Michelin inspectors have already been eating in Dallas-Fort Worth, sampling its finest food and critiquing its barbecue and Tex-Mex hot spots.
Which restaurants have Michelin’s anonymous critics already visited? We won’t know until the Michelin Guide Texas is released later in 2024. But we can guess.
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Michelin critics will consider restaurants in five Texas cities — Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston and San Antonio. Michelin offers several tiers of awards: Michelin 1-, 2- and 3-star awards, given to the most sophisticated restaurants in the state. Michelin will also name Green Star restaurants that have made special efforts toward sustainability. Another honor, Bib Gourmand, is for restaurants that offer a “simpler style of cooking” and a “reasonable price,” according to Michelin.
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And then there’s Michelin Recommended, a designation for restaurants that don’t receive an award but still deserve to be recognized.
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Texas’ best barbecue and Tex-Mex restaurants could land on Michelin’s lists. So, too, could hole-in-the-wall restaurants and lunch deals. It’s fair to guess that we will see a small number of starred restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth and a larger amount in the Bib, Green Star and Recommended categories.
We aren’t going to differentiate which North Texas restaurants deserve which award — that’s Michelin’s job. And we won’t pretend to know exactly what they’re looking for. So join us, just for fun, while we dream of where its critics might go.
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Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order.
Al Biernat’s in Dallas
Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat has been making people feel welcome in restaurants for 50 years. He’s retired now, and feeling the effects of ALS, but his maître d’ spirit lives on at the original Al Biernat’s steakhouse in Dallas and at the second location in Far North Dallas. When the Texas Rangers won the World Series, they celebrated at Al Biernat’s, a sign that athletes and celebrities call this place home. We expect Michelin to give the food a look.
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Al Biernat’s is at 4217 Oak Lawn Ave., and 5251 Spring Valley Road, Dallas.
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Brass Ram in Dallas
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Restaurateur Nick Badovinus’ downtown Dallas restaurant Brass Ram is maximalist in all the right ways. It’s over designed. The food is over-the-top. And you’re the star of the show, baby! Resist the urge to overthink the menu; just order a big ol’ prime rib with all the fixins.
Brass Ram is at 2130 Commerce St., on the second floor, Dallas.
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El Carlos Elegante in Dallas
Design District restaurant El Carlos Elegante is one of one: There’s nothing like it in Dallas. El Carlos has a Mexico City-inspired menu, a lengthy tequila and mezcal list, and a beautiful interior that seems great for a group. The Elegante Experience for $99 per person is a tasting menu with a reasonable price tag.
El Carlos Elegante is at 1400 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas.
Caterina’s Ristorante in Fort Worth
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Chef Tim Love’s most upscale restaurant, Caterina’s, has plenty of elements that seem Michelin-worthy: There’s a doting team of servers dressed elegantly, and guests are asked to turn off their phones for the entirety of dinner — a very rare move for any Texas restaurant. Caterina’s even has a co*cktail cart that bartenders roll up to tables before they shake a martini. Italian classics are served in a small, warm dining room that feels celebratory. Caterina’s is right on time in the Fort Worth Stockyards, now one of Cowtown’s hottest areas.
Caterina’s is at 128 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth.
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Don Artemio in Fort Worth
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Soon after Don Artemio opened in 2022, it was a James Beard finalist in Texas for Best New Restaurant in 2023. We called it “the contemporary Mexican restaurant everyone’s talking about in Fort Worth” because of its high-profile chef and its beautiful interior that transported Texans to Saltillo, Mexico. Its fried cactus appetizer and mole negro were early favorites. Bonus: It’s open for lunch.
Don Artemio is at 3268 W. 7th St., Fort Worth.
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Fearing’s in Dallas
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Chef Dean Fearing’s deep history in Dallas kitchens could be enough to attract the attention of Michelin inspectors. He’s been cooking in Dallas since 1979, most notably at The Mansion, where he was bold enough to cook Southwestern food in a city that was filled with French restaurants. He worked there for just over 20 years, then opened Fearing’s at the Ritz-Carlton in Dallas in 2007. You can see his Southwestern style in dishes like achiote-glazed antelope over mole rojo and in an appetizer of barbecued Gulf oysters served “Rockefearing” style (with crab, bacon and creamed spinach).
Fearing’s is at 2121 McKinney Ave., Dallas.
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Georgie in Dallas
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The shock of plush orange banquettes pulsing through the dining room at Georgie gives a playful feeling to a restaurant with a serious menu. California chef RJ Yoakum, who worked previously at 3-Michelin-star restaurant The French Laundry, took over as Georgie’s top toque in 2023. By 2024, he told The Dallas Morning News he wants to be the best chef in Texas. Georgie seems ready for prime time.
Georgie is at 4514 Travis St., Dallas.
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Goldee’s Barbecue in Fort Worth
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Texas Monthly declared Goldee’s the best barbecue joint in Texas in 2021, and despite an ever-changing smoked-meat scene, Goldee’s is still one of the state’s best. We don’t traditionally talk about barbecue in the same way we talk about pricey tasting menus with wine pairings, but Michelin’s interest in Texas barbecue might change that. If any barbecue restaurant in North Texas were to make the cut, Goldee’s has the best chance. Michelin might also take interest in Goldee’s spinoff restaurant, Ribbee’s in Fort Worth.
