News You Can Eat
Openings come fast and furious in this Fort Worth restaurant news
Exciting times in Fort Worth right now with so much restaurant activity that it requires a roundup to catch it all. This edition has an unusually high number of openings, plus one sad closing.
There's some good news for a local ice cream company, and lots of fun new menus to explore.
Here's what's happening in Fort Worth restaurant news:
Portillo's, the cult favorite that's home to Italian beef and Chicago-style hot dogs, is opening a location in Arlington, on South Cooper just off I-20. The 7,800 square-foot restaurant will feature Portillo's classic garage-style theme with seating for more than 180 as well as a double drive-thru lane. It'll be the chain's third location in Texas.
Zack's Bistro is a new restaurant in Arlington at 900 E Copeland Rd. #150, from Zack Moutaouakil (Keller Chophouse, Mercury) located in a former Shawarma Factory space with a menu that includes Moroccan beef “cigars” - ground beef wrapped in a spring roll with Moroccan spices - bruschetta, calamari, charcuterie, bacon-wrapped deviled eggs, burger, chicken sandwich, beef stroganoff, chicken-fried steak, shrimp & grits, meatloaf, salads, duck confit, short ribs, beef tips, tenderloin tacos, filet mignon, fish tacos, steak frites, and more. Prices are low and sometimes intriguing: A Buffalo chicken sandwich is $18.67, a club is $14.51, and an 8-ounce NY strip lunch with potatoes & broccoli is $33.28.
Torchy's Tacos, the popular taco chain from Austin, has opened a location in northeast Fort Worth at 3330 Tracewood Way #120 -- at the new Parkside at Alliance Town Center, a development Bluestem Park, a within AllianceTexas. They're known for their green chili queso and their monthly Taco of the Month special. The chain has 21 other locations around Dallas-Fort Worth including two in Fort Worth, plus Southlake, Euless, Mansfield, Irving, Arlington, Denton, and Burleson.
Dog Haus Biergarten at 4000 Bagpiper Way, #110, in the Arlington Highlands shopping center is hosting a grand reopening; they closed for a brief period during a change in ownership and management. Dog Haus' menu features gourmet hot dogs, sausages, and burgers served on grilled King’s Hawaiian rolls, and breakfast burritos, plus a full bar with 24 beers on tap and signature Haus cocktails. Less than five miles from the University of Texas at Arlington, the location is owned by Dallas resident Dawn Sipera.
Chicken Salad Chick is opening its newest location in the DFW area in Southlake on June 20. It's from by John and Meggie Schissler, who opened the first Texas location in Fort Worth in 2016, and have since opened a total of 7 locations throughout DFW.
Chipotle Mexican Grill has opened a location in Fort Worth 13040 Saginaw Blvd on June 15. The restaurant will feature the brand’s signature Chipotlane, a drive-thru pickup lane that allows guests to pick up digital orders without leaving their cars.
Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC), a veteran-founded and operated coffee chain, is opening a location in Fort Worth's Alliance Town Center at 3201 Tracewood Way #131. Hey that's not too far from Torchy's.
Kyodai Handroll Sushi Bar, a small local chain known for its nicely made sushi handrolls, closed its location at 2825 Heritage Trace Pkwy. in Fort Worth. Fans lamenting its closure speculated that the Heritage Trace location was not prominent, and the area lacked a sufficient number of adventurous and/or Asian foodies, plus prices that the neighborhood could not sustain. In an effort to stay afloat, they changed their menu but to no avail. Two other locations are still open in Frisco and Carrollton.
Flip's Patio Grill is featuring a special Poblano Burger for June. It's a 50/50 combination of ground beef and ground bacon with pepper jack cheese, roasted poblano peppers, fried onion strings, and chipotle mayo. They don't say how much it is but most of their burgers are $13-$16.
