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. 

Waiting in line is usually a requirement at this Dallas barbecue favorite, where the brisket is juicy and the hours are limited. Only open for lunch on Thursdays and Fridays (and the first Saturday of the month), Cattleack’s smoked meats and traditional sides are definitely worth standing outside for a little while.

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.

This East Dallas taqueria is known for its perfectly prepared proteins and seriously creative ingredient combinations. Order the smoked chicken taco, stuffed with salsa macha, crushed peanuts, and tangy pickled sofrito, or consider caramelized cauliflower that’s served with pepitas and a zippy lemon-epazote sauce.

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 acclaimed chef 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 shortrib enchiladas, carnitas tacos, or a farro bowl, loaded with veggies like roasted beets. The “tacos de tacha,” Quinones’s ever-rotating daily taco option, are also always a safe bet.

Tucked into a nondescript space off Belt Line Road in Irving, Mr. Max has quietly been one of DFW’s best Japanese restaurants for years. The vibe is classic Japanese izakaya, with hearty ramen and snacks like takoyaki on offer alongside excellent sushi and rice bowls.

This luxe eatery in Highland Park is a go-to for 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.

Inspired by the coastal vibes of a tourist haven in Quintana Roo, Mexico, Tulum serves fresh Mexican dishes that range from bright ceviche with tomatillo broth to enchiladas baked in a wood oven.

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 potato focaccia, then dig into coffee-rubbed wagyu, grilled chicken thighs, and more hearty entrees.

This popular Greenville Avenue eatery is equally great for dinner and weekend brunch. In the evenings, go for deviled eggs, chicken and dumplings, or crispy duck risotto. For brunch, dishes like fluffy Belgian waffles and maple-glazed pork belly hash await, along with boozy oyster shooters and (of course) mimosas.

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.

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 dumplings and hot fried chicken bao, then order an a la carte sushi feast. Tip: the dayboat scallop nigiri is a beloved favorite.

Chef J. Chastain’s innovative Italian cuisine ranges from charred octopus with mint pesto over cannelini bean puree to lemon ricotta gnudi with sage, brown butter honey, and hazelnuts.

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.

Chef Misti Norris’s funky East Dallas eatery is back in all its glory. The charcuterie board, an ever-rotating selection of meats cured by the chef, is an absolute must. Pasta is not to be missed either, with dishes like a black shallot agnolotti with smoked mustard, burnt pecan, and sherry vinaigrette.

Home to what is arguably Dallas’s finest sushi and soba, chef Teiichi Sakurai’s Tei-An remains a beloved Dallas dining destination more than a decade after its Dallas debut. An omakase that boasts A5 wagyu beef and fish shipped in fresh from all over the world makes for a worthy splurge, but more casual diners can stop by during lunch for top-notch nigiri and soba served a la carte.

This cheery bistro has a menu that’s perfect for winter, with cozy dishes like oxtail rigatoni and Berkshire pork served with white sweet potatoes, gooseberries, and braised kale 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.

Marking chef Graham Dodds’s triumphant return to the Dallas dining scene, Elm and Good is a veggie lover’s paradise. Options like sunchoke pâté and mushroom paella await, along with grass-fed burgers, steak, and duck egg carbonara with foie gras for the omnivores.

Pre-pandemic, Shoals was an excellent spot to sip and drink a martini while snacking on empanadas. Over the past several months, though, it’s transformed into a serious vegan dining destination with a menu that’s heavily influenced by Venezuelan cuisine. Those excellent empanadas, stuffed with mushroom-lentil picadillo or curried chickpea, are still on the menu, along with the NYC-inspired “Chop Cheez,” a sandwich made up of chopped Beyond meat, vegan provolone, tomato-onion jam, relish, and aji crema served on a hero roll.

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 ruby red trout are generously portioned and perfectly balanced, especially when paired with a fizzy Topo Chico.

Excellent Neapolitan-style pizzas and pasta reign at this Downtown eatery helmed by chef Dino Santonicola. Order the traditional, slow-cooked ragu pasta, 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 Thai restaurant at the Dallas Farmers Market has quickly become one of the city’s best destinations for larb gai, pad thai, and tender chicken satay skewers. For dessert, the pandan custard served with sticky rice is an absolute must.

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 located in the space that formerly housed its sister spot Macellaio, this iconic Dallas Italian restaurant is as busy as ever. The menu changes frequently, but hits have included 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.

This Arlington joint got its start as a weekend pop-up trailer, and has since blossomed into a bonafide barbecue destination. The brisket is juicy and perfectly barky, the beef ribs are massive and tender, and the freshly made tortillas make for a much better vehicle for all these meats than a plain ol’ slice of white bread found at most Texas barbecue spots.

When Fort Worth native Heim Barbecue landed in Dallas recently, it became 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. The Dallas location on Mockingbird Lane is currently closed due to fire damage, but there are two more locations to check out in Fort Worth.