Here at Eater we tend to focus on what's going on in Dallas proper, so allow us to switch focus to the all-important suburbs for a moment. Plano gets a lot of flak for its stereotypical Lexus SUV-driving soccer moms and miles of strip malls (not to mention the overwhelming amount of Chili's and On the Border outposts), but there's plenty of excellent food to be found within its borders—everything from German, Italian and Greek to Vietnamese, Jamaican and Cajun. We've mapped a baker's dozen solid places to eat next time you find yourself hungry in Plano.
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Yao Fuzi offers Chinese food in an upscale, elegant setting--five-spice spare ribs, xiao long bao (soup dumplings), and steamed pork buns are delicious, but there's also more standard Americanized fare like beef with broccoli, if that's your (or your date's) thing.
This location suffered from a revolving door for a while, but Zander's House seems like it's here to stay. This is the place to go if you're looking to expand your Vietnamese food horizons beyond pho. Try the beef carpaccio, green papaya salad with crispy anchovies, spicy clam rice, and some of the best calamari in town.
[Photo credit: Bumble B./Yelp]
Zanata is a welcome departure from the typical red sauce fare that haunts most of Plano's Italian joints: Pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven (try the one with tequila-soaked pineapple and speck), excellent cocktails with high-quality ingredients, solid steaks and fish.
Whiskey Cake serves Plano's best cocktails and damn good food in a fun atmosphere reminiscent of a backwoods moonshine still, but not in a theme park sort of way. Pair a craft beer or whiskey cocktail with a steak and duck fat frites or the OMG burger (that's onion, mushroom and "goodness").
When's the last time you had schnitzel? Go to Jorg's (named "Best Schnitzel in the Metroplex" by D Mag) where you can get it no less than 8 different ways--pork, chicken or veal, smothered in mushrooms or maybe a paprika sauce. (Also, BEER.)
Sea Breeze has a kaleidoscope of fresh flown-in seafood for purchase in their fish market, but you can also sit down for a proper meal; the lobster roll garners raves from all over the metroplex. There's also sesame-crusted tuna nachos, plenty of fried stuff, cioppino or just simple fresh fish prepared to your liking.
White tablecloths and dim lighting make this a good date spot. Hummus and lamb dishes (burgers, pitas) are always reliable. Don't miss the baklava ice cream cake, which is as sweet and amazing as it sounds.
Jerk chicken. Stewed oxtail. Curried goat. Ginger beer. What more do you need to know? Oh yeah--friendly service, good prices, slightly uncomfortable chairs. Fine dining this is not, but the food is tasty and authentic.
Reliably fresh classic sushi rolls, plus crazy abominations like the Superman Burrito and Pinky Promise roll, and hot dishes like tonkatsu and rice bowls served by a friendly staff at this always-buzzing neighborhood spot. [Photo credit: Suk R/Facebook]
For a little taste of N'awlins in the 'burbs, order up a roast beef or fried oyster po boy at this casual spot, served on properly crusty French bread. There's also boudin balls, jambalaya, and gumbo (and even live jazz some nights).
If you find yourself in Plano with a hankering for good ol' cheese-smothered Tex Mex, El Paso might be your place. It shares a building with a Brazilian churrascaria (strange but true) and dishes out enchiladas, nachos, sour cream chicken nachos, and some of the most potent margaritas you may ever taste.
If you're in the mood for beer and better-than-usual bar food, consider Holy Grail. Housemade soft pretzels with truffle cheese sauce, ghost pepper chili (less scary than it sounds), tasty burgers and shepherd's pie all pair well with a local craft beer, of which Holy Grail has many on tap. [Photo credit: Chris H./Yelp]
The sister restaurant to Urban Crust, Urban Rio does "Next-Mex"--that is, Tex-Mex that's fresher and more modern than the typical gut-bomb enchiladas. Chips and salsa are legit, as is the prickly pear frozen margarita. Entrees include a unique tamale pie and tacos with housemade tortillas.
Yao Fuzi offers Chinese food in an upscale, elegant setting--five-spice spare ribs, xiao long bao (soup dumplings), and steamed pork buns are delicious, but there's also more standard Americanized fare like beef with broccoli, if that's your (or your date's) thing.
This location suffered from a revolving door for a while, but Zander's House seems like it's here to stay. This is the place to go if you're looking to expand your Vietnamese food horizons beyond pho. Try the beef carpaccio, green papaya salad with crispy anchovies, spicy clam rice, and some of the best calamari in town.
[Photo credit: Bumble B./Yelp]
Zanata is a welcome departure from the typical red sauce fare that haunts most of Plano's Italian joints: Pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven (try the one with tequila-soaked pineapple and speck), excellent cocktails with high-quality ingredients, solid steaks and fish.
Whiskey Cake serves Plano's best cocktails and damn good food in a fun atmosphere reminiscent of a backwoods moonshine still, but not in a theme park sort of way. Pair a craft beer or whiskey cocktail with a steak and duck fat frites or the OMG burger (that's onion, mushroom and "goodness").
When's the last time you had schnitzel? Go to Jorg's (named "Best Schnitzel in the Metroplex" by D Mag) where you can get it no less than 8 different ways--pork, chicken or veal, smothered in mushrooms or maybe a paprika sauce. (Also, BEER.)
Sea Breeze has a kaleidoscope of fresh flown-in seafood for purchase in their fish market, but you can also sit down for a proper meal; the lobster roll garners raves from all over the metroplex. There's also sesame-crusted tuna nachos, plenty of fried stuff, cioppino or just simple fresh fish prepared to your liking.
White tablecloths and dim lighting make this a good date spot. Hummus and lamb dishes (burgers, pitas) are always reliable. Don't miss the baklava ice cream cake, which is as sweet and amazing as it sounds.
Jerk chicken. Stewed oxtail. Curried goat. Ginger beer. What more do you need to know? Oh yeah--friendly service, good prices, slightly uncomfortable chairs. Fine dining this is not, but the food is tasty and authentic.
Reliably fresh classic sushi rolls, plus crazy abominations like the Superman Burrito and Pinky Promise roll, and hot dishes like tonkatsu and rice bowls served by a friendly staff at this always-buzzing neighborhood spot. [Photo credit: Suk R/Facebook]
For a little taste of N'awlins in the 'burbs, order up a roast beef or fried oyster po boy at this casual spot, served on properly crusty French bread. There's also boudin balls, jambalaya, and gumbo (and even live jazz some nights).
If you find yourself in Plano with a hankering for good ol' cheese-smothered Tex Mex, El Paso might be your place. It shares a building with a Brazilian churrascaria (strange but true) and dishes out enchiladas, nachos, sour cream chicken nachos, and some of the most potent margaritas you may ever taste.
If you're in the mood for beer and better-than-usual bar food, consider Holy Grail. Housemade soft pretzels with truffle cheese sauce, ghost pepper chili (less scary than it sounds), tasty burgers and shepherd's pie all pair well with a local craft beer, of which Holy Grail has many on tap. [Photo credit: Chris H./Yelp]
The sister restaurant to Urban Crust, Urban Rio does "Next-Mex"--that is, Tex-Mex that's fresher and more modern than the typical gut-bomb enchiladas. Chips and salsa are legit, as is the prickly pear frozen margarita. Entrees include a unique tamale pie and tacos with housemade tortillas.
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