The Ultimate List of the Best Restaurants in Dallas You Have to Check Out

Whether you’re looking for burgers, barbecue, brunch, seafood, or fried chicken, Metroplex has it all. Also, Big D boasts an incredible selection of breweries, an ice cream boom of sorts, and some of the most excellent tacos. Luckily, wherever you choose to live, Metroplex can help you get fresh, tasty, and finger-licking bites, even if you’re relocating to the suburbs. Since it sprawls across more than 350 square miles of North Texas, its neighborhoods can boast decent meals. In fact, certain areas have developed a unique gastronomic identity, so you can pick your new location based on that as well, and not only on the safety of your future neighborhood.

If you’re a gourmet and plan to relocate to Big D, you’ll find everything you need here to help you cope with stress when moving in case you didn’t manage to avoid some common moving mistakes. And so much more. The city has been undergoing culinary transformations in the last few decades. This incredible amount of change is quite enough to pique your curiosity, so find a job before you move and enjoy a culinary rollercoaster which is one of the many reasons why you should move here.

We’ve put together a list of the top-notch restaurants you should try in 2020 because the best time of the year to move here is now. These spots offer exceptional menus and can satisfy everyone’s appetite. Keep reading and pick your new foodie hub to enjoy mouth-watering dishes.

Best Restaurants in Dallas Serve Great Dishes

Metroplex has a bit of everything for everyone, so if you’re a vegetarian, you can enjoy Indian cuisine in Kalachandji’s in East Dallas. But, to be honest, Big D is well-known for its meat-based specialties. In case you haven’t tried some of the most iconic dishes, here’s a list of those you shouldn’t miss out on:

• Chile con queso and chips
• Tex-Mex
• Frito Pie
• Chicken-fried steak and fried okra
• Pecan pie
• Pecan pralines
• Fletcher’s corny dog
• Fajita meat
• Fried food
• Chimichanga
• Stuffed jalapenos
• Barbecue and Texas T-bones

8 Restaurants to Visit in 2020

According to D Magazine, a monthly magazine that covers a range of topics, including fashion, politics, food, and lifestyle in Triple D, there are plenty of restaurants that deserve to be highlighted. Several among them stand in the sea of competition and take pride in tasty bites, great aromas, and eye-catching interior. If you’re moving to another state alone, you’ll have plenty of time to explore them all, and that might help you avoid getting relocation depression.

#1 Dallas Icon – El Fenix, Established in 1918

As the oldest restaurant in Big D, this spot can boast humble beginnings and rich history. Located at the same place as when it was founded, it is credited as the “original Mex-Tex.” The inside of El Fenix brims with Mexican charm and tradition. The restaurant’s hot sauce (Picante) became so popular with guests that it is now mass-produced and sold in chain stores.

Although the menu is being adjusted continuously, the essence has stayed the same – Mexican roots and original taste. If you still haven’t tasted puffed-up and crispy Picadillo meat-filled corn tortillas or sopapillas, then it’s high time you reserved a table here and see why El Fenix is an eatery you shouldn’t miss.

Place where Sharing Special Moments Has Become a Tradition

If you need a perfect setting where you can enjoy a laid-back atmosphere with your friends or family, this is a hidden gem. Whatever occasion brings you here, the kind staff and excellent service will meet all your requirements. This easy-going location has the most delicious chips and salsa around, and it’s definitely worth visiting.

#2 Tei-An Will Blow Your Mind with Japanese Cuisine

If you’re a newcomer who adores Japanese specialties, ask locals what venue can provide you with Michelin-worthy service and top-notch sushi. Undoubtedly you will hear “Tei-An“. The chef’s specialties include incredible and authentic Japanese cuisine, while attentive service and affordable prices will charm you and help reduce costs when moving on a budget. Whether you’re looking for sushi, seafood, shrimp coated in potato chip tempura, or miso-glazed pork belly, this restaurant is worth reserving a table.

#3 Feel Italia in Lucia

Have you ever tasted a fairytale eggplant? In Lucia, you can enjoy the original flavors in each and every bite. Cozy atmosphere, excellent service, and very authentic Italian meals can make your day and get under your skin. If you are thinking about moving in together with your partner, this is a place where you should celebrate. With its calm ambiance, it’s suitable for a business lunch, romantic dinner, or friendly brunch with your coworkers. You won’t feel the Italian spirit only, but tasty pasta, pizza, risotto, or aromatic wines.

#4 French-Continental Dishes Are the Best in Bullion

From the decor to the dishes and fantastic French wines, this venue is top-notch. Its ambiance is ideal for special occasions with a beautiful view of downtown. Bullion boasts a unique architecture of the restaurant as well as the art within, resulting in an elegant atmosphere. Its staff, wine list, bar, and food are world-class. People with sophisticated palate should come here and enjoy finger-licking lamb and pedigree wine. Additionally, if you are moving during the holidays this could be a perfect place to celebrate and treat yourself with some tasty meals.

