With its towering sandwiches and comforting matzo ball soup, Deli News is a deli lover’s deli. The Reuben sandwich is packed full of pastrami and served on soft rye, and the knockwurst platter is a plate of pure comfort.

Equal parts quick-service restaurant and grocery store, Al Markaz is a reliable destination for classic Indian dishes. Hearty plates loaded with mutton biryani, tender kebabs, and paneer mahkni are on offer, plus refreshing lassi and snacks like crispy samosas. 

Dallas’s best New York-style pizzeria branched out into Detroit-style pies during the pandemic with a pop-up called Thunderbird Pies, and these thick-crusted, cheesy pizzas became an instant hit. First-timers should keep it simple with the Budd, simply topped with tons of cheese and fresh basil, or try the famed Honey Bastard. And of course, there’s still Zoli’s thin-crust pies, topped with perfect pepperoni cups, Italian sausage, and so much more.

TJ’s Seafood Market has long been where landlocked Dallas turned for its fish fix — whether it’s chowing down on oysters or grabbing top-quality filets to cook at home from the market counter up front. The fish tacos here always hit the spot (especially during happy hour) as does the butter-drenched lobster roll.

For over 40 years, Royal China has won over Dallas’s notoriously fickle diners with its hand-pulled noodles, its delicate soup dumplings (xiao long bao), and its best-in-city renditions of Chinese-American classics like kung pao chicken.

Skip every $10 burger in town and head to this 50-year-old, drive-in establishment for paper-thin burgers on poppy-seed buns, crispy onion rings, spoon-thick milkshakes, and the friendliest car-hops in town. Nothing here is over $5, but don’t forget to bring cash (or be prepared to withdraw from the on-site ATM).

This Nepalese eatery in Irving is definitely worth the drive, thanks to its positively perfect momos, or dumplings. Order the steamed momos, stuffed with chicken or pork, or try a deep-fried vegan version. Regulars know to ask for extra cups of Cafemandu’s spicy, garlicky dipping sauce to slather all over the momos.

This Mexican eatery helmed by Eater Dallas chef of the year Anastacia Quinones is excellent for lunch, brunch, or dinner. The coconut ceviche, made with Texas redfish, makes for a refreshing starter before moving on to the creamy enchiladas Suizas, carnitas tacos, or a farro bowl, loaded with veggies like sweet potato and kale. The “tacos de tacha,” Quinones’s ever-rotating daily taco option, are also always a safe bet.

A Highland Park stalwart for decades, Bubba’s has been working in overdrive during the pandemic, as its drive-thru stays packed with folks looking to soothe their 2020 nerves with copious amounts of fried chicken. You may have to wait a while, but these homestyle plates of crispy chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and baked beans are the definition of comfort food. Call the restaurant to order curbside pickup, or just swing through the drive-thru.

A Fort Worth native that landed in Dallas last year, Heim Barbecue is a standout of the city’s smoked meat scene. From bacon burnt ends to succulent, juicy brisket, the menu here is a meat-lover’s paradise.

This luxe eatery in Highland Park has been closed for several months, and recently reopened to much fanfare from diners obsessed with its Mediterranean dishes. Start dinner with mezze options like Gordal olives marinated in citrus and garlic, then indulge in the decadent Ibirico Secreto, a steak-like cut of acorn-fed Spanish pork that’s one of the best meat dishes in the city.

With a scratch-made menu and tons of preserved ingredients from chef Matt McCallister, Homewood is one of the city’s most compelling neighborhood restaurants. Try the summery chilled peach soup with crab and cucumber, then dig into tomato leaf casoncelli, Thai-style chicken thighs, and more hearty entrees.

This chic neighborhood bistro offers a welcoming vibe that’s perfect for brunch, date night, or a special occasion dinner. Dig into New Orleans-style steak tartare with Tabasco aioli, splurge on caviar-topped latkes, and well-prepared proteins like grilled whole bronzino and juicy lamb chops served with salsa verde. 

This scrappy East Dallas Laotian restaurant, led by chef Donny Sirisavith, definitely saw its share of trials during the pandemic. Now, though, the restaurant is back in business, serving its stunning khao soi, snappy Lao sausages, and funky boat noodles.

Dallas. is replete with excellent Tex-Mex restaurants, and E-Bar is among the finest. This East Dallas stalwart’s enchiladas, queso, and carne asada are reliably good, and the margaritas are always nice and strong. Try one mixed with ghost pepper infused tequila for a seriously spicy drink.

