A New Vegan Birria Pop-Up Debuts in Dallas

Welcome to AM Intel in the time of coronavirus, a round-up of the city’s newest bits of restaurant-related intel. Follow Eater on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date details on how COVID-19 is impacting the city’s dining scene.

Add Dr Pepper to the list of quarantine shortages

If you’ve had trouble finding Dr Pepper at your local grocery store, you aren’t alone. The soda maker confirmed supply-chain issues on August 10 with a post on Twitter, saying that it was working hard to get the drink back on grocery store shelves. Other colas have also been in short supply due in part to an aluminum shortage as well as a disruption in the supply chain that delivers artificial sweeteners to soda companies, KHOU in Houston reports.

New pop-up serves vegan version of popular birria trend

A new pop-up in Northwest Dallas is serving vegan birria tacos make with jackfruit in place of meat. Rellenas, the pop-up, gets a mention in a Dallas News story on DFW’s broader birria trend, a dish in which braised meat tops jus and cheese-drenched tortillas. At Rellenas, that meat is replaced with jackfruit, a fruit whose meat has been compared to the flavor and texture of pulled pork. Rellenas is open Saturdays only, with pre-orders available Tuesdays through Fridays. Diners can check out the menu for the next preorder on the pop-up’s website starting August 18.

Sandwich maker Mendocino Farms to open second location in Addison

The California chain known for its giant, toppings-loaded sandwiches is opening a second location in the DFW area, at 5290 Belt Line Road, according to CultureMap. The beloved West Coast restaurant serves sandwiches like the Mendo’s Original Pork Belly Banh Mi on toasted ciabatta and the “Not So Fried” Chicken sandwich. with shaved, crunchy roasted chicken breast herb aioli and mustard pickle slaw. The menu also features loaded salads and vegan fare. Mendocino’s first location opened in Downtown Dallas earlier this year.