86 September 21 - 27, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER contents | shopping & services | Arts & entertAinment | Food & drink | sports & recreAtion or try your sampling luck with a “pie flight” of three different flavors for $16. Once you get down to the ultra-buttery, flake-in-the- mouth pie crusts, you’ll understand the hype. 2441 Goldfinch Lane, Garland 469-573-8756, piefalootin.com Best Thai Asian Mint Asian Mint’s Thai-fusion menu has earned it multiple recognitions among Dallas’ culinary critics, local Yelp Elites and just everyday Thai-food enthusiasts since the restaurant opened in 2004. Customer favorites like the crispy-noodle kao soy are accompanied by comfort Thai dishes like the pad kee mow, drenched in a savory basil stir-fry sauce. Being raised in Thailand only makes chef Nikky Phinyawatana more credible. Four different iterations of the classic pad Thai are a testament to the culinary creativity here. A crispy pad Thai comes with fried wonton strips soaked in Asian Mint’s house-made tamarind sauce and topped with crushed peanuts. Fried rices, hot curries and Thai-inspired salads add to the allure. Asian Mint boasts fresh ingredients, large portions and diet- conscious menu options. Multiple Locations 214-363-6655, asianmint.com Best Dumplings Royal China Loved for its hand-pulled noodles, fresh buns and authentic Chinese cooking, Royal China has been a favorite on Dallas’ food map since opening in the ’70s. Not to be missed here are the homemade dumplings. Rice dumpling pockets come stuffed with shrimp, celery, jicama, chicken and pork among other ingredients. Steamed dumplings come with a beautifully chewy wrapper, which breaks into generous fillings of fresh meats and vegetables. A pan-seared option features a slight crispiness on the outer layer. Dumpling enthusiasts shouldn’t leave without trying the soup dumplings, which burst open to reveal a pork soup broth inside. Owner and chef Buck Kao moved to America from Taiwan in 1974 and has since made it his mission to bring authentic Taiwanese recipes (and dumplings) to Dallas. 6025 Royal Lane, No. 201 214-361-1771, royalchinadallas.com Best Vietnamese Sandwich Hag Recently named a finalist for Best Chef Texas by the James Beard Foundation, chef Reyna Duong knows how to make a pretty good sandwich. But run-of-the-mill sandwiches have no place on Sandwich Hag’s menu, which instead offers six varieties of Vietnamese banh mi. Loaded with items like lemongrass pork, ginger chicken and curried vegetables, each comes with a buttered, baguette-like bread that’s crunchy on the outside and fluffy within. Dip your bread into a warm pool of coconut-milk soup on the side. Sandwich Hag’s curry soup is a hearty blend of bell pepper, shallots and your choice of chicken or vegan protein. Drinks like a Vietnamese coconut iced coffee are available, but are arguably overshadowed by Sandwich Hag’s lemonade. The popular beverage is scented with hibiscus flowers and sweetened with a light strawberry flavor. Fruit jelly sits at the bottom of the cup and adds a chewy finish. 1902 Botham Jean Blvd. 214-484-5971, sandwichhag.com Best ice cream Churn and Bake Asian flavors are baked and churned into just about everything on the menu at this hole-in-the-wall ice cream joint in Plano. Start with a scoop of Vietnamese coffee, which comes with a rich coffee-infused base studded with chocolate-covered cookies. A creamy coconut-ube ice cream has a purple yam-scented base with pockets of crunchy coconut pulp buried throughout. Test your curiosity with other unique flavors like the black sesame and avocado toast, which are all churned fresh in-house by owner and ice-cream- enthusiast Charlie Lin. Accompany your ice cream order with C&B’s fresh-baked goods, which are no less exotic than the frozen treats. Options like a brown- butter miso and a sesame-seed-studded chocolate chip make a great snack in- store or on the ride home. 2707 W. 15th St., Plano 469-277-6098, churnandbake.com Best inDian FooD Shiva’s Bar and Grill Shiva’s Bar and Grill is named after the Hindu deity of everything good and pure, which is fitting. Everything on the menu here is enticing. Order a la carte from different types of herb-scented biryani or indulge in chunks of Indian cottage cheese tossed in a creamy curry-scented pool of goodness. The cornerstone of the menu, though, is the royal chef’s meal, which lives up to almost every expectation set by the name. For just over $80, the meal for two comes with a medley of deep-fried starters, oven-baked breads and cream- based curries. Food is delivered to the table in four waves, which begin almost immediately after you order. Towers of curry, trays of dipping sauces and huge baskets of naan bread are almost intimidating at first but oh-so-gratifying after you’ve taken a few bites. 1001 Ross Ave, No. 132 469-250-1429, shivasbarandgrill.com Best Breakfast John’s Café Tucked away in a dated, unassuming strip mall on Lower Greenville Avenue is an old- fashion diner that has been in business for over 50 years. John’s Café is a mom-and- pop that serves breakfast that really sticks to the ribs. Classics like a stack of three pancakes, French toast or even chicken- fried steak include two eggs, your choice of bacon, sausage, or ham and hash brown, grits or toast. You can also get huevos rancheros or have a delicious omelet with gyro meat. This place has repeat patrons who live nearby as well as others who make a weekly pilgrimage just to get the baklava for dessert. If you don’t get there with the early bird breakfast crowd, expect a wait. 1733 Greenville Ave. 214-874-0800 Best cheese selection Scardello Scardello is a small, family-owned and -operated business that has become a renowned destination for cheese lovers seeking a diverse and high-quality range of cheeses from around the world. The staff pride themselves on providing a personalized and knowledgeable cheese experience, and with their wealth of expertise they’re eager to guide you on cheese journey. From creamy brie to tangy cheddar, aged Gouda and pungent blue cheese, there is something to satisfy every palate. The shop frequently introduces seasonal cheeses, allowing customers to discover and indulge in limited-edition offerings. And it often hosts cheese classes, tastings and events where cheese enthusiasts can expand their knowledge and appreciation for this beloved culinary delight. 3511 Oak Lawn Ave. 214-219-1300, scardello.com Nick Rallo BEST DUMPLINGS Royal China Anisha Holla BEST ICE CREAM Churn and Bake
