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There's plenty of booze (and good food) to be had at Whiskey Cake.
There's plenty of booze (and good food) to be had at Whiskey Cake.
Photo credit: Whiskey Cake/Facebook

Where to Eat in the 'Burbs: Plano

by Whitney Filloon
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There's plenty of booze (and good food) to be had at Whiskey Cake.
| Photo credit: Whiskey Cake/Facebook
by Whitney Filloon

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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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Yao Fuzi

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4757 W Park Blvd
Plano, TX 75093
(214) 473-9267
(214) 473-9267
Visit Website
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.

2. Zander's House

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2300 North Central Expressway
Plano, TX
(972) 943-9199
(972) 943-9199
Visit Website
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]

3. Zanata

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1022 East 15th Street
Plano, TX 75074
(972) 422-9999
(972) 422-9999
Visit Website
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.

4. Whiskey Cake

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3601 Dallas Pkwy.
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 993-2253
(972) 993-2253
Visit Website
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").

5. Jörg's Cafe Vienna

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1037 E. 15th St.
Plano, TX 75074
(972) 509-5966
(972) 509-5966
Visit Website
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.)

6. Sea Breeze Fish Market & Grill

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4017 Preston Road #530
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 473-2722
(972) 473-2722
Visit Website
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.

7. Ziziki's

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5809 Preston Rd.
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 943-8090
(972) 943-8090
Visit Website
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.

8. Taste Of The Islands

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909 W. Spring Creek Pkwy
Plano, Texas 75023
(972) 517-5900
(972) 517-5900
Visit Website
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.

9. Densetsu

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4152 W. Spring Creek Pkwy.
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 964-7874
(972) 964-7874
Visit Website
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]

10. Big Easy

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1915 N Central Expy
Plano, TX 75075
(972) 424-5261
(972) 424-5261
Visit Website
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).

11. El Paso

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1320 N Central Expy
Plano, TX 75074
(972) 881-8600
(972) 881-8600
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.

12. The Holy Grail Pub

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8240 Preston Rd, Ste 150
Plano, TX 75024
(972) 377-6633
(972) 377-6633
Visit Website
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]

13. Urban Rio

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1000 East 14th St
Plano, TX 75074
(972) 422-4466
(972) 422-4466
Visit Website
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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1. Yao Fuzi

4757 W Park Blvd, Plano, TX 75093
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.
4757 W Park Blvd
Plano, TX 75093
(214) 473-9267
Visit Website

2. Zander's House

2300 North Central Expressway, Plano, TX
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]
2300 North Central Expressway
Plano, TX
(972) 943-9199
Visit Website

3. Zanata

1022 East 15th Street, Plano, TX 75074
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.
1022 East 15th Street
Plano, TX 75074
(972) 422-9999
Visit Website

4. Whiskey Cake

3601 Dallas Pkwy., Plano, TX 75093
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").
3601 Dallas Pkwy.
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 993-2253
Visit Website

5. Jörg's Cafe Vienna

1037 E. 15th St., Plano, TX 75074
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.)
1037 E. 15th St.
Plano, TX 75074
(972) 509-5966
Visit Website

6. Sea Breeze Fish Market & Grill

4017 Preston Road #530, Plano, TX 75093
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.
4017 Preston Road #530
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 473-2722
Visit Website

7. Ziziki's

5809 Preston Rd., Plano, TX 75093
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.
5809 Preston Rd.
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 943-8090
Visit Website

8. Taste Of The Islands

909 W. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, Texas 75023
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.
909 W. Spring Creek Pkwy
Plano, Texas 75023
(972) 517-5900
Visit Website

9. Densetsu

4152 W. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano, TX 75093
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]
4152 W. Spring Creek Pkwy.
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 964-7874
Visit Website

10. Big Easy

1915 N Central Expy, Plano, TX 75075
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).
1915 N Central Expy
Plano, TX 75075
(972) 424-5261
Visit Website

11. El Paso

1320 N Central Expy, Plano, TX 75074
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.
1320 N Central Expy
Plano, TX 75074
(972) 881-8600

12. The Holy Grail Pub

8240 Preston Rd, Ste 150, Plano, TX 75024
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]
8240 Preston Rd, Ste 150
Plano, TX 75024
(972) 377-6633
Visit Website

13. Urban Rio

1000 East 14th St, Plano, TX 75074
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.
1000 East 14th St
Plano, TX 75074
(972) 422-4466
Visit Website

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