Dallas-Fort Worth-area foodies: Be on the lookout for these new restaurants. (Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock)
You’ll salivate over these 10 restaurants opening in Dallas-Fort Worth in 2026.
Skip “the usual” and head somewhere new for dinner in 2026. (New year, new eats, anyone?) There are many new restaurants coming to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in 2026, from steakhouses to sandwich shops and everything in between.
Milanese food? A Mexican steakhouse? A tasting menu-only restaurant?! You can get it all here at one of these fabulous new restaurants this year. Some are new to the area, while others are brand-new altogether—and we want to try them all!
This list is by no means exhaustive, but here are 10 restaurants we are looking forward to the most.
1. Palladino’s
5959 Royal Lane, Dallas
A new spot for date night called Palladino’s is opening sometime in 2026. The art deco steakhouse was founded by Joe Palladino, co-founder of the popular Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse in Uptown Dallas.
Palladino told Culture Map Dallas that the menu “[will] have high-quality steaks and seafood, along with some of my trademark specials and Italian dishes.”
2. J. Alexander’s
3980 Dallas Parkway, Plano
Known for its wood-fired cooking, J. Alexander’s is moving to North Texas for the first time in “early 2026,” according to Local Profile.
Kristen Hol, executive vice president of marketing for SPB Hospitality, behind J. Alexander’s, said in a statement, “Plano offers an incredible opportunity for our entry into the DFW area. The city’s growth, energy and appetite for exceptional food aligns perfectly with what we bring to the table.”
This restaurant offers elevated American fare, including hand-cut steaks, like New York strip and filet mignon, as well as salads, seafood, sandwiches, and other items. Wash it down with one of their delicious, handcrafted cocktails, such as the spicy margarita.
3. Delilah
1616 Hi Line Drive, Dallas
Travel back in time to the Roaring 20s when you visit Delilah, a swanky supper club with seafood, steaks, caviar service, and exquisite sides—think: carrot souffle with candied corn flakes or roasted squash topped with cherry tomato, cippolini, truffle, garlic, and macadamia nuts.
The website says its Dallas location is “coming soon,” so hopefully it’ll open early in 2026!
4. Sant Ambroeus
Katy Trail, Dallas
A contemporary Italian restaurant is opening a Dallas location this year, according to Paper City Magazine, and I couldn’t be more excited. Sant Ambroeus originally opened in Milan in 1936 and has locations in New York and Florida. The restaurant will be along the Katy Trail on Knox Street in a new mixed-use development.
Decadent pastries, Milanese cuisine, and delicious Italian espresso will be served at Sant Ambroeus, which you can enjoy inside or from their outdoor patio.
5. Slice House by Tony Gemignani
5995 Preston Road #102, Frisco
Ever had pizza by a 13-time World Pizza Champion before? Now’s your chance, as Tony Gemignani (who holds that impressive title) is opening a pizzeria in Frisco in Jan. 2026, according to Culture Map Dallas.
He has approximately 30 Slice House locations open, but this will be the first in Texas. Choose from four artisanal pizza crust styles: traditional New York, homestyle Grandma, rustic Sicilian, and Detroit-style. Then, pick your toppings and order by the pie or by the slice.
6. Toca Madera
2203 Commerce Street, Dallas
You already love Tex-Mex, but wait until you try a Mexican steakhouse. Toca Madera is coming to Dallas’ East Quarter area in early 2026, according to the Dallas Business Journal.
Mikey Tanha, co-founder and CEO of Noble 33, the restaurant’s hospitality firm, praised Dallas’ “international flair and rich culture,” telling the outlet, “Bringing our version of a Mexico City Steakhouse to the great city of Dallas has been a longtime goal, and we can’t wait for residents to enjoy the unique and immersive Toca Madera dining experience.”
Food includes flaming Tomahawk steak and truffle quesadillas, served in a modern atmosphere with fire performers, live music, and elegant velvet upholsteries.
7. Cantina La Rosa
4347 West Northwest Highway #100, Dallas
Ten years ago, restaurateur David Tripplehorn Cash opened BBQ restaurant Smoky Rose, and now, he is bringing a new Tex-Mex concept to the metroplex.
The new Cantina la Rosa will open in mid-February 2026, according to The Dallas Morning News. According to the outlet, it will offer house-made chips and salsa, Tex-Mex favorites “with a lighter approach,” queso, and margaritas.
8. Neighborhood Sushi
4216 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas
Opening in The Shops of Highland Park in spring 2026, according to The Dallas Morning News, Neighborhood Sushi has a Japanese-inspired menu with Texas influences. It originally opened in Austin, TX, and is now moving to Dallas. If they carry the same menu over, then you’ll enjoy spicy salmon rolls, shishito pepper tempura, Tosaka seaweed, yellowtail tartare, and so much more.
Larry McGuire, managing partner of MML Hospitality, which oversees Neighborhood Sushi, told the outlet that while the food will be “high quality,” it is designed for everyday eating. “For us, eating sushi should not be a special occasion,” he told DMN. “We think of it as pretty simple Japanese dining. And we build these warm, zen-y spaces.”
9. Punk Noir
139 Turtle Creek Boulevard #130, Dallas
Dining at Punk Noir is going to be a totally different experience—just look at its website, which describes the concept as “a rebellion against the ordinary”!
The restaurant will only offer a 20-course tasting menu led by the James Beard Award-winning chef RJ Cooper. In addition to changing plates, you’ll also change tables, going from a communal space with graffiti art to an open kitchen to a neon-lit dining room, and more, according to the Dallas Observer. It’s set to open in early 2026.
10. Snarf’s Sandwiches
7615 Campbell Road #104, Dallas; 6630 Snider Plaza, Dallas; 1908 Abrams Parkway, Dallas; 11810 Preston Road, Dallas
Snarf’s Sandwiches is opening four new locations in Dallas in 2026, which will join the one location that recently opened at 2337 West Mockinbird Lane #150. The Colorado sandwich chain first opened in 1996 and is known for its delicious, made-to-order sandwiches with signature bread.
According to Culture Map Dallas, the restaurant has nearly two dozen sandwich options, including an Italian with salami, pepperoni, capicola, mortadella, and provolone, a brisket with BBQ, French dip with provolone, eggplant parmesan, and artichoke and feta, among other options. Salads, soups, sides, and cookies are available as well.
“We’re wildly excited to finally bring Snarf’s to Dallas,” founder Jimmy “Snarf” Seidel, told the outlet. “This city has amazing energy, deep-rooted food traditions, and a real sense of community—everything we love. We’re excited to be a part of it.”
