The culinary scene in Dallas is about to get a whole lot more exciting as several new restaurants are set to open their doors in August 2026. From Mexican cuisine to Mediterranean delights, and even a Nashville hot chicken joint, there's something for every foodie's taste. Here's a breakdown of the upcoming openings and why they're worth getting excited about.
Casa Comal Cocina: A Tasty Mexican Adventure
Casa Comal Cocina, a Mexican restaurant, is set to open its doors at Cypress Waters in Irving. This new destination promises a wide variety of tacos, from Mexico City-style carnitas and al pastor to upscale options like lemon pepper chicken with arugula. But it's not just about tacos; the menu also features nachos, quesadillas, empanadas, soups, gorditas, and torta sandwiches. The restaurant is a brainchild of owners Bachir and Elisa Ramadam and their partner Alejandro Vera, who brought their concept to Texas after founding the original in Santa Barbara, California, in 2021.
Dave & Buster's McKinney: Fun and Food
The newest addition to the Dave & Buster's chain, located in McKinney, is a 40,000-square-foot entertainment hub. It features arcade games, gaming suites, sports viewing, and a full-service restaurant and bar. While it serves bar basics like burgers, BBQ ribs, and wings, it elevates these classics with options like bone-in and boneless wings, a plant-based black bean burger, and a Philly cheesesteak. The fun doesn't stop there; they also offer unique desserts like funnelcake fries with whipped cream, caramel, and chocolate.
Harissa Mediterranean: A Taste of the Middle East
Harissa Mediterranean, a family-owned restaurant, opened in fall 2025 at Plano's Lakeside Market. The menu showcases Middle Eastern favorites with a focus on precision. From hummus and falafel to grilled haloumi and lamb chops, every dish is a masterpiece. The restaurant also offers notable Northeast-style dishes like chicken lemon rice soup and a lahmacun flatbread topped with ground beef, onion, tomato, garlic, and red peppers. With moderate prices and a full bar, Harissa Mediterranean is a must-visit for Middle Eastern cuisine lovers.
Pane Vino North: Italian Comfort Food
Plano residents are in for a treat with the opening of Pane Vino North, a quintessential neighborhood Italian restaurant. This spinoff of the original Pane Vino Osteria, opened a decade ago in Dallas/Addison, offers all the Dallas-Italian classics. From calamari and pork chop Milanese to pappardelle Bolognese and linguine carbonara, most dishes are priced at a crowd-pleasing $20 or under. The restaurant also features a full bar and desserts like tiramisu, making it the perfect spot for a cozy Italian dining experience.
Patty Lou's Smashburgers: Retro Burger Joint
Patty Lou's Smashburgers, a retro-style burger shop in downtown Plano, offers a limited menu starring smashburgers with American cheese and onion. The restaurant is the latest concept from Urban Family Concepts and is named after Patty Lou Peters, a Western swing group founder and the mother of Bonnie Shea, a co-founder of Urban Family Concepts. Milkshakes can be ordered spiked, and there's also beer, wine, and a fun frozen Jack & Coke.
The Red Chickz: Nashville Hot Chicken in Dallas
The Red Chickz, a Nashville hot chicken chain founded in Los Angeles in 2018, has finally made its Dallas-Fort Worth debut in Carrollton. The menu includes Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, tenders, and loaded mac & cheese topped with chicken. But they also offer interesting sides like crispy corn ribs with chipotle mayo. With five locations in California and one in Cypress, outside Houston, The Red Chickz is a must-visit for spicy chicken lovers.
Scilla: Coastal Italian Elegance
Scilla, a new concept from Duro Hospitality, is a neighborhood restaurant now open in the 8111 Douglas office tower in Preston Center. The menu features coastal Italian cuisine, including house-made pastas, a raw seafood bar, and wood-grilled dishes like branzino, red snapper, Wagyu ribeye, and lamb kabobs. Highlights include seafood paella, lobster arancini, and gnoccho fritto, a puffy fried bread from the Emilia-Romagna region. The bar boasts an Italian-style aperitivo program, and the interior is a stunning display of old-world European craftsmanship.
Sip’Stroke: Golf, Food, and Fun
Sip’Stroke, a new entertainment destination in Plano, combines a restaurant and bar with a golf simulator and indoor putt-putt course. The thoughtful menu, curated by accredited chef Madan Oli, features steak, burgers, bar snacks, and desserts. Highlights include prime ribeye frites, saffron salmon, maple leaf duck breast, Cabernet-braised short ribs, Wagyu sliders, and tacos with garlic shrimp. With a second location in the works next to Skyline Lounge, Sip’Stroke is set to become a go-to spot for entertainment and dining.
Tayta: Peruvian-Chinese Fusion
Tayta, a new family-owned restaurant in Richardson, serves Peruvian entrees, Peruvian-Chinese fusion (chifa), seafood, and rotisserie items cooked in a special charcoal oven imported from Peru. Menu picks include lomo saltado, a classic stir-fry with beef, red onion, and tomato, and ají de gallina, a shredded chicken stew with yellow ají amarillo peppers. Tayta is a family venture from Nidia Torres and her sons, Andreé and Diego Florez, who started their catering business, María Elena, over a decade ago.
Trucker’s Cafe: Southern Soul Food
Trucker’s Cafe, a Southern soul food restaurant, made a triumphant return to Richardson in August 2026 after a fire-induced closure. The cafeteria-style steam table offers a variety of dishes, including meatloaf, fried pork chops, burgers, fried chicken, wings, steak tips, and vegetable sides like greens, mashed potatoes, sweet potato, and okra. The restaurant's owners, Marcell and Paulette Woods, also operate a convenience store in North Dallas, serving turkey necks and other Trucker’s Cafe fare.
These new openings showcase the diverse and exciting culinary landscape of Dallas, offering something for every taste and preference. From Mexican tacos to Nashville hot chicken, Italian comfort food to Peruvian-Chinese fusion, there's no shortage of delicious experiences to look forward to in the coming months.
