Arlington, TX, Might Just Have the Coolest Food Scene You’ve Never Heard of. Here’s Proof.
I grew up just outside of Arlington, and now that I’ve moved away, I find myself missing the diversity. While my friends were obsessed with Six Flags, I spent most of my time…eating. Arlington has a surprisingly huge variety of ingredients, recipes, and cooking traditions, thanks — at least in part — to the international appeal of the University of Texas at Arlington, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Texas Rangers. It’s a legit melting pot.
As a result, Arlington natives and tourists alike have access to global cuisines that can be found almost nowhere else in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and you should really try them all. It’s impossible to harness the full bouquet of flavors and put them on a page…but that doesn’t mean it’s useless to try. Here’s a starter kit of six Arlington foodie hot spots worth planning a trip around.
Sprouts Springroll & Phở
Photo: Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10:30am-9pm; Sunday, 10:30am-4pm
Address: 780 E Road To Six Flags Suite 2
If you’ve ever seen the Man Vs. Food Nation episode where Pete MacGillis takes on five pounds of phở in under 30 minutes, that’s this place. It’s called the Super Phở Challenge, and you should definitely not accept it. You’ll have better odds of enjoying yourself if you don’t try to be a “phở killa.” (Though take a second to check out the wall of failures.)
Damian’s Cajun Soul Café
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-4pm
Address: 185 S Watson Rd #101
At some point between 11am and 4pm, it’s mandatory that you stop by
Like all good things, they’re only open for a narrow window of time and are closed nights and weekends. But that isn’t too much of an issue — it just means you’ll need to take your weekend red-beans-and-rice fix to go in advance. Be prepared for a tiny spot, but Damian’s makes up for its compact dining space with big flavor.
Prince Lebanese Grill
Photo:
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11am-9pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-10pm
Address: 502 W Randol Mill Rd
If you think you’ve heard of this place before, you’re probably right. Guy Fieri — of the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and of the flames of Flavortown — profiled
The owner, Francis Kobty, has a few business ventures, and he uses the skills he’s learned in those areas to perfect the Lebanese atmosphere. Kobty popularized lamb in the DFW area and showcases how delectable it is in dishes like the Prince Special (a variety of meat over rice). There are plenty of equally well-prepared vegetarian options, like the falafel wrap, that’ll have you living in Flavortown, too.
Taste of Europe
Photo: Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau
Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 5pm-10pm; Saturday-Sunday, 12pm-10pm
Address: 1901 W Pioneer Pkwy
The fact that this restaurant specializes in cuisine from Eastern Europe is enough to get most of us in the door. Who doesn’t want the dilemma of choosing between Hungarian goulash, German schnitzel, and Ukrainian pirogues? And, yep, Guy Fieri ate here, too. We told you Arlington was a big deal.
You might initially get distracted by the small Russian gift shop inside
NAMOO Korean Bowl
Photo: Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11am-9pm
Address: 300 E Abram St #170
A self-serve seaweed and sauce bar? Try not to be intrigued already. Add the chill and unpretentious atmosphere, consistently good food, and location close to UTA, and we’ve got ourselves a winner.
When you enter
Your food will be brought out pronto, and even though this is a pay-at-the-counter kind of place, note the presentation. You’ll probably want to bust out your phone — if you can wait to dive in.
Jamaica Gates
Hours: Tuesday, 12pm-8pm; Wednesday-Thursday, 11:30am-12am; Friday-Saturday, 11:30am-3am; Sunday, 12pm-9pm
Address: 1020 W Arkansas Ln
I felt it was important to end this list with a wildcard. There have been plenty of times my friends and I have found ourselves in Arlington googling “Things to Do Near UTA.” As you’ve already learned, you’re spoiled for options when choosing dinner, but, if it’s a Thursday through Saturday night, there’s a decent chance you won’t be ready to go home when most mom-and-pop restaurants close. So if you wanna eat well and have some fun,
If you’re new to Jamaican food, you can never go wrong with jerk chicken. I’ve been here with friends till the wee hours (well, the wee hours of closing time) to gnaw the last bit of meat off a bone and enjoy the vibes. Caribbean music is always playing in the background, and the feel can be closer to a lounge than a typical restaurant. (That eccentricity comes with the opportunity to show your creative side by participating in the occasional poetry reading.)
If you’re not one for dancing and social environments, you can get the same good food during more regular business hours. They do lunch, happy hour, and they even cater. But if you’re not willing to chow down on their oxtails, I don’t know what you’re even going for. Just like Arlington’s many other international restaurants, this one tastes best when you dive in.
