The nine items in the omakase box at Yoichi Omakase & Handroll are almost too pretty to eat. (Photo by Courtney Dabney)
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The first half of the year was all about American and New American cuisine, plus breathing new life into some cool, historic, even overlooked properties around town. This fall brought a wave of newcomers who have added some remarkably authentic Mexican and Japanese options to our city. These are the 12 best new restaurants in Fort Worth.
This relaxed River District hangout continues packing them in. Its shady beer and wine garden is ideal for noshing on made-to-order Big Kat burgers or exploring a cheese and charcuterie tray prepared on-site. It’s one of the best patios in town.
JD and Shanna Granger’s epic hideaway is tucked beneath majestic cottonwood trees in a neighborhood that made Western Swing famous. With 25 craft beers, a “backyard” strewn with picnic tables and live music, it’s got a laid-back and charming vibe. You can even grab pastries and coffee in the morning.
What do you get when you combine a Michelin-star chef with a pro skateboarder? One heck of a good burger. Phillip Frankland Lee and Neen Williams brought their cult-favorite NADC Burger to town (the acronym stands for not a damn chance). It became the first North Texas location when NADC arrived at 604 Main Street, Suite 100, downtown ― that’s the former Meso Maya Comida y Copas space inside the historic Kress Building.
To call it a limited menu at NADC doesn’t go quite far enough. You have precisely one option for $16. The NADC Burger is a six-ounce, Texas-raised (sourced from RC Ranch) wagyu cheeseburger, topped with American cheese, secret sauce, onions, with ‘tamed’ jalapenos and pickles on a toasted bun. Simply perfection.
This is more than just a reboot of a famous Italian dive along Camp Bowie West. It completely restored and updated the timeworn space, and paid homage to original recipes, while adding vibrant new dishes worthy of the sentimental spot. Westland Hospitality really outdid itself. When it reopened in early April, fans couldn’t believe the transformation. Only trouble is … scoring a table. It’s still a packed house most nights.
Headliners include crispy calamari with flash-fried basil and a sweet orange chili sauce, or the fried mozzarella with marinara. Some of the main dish favorites include a light shrimp scampi, a hearty slice of lasagna, and spaghetti topped with homestyle (large) meatballs.
Another addition to The River District is part of the Tim Love empire. You’ll find his newest opening situated adjacent to Gemelle. Stewart’s Croquet & Cocktails is both swank and snug, as well as active and outdoorsy. It arrived in May, polishing another overlooked property into a little gem.
The interior seats just 28. But the two croquet courts are the star attraction with a 15,000-square-foot lawn accommodating up to 12 players per court. It’s the only dedicated croquet club in North Texas. Elevated bar bites like the Texas blue crab cakes join decadent lobster rolls, and signature cocktails make a stir, along with a roving martini cart.
This is the signature restaurant inside the thoughtfully repurposed Firehouse No. 1. The Nobleman Hotel adds character and class to South Main Village. Duchess was concepted by Top Chef alum and chef of the former Brownstone restaurant, Casey Thompson. The kitchen is now in the capable hands of Le Cordon Bleu grad Marcus Kopplin.
The ambitious menu unfolds with appetizers like the Gulf snapper crudo, beef carpaccio on hashbrowns, an avocado pizza with scallion aioli, Niman Ranch beef tartare, and chilled oysters. We suggest the whole rainbow trout, in brown butter sauce with green beans, herbs, and peanuts. Or the filet. It’s the tenderest cut, topped with compound truffle butter, and a side of lightly tossed watercress.
Jeff Payne and Jason Cross, of Cousins’ Barbecue fame, opened this swanky new eatery in August. You’ll find it just outside the Montserrat neighborhood at 4729 Saint Amand Circle. With a moody mid-mod style translated by Maven Interiors and a menu by Executive Chef Michael Arlt, The Mont is a true Mad Men escape.
Classy cocktail hours are spent on the patio or at the central bar. In the main dining room, Fruits de Mer samplers platters come strolling through the double doors all night. The Mont is also where you’ll find one of Fort Worth’s best (Irodori wagyu) steaks, hands down. So, throw on a dinner jacket and check your cuff links. The Mont is ready to entertain.
