The Best Dishes Eater Dallas Ate in September

The amount of excellent food available in Dallas is dizzying, yet mediocre meals somehow keep worming their way into our lives. With your Eater Dallas editor dining out frequently, that means coming across lots of standout dishes and drinks that need to be shared.

Courtney E. Smith

Loa Gai three-piece combo and Karaage combo at Darkoos

The crispiness of the fry plus the tangy savory sweetness of the seasoning makes Darkoos’ chicken unlike any other in town. I tried both the Loa Gai, which has a mouth feel more like American fried chicken, and the Karaage, which is a Japanese style fry with more of a tempura batter mixed with cornmeal style. Both were winners.

Courtney E. Smith

Charred octopus at the Bar at Rosewood Mansion

I’ve haven’t had octopus paired with a salsa verde before, and now I want to know why everyone isn’t doing it. It’s a perfect — it didn’t hurt that the chef’s preparation rendered a soft, not chewy, bite.

Courtney E. Smith

Assorted seasonal pastries from Carte Blanche

As a Virgo who celebrated her birthday this September, I know all about treating myself. So, I treated myself to this selection of pastries. The savoriness of the pesto and feta pinwheel was a home run, and the fog and walnut bostock was adventurous. Also pictured (and devoured) are: a chocolate almond croissant, a cinnamon roll, and a salted maple cruller.

Courtney E. Smith

Texas redfish at Roots Southern Table

After listening to Tiffany Derry talk about this dish, I wanted to give it a try the next time I was in. It did not disappoint. Fish often falls flat for me, but her preparation is flavorful and memorable.

Courtney E. Smith

Ahi tuna taquitos at Muchacho

During a happy hour stop at this Park Cities gem, these bad boys hit the table and time stopped. Not only are they gorgeous (truly, you can’t take a bad photo of them), the soy cause and salsa the tuna is marinated in makes each bite more delicious than the last.