Sazzon Baja-Mex Culinary

The headline is freshness, from the green salsa brimming with cilantro to the excellent shrimp ceviche.

Dakota’s

This downtown subterranean steakhouse has been resurrected with a new menu.

Pinkerton’s Barbecue (San Antonio)

Authentic Texas barbecue in a homey setting worth a drive.

24 Plates

In the trendy new Magnolia May quarter of the Near South South, a vintage corner space with high ceilings, minimalist decor, and a global menu emanates buzzy energy. From a rotating selection of 24 options, the sharable plates are the best, starting with the wood-smoked-salmon crostini teased with basil, honey,

Lockhart Smokehouse (Plano)

Harper’s

This glitzy restaurant fills 7,600 square feet in the Epic development in Deep Ellum, and the globally influenced menu covers just as much ground.

The Nicolett

Chef Finn Walker infuses his menu with Parisian, Napa, and Santa Fe sophistication in a modern space inside a restored downtown building.

Cattleack Barbeque

Cattleack Barbeque’s no roadside joint, and the ‘cue is classy.

225° BBQ

Up in Smoke BBQ

Avila’s BBQ

Choche’s BBQ

Hecho En Texas BBQ

Top of the Hill

What began as a community grocer serving burgers on the side has morphed into a destination burger joint.

Domingo

True to its name, Domingo evokes a leisurely Sunday mood with its all-day Mexican/Texican menu and airy riverside dining room.

White Rhino

This spot on the Near Southside takes a java joint visit to new heights.

Ruby’s

For items like doblados de birria and the puffy Pizzadilla, Ruby Dalia Abarca has a large and loyal following.

Bar Loretta

A rustic look, with exposed rafters and glowing globe lights, sets the stage for creative modern American food.

Rave On

A beautiful space and homey American menu at the new Buddy Holly Hall.

Daddy Duncan’s BBQ

Gratify

A swanky Rice Village bistro with a covered patio and an expansive marble-topped oyster bar.

Da Gama

This sparkling Heights restaurant, brought to you by the geniuses behind Oporto, is a magical mix of Anglo-Indian and Portuguese food.

Agnes

A boutique grocery and cafe in the Museum District.

Loro

Austin’s Aaron Franklin (of barbecue fame) and Tyson Cole (Uchi) have blessed East Dallas with the first outpost of their Asian smokehouse.

Tia Juanita’s Fish Camp

Mexi-Cajun at its best.

Stone House

Upscale but homey, this restored 1940s rock farmhouse elevates dining standards for miles around.

Il Modo

A modern trattoria on the ground floor of the historic building that houses the new Harper Hotel.

Ámbar

The historic Plaza Hotel has a restaurant worthy of its longevity and class.

Mixtli

Diego Galicia and Rico Torres make magic in their tiny kitchen.

Milagro Taco Cantina

Tijuana-style seafood is the big draw at this counter-service taqueria.

Sammie’s

You may miss Hut’s, but you’d be remiss if you didn’t pay a visit to this upscale red-sauce joint.

J. Carver’s

Cozy and clubby, this chophouse evokes Rat Pack–era glamour.

Flamingo’s

The Central American and Caribbean dishes really shine.

Para Llevar

A self-described bodega and deli with a tree-shaded courtyard.

Roots Southern Table

Celebrity chef and Beaumont native Tiffany Derry honors modern and traditional Southern cooking in her relaxed, cheery dining room.

La Casita Bakeshop

This beloved mom-and-pop bakery offers a dazzling lineup of French pastries, artisan breads, and sandwiches.

Carte Blanche

Meticulously crafted four- and twelve-course tasting menus served in an unstuffy dining room lined with modern art.

Gin’s Chinese Restaurant

Gin’s has been serving Chinese and Chinese-American dishes for at least three decades.

Chris Madrid’s

There’s much to love at Chris Madrid's, like juicy burgers, baskets of fries, and piled-high chalupas.

Mi Roti

Caribbean street food has a home at the Pearl’s Bottling Department Food Hall.

Best Quality Daughter

The menu here is modern Asian American, with that somewhat quirky edge we’ve come to expect from Quealy Watson and Jennifer Dobbertin.

Juniper

Northern Italian and so much more at stylish Juniper.

Lenoir

Culinary creativity and a seasonal focus keep the food here dynamic and delicious.

Mama’s Cafe

With Cappy Lawton at the helm again, the comforting food you remember is back, along with a pure San Antonio vibe inside and out.

Smokin’ Z’s BBQ

Eaker Barbecue

Wedding-venue shoppers and wine enthusiasts can now add smoked meat to the list of reasons to visit the Burg. After three years of cooking ’cue out of a food truck near Houston, Lance Eaker and his wife, Boo, took off for the Hill Country in June and opened this brick-and-mortar.

1701 Barbecue

The neon sign in the dining room may say “Local,” but 1701 Barbecue is more like an embassy for Central Texas in Beaumont, thanks to offerings such as juicy, snappy, coarse-ground sausage and freshly made peach cobbler. Though any visitor to Beaumont should sample the region’s meaty specialties, such as

Feges BBQ (Spring Branch)

Old Pal

If fried chicken and “the coldest beer in Texas” don’t get you into this dive-y corner spot, we’re not sure what will.

Jefe’s Tex-Mex BBQ