Editor's note: As we look back at the most-read restaurant stories of 2025, there's a tinge of sadness surrounding all the closures. But there's still hope to be found in the opening of a beloved Asian grocery store, barbecue accolades, and some sizzling recommendations for Where to Eat.
Here are the 10 hottest restaurant stories of 2025 in Fort Worth:
1. Asian grocery giant H Mart to open first Fort Worth-area location. An Asian grocery giant is opening its first location in the Fort Worth area: H Mart, the largest Asian-owned grocery chain in the U.S., will open a store at 820 N. Beach St., at the intersection of NE Loop 820, with a planned-for debut in December 2025.
2. Holiday-crazed Arlington restaurant Campo Verde turns out the lights. In January, a Tex-Mex restaurant that made every day feel like Christmas with its over-the-top holiday decor turned out the lights: Campo Verde closed its location at 2918 W. Pioneer Pkwy. in Arlington — and then was revived in June. In September, it was announced that the final day open (really this time) would be December 24, 2025.
Campo Verde is known for its year-round, festive Christmas lights. Photo courtesy of VisitArlington.com
3. Fort Worth suffers sudden burst of restaurant closings all at once. September was a tough month for Fort Worth restaurants, with Belzoni's Catfish Cafe, The Colossal Sandwich Shop , and others all shutting their doors.
4. YouTube star crowns Fort Worth BBQ joint best in Texas. Fort Worth has arguably the best barbecue restaurants in the state of Texas right now, and the scene earned another accolade, this time from YouTube star and Austinite Joshua Weissman. This chef-turned-YouTuber went on a statewide expedition to try some of Texas Monthly's best barbecue restaurants. His conclusion: The best Texas barbecue can be found in Fort Worth.
5. Longtime Italian restaurant closing after 19 years in Fort Worth. In sad shutdown news, the long-standing Italian restaurant Mamma Mia Italian Grill & Pizza closed at its location in north Fort Worth after 19 years. A manager confirmed the closure over the phone, saying that they were closing because their lease was up and they chose not to renew. Their final day open was February 28.
Shrimp pasta at Mamma Mia. Mamma Mia
6. Salad and Go will close 7 locations in and around Fort Worth. The Salad and Go chain, known for quick and affordable salads, closed 18 locations across Dallas-Fort Worth, including seven in the Fort Worth area.
7. Fort Worth Mexican restaurant to close location in Near Southside. A Mexican favorite in Fort Worth's Near Southside closed early in the year. Paco’s Mexican Cuisine, known for its authentic tacos and tortas, closed its location at 1508 W. Magnolia Ave. on January 18.
8. Fort Worth gets hit with a wave of restaurant closures. More closures came in June, including Hooter's, the Snuffer's in Colleyville, Vice Burger, and more.
9. Where to eat in Fort Worth right now: 10 hottest restaurants for July. The July edition of Where to Eat in Fort Worth, our monthly roundup of the essential restaurants to try, was hot, and it wasn't just the summer weather.
10. Family sports bar west of Fort Worth hits home run with food & service. There's a sports bar west of Fort Worth that's in a league of its own. Bush League Bar and Grill opened in 2024 in Hudson Oaks, in the former Bourbon-n-Branch Brewing at 900 Cinema Dr. #6114, where it serves burgers, wings, and ice cold beer.