Goldee’s Barbecue is at 4645 Dick Price Road, Fort Worth.
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Grace in Fort Worth
Modern American restaurant Grace has aged gracefully in its 15 years open in Fort Worth. “Polished and confident (with service to match), it feels like a special-occasion place,” our critic wrote in a Dallas Morning News review 10 years ago. How lovely, for a restaurant to hold up so well.
Grace is at 777 Main St., Fort Worth.
Joe T. Garcia’s in Fort Worth
“I was taught: Do one thing, do it well, and people will come,” said Lanny Lancarte, CEO and president of Joe T. Garcia’s in Fort Worth, one of the oldest restaurants in the region. His grandparents, Mexican immigrants Joe and Jessie Garcia, opened the restaurant in a shotgun house in Fort Worth in 1935. His family still operates Joe T. Garcia’s today, and its small menu of margaritas and fajitas are legendary.
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Joe T. Garcia’s is at 2201 N. Commerce St., Fort Worth.
Lucia in Dallas
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Bishop Arts District restaurant Lucia isn’t controversial. People love it. (And we do, too.) David and Jennifer Uygur’s restaurant is warm, a calculated symphony of impressive Italian dishes from David and hospitality and sommelier smarts from Jennifer. If we could snag a table more easily, we’d be there every month.
Lucia is at 287 N. Bishop Ave., Dallas.
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Mister Charles in Dallas
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At almost exactly one year old, Mister Charles is still one of the most extravagant places to dine in Dallas. Here, you dress up, spend big and feel fabulous. The canapes can be priced as high as $14 for a single bite. And who cares? It’s onto Wagyu short rib Wellington after that, credit card be damned.
Mister Charles is at 3219 Knox St., Dallas.
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Mot Hai Ba in Dallas
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For our sake, we’re hoping Mot Hai Ba doesn’t make Michelin’s list, because chef Peja Krstic’s tiny Vietnamese-inspired restaurant is already hard enough to get into, and we want it to remain our little neighborhood secret. But for Krstic’s sake, he deserves to be honored for running a seasonal restaurant that thrills us every time. And besides, it’s not a secret.
Mot Hai Ba is at 6047 Lewis St., Dallas.
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Nick & Sam’s in Dallas
The second steakhouse on this list, Nick & Sam’s, is a proven place for tourists. And that’s one of the Michelin Guide’s interests, right? Nick & Sam’s list of VIPs is long and impressive, and for 25 years, executive chef and partner Samir Dhurandhar has employed an impressive “never say no” policy for them. Any night at Nick & Sam’s is a wild ride. We’re eager to see how it fares with Michelin.
Nick & Sam’s is at 3008 Maple Ave., Dallas.
Petra and the Beast in Dallas
Since it opened in 2018 in a converted 1930s gas station with no signage and a gravel parking lot, Petra and the Beast has been widely considered one of North Texas’ most interesting and creative restaurants. Chef Misti Norris, who has been highlighted by James Beard and for her work, centers her food around charcuterie and whole-animal cooking. She’s almost equally known, though, for delicate pastas and memorable vegetable dishes. The restaurant is now in a larger space in Dallas’ Lakewood.
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Petra and the Beast is at 1901 Abrams Road, Dallas.
Quarter Acre in Dallas
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Chef-owner Toby Archibald’s Greenville Avenue restaurant Quarter Acre is one of the rare spots in Dallas where nearly every dish feels like art. They have fun names, like Fish on Chip or B.L.T., but these dishes are more complicated than they appear. It’s a solid date-night choice in Dallas, but interestingly, Quarter Acre sells sandwiches, bread, and pantry items like chicken stock and blueberry jam for takeout or delivery.
Quarter Acre is at 2023 Greenville Ave., Dallas.
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Resident Taqueria in Dallas
Dallas folks might revolt if strip-mall taco shop Resident doesn’t get some kind of Michelin attention. The preparation is serious, but the place is not, which means you can come as you are and eat a fantastic lunch or dinner any day of the week in Lake Highlands. It’s tough to pick a favorite taco, so I won’t. You can’t go wrong.
Resident Taqueria is at 9661 Audelia Road, Dallas.
Restaurant Beatrice in Dallas
This Oak Cliff restaurant takes a fine dining approach to Cajun cooking and does so while putting sustainable practices at the forefront. Led by chef Michelle Carpenter, Restaurant Beatrice utilizes every part of every ingredient possible and sources nearly all of its meat, produce and seafood locally. We’re intrigued to see what new chef de cuisine Colin Younce (Homewood, Cry Wolf) does.
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Restaurant Beatrice is at 1111 N. Beckley Ave., Dallas.
