Looking for something new to try in the Dallas-Fort Worth area? Community Impact highlights new or upcoming businesses weekly, along with other restaurant spotlights.
Now open
Barrio Burrito Bar now serving tacos, burritos in Allen
Barrio Burrito Bar is now open in Allen, Franchise Sales Director Jesse Castillo III said.
The fast-casual restaurant offers tacos, burritos, bowls, quesadillas, chips and queso, fries, churros and more, per its website. Barrio Burrito Bar also offers catering. The business has locations across the U.S. and opened its first Texas location in Round Rock earlier this year, per a company news release.
Smithers Smokehouse opens, now serves authentic Texas barbecue
Smithers Smokehouse opened at the end of September and is serving craft Texas barbecue, according to its website.
Smithers Smokehouse offers meats by the pound, sandwiches, plates, nachos and sides, according to its website. Meat options include chopped brisket, pulled pork, St. Louis-style ribs, beef ribs, turkey and burnt ends. Sides include mac and cheese, cole slaw, seasoned fries, fried okra and tater tots.
The restaurant was started by Cody Smithers, who said the space also has an outdoor bar and patio that are dog-friendly.
KFC debuts new Open House restaurant concept in McKinney
KFC’s “next-generation” Open House restaurant concept is now open in McKinney.
With the 3,400-square-foot modernized restaurant, KFC officials are looking to bring “the Kentucky Fried Comeback to life in one place,” a company news release states.
The new concept serves the chain’s classic fried chicken offerings, but the menu also includes dipped and drizzled fried chicken options, pairing chicken dishes with a variety of sauces. The menu also offers new breakfast items as well as new side dishes such as fried green beans and spicy pickles, per the release.
As part of the company’s global beverage strategy, the McKinney restaurant offers “bold, flavor-forward drinks” such as lemonades, boba refreshers and Krunch shakes, the release states.
San Martin Bakery opens new Plano location
San Martin Bakery opened a new location in Plano.
The Guatemala-based bakery offers a variety of sweet and savory pastries, cakes, specialty breads and more baked goods. San Martin also has a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. The Plano location is the chain's third in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Turkish restaurant Doner Point now serving meats, sandwiches in Richardson
Turkish restaurant Doner Point opened at the end of July in Richardson. This is the first Texas location for the New Jersey-based restaurant.
Doner Point serves a variety of dishes with doner, a traditional Turkish meat dish, as well as kebabs, wraps, sandwiches and salads.
Coming soon
Bella Gente Gourmet Market plans Frisco restaurant
Bella Gente Gourmet Market is planning to open a new Frisco location, the business announced in a social media post.
Bella Gente is a family-owned Italian restaurant that serves pizza, focaccia bread, pasta dishes and sandwiches, along with dessert items like tiramisu, cheesecake and pastries. The business opened its first location in Fort Worth in May 2025 and is planning its Frisco restaurant at the former Sweetwaters Tea and Coffee site.
Mountain Mike’s Pizza coming to Prosper, Celina border in 2027
Mountain Mike’s Pizza plans to open a location on Frontier Parkway in Prosper early next year, co-owner Hector Haget confirmed.
The pizzeria offers pizzas, wings, salads and calzones, as well as sides like mozzarella sticks, garlic knots and loaded fries.
Haget and his co-owner, Khris Tate, also own a Mountain Mike’s Pizza restaurant in McKinney. They are targeting an opening in late March or early April for the upcoming Prosper location, Haget said.
