunch.
The cheeseburger at Fort Redemption, “a restaurant designed for Fort Worth,” Sept. 28, 2025. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
—Fort Redemption, 5724 Locke Ave., a prime steakhouse and bar with a casual setting and bargain prices, tucked into a neighborhood shopping center.
—Crystal Springs Hideaway, 113 Roberts Cut Off Road, a burger grill and patio beer garden combined with a wine and charcuterie shop in a remodeled 1920s home.
—Polanco Fine Cuisine, 570 Throckmorton St., an elaborate Mexico City-style fine-dining steak and seafood restaurant
—Little Tavern, 517 University Drive, a smaller version of the Tavern on South Hulen Street with the same high-quality meats, burgers, salads and weekend brunch.
—Cafecito, 401 W. Magnolia Ave., a brightly decorated and high-spirited breakfast and lunch cafe known for “pink” tinted tacos and chilaquiles along with lunch and weekend dinner plates such as chicken in mole sauce, plus coffees and pastries.
The $16 NADC Burger has double-smashed wagyu patties, American cheese, grilled onions, jalapenos, pickles and secret sauce. There is “not a damn chance” for customers to make any modifications. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
—Hideaway Pizza, 9800 North Freeway, an Oklahoma legend bringing generously loaded old-school pizzas to a giant, two-story Texas location.
And those aren’t all. Just look around.
A bacon-chicken-and-spinach Alfredo “Paradise Pie” with thin crust, seen along with fried mushrooms and salad Aug. 23, 2025 at Hideaway Pizza in Fort Worth, Texas. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
Hideaway Pizza, an Oklahoma-based chain, is open near Alliance Town Center in North Fort Worth, as seen Aug. 23, 2025. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
This story was originally published December 22, 2025 at 4:27 AM.
Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat. Support my work with a digital subscription
Looking back at a year of Fort Worth restaurant happenings makes my stomach ache — with both joy and sadness.
While Fort Worth said goodbye to some of our favorite digs, the new restaurants that emerged make up for some of the heartache.
I had the pleasure of writing about the best new Thai restaurant in Fort Worth, a greasy burger spot tucked into a downtown comedy club, and a Nobu Sushi dupe.
Texas also had its second annual Michelin Guide where Goldee’s BBQ, Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez and Panther City BBQ all held down their recommendation status.
Just in December, we visited the new Avila Taco in Keller and year-old Kafi BBQ in Irving, which made Eater’s top 15 new restaurants in the country. We were also sad to hear about the closing of Biscuit Bar in the Fort Worth Stockyards, an uncertain future for Beacon Cafe 287 and a landlord dispute at The Singing Chef Cafe.
It was a bittersweet year for the culinary scene in Fort Worth. Take a look back at all the spots I visited in 2025.
The La La Land at 5733 Camp Bowie Blvd. is the first location in Fort Worth. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
La La Land, a cult favorite, makes its Fort Worth debut
La La Land is famous for its sunny aesthetic, baristas who say “I love you” when they serve your latte and its TikTok account featuring drive-by videos of employees riding around telling random strangers, “You’re beautiful.”
When this coffeehouse opened in February, lines wrapped around the corner of Camp Bowie for weeks after.
The Spicy Sour Boule at Sour Boule cafe in Fort Worth. The sandwich has chipotle mayo, layered with chipotle chicken, pepperjack cheese, tomatoes and pickle marinated slaw, all hugged by a plain piece of sourdough. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
Sourdough and pickles aren’t just a trend at this Fort Worth bakery
The Sour Boule in west Fort Worth serves scratch sourdough sandwiches, bagels, pastries and waffles. And every lunch meal comes with a homemade pickle.
After only a year of being open, Sour Boule had to move next door into a bigger space to serve their loyal customers.
The Crying Tiger ribeye steak served with assorted vegetables and sticky rice at the new Ko Thai restaurant on Magnolia Avenue in Fort Worth on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
“Best Thai place in town” opens on West Magnolia Avenue
The food is just as good as the atmosphere at Ko Thai, 725 W. Magnolia Ave. in Fort Worth’s Near Southside. The owners, Joy Theepaka and “Nick” Thana Pornin, also have Koracha Thai in Benbrook. They thought they would bring the “Ko” (cow) to Cowtown.
The menu features dishes from the Isan region in Thailand that is known for bold and spicy dishes. Guests should try the Crying Tiger or one of the stir-fry plates.
The oysters in a half shell are a starter dish offered at The Mont. Samantha Marie Courtesy photo by Lindsey Miller PR
A snazzy fine dining restaurant in a million-dollar neighborhood
The Mont restaurant off Loop 820 in west Fort Worth is a mid-century modern space that serves new American cuisine with a rotating seasonal menu.
Located near the Montserrat neighborhood, with its $1 million-plus homes, the restaurant’s prices aren’t cheap. But The Mont does have a bar bites menu and a new weekend brunch that offers more affordable choices.
Inside Ichiro Izakaya Diner and Bar on 401 Bryan Ave., Fort Worth. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
Japanese charcoal grill opens in South Main district
This Southside Fort Worth neighborhood is home to local favorites Panther City BBQ, Coco Shrimp and Wishbone & Flynt, but it lacked a Japanese restaurant until Ichiro IzakayaDiner and Bar opened at 401 Bryan Ave.
“Izakaya” is traditional type of Japanese bar that serves small snacks and alcoholic drinks. In English, it directly translates to “stay-drink-place,” so grab a drink and get comfy. Think of it as the Japanese version of an Irish pub or Spanish tapas bar.
The $16 NADC Burger has double-smashed wagyu patties, American cheese, grilled onions, jalapenos, pickles and secret sauce. There is “not a damn chance” for customers to make any modifications. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
A smashburger from Michelin chef worth the potential heart attack
NADC Burger is located in Big Laugh Comedy Club in downtown Fort Worth from Michelin star chef Phillip Frankland Lee and professional skateboarder Neen Williams (who also lives in Fort Worth).
If you ask to make any modification to this double patty smashed burger, the cashier is going to tell you: ”Not a damn chance.”
Scallop crudo with sea urchin (uni) from Bleu Bear Sushi in Bedford. Courtesy photo by Bleu Bear Sushi
Former Nobu-trained chef opens sushi restaurant in Bedford
Chef Pang Bamrungsin brings her expertise to Bleu Bear Sushi in Bedford after 10 years at Nobu Chicago.
Nobu is well known for its black cod miso, spicy tuna on crispy rice and yellowtail jalapeno sashimi. Bleu Bear Sushi serves similar but more affordable dishes like yellowtail and yuzu sashimi, fried avocado topped with spicy tuna and wagyu gyoza dumplings.
The chicken birria quesadilla from Avila Taco in Keller. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
Mexican with a spin on the classic birria tacos
A North Texas food truck called Avila Taco started serving twists on the classic Mexican favorite in 2021. And in November, the Avila Taco restaurant opened in Keller.
While “taco” is in the name, this restaurant serves more than the standard tortilla-wrapped birria. We are talking birria ramen, birria mac and cheese, and birria baked potatoes.
Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.
Barbecue is a tough game in Texas, let alone Dallas-Fort Worth, so a one-year-old restaurant making its way with guns blazing caught my attention.
Kafi BBQ is a Halal fusion barbecue restaurant that serves wagyu brisket and incorporates Middle Eastern flavors. Pitmaster Salahodeen Abdul-Kafi told the Star-Telegram that the brisket is Texas raised and sourced from Dallas-based Wagyu-X. The menu also has wagyu dino ribs, wagyu back ribs, wagyu burnt ends, wagyu strip steak and lamb spare ribs.
Another restaurant similar to Kafi in the metroplex is Sabar BBQ, who just announced they’re closing. Sabar served Pakistani barbecue like Sichuan lamb ribs and tandoori turkey. They were ranked within the top 50 on the 2025 Texas Monthly Barbecue list.
While Kafi offers a different kind of south Asian flavor, it’s another unique spin on the traditional Texas barbecue restaurant. If you liked Sabar, you’ll probably like Kafi.
Wagyu brisket is $22.50 for a half pound at Kafi BBQ in Irving. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
What I thought about my $60 meal at Kafi BBQ
Texas Monthly’s Barbecue Editor Daniel Vaughn wrote in his review: “I couldn’t pick up a slice of lean brisket without it falling apart. The fat from those Wagyu briskets melts at a lower temperature, so that might explain the loss of structure.”
