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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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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 Izakaya Diner 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.
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.”
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.
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.
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Ella Gonzales
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