This popular Japanese Izakaya-style spot is open at 401 Bryan Avenue. The former location of Funky Picnic Brewery & Café was transformed into a quaint spot for grilled meats and small bites when it arrived in August. The plan was to recreate an “Izakaya vibe straight from Japan’s late-night alleys.” Mission accomplished. It’s traditional and a bit smoky inside.
Ice cold beer and Japanese whisky highballs are served alongside smoky skewers of yakitori, grilled to perfection and served per skewer. Other small shareable plates include fried lotus root with seven spices, tako yaki (octopus puffs), and pan-seared shumai dumplings. Or sample the Japanese-style pork sausage, a grilled lamb chop with mint jelly, or unadon (grilled eel served over an egg and rice).
Fort Worth Digital Diary was one of the first to tell you about this new Mexico City-style eatery. It opened downtown, in The Tower, last September. Polanco is an upscale, artsy neighborhood in the capital city, and the Fort Worth restaurant hits the highlights from classy cocktails to delicious dishes, and a sleek and chic vibe.
When you visit the second-story, window-lined, downtown perch, begin with the traditional Chicharron Ribeye appetizer. Creamy guacamole is studded with tender, flash-fried ribeye nuggets. And, end your meal with the Pan De Elote ― a dense corn cheesecake, drizzled in caramel, dusted with sliced almonds, and plated with seasonal berries.
This spectacular sushi bar took over the spot where Shinjuku Station left off along Magnolia Avenue. It quietly opened in September, featuring a shotgun-style long bar with sushi chefs making it dinner and a show on the other side of the counter. Founded by three chefs ― Ian Kim, Mark Kim, and Ilwon Suhr. The three sushi chefs met while working in Dallas at Reunion Arena’s Crown Block.
The omakase experience is an array of nine thoughtful and eye-popping dishes presented in a wooden box. There are individual handrolls to make a meal of it, and some stunning crudo like the blue fin crudo in coco zu with honeydew and coconut jelly. This is one of the most creative explorations of the art you’ll find in Fort Worth.
A Dallas staple rode into town in October. Oishii Sushi took over a strip center spot on University (near University Park Village). Executive Chef & Owner, Thanh Nguyen, opened Oishii’s original location in Dallas over 20 years ago, before expanding to seven locations in and around Dallas. He became Dallas’ first Vietnamese sushi chef.
The new, modern Oishii Colonial is already on a roll. In addition to sushi, Oishii serves up Pan-Asian favorites, like stir-fried shaken beef and lemongrass chicken, crispy Kung Pao shrimp, pad Thai, Vietnamese pho soup, and Peking duck. So, everyone at the table can feast on their favorite cuisine from Japanese to Chinese and from Thai to Vietnamese.
November also brought Don Artemio’s sister restaurant right next door. Chefs Juan Ramon Cardenas and Rodrigo Caredenas toured Mexico’s coastal regions, compiling authentic recipes. Dos Mares is where you can taste them. Mexican tiles, hand-painted elements, woven sea grass chairs, and medium-toned woods make it an inviting space.
The Tostada de Atún is not to be missed ― fanned with fresh slices of high-grade yellowtail tuna, marinated in an anchovy sauce, and topped with avocado, fried leek shavings, and microgreens. Along with interesting lobster, sea bass, and Veracruz-style dishes, Dos Mares serves one of the best flans you’ll ever taste. The Flan Casero de 30 Horas takes 30 hours of prep time to achieve.
The top of The Sinclair Hotel is now home to a prime sushi bar in the sky. It’s a 16-seater, so reservations are a must. And, if you time it right, you can catch a stunning sunset. During the winter months, that means the “early bird special.” But, don’t worry its toasty and warm inside the snug, L-shaped bar where you’ll begin with a splash of complementary champagne. It’s a sexy space for an intimate Japanese meal.
To start, Hokkaido scallop crudo in a citrus vinaigrette, dressed oysters, a tuna tartare, edamame hummus, or a dazzling salmon crudo is nestled into a rich yuzu leche de tigre sauce. Interesting hand-rolls include one called Juicy Pop with bursting salmon roe. At Nikuya, the sushi rice shines with clean nigiri slices draped over the top. From succulent A5 wagyu and bluefin tuna to fatty tuna and Hamachi ― each is a perfect bite. No soy sauce required.
2025 has brought Fort Worth some smashing new restaurants ― expanding our taste buds and reshaping our city. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2026.
