Fort Worth restaurant news during June: Openings, closings and updates
Fort Worth’s restaurant scene saw change in June, with beloved spots closing their doors and fresh concepts moving in.
It’s been fun with global visitors in for the 2026 FIFA World Cup matched at Dallas Stadium, trying Texas barbecue and burgers. Fort Worth locals also gave us their recommendations for their go-to Mexican spots.
Here’s a roundup of every major restaurant story from the month.
Fort Worth restaurant updates
- El Sombrero: El Sombrero and sister restaurant Arizola’s now serve weekend breakfast starting at 8 a.m., featuring enchiladas with eggs, chilaquiles, pancakes and breakfast tacos at the nearly 60-year-old north Fort Worth Tex-Mex favorite.
- Beren: Chef Michael Riemenschneider, who trained under Gordon Ramsay and worked at Michelin-recognized restaurants in England and Germany, has moved to Texas to consult on upgrades at Beren Meze and Grill, with owner Çaglar Unlu aiming for a Michelin Guide listing.
- Botanic Garden Cafe: The cafe in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s Rock Springs building will close June 30 and reopen in fall as Flora House under Westland Hospitality, with chef Juan Rodriguez designing a new menu and interior.
- Piattello: Piattello Italian Kitchen is relocating from Waterside Shopping Center to The Shops at Clearfork, with a target opening in November and expanded lunch and dinner hours from Fort Worth chef Marcus Paslay.
- The Sour Boule: The Sour Boule announced a second location in Willow Park, with an expanded menu including items not offered at the original Fort Worth sourdough bakery.
- Sam Won: Sam Won Gardens has reopened as Sam Won Korean Cuisine under new owners at 5201 McCart Ave. after the Chung family retired last October, with a similar menu at higher prices.
- Ribbee’s: Ribbee’s BBQ closes June 21 after losing its lease, while owner Jonny White prepares to open a Goldee’s-style barbecue restaurant called Kirbee’s in Brooklyn this fall.
- Tommy’s: Tommy’s Hamburgers is reopening its Camp Bowie Boulevard location after a May 2025 roof fire, with a full remodel and new menu items including a kimchi burger, Impossible Burger and wine margaritas.
Restaurant opening and closings
- La Playa Maya: La Playa Maya Stockyards on North Main Street will close Sunday, July 5, ending its run at the 1913 red-orange brick landmark, though three other La Playa Maya locations remain open.
- Barry Bagels: Ohio-based Barry Bagels signed a 30-unit franchising deal for Texas, with the first location opening in Aledo at 10303 E. Bankhead Highway by the start of the 2026-27 school year.
- Dirdie Birdie: Dirdie Birdie, a miniature golf course and restaurant, opens July 8 in the former Bottled Blonde building in the West 7th area, featuring 12 Fort Worth-themed holes and an elevated brunch menu.
- One Trick Pony: Emma and Travis Heim, who retired from barbecue last year, opened One Trick Pony Pizza Tavern at 313 S. Main Street, serving Chicago-tavern style pizzas, homemade pastas and craft cocktails.
- Leaves: Leaves Bakery and Books will permanently close August 15 after years serving scratch-made pastries, tea and a curated book selection on West Magnolia Avenue.
- On The Border: On The Border closed all company-owned locations on June 12, ending the 44-year run of the North Texas-based Tex-Mex chain, though franchise locations in five states and South Korea remain open independently. Gauchos Brazilian Steakhouse is moving into the former On The Border location at 6536 Northwest Loop 820 Freeway in Lake Worth and appears to be an independent business unaffiliated with any established chain.
- Fixe: Fixe Southern House in Clearfork closed permanently on June 11 after eight years, with owner Keith House offering no specific reason while the flagship Fixe in Austin remains open.
- Sunrise Scones: Self-taught baker Gretchen Seegel opened her first brick-and-mortar, at 309 W. Daggett Ave. in South Main Village, featuring rotating seