Fast Casual in Dallas

Amsterdam Falafelshop

2651 Commerce St. Downtown/Deep Ellum

Fast Casual, Middle Eastern, Slideshow

2 articles

bbbop

2023 Greenville Ave., No. 130 East Dallas & Lakewood

469-941-4297

Korean, Fast Casual, Recommended, Best Of, Slideshow

This fast-casual restaurant puts a Korean spin on Chipotle, with build-your-own-rice bowls that let you choose vegetables, condiments and other toppings. After the bowls spend some time in the kitchen, your pager buzzes and your creation emerges. Enjoy your hard work with a massive bottle of Hite beer and some friends. There are other Korean mainstays such as kalbi and hand-crimped potstickers, but the very best reason for coming to bbbop is the “Not Your Mama’s Fried Chicken.” Order the sweet and spicy version and another jug of Hite and get ready to melt away into a salty, fatty, chicken-flavored bliss. Look for more locations in the future, in DFW and maybe even far beyond.

9 articles

Carrollton Town Center

2540 Old Denton Rd Carrollton/Farmers Branch

832-768-3722

Chipotle Mexican Grill

8301 Westchester Park Cities

214-691-7755

Fast Casual, Mexican, Recommended, Best Of

Known for its clean, minimalist atmosphere and hefty foil-wrapped burritos the size (and weight) of a small infant, Chipotle pioneered the fast-casual, assembly line Mexican food genre that's since grown to encompass chains like Qdoba and Baja Fresh. The protocol in Dallas / Fort Worth and elsewhere? Diners proceed single-file down the line and orchestrate the construction of their burrito, tacos (soft or crunchy), rice bowl, or salad with proteins including braised pork carnitas, grilled chicken, steak and new tofu sofritas. Rice, beans, and a kaleidoscope of salsas from mild to sinus-clearing, plus garnishes like sour cream, guacamole and lettuce, complete the picture. Once heavily backed by McDonald's, Chipotle broke away from the fast food megacorp in 2006 and has since gained favor with customers by sourcing all-natural, hormone-free meats and even some local produce. It hired celebrity chef Nate Appleman as "culinary manager" in 2010 to man the New York test kitchen and work on research and development to keep Chipotle on the forefront of food trends.

4 articles

Chipotle Mexican Grill

2705 McKinney Ave. Uptown/Oak Lawn

214-871-3100

Fast Casual, Mexican, Recommended, Best Of

Known for its clean, minimalist atmosphere and hefty foil-wrapped burritos the size (and weight) of a small infant, Chipotle pioneered the fast-casual, assembly line Mexican food genre that's since grown to encompass chains like Qdoba and Baja Fresh. The protocol in Dallas/Fort Worth and elsewhere? Diners proceed single-file down the line and orchestrate the construction of their burrito, tacos (soft or crunchy), rice bowl, or salad with proteins including braised pork carnitas and grilled chicken, steak or new tofu sofritas. Rice, beans, and a kaleidoscope of salsas from mild to sinus-clearing, plus garnishes like sour cream, guacamole and lettuce, complete the picture. Once heavily backed by McDonald's, Chipotle broke away from the fast food mega-corp in 2006 and has since gained favor with customers by sourcing all-natural, hormone-free meats and even some local produce. It hired celebrity chef Nate Appleman as "culinary manager" in 2010 to man the New York test kitchen and work on research and development to keep Chipotle on the forefront of food trends.

4 articles

Chop House Burger

1501 Main St. Downtown/Deep Ellum

214-741-2747

Burgers, Fast Casual, Recommended

CHB is brought to you by DRG Concepts, the group behind Dallas Chop House and Wild Salsa, and is located in the Kirby Building on Main Street, across from Chase Bank and just a stone's throw from the Chesterfield and City Tavern. ?CHB has a significantly lower price point than most other gourmet burger joints, but doesn't skimp on ingredients. (Its signature burger has black truffle sauce, another has goat cheese and arugula.) There are other non-beef options, too, including a Hulk-green falafel burger with tzatziki, a crispy chicken sandwich with white peppercorn gravy, and an ahi tuna sandwich with wasabi mayo and crispy nori. French fries are super crispy and nicely salted, and can be doused with truffle oil and Parmesan for a buck extra. Besides the usual soda fountain, there's a small selection of bottled beers and drafts including Modelo and Fireman's #4. There's also a fun selection of milkshakes made from Plano-based Henry's Ice Cream, including PB&J, Nutella and Whopper varieties.

CornDog with No Name

6030 Luther Ln., # 130 Park Cities

214-810-3052

American, Fast Casual

Upscale fair food is the theme at this restaurant. These "purveyors of fine stick food" make a lot of food you'd find at the fair, which they have a long family history of, but they put a fun spin on things. Think flaming s'mores funnel cakes and spicy elk corn dogs. They also have a full bar so mom and dad get to enjoy a nice drink while they and the kids indulge.

Culver's

2475 Ridge Rd, Rockwall East Dallas & Lakewood

972-722-6586

Fast Casual

Flower Child

5450 W. Lovers Lane Park Cities

Health, Gluten-Free, Fast Casual

2 articles

Pollo Campero

9419 Webb Chapel Rd. Northwest Dallas

833-226-7376

Central American, Fast Casual, Critics' Pick, Best Of

Pollo Campero--"country chicken"--is the Dallas outpost of a Guatemalan fast-food chain that is hugely popular in Central America. Legend has it that Guatemalans often carry boxes and bags full of Pollo Campero victuals on their flights to the United States, filling the plane with the aroma of fried chicken. The chicken is either distributed to homesick relatives or sold by the piece for a profit. It's the only mass merchant of what it calls "Latin American fried chicken," crispy and coated with adobo seasonings. If you don't mind chicken that still has a few deep-fried pin feathers--the "country" attitude evidently extends to plucking--you'll find the stuff addictive. It's served with white corn tortillas or rolls, plus a few sides--the best was the "Campero beans," fat pintos spiked with strong bacon flavor.

2 articles

Snap Kitchen Oak Lawn

44336 Lemmon Ave Fort Worth

214-613-4500

American, Fast Casual, Gluten-Free, Grocery, Menu

Unleavened Fresh Kitchen

1900 Abrams Parkway East Dallas & Lakewood

214-828-8700

Health, Fast Casual, Best Of, Menu

Pop Star popsicles. Noble Coyote coffee. Vim + Vigor juices. Texas beers in the fridge and local wines on tap. That's just a few of the local choices you'll encounter at Unleavened,a family-friendly, whole-food-conscious casual restaurant in Lakewood Shopping Center. First-time restaurant owners Tom Dynan and Scott built a place for patio-style seating outside and intend for the restaurant to be a place for folks to stop off for coffee or breakfast on their way to work, grab a quick lunch, have an early dinner with kids, a leisurely dinner or Sunday brunch with friends. Lunch options are available as wraps (made with local Luna's Tortillas) or bowls. Children's menu options are available as well.

5 articles

Verts Mediterranean Grill

1715 S. Loop 288 Denton

Mediterranean, Fast Casual, Slideshow

2 articles

Fast Casual in Dallas

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