Revolver Taco Lounge in Dallas
Chef Regino “Gino” Rojas has captured a global audience for Revolver Taco Lounge with his appearance on Netflix show Taco Chronicles. But long-time Dallasites were eating Rojas’ octopus tacos before Netflix took notice. Other taco options include pork, duck, and lobster and shrimp. Hey, cool: The website notes that tacos are 50% off from 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
Revolver Taco Lounge is at 2646 Elm St., Dallas
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Shoyo in Dallas
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One of Dallas’ best omakase restaurants is Shoyo on Greenville Avenue. Dinner here is exclusive and exciting, with more than a dozen courses served quickly and efficiently. Founder and chef Jimmy Park worked with master sushi chef and mentor Shinichiro Kondo at Nobu, and the finesse shows.
Shoyo is at 1916 Greenville Ave., Dallas.
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Tatsu Dallas
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As omakase restaurants continue to open in Dallas, Tatsu Dallas stands out as the most reverent. Tatsuya Sekiguchi is a fourth-generation sushi chef from Japan. His restaurant, run in tandem with his wife Hiroko Sekiguchi, shows the beauty and technicality of an 18-course dinner. Tatsu Dallas will hopefully be considered for a Michelin star, but its chef would rather not talk about what-ifs. “It’s not about aiming for a star, but about providing high-quality service and food,” he said. “If Michelin recognizes that and awards us a star as a result, I think that would be very gratifying.”
Tatsu Dallas is at 3309 Elm St., Dallas.
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Tei-An in Dallas
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Among the many chefs The Dallas Morning News has interviewed about Michelin’s entry into Texas, most agree that Tei-An might have the best shot at a star. Chef Teiichi Sakurai’s Japanese soba house is unlike any restaurant in Dallas-Fort Worth. Former critic Leslie Brenner called Tei-An “the crown jewel of Japanese dining in Dallas” in 2017, and even though Japanese restaurants have boomed in number since then, it’s still true. Tei-An reads like a high-end dinner spot, but we love that it’s open for lunch Tuesdays through Fridays.
Tei-An is at 1722 Routh St., Dallas.
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Will Michelin consider restaurants outside of Dallas or Fort Worth? 6 more great options
We know that Michelin’s inspectors will focus on the five cities in Texas, but how hard-and-fast are those boundaries? We asked, Michelin answered: “The selection prioritizes the metro areas of the five cities,” a statement reads, “but the inspection team leaves itself open to discoveries in the close surrounding areas if something exceptional is uncovered.”
Close surrounding areas! That’s good news. Allow us to add six more.
Cattleack Barbeque in Farmers Branch
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This restaurant near Galleria Dallas has served some of Texas’ best barbecue since it opened in 2013. It’s the kind of place where people wait in line, often outside in the heat, to get a taste of peppery, fatty hunks of brisket, smoked low and slow, and sides of burnt end beans and Hatch mac and cheese. Owners Todd and Misty David sold the restaurant to employee and pitmaster Andrew Castelan in 2023. The restaurant is in Farmers Branch, though it has a Dallas mailing address. Does that change its eligibility? Hopefully not.
Cattleack Barbeque is at 13628 Gamma Road, Dallas.
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Nonna in Highland Park
Dallas is full of shiny and new restaurants, yet Nonna in Highland Park remains unbothered as it continues serving great house-made pasta in Dallas for nearly 20 years. Highland Park is technically a separate town from Dallas, with its own schools and government. Time will tell if Highland Park is a “close surrounding area” to Dallas.
Nonna is at 4115 Lomo Alto Drive, Dallas.
Osteria il Muro in Denton
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We’ve been lightly obsessed with Osteria il Muro since it opened in December 2021 in Denton. Chef-owner Scott Girling is serving pasta in a remodeled home, as if a friend had invited you over for the best home-cooked meal ever. The room is so small — and the food so fresh — that Osteria il Muro doesn’t have a walk-in refrigerator, Girling told special contributor Amanda Albee in a great profile about the Denton restaurant. Reservations are still tough to get.
Osteria il Muro is at 311 W. Congress St., Denton.
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Roots Southern Table in Farmers Branch
Turn on the Food Network and you’re bound to see Texas chef Tiffany Derry cooking or judging alongside some of the nation’s most prolific TV personalities. Her home base is Roots Southern Table and its new neighbor Radici, both in Farmers Branch, a suburb of Dallas. Derry’s duck-fat fried chicken at Roots is beloved.
Roots Southern Table is at 13050 Bee St., Farmers Branch.
Sachet in Highland Park
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Mediterranean restaurant Sachet is one of the best spots in North Texas for a business lunch. Here, life feels easy-breezy: The restaurant is beautiful, the food is healthy, the wine list is interesting. Like at Nonna, we’re curious if a Park Cities restaurant will be considered “Dallas.” We hope so.
Sachet is at 4270 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas.
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Sanjh Restaurant in Irving/Las Colinas
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Ask a Dallas diner in the know, and the place they want to eat right now is upscale Indian restaurant Sanjh. It opened in early 2024, making it one of the youngest restaurants on this list, though not ineligible. (The line from Michelin: “There is no set amount of time a restaurant needs to have been open for inclusion in the Michelin Guide.”) While D-FW has plenty of Indian food, Sanjh turns the volume up, presenting beautiful dishes in an elegant setting. We could use more restaurants like this one.
Sanjh Restaurant is at 5250 N. O’Connor Blvd., Irving.
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Claire Ballor contributed to this story.