#5 Town Hearth – A Classy Venue

As one of the classiest steakhouses on the planet, Town Hearth will fascinate you with mammoth steaks – grilled over white oak and mesquite charcoal. This foodie spot with some typical American plates will attract you if you like a glitzy atmosphere and loud music where the food is the icing on the cake. To make this experience complete, order brussels sprouts and pumpkin cheesecake as dessert. You will be thrilled especially if you are moving for a relationship and looking for a place to celebrate with your partner.

#6 Sachet – Vegan-Friendly Mediterranean Venue

Sachet is a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with an emphasis on vegetable specialties. The bright and cheery ambiance with natural lighting will make you feel tucked in, providing you with the first-class comfort, while the relaxed and confident service will meet all your needs.

When it comes to ordering, you’ll be overwhelmed with influences from Spain, Turkey, Sardinia, Tunisia, and Greece, woven together to create a unique mix of contemporary dishes. The menu is brimming with colorful, tasty, and rich meals  which include extraordinary and unusual mixtures, such as:

• Green fava falafel
• Shawarma spiced pork ribs
• Catalan-lamb style stew
• Pita bread in the Israeli style
• Swordfish kebab with white beans

#7 Mot Hai Ba – Vietnamese

Since 2013, when it was opened, Mot Hai Ba earned a reputation as one of Metroplex’s top Vietnamese eateries thanks to its innovative chef. This is a place where you can’t go wrong whatever you order – pho and shaking beef, grilled duck hearts, banana flower salad, whole fish, eggplant curry, you name it. You can enjoy a cozy atmosphere since the space is tiny and the tables are tight, but service is excellent and worth visiting. Also, this is a venue where you can bring your family to share pleasant moments and satisfy your palate with great specialties such as garlic noodles and donut holes.

#8 Oak – Elevated Dining

Opened in 2011, Oak was the first elevated dining concept to be introduced in the Dallas Design District neighborhood. With its contemporary culinary experience, simple and elegant cuisine, carefully crafted cocktails, and precious wine from all over the world, the place attracted guests very quickly, providing them with an intimate dining pleasure. The menu is constantly improved with the chef’s effort to make it as seasonal as possible. If you’re looking for fancy cocktails and a relaxed atmosphere, this is the venue to be. A romantic dinner, business meeting, celebrations – it is suitable for all types of events and even the pickiest person will find something that will impress them. Find the cheapest way to move out of state or the cheapest time of the year to relocate and become one of Oak’s regular customers.

Wine Spectator’s 2018 Award of Excellence

This venue takes pride in a plethora of awards, praises, and nominations, such as the Best New Restaurant in Big D (D Magazine), one of the Best Restaurants in the City (The Dallas Morning News), while Bon Appetit included this venue in its annual list of top 50 best new dining places. Perhaps as the crown of its success, stands out the Wine Spectator’s 2018 Award of Excellence. And it’s much more than just perfect wines. The bar offers cocktails made with hand-squeezed juices, fresh fruit, and herbs, as well as house-made syrups. So, if you decide to visit Oak, you’ll have a good thing going.

Big D Is Everyone’s Friend

When you were deciding where to move, you picked the right place. Metroplex is a big city known for its large concentration of shopping centers and restaurants. If you’re moving to Dallas soon and planning to get professional moving services, this place is jammed with job opportunities, excellent schools, cultural activities, and spaces for recreational activities. Of course, the dining scene is one of the most crucial aspects of adjusting to a new location, getting to know the city’s lifestyle and the character of its residents. Luckily, Big D has plenty of hidden gems with an excellent culinary scene. You might need to transport your car across the country to get to some of them, so consider learning how car shipping works and getting an auto transport service. Although the city was famous for its meat dishes, today, you can find international specialties, including vegetarian options and gluten-free meals.

The best restaurants in Dallas are situated in every corner of the Metroplex, so it’s up to you to do some research and pick the one that suits you the most. Regardless if you move into a smaller home in a central location or go further to the outskirts, there will always be some great options to eat out nearby, even while you’re house-hunting. Whether you like those with a long tradition, such as El Fenix, or modern eateries like Town Hearth, Big D has it all. So, if you’re looking for a place where no day is the same, with friendly people, and myriad nooks and crannies to spend leisure time and share tranquil moments with your loved ones, this is where your home should be in 2020. When you start making your relocation plans, remember to book packing services, because they also come with full equipment of packing materials for moving. Look at some roommate websites, packing tips and tricks, moving day tips, create a household inventory list, donate unwanted items, create a photo inventory, and plan your moving budget to become a Big D resident.