As the start of a new year quickly approaches, there are many things to look forward to. But before the year ends, treat yourself to some of the best restaurants that opened in North Texas in 2024.
Here’s Local Profile’s curated list of the best new restaurants in 2024:
Fireside Surf
5772 Grandscape Blvd., The Colony
Surf’s up! With a cool, resort-like vibe, Fireside Surf will get you riding gnarly waves — and if you don’t know how, they can teach you! (Even complete beginners can make serious progress in just one session.) When you’re not hanging ten, munch on some seriously delicious eats, like Fireside wagyu sliders, crispy coconut shrimp and yellowfin ceviche, and sip on mai tais and frozen roses, the last of which is aptly named the “frose.” Fireside Surf is like being transported to a tropical resort, minus the jet lag.
Knife Italian
4150 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving
Chef John Tesar’s latest is Knife Italian, his latest iteration of Knife, which North Texas foodies know and love. Located at The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas, the restaurant is colorful and whimsical — not your typical checkered-tablecloth Italian joint. The veal meatballs and the spaghetti with cacio e pepe are delicious, and the fennel salad is one of the best things we ate in 2024. Fans of Tesar’s dry-aged steaks will be happy with the available cuts, but don’t miss the oh-so-juicy pork Milanese. Be sure to have the restaurant’s take on the negroni and end the evening with the deconstructed tiramisu.
Hoshi Japanese Cafe
3304 Coit Road, Suite 700A, Plano
People visiting from Japan make the pilgrimage — so should you. Japanese-style cold brew coffee, clean and crisp and perfect for summer. It’s perfect anytime, really. The signature eats are onigiri (rice balls) made with Japanese rice, Japanese salt and roasted Japanese seaweed wraps, generously stuffed with the filling of your choice, and obanyaki — crispy batter on the outside with sweets like custard and red bean on the inside. But at Hoshi, they put a spin on obanyaki, with savory options like curry or ham and eggs, which aren’t traditionally done in Japan (but should be). Owner Steve Feldman, of the famed YouTube show Steve’s POV, is fluent in Japanese and a previous resident of Japan who is now thrilled to call Collin County home.
JOEY Dallas
8687 N Central Expy Suite 307, Dallas
It's easy to see why people like JOEY: the food, the drinks and the service are all on point. But, Joey is more than that. It's upscale, yet casual. You want a $94 bone-in, 22-oz. ribeye? JOEY's got you. You want $35-dollar sliced sirloin and ravioli (no doubt, the best deal on the menu)? Ditto. From pricey to more reasonable, JOEY casts a wide net.
Mar y Sol
4511 McKinney Ave., Dallas
You’re instantly greeted by a tunnel of wood branches. Inside, more wood, plus earth tones. The latest from Lombardi Family Concepts, Mar y Sol is inspired by the cultures and cuisines of Argentina, Peru, Venezuela and Mexico. Mar y Sol serves up dishes Executive Chef Ty Thaxton fell in love with while living in Latin America for a decade. Try the savory, sweet yellowtail ceviche, which has a Japanese-Peruvian influence. Beverage manager Andrew Stofko has crafted some excellent cocktails; our fave is el sabio, Mar y Sol’s take on an old fashioned, made with Tres Generaciones añejo and served with palo santo, the fragrant South American holy wood.
Nuri Steakhouse
2401 Cedar Springs Rd suite 120, Dallas
At over $20 million, Nuri Steakhouse is the most expensive restaurant per square foot in Dallas. Marble and pricey wood abound. Owner Wan Kim, the CEO of Smoothie King, spared no expense, but even that whopping price tag cannot overshadow the food. Nuri is delicious. Really delicious. Yes, you can order a $299 36oz Texas akaushi tomahawk, complete with kimchi butter and a wagyu candle, but the globally-inspired steakhouse also serves up Korean pork belly, wagyu dumplings and hamachi ceviche. Your passport to flavor.
Sanjh Restaurant
5250 N. O’Connor Blvd., Suite 146, Irving
The sign out front says “Creative Indian,” and that’s exactly what this is: a creative take on Indian cuisine. Yes, you can get comfort food standards like butter chicken, but the restaurant also serves dishes like khumb hara pyaaz, which, according to award-winning chef Balpreet Singh Chadha, makes Sanjh one of the few restaurants outside India to serve it. The presentation is spectacular, the dishes topped with intricate (and edible) latticework. The creativity doesn’t stop in the kitchen: the bar uses a house-made chili tincture for complex and delicious spicy cocktails.
Tande Thai
5754 Grandscape Blvd., Suite 105, The Colony
Founder and lead chef Paul Imjard, a native of Thailand, is classically trained in the culinary arts. The result? Modern takes on traditional Thai family recipes. There is a range of flavors, spices, sweetness and spiciness that makes eating here pleasurable, whether you choose the papaya salad or the drunken beef noodles. The drinks are winners, too. The sabai sabai, Tande Thai’s spin on the old fashioned, made with four rums and orange bitters, is poured over a coconut water ice cube. Pair that with yellow curry chicken or the panang beef short rib. The service is also great! Attentive, detail-oriented and kind. Tande Thai truly aims to take good care of guests.
Teatro Bistro & Cocktail Lounge
120 S. Main St., Suite 50, Grapevine
Las Vegas celebrity chef Carla Pellegrino now calls North Texas home. At Teatro, the stage is set for her Italian comfort food. Definitely get the meatballs, the charred octopus and the rigatoni bolognese. For dessert, try the berries and gelato — a spoonful of a summer day in Tuscany.
Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood and Crab — Plano
7161 Bishop Road, Plano
It’s great to see Truluck’s in Plano! This is the third Truluck’s — the other locations are in Dallas and Southlake. The stunningly beautiful Florida stone crab claws are Louvre-worthy. Sweet and meaty, they are served pre-cracked; fresh and never frozen, they are pulled from the traps, flown in and served, all in less than 24 hours. So, of course, the seafood selection is fantastic, but so is everything across the menu, from drinks to desserts, including the Parker rolls, and land lovers will give the steaks a thumbs-up. The service and the atmosphere are all class. Bravo.
Uchiko
7801 Windrose Ave., Suite H150, Plano
From James Beard Award-winning chef and owner Tyson Cole, Uchiko means “child of Uchi” and it is the sister restaurant of Dallas favorites Uchi and Uchiba. Uchiko distinguishes itself from the other two with its open-fire grill, making the Plano outpost a true destination for lovers of Cole’s take on modern Japanese cuisine. The whole branzino is a standout, the best in Collin County, and possibly among the best in North Texas. Smoked over post oak, a default Texas barbecue wood, the fish is served with a savory sweet dashi. East meets West — culinary perfection.
This article was previously published in Local Profile’s best of the best magazine. Read more here.
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