However, when I picked up a slice of the brisket, it stayed intact, but it was still able to be broken apart without utensils. Maybe I went on a day when the cut was perfectly cooked, slightly overcooked. My only critique is I wish it had more of a bark.
I am usually always more drawn to sausage than brisket (it may be the Californian in me who thinks tri-tip is superior) but at Kafi— though the Iraqi sausage was unlike anything I’ve had before — I liked the wagyu brisket more.
Abdul-Kafi said the sausage is inspired from his dad’s cooking while he grew up, “It’s made from 100% wagyu brisket trim, and has Iraqi kabob seasoning as well as roasted veggies.”
$60 worth of barbecue from Kafi BBQ in Irving. Kafi has only been open for a year and was already recognized by Eater as a top 15 new restaurant in the country. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
Texas Twinkie, wagyu brisket and Iraqi sausage from Kafi BBQ in Irving on Dec. 14, 2025. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
I tasted notes of cumin in the kabob seasoning the most, which is why the sausage was so unique. While guests shouldn’t skip out on the jalapeno-cheddar, they should absolutely try the Iraqi sausage if deciding between the two.
I also had to try the Texas Twinkie in honor of Keith Lee, who loved the Texas Twinkie from Hutchins BBQ. While you really can’t go wrong with the bacon-jalapeno-cheese and brisket combination, it was nothing out of the ordinary, and this menu item is not what makes Kafi special.
Gouda mac and cheese from Kafi BBQ in Irving on Dec. 14, 2025. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
If you go, focus on the sausages, wagyu burnt ends — and don’t skimp from their gouda mac and cheese. And per Vaughn’s review, you must try the beef tallow fries.
Kafi BBQ is located at 8140 N MacArthur Blvd. in Irving. They are open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. or until sold out. See their Instagram for daily updates.
Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.
Since Taylor Sheridan’s “Landman” has spent the last couple of years filming in Fort Worth, its cast and crew are becoming locals.
Like any local, each has their favorite spots, whether that be causal food or fine dining. Fort Worth has a plenty of both, including a few spots with Michelin Guide recognition.
As “Landman” returns Sunday, Nov. 16 for season 2, here’s a look at the restaurants the cast visits while in town.
Joe T. Garcia’s
“Landman” star Sam Elliott with Zurella Lancarte at Joe T. Garcia’s in Fort Worth. Joe T. Garcia’s/Instagram
The Mexican restaurant is a hot spot for celebrities.
Restaurant owner Brandon Hurtado has also catered several events with the show’s crew. Last year, Hurtado toldthe Star-Telegram about interacting with Thornton.
“He was really down-to-earth and really cool to talk to in-person,” Hurtado said.
Hurtado and a few of his employees will also appear in “Landman” season 2 as pitmasters, according to TheDallas Morning News.
Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar
The cast and crew of ‘Landman’ arrives for a group photo on the red carpet for the premiere event of the second season of ‘Landman’ at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Hatsuyuki has been recommended by several “Landman” cast members.
Last year, actress Kayla Wallace, who plays Rebecca, said Hatsuyuki served the best sushi she ever had. At the season 2 premiere, actress Paulina Chávez, who plays Ariana, highlighted the restaurant as well.
Thornton is also a fan, calling the restaurant “off the hook.”
61 Osteria
A carbonara and rosé on the patio of 61 Osteria in downtown Fort Worth. Madeleine Cook mcook@star-telegram.com
Chávez and Jordan both said that the downtown-located Italian restaurant is a favorite.
A Gustos burger with caramelized onions, pickles and sauce, with Gustos tots topped with caramelized onions and sauce at Gustos Burger Bar in Fort Worth. Bud Kennedy bud@star-telegram.com
Gustos is a particular favorite of “Landman” co-creator Christian Wallace, who said the restaurant serves the best burger in Fort Worth.
First, Goldee’s Barbecue, then Brix Barbecue and finally, Curly’s Frozen Custard. Around that same time, JD’s Hamburgers sold a Hamm-themed dish called “The Jon Hammburger.”
Hamm was not spotted in Fort Worth this time around, since his character died in the season 1 finale.
