1. El Pollo Alegre
When Norma and Carlos Nevarez moved from their native country of Mexico to Texas in 1996, they worked at a taqueria for six years before launching El Pollo Alegre in 2002 in McKinney. The married couple started out with a chicken-centric menu but overtime, the chicken options were dwarfed by seafood selections.
2. Miruku Creamery and Cafe
As a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago, Kham Phommahaxay dips into his French chef skills as he creates recipes for the Japanese style ice cream he and his wife, Yim Phommahaxay, serve at Miruku Creamery and Cafe in McKinney.
3. Chepa’s Mexican Grill
Jorge Perez-Negron opened Chepa’s Mexican Grill in McKinney in 2023. He said his menu reflects his heritage and the local community.
“Because of the area we are in, we have to be more Tex-Mex than ‘Mex-Mex’,” Perez-Negron said.
4. Union Bear
One of the newest additions to Historic Downtown McKinney, Union Bear began serving patrons beer, burgers and more April 8.
The restaurant is the third in McKinney from Frisco-based 33 Restaurant Group, which also operates downtown restaurants The Yard and Cadillac Pizza Pub in addition to a number of other concepts in North Texas. The McKinney location is the third Union Bear restaurant, and restaurant officials are looking to make the elevated eatery a gathering spot for the community.
5. Zen Hibachi & Sushi
When Stan and Stella Lee bought Zen Hibachi & Sushi in January, the married couple retained the restaurant’s hibachi offerings but looked to amplify the sushi menu.
Stan Lee was a sushi chef in California for six years. When the Lee family moved to Texas, the couple noticed an industry void they felt they could fill and decided this was the right time to become restaurateurs.
6. Boom Restaurant and Bar
Boom Restaurant and Bar, which opened in August 2024, is located at WestRidge Golf Course in McKinney. Though located at the golf course, General Manager Chad Wilks said this eatery is not just for golfers.
“There’s a lot of groups that come in and play golf, then eat here. They realize it's not your typical snack shop like at other golf courses,” Wilks said.
7. Bigbite Bowl & Burrito
When husband-and-wife-team Sang and Stephanie Lee opened Bigbite Bowl & Burrito in 2024, they aimed to bring bulgogi and other staple Korean dishes to the McKinney area.
Following 25 years of owning and operating sandwich shops in Washington D.C. and Baltimore, the couple retired and moved to the Dallas area to live near their daughter, Zoe Lee. However, within a year of relocating, the Lees abandoned their retirement plan and launched Bigbite.
8. Tutto Italian Kitchen
Prior to opening Tutto Italian Kitchen in McKinney, married couple Alessio Arzola and Sadia Grimaldi Arzola were speaking in Italian with some friends and when asked what would be on the restaurant's menu, Alessio Arzola answered, “A bit of everything.”
“‘Everything’ in Italian is ‘Tutto,’” Alessio Arzola said. “When I said the word ‘Tutto’, it just clicked. It sounds nice, is fun to say and easy to remember.”
9. Tiger Ramen
Following a 25 year career managing sushi bars located in grocery stores in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, McKinney resident Ty Wada decided it was time to open his own restaurant in his hometown. When Wada opened Tiger Ramen in McKinney in 2024, he created a menu featuring authentic Japanese recipes including a variety of ramen dishes, onigiri, hand-rolled sushi and more.
