112 September 19 - 25, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER CONTENTS | READERS’ PICKS | SHOPPING & SERVICES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FOOD & DRINK | SPORTS & RECREATION early risers and those looking to kick start their day with a hearty, flavorful meal. Alongside the mouth-watering brisket, ribs and sausage, Meat U Anywhere BBQ offers a range of homemade sides and sauces as well as smoked meat breakfast tacos. A commitment to excellence and early bird service set it apart as a premier BBQ destination. 919 W. Northwest Highway, Grapevine 817-251-1227, meatuanywhere.com Best Boiled Crawfish Nate’s Seafood & Steakhouse Born and bred in Cajun country (Lafayette, Louisiana) Nate’s Seafood & Steakhouse is a family-owned business that has been serving the Dallas area delicious Gulf seafood and crawfish for the last 35 years. It’s best known for its boiled crawfish, which is sourced directly from Louisiana, ensuring they are plump, tender and bursting with flavor. They are boiled with a blend of Cajun spices, garlic and other secret ingredients, creating a harmonious explosion of flavors. For those who want an extra kick of zest and fire, we recommend ordering it with the “turbo” seasoning sprinkled on top. 14951 Midway Road, Addison 972-701-9622, natesseafood.com Best Chicken Wings Bad Chicken If you’re a wing enthusiast, look no further than Bad Chicken. These wings are slow-smoked and then flash-fried, resulting in tender, juicy meat without greasiness. With 26 flavors to choose from, including traditional buffalo styles and unique options like sweet pepper jelly, hot honey habanero, sweet Thai and Texas dust, there’s something for everyone. And try some of the 20-plus choices of dipping sauces, which range from peanut butter and jelly to marshmallow sauce and white BBQ. If bone-in chicken wings are not your thing, check out the boneless nuggets, bowls, salads and sandwiches. If it involves a bird, Bad Chicken has it. 5014 Ross Ave. 469-206-0237, badchicken.com Best Bakery La Casita Bakeshop La Casita was a finalist for Outstanding Bakery in the 2024 James Beard Awards and we, too, have a huge crush on this Richardson bakery. Stellar croissants and pastries put them on the map in Dallas, but now there is a full monthly menu with unique creations and a full-on brunch menu. Preorders are essential to get your hands on a churro cruffin. 580 W. Arapaho Road, No. 154, Richardson 972-863-8786, lacasitabakeshop.com Best Cookies Cookie Society The husband-and-wife team of Jeff and Marissa Allen opened their first location of Cookie Society in 2018 with the goal of producing the ultimate cookie. In the beginning, there were just two varieties, chocolate chip and banana pudding. The latter has become their signature flavor, but over the intervening years, they’ve expanded to scores of varieties. They’re baked fresh daily, so naturally they don’t have all 70 varieties every day, but part of the fun is walking in and seeing what they have. There is also a cookie(s) of the month, a rotating stable of new and Hank Vaughn La Casita Bakeshop // BEST BAKERY