Bars around Fort Worth
Halloween decorations at Nickel City in Southside, Fort Worth. Nickel City
In addition to restaurants, the “Landman” cast and crew like to partake in adult beverages.
Wallace said Nickel City, The Durty Crow and The Down N’ Out are great. Thornton similarly called the White Elephant Saloon a favorite.
“Landman” season 2 premieres Sunday on Paramount+.
This story was originally published November 14, 2025 at 12:05 PM.
Brayden Garcia is a service journalism reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Brayden mainly writes about weather and all things Taylor Sheridan-related.
Each week, we share Fort Worth-area restaurant recommendations from our very own Star-Telegram readers.
These aren’t all well-known establishments. They are neighborhood “hidden gems,” family-run eateries that have built a loyal following among locals who’ve discovered them in Fort Worth or our suburbs.
Do you have a restaurant recommendation? Use the form at the bottom of this page (or click here) to send it our way. Include what you suggest ordering on the menu.
$ = Most entrees under $15ish
$-$ = Entrees from $15 to $30ish
$-$-$ = More than $30
Ko Thai Restaurant, Near Southside, Fort Worth ($)
The second floor dining room at the new Ko Thai restaurant on Magnolia Avenue in Fort Worth on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Where is this restaurant? 725 W. Magnolia Ave.
“Thai food that is a cut above the others in Fort Worth. Great service. Dramatic architecture and interior.”
What else to know: The Star-Telegram visited Ko Thai back in May and sampled some of their dishes. The inside of the two-story restaurant, opened in 2023, represents the culture of the Isan region of Northeast Thailand, where most of the dishes are from. Owners Joy Theepaka and “Nick” Thana Pornin (of Koracha Thai in Benbrook) thought they would bring “the Ko (cow) to Cowtown.” One of the most popular dishes is the Crying Tiger, grilled marinated ribeye steak served with lettuce and cucumbers. The classic Isan dipping sauce is bold and spicy. Other menu highlights include Pad Thai, red and green curry, curry puffs and handcrafted cocktails. The restaurant also offers a private dining space for parties and gatherings. Ko Thai is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., closing at 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. See the menu.
The Crying Tiger ribeye steak served with assorted vegetables and sticky rice at the new Ko Thai restaurant on Magnolia Avenue in Fort Worth on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
The E San Classic consisting of thai-style papaya salad, sticky rice and roasted marinated chicken at the new Ko Thai restaurant on Magnolia Avenue in Fort Worth on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
More Fort Worth area restaurant recommendations
Check out these other restaurants our readers love, and keep your recommendations coming!
Champagne, caviar and lobster rolls for brunch? The Dallas-based Headington Companies is bringing its Mirador penthouse restaurant to Cowtown.
Cafe Mirador will open inside the new Forty Five Ten boutique at 3220 W. Seventh St. in Fort Worth. This area of West 7th has been growing with trendy businesses within the last five years. Don Artemio and the Crescent Hotel have both been luxurious additions to the surrounding block that are well-received by locals and visitors.
The flagship Forty Five Ten Boutique is located on Main Street in downtown Dallas. The luxury retailer sells handbags, home goods, high-end clothing and jewelry. Their 4,800-square foot Fort Worth location is slated to open at the end of November.
Deviled Eggs with caviar at Mirador in Dallas on Oct. 14, 2025. This menu item will be available at Cafe Mirador in Forty Five Ten Boutique in Fort Worth. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
Cafe Mirador is like a little sister to Dallas’ Mirador restaurant. The menu will feature some of the same dishes for brunch and lunch.
This will be the first West 7th brunch spot that serves both caviar and eggs Benedict at the same time. The Marq Apartments residents and Crescent Hotel visitors will now have an option to walk and grab a latte and pastry or a slice of quiche.
What will Cafe Mirador be like?
Cafe Mirador is not just a place to stop when you shop, but could also be a good gathering for a girls’ brunch, celebratory meal or somewhere to sip on come bubbly. President of Forty Five Ten, Anne Wallach, emphasizes that it can fit any guest’s wants.
Mirador at the penhouse of Forty Five Ten flagship store at 1615 Main St. in Dallas. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
The interior is light with soft woods and neutral stones. Feminine touches of pink and green furniture mirror the gorgeous Mirador penthouse in Dallas. But touches of Fort Worth’s culture persist through the carefully picked art pieces.
