Some 20 years ago, this spot was voted the best Thai in Dallas. And it still is way up there. All the classic dishes, including mango chicken, panang, pad thai, and various Thai curries, are here, as are Thai coffee, hot pots, and fried desserts — ice cream, cheesecake, and bananas. It’s a go-to Thai spot.

Rex’s, both on Northwest Highway and in the Farmer’s Market, offers some of the best seafood it’s possible to find in Dallas. And yeah, it does feel underappreciated. The no-frills dining room and fish counters are full of incredible, constantly changing dishes. The martinis are strong and ice-cold. And the oyster selection is one every oyster snob will appreciate, with some of the lesser-known bays represented and a hefty appreciation for Canada and the Eastern seaboard.

There are a lot of stellar meat markets in Dallas, but Kuby’s feels like it has fallen out of fashion a bit — even with its great location by SMU. It’s been operating in Dallas since 1961 and is the place to head for sausage, homemade sauerkraut, schnitzel, Rubens with freshly sliced pastrami, and anything German/Texan that crosses one’s mind. 

The flash is intense in Uptown, but this Mexican stalwart keeps standing. If you walk in, it may still be a challenge to get a table, so make a reservation — those aren’t too hard to come by. There’s a veggie enchilada plate named after problematic fave Morrissey, a deluxe dinner plate so loaded with options that it’s almost impossible to finish, and a sopapilla cheesecake that’s not to be missed. And, of course, nachos.

Sure, the opening of Mister Charles (before that by El Carlos Elegante, which was proceeded by Sister — all excellent restaurants) from Duro Hospitality inspired this list. And it made us think, when was the last time we were at The Charles? It’s still the home base for developing a load of the dishes that hit the menu at other concepts and the home of weekly specials that the kitchen is workshopping. It’s the OG and working toward becoming a classic in the landscape of Italian food in Dallas. 

This distinctly Dallas restaurant celebrates five years open in 2023 — and it’s one of the top places to eat in Victory Park, before or after a game. The rustic feel of the place pairs nicely with the wild game forward menu, but that doesn’t mean it hits the palette like a blunt object. There are refined collages of taste to explore here, especially in the seafood. Go for the Texas venison tartare, but don’t skip the red snapper with roasted grapes and leek salsa verde.

With Tatsu a few blocks away and a slew of stunty, high-end restaurants at the other end of the Good Latimer Expressway, Local is no longer the sole fine dining restaurant in Deep Ellum. But despite having the trappings of a notable locale (inside the former Boyd Hotel, which is landmarked as the oldest standing hotel in the city) and a seasonal tasting menu, it is severely overlooked by diners. The signature fried chicken is as excellent as it was back in 2003 when it opened, and the atmosphere is moodier and funkier than anything to be found in a new glass box of a building. 

This intimate neighborhood restaurant also has a new chef. Luke Rogers bought the place this year and brought some Italian influences. It now features pasta that’s made fresh daily, a “Terra e Mare” that combines beef tartare and seafood, octopus carpaccio, and duck tostada. It’s time to check in with north Oak Cliff for a taste.

This is easily the most overlooked restaurant in Bishop Arts — partly because it’s tucked away behind a couple of storefronts and partly because it’s got a split dining room, offering two very different experiences. Go there for the mole, which is the signature dish, and incredible ceviche. Stay for the gorgeous cocktails served in clay pots.

Despite naming this place Dallas’s best new restaurant of 2022 in the Eater Awards, it continues to be slept on. Put this on the list of places to go with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-intolerant friends because there’s always something on the menu that fits. And for those who are not, this is simply the fresh, clever cuisine that’s flavorful and accessible to most — it’s the stuff we say we want from food. So, seriously, what are you waiting for?