Boasting one of the best happy hours in Dallas and a menu of super-fresh sushi, Uchiba is an ideal spot for dinner with friends or date night. Share snacks like foie gras mousse and pork belly bao, then order an a la carte sushi feast. Tip: the dayboat scallop nigiri is a beloved favorite.

One of Dallas’s most luxurious places to dine, Town Hearth is known for its massive Prime steaks like the 32-ounce “Battle Axe,” or long-bone ribeye. There’s also excellent whiskey cocktails, East Coast oysters, and a wagyu beef cheeseburger that’s well worth the $24 price tag.

A stalwart of Dallas’s dining scene, Fearing’s remains one of the best special-occasion dining destinations in the city, thanks in part to its luxe home at the Ritz Carlton Dallas. Helmed by legendary chef Dean Fearing, the restaurant’s famed tortilla soup is a must-try, as is the juicy Prime beef filet served with a chicken-fried lobster tail.

Chef Misti Norris’s funky East Dallas eatery is back in all its post-pandemic glory. The charcuterie board, an ever-rotating selection of meats cured by the chef, is an absolute must, as is the charred lemon tagliatelle served with pork sugo, cornbread crumbs, and cheese-rind-infused oil.

This cheery bistro has a menu that’s perfect for summer, with dishes like ricotta cavatelli and bone-in Berkshire pork chops served with grilled endive, mustard greens, and parsnip on offer. Save room for a peek at the dessert menu, which boasts a decadent triple chocolate budino lavished with espresso caramel, candied hazelnuts, and chantilly cream.

This Deep Ellum bar has already transformed itself into an essential Dallas dining destination for the post-pandemic era. With its spacious outdoor patio, fun cocktails like the Junkyard Dog, which is reminiscent of a rootbeer float, and snacks like bean dip, freshly fried pork rinds, and vegan Fritos chili pie, it’s a must for anyone’s outdoor dining bucket list.

Marking chef Graham Dodds’s triumphant return to the Dallas dining scene, Elm and Good is a veggie lover’s paradise. Options like grilled artichokes, barbecue carrots with baked gigante beans, and mushroom paella await, along with grass-fed burgers, steak, and pork schnitzel for the omnivores.

This Deep Ellum taqueria serves some of the best — and most inventive — tortilla-wrapped dishes in the city. Tacos stuffed with tender pulpo (octopus), seared pato (duck breast), and lobster sauteed in garlic butter are generously portioned and perfectly balanced, especially when paired with a fizzy Topo Chico.

This nonprofit restaurant employs at-risk young people to prepare a menu of stellar dishes crafted from locally sourced meats and produce, such as Cajun crawfritters, PEI mussels steamed in white wine, and farro risotto garnished with local mushrooms and pea shoots. Don’t sleep on Cafe Momentum’s smoked fried chicken, either — it’s a local legend. 

Excellent Neapolitan-style pizzas and pasta reign at this Downtown eatery helmed by chef Dino Santonicola. Order the spaghetti alla tucci, with eggplant and pomodorini tomatoes, or consider the bacon-wrapped calzone for a seriously decadent dinner. For the vegans, there’s a margherita pizza made with vegan cheese that definitely won’t disappoint.

This beloved Pleasant Grove taqueria totally eschews meat, and even the most devoted of carnivores don’t seem to mind. The plant-based proteins here are chopped and spiced to uncannily resemble carne asada, carnitas, and crispy chicharon, then tucked inside tender tortillas and served alongside excellent salsas. Tortas, tamales, and snacks like nacho fries are also on the menu. There’s also a pastry case brimming with beautiful pan dulce for dessert, and it’s always a good idea to grab a concha on the way out.

Now with multiple locations in DFW — there are also outposts in North Dallas and McKinney — Del Sur Tacos is quickly growing into one of the city’s best taco destinations. Score trendy birria tacos served with hearty consome, solid fish tacos, and Del Sur’s iconic chile relleno taco, which involves a cheese-stuffed pepper tucked inside a tortilla, then showered in crema and pomegranate airils. 

Now located in the space that formerly housed its sister spot Macellaio, this iconic Dallas Italian restaurant is as busy as ever. When it returns, diners can look forward to grilled lamb sausages skewered with bay leaves, tagliatelle in ragu, and hay-roasted pork shoulder with petit rouge peas and rapini. Note: Reservations are required and difficult to come by.