Bonefish Grill has a new seasonal menu featuring Thai Chili Green Beans, Mango Sangria Pork Tenderloin or Mango Sangria Salmon served with two sides, Blackened Shrimp with Mexican Street Corn, Chimichurri 8-ounce Filet, Key Lime Cake, and two martinis: Wild Flower Martini and fresh Watermelon Martini.
First Watch, which already has nearly 20 locations in and around Dallas, has a new limited-time menu featuring Strawberry Tres Leches French Toast, Carnitas Breakfast Tostadas, Brisket Hash, Bacon Cheddar Cornbread, and Watermelon Wake-Up fresh juice.
Taco Cabana has three new "Gigante" breakfast bowls: a new seasoned country sausage & egg; chorizo & egg; or all egg, served in crispy tortilla shell with seasoned potatoes, refried beans, queso, and pico de gallo, for $5. The new sausage can also be ordered in a breakfast taco for $2.19. They also have a line of "Southwest Ranchero" offerings including a quesadilla with chicken fajita, ranchero salsa made with black beans & roasted corn, jack & cheddar cheese, small $7 and large $11; and The Southwest Ranchero Cabana Bowl with made with black beans and roasted corn, rice, refried beans, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, shredded cheese and sour cream in a crispy tortilla shell available for $8.39.
Melt Ice Creams will have its ice cream in Central Market stores for a limited time, how long, they do not say. Flavors include Vanilla Bean, Cookie Crush, Chocolate Chocolate, Salt Lick salty caramel, Cup of Texas (coffee), and two plant-based flavors: Peanut Butter Explosion - peanut butter ice cream with dark chocolate stracciatella, and Dark Chocolate made with coconut milk.
Cowboy Chicken has new summer salads and drinks: strawberry pecan salad, Southern fried salad topped with chicken tenders, Kickin’ Cobb salad, watermelon cucumber salad, strawberry lemonade, and watermelon tea. Plus strawberry shortcake.
Vitality Bowls, which specializes in açai bowls, smoothies, and salads, wraps, has three new bowls: Island Bowl with Guava, Acerola, Banana, Coconut, and Mulberries; Beach Bowl with Coconut, Granola, Strawberries, Pineapple, and Cacao Nibs; Blue Bliss Bowl with Pineapple, Coconut, Mango and Blue Spirulina topped with Organic Granola, Banana, Blueberries and Coconut Shavings. Also three new smoothies: Pina Colada, Purple Passion with Blue Spirulina, and Guava smoothie.
Yogurtland has a new limited-edition Pineapple Mango Sorbet, a sweet and tangy option made with real pineapple and mango, which they recommend topping with their limited-time 3D fruit gummies, available through July 2.
Häagen-Dazs Shops have rolled out two refreshing new drinks: Strawberry Frozen Lemonade and Raspberry Frozen Lemonade. These frozen lemonades are made with real-fruit, dairy-free sorbets, blended with chilled lemonade brimming with citrus notes and further enhanced by effervescent seltzer bubbles. They're are available through September 14. Finally! A restaurant that's willing to say how long their limited run item lasts. For that reason alone, they deserve a visit.
SusieCakes has four new items for summer: Blueberry Pancake Cupcake (available through June 20), Lemonade Cupcake available June 21-July 30, and Summer Berry Cake and Key Lime Pie, both available June 21-September 4.
McDonald’s introduced its first-ever purple shake on June 12, part of a "Grimace Birthday Meal" featuring a limited-edition purple shake inspired by Grimace’s color and sweetness. How long it is available, they will not say, other than "the coming weeks." The meal comes with choice of Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets and fries.
7-Eleven has new glazed BBQ Wings with a smoky-sweet glaze with notes of garlic, paprika, pepper, and tomato, glazed twice; plus Breaded Boneless Wings tumble-marinated in a savory seasoning of salt, pepper, and garlic, then battered and breaded in a crunchy, homestyle coating topped with black pepper flakes.
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Stephanie Allmon Merry contributed to this story.