BEST STREET FOOD > HAWKER’S ASIAN STREET FOOD Angie Quebedeaux challenge, but nothing this good is easy. 4901 Bryan St. 214-823-6180, jimmysfoodstore.com Best Seafood Restaurant TJ’s Seafood Market and Grill Life’s too short for a boring dinner every Monday. Among many other great things about TJ’s three-decade presence in the Dallas restaurant scene, every Monday is lobster night, which consists of cracked lobster, clams, mussels, corn, potato and drawn butter. Not only is fresh seafood on offer throughout the menu, including a daily fresh catch, you can order from the market to take home. But why do that when you’d be hard pressed to find a place with better hospitality in the city? Multiple locations 214-691-2369, tjsseafood.com Best Smoothies The GEM Organic Food & Juice For 10 years, the aptly named Dallas shop with two locations has been a well of wellness. The GEM’s menu is a Goop-y, Poosh-y dream with miracle mushrooms (“miracle” not “magic”), vitamin-rich energy shots and “immuni-tea.” The hours are not so great. Your post-run craving for a fruity drink will probably have to wait until after the weekend. They are closed on Sundays and after 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays. But in the small window that this place is open, we’re there specifically for the Tahitian Pearl, a heaven-sent blend of cacao, dates, banana, almond butter, cashew milk, coconut butter and maca. The luxurious, creamy chocolate flavor tastes like it’s not good for you at all. The all-organic, healthy part makes it better. 6030 Luther Lane, No. 160 214-750-2929 Best Soup Marshmallow Soup at rise Rise is best known for its soufflés. And 90 while the soufflés are fantastic, the showstopper is the marshmallow soup. It’s an upscale and refined tomato and carrot bisque with a drizzle of pesto topped with goat cheese soufflés that resemble marshmallows. It comes with flaky and savory cheese straws that are great for dipping. Rise sells about 100 of these soups each day, regardless of the temperature outside. 5360 W. Lovers Lane 214-366-9900, risesouffle.com Best Steakhouse Dakota’s Steakhouse We thought Dakota’s had closed for good in 2020, so we weren’t alone in excitement when the iconic steakhouse reopened in late 2021. Dakota’s downtown underground dining room had long been a date-night gem, but a few changes were in order. The menu got a revamp, with classic steaks and chops (the beef Wellington is still a winner) listed alongside newer seafood and pasta dishes. The bar and patio also got a refresh, but the dining room still has the cozy charm that has long hosted many a Dallasite’s special occasions. 600 N. Akard St. 214-740-4001, dakotasrestaurant.com Best Street Food Hawker’s Asian Street Food If you have an adventuresome spirit and enjoy trying bold and flavorful dishes, then Hawker’s should be on your must- visit list. It’s located in Deep Ellum, and the food and the atmosphere are equally interesting. We recommend ordering from the small plates menu so you can try different things. Favorites include the roti canai, Sichuan wontons and Korean twice-fried wings. If you’re not in the mood to share, the curry laksa ramen or the steak and kimchi fried rice are great options. While this may sound strange, be sure to check out at least one of the four bathrooms. 2800 Main St. 214-271-8111, eathawkers.com SEPTEMBER 22-28, 2022 DALLAS OBSERVER CONTENTS | SHOPPING & SERVICES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FOOD & DRINK | SPORTS & RECREATION dallasobserver.com