Just like how Fort Worth is slightly smaller than Dallas, so is the new Forty Five Ten store and Cafe Mirador restaurant. Fort Worth’s Cafe Mirador will have 28 dining seats and five bar seats, which offer an intimate space.
The Lobster Roll at Mirador in Dallas on Oct. 14, 2025 will be served at Cafe Mirador in Fort Worth. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
What will be on the menu at Cafe Mirador?
The menu at Cafe Mirador is unlike any other brunch and lunch spot in the city. Here’s what we tried.
Deviled Eggs with Tradition Osciestra Caviar from Black River: these bites are chivey, creamy and salty with a hint of caviar.
Ahi Tuna Cornettes: miniature waffle cones with whipped bonito creme (bonito is a fish with a smokey flavor) topped with fresh ahi tuna and wasabi caviar. These were buttery and melt-in-your mouth delights.
Chicken Bites: This starter is one of the most popular dishes at Mirador. Headington CMO Jeny Bania says they are like elevated Chick-Fil-A nuggets. These are bite-sized breaded chicken nuggets with a homemade smoky lime aioli.
The Farro Bowl at Mirador in Dallas will also be served in Fort Worth. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
A classic lunch dish the Escarole Caesar Salad at Mirador in Dallas on Oct. 16, 2025. Brunchers can order this dish at Cafe Mirador in Fort Worth. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
Ferro Bowl: Green goddess dressing with roasted vegetables, dried cherries and Marcona almonds. This dish was light and subtle in flavor but perfect in texture.
Escarole Caesar Salad: Beautiful gem lettuce with capers, herby bread crumbs, plenty of Parmesan and the right amount of dressing. This Caesar salad was the ultimate “girl dinner” and would be perfect with a side of fried or chicken bites.
Lobster Roll: Buttery, toasted brioche bun hugging a herbaceous dressed lobster. The lobster was so tender and the brightness of the dill made it delectable. Fries on the side are also crisp as can be.
The Main Squeeze mocktail at Mirador, and Cafe Mirador in Fort Worth, has passion fruit, coconut, floral simple syrup, citrus and topped with Topo Chico. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
Cafe Mirador will also have an abbreviated bar. They have the Mirador Margarita as well as the Mirador Martini. The wine selection varies from France to Italy to California and even Oregon Pinot Noir. They also have refreshing mocktails for those who don’t want to drink.
Mirador also offers a tea time in Dallas, but that won’t be an option at Cafe Mirador.
Rendering of Cafe Mirador inside Forty Five Ten at 3220 W. 7th St. in Fort Worth. Courtesy photo by Headington Companies
When can you dine at Cafe Mirador?
Forty Five Ten boutique and Cafe Mirador are slated to open in late November. Headington Companies will release an official opening date closer to that time.
Cafe Mirador will be open for reservations on Resy two to three weeks before its opening date. It will be open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Forty Five Ten Boutique will also be open Wednesday to Sunday. You can walk in at your own leisure or book an appointment with a stylist by emailing concierge@fortyfiveten.com.
Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.
For a change, let’s talk about restaurants opening.
Two new restaurants will replace old favorites on the Near Southside, more good Tex-Mex is coming to Keller and the dining business is exploding across the Fort Worth area even though older places are closing.
• On West Magnolia Avenue, Enchiladas ¡Olé! will tentatively replace the old Cat City Grill with a casual Tex-Mex and barbecue restaurant, owner Mary Patino Perez said.
The new restaurant will mark the return of her popular enchilada restaurant with artisan sauces. She said she will combine it with her Holy Cue barbecue stand, moving from the west side.
The new Enchiladas ¡Olé! Express/Holy Cue Texican Bar-B-Q, 1208 W. Magnolia Ave., is projected to open by December, she said.
Holy Cue, 4307 Camp Bowie Blvd., will serve barbecue and Tex-Mex takeout until it closes at the end of November, she said.
Perez also has a hand in promoting Tia’s on the Bluff, downtown at 1301 E. Bluff St., which serves the Sotelo family’s legacy enchiladas, chicken mole and carne guisada in a 130-year-old historic home
• One block west on Magnolia Avenue, a restaurant named Due Italian has filed a vague application to open in the former bar and patio side of Lili’s Bistro.
