The Biggest Dallas Restaurant Openings of 2019

2019 is ending, which means that it’s time to take a look back at the past year and all the exciting new restaurants it brought to the city’s thriving dining scene. The past 12 months continued Dallas’s streak of rapid growth, with a slew of interesting arrivals each and every month.

In a year that was packed with excellent new places to dine, these five new restaurants rose to the top. From a swanky steakhouse to Thai street food at the Dallas Farmers Market, these five restaurant openings were 2019’s biggest.

Salaryman

What started as a late-night pop-up has officially evolved into a Bishop Arts dining destination. After months of waiting, chef Justin Holt’s modern izakaya finally opened in September, bringing a menu of killer yakitori skewers and complex bowls of ramen to a tiny, casual space. Haven’t been yet? Here’s a pro-tip: save room for dessert — the Mexican vanilla soft-serve is excellent.

Homewood

After the closure of FT33 in 2018, Dallas eagerly awaited Matt McCallister’s return to the city’s dining scene, and it happened triumphantly at Homewood. Eater Dallas’s 2019 Restaurant of the Year is a forward-thinking neighborhood spot that doesn’t skimp on technique or ingredients, it’s one of the city’s best new spots for a bowl of pasta or brunch.

Georgie

Garrett Hall/EDFW

Celebrity chef Curtis Stone, known for his popular Los Angeles restaurants Gwen and Maude, teamed up Dallas restaurateur Stephan Courseau for the city’s splashiest opening of the year. A luxe steakhouse that boasts a $390 cut of beef, the dining room at Georgie earned Eater Dallas’s Design of the Year award in 2019, and it’s a truly gorgeous place to splurge.

Hinodeya Ramen & Bar

This Greenville Avenue newcomer specializes in springy noodles in dashi broth, and it’s already one of the city’s best spots for a bowl of ramen. Hinodeya’s creamy vegan ramen, served with spinach noodles and veggies in a shiitake broth, was one of the best dishes this Eater editor ate all year long.

TKK

This cult-favorite Taiwanese chain now shares a space in Richardson with a location of Kung Fu Tea, and it’s an excellent addition to the city’s fried chicken scene. The kwa kwa bao, a rice roll that’s wrapped in a crunchy, salty fried chicken skin, is a perfect snack.

Ka-Tip Thai Street Food

This new Farmers Market stall focuses on the street foods of Thailand, and it’s turning out some of the city’s most compelling new dishes. Since its debut, Ka-Tip has earned raves from critics and diners alike for dishes like basil chicken, khao soi, and pad Thai.