The fiesta platter at Cristina’s Mexican Restaurant includes flautitas, stuffed jalapenos, quesadillas, chile con queso and guacamole. Pictured with a sangaria swirl margarita and a lime margarita. Sallie Turner Special to the Star-Telegram
• In Keller, the excellent Cristina’s Fine Mexican Restaurants will open at 1821 S. Main St., in the space left when the local Horizon 76 American Grill House merged and moved in next door with its cousin, Outpost 36 Texas Barbeque
The restaurant was originally a TGIFriday’s.
Cristina’s started in 1986 as Angelina’s in The Colony. The first Cristina’s is still operating at 6424 Cross Timbers Road, Flower Mound, and the company now has 10 locations.
.In a news release, Cristina Vargas said the family hopes to open the Keller location in March.
Outpost 36 remains open for lunch and dinner including Horizon 76 items Wednesdays through Sundays at 1801 S. Main St., Keller.
•Grutogi Bistro, a very highly rated breakfast and sandwich cafe from Flower Mound, has opened its second location at 110 Lamar St., Keller, in a former wine shop in Old Town Keller.
Grutogi i (”geuluteogi”) is a Korean word for a tree stump, often referring to a stool or a resting place.
It’s open from 8:30 a,.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily except Sundays.
The shoyu ramen at Wabi House, opening soon in Keller: Chicken broth with pork, egg, bamboo shoots, enoki mushrooms and scallions Courtney Dabney Special to the Star-Telegram
• Nearby in Old Town Keller, a new location of the wildly popular Wabi House ramen restaurant will open at 111 W. Vine St.
Wabi House started in Dallas as a Japanese ramen house and pub. Locations include a Fort Worth shop at 1229 Eighth Ave.
• In Southlake, a new location of Dallas-based Hudson House “East Coast comfort food” restaurant will open in summer 2026.
Hudson House, 1131 E. Southlake Blvd. in Park Village, is a Hudson Valley-style restaurant serving mussels and lobster rolls but also known for a generous cheeseburger. The Fort Worth location is one of the city’s busiest.
Key lime pie with a walnut-graham cracker crust at The Tavern Bar & Grill. Bud Kennedy DFW.com
• The Little Tavern, a smaller version of the Tavern restaurant in Fort Worth, is open at 517 University Drive in Fort Worth.
It’s a new name and completely different menu for owner Felipe Armenta’s former F1 restaurant. The Little Tavern features salads, burgers and entrees from the Tavern, and a full weekend brunch menu including blueberry pancakes.
•Oishii, a sushi and pan-Asian restaurant that has been popular in Dallas since 2003, is open and busy at 1664 S. University Drive.
The new “Oishii Colonial” location is in a strip shopping center near University Park Village. The vast sushi menu now also includes dumplings, salads, stir-fry dishes, pho and omakase.
Lunches include fried rice and an egg roll for $14-$20. Oishii is open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, Sunday for dinner.
“General’s Chicken,” upper left, is shown with a crispy tuna roll, center, and cucumber-tuna at Oishii Sushi & Pan-Asian Restuarant in Dallas, April 2, 2004. Bill Janscha Special to the Star-Telegram
•Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse, a major steakhouse from Oklahoma City, is finishing construction and is expected to open early in 2026 at 969 Commerce St.
• Beverly’s Mexican Cuisine, from the same team behind the flashy new Mont restaurant in Montserrat, is scheduled to open early in 2026 at 901 Houston St.
• In Burleson, a new Fuego Tortilla Grill from College Station is open at 955 N. Burleson Blvd.
• The Perkins Restaurant family diner chain, popular in the Midwest and Northeast, has announced a new location in Crowley.
No location was announced, so it could be anywhere from the Chisholm Trail Parkway to the South Freeway.
• In Parker County, Cork & Pig Tavern is near opening at 460 Shops Blvd. in Willow Park.
• A new Heim Barbecue location is expected to open the weekend of Nov. 8 at 1910 S. Main St., Weatherford.
• A new Pulido’s Mexican Kitchen will open by year’s end at 104 S. Ranch House Road, WIllow Park.
Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat. Support my work with a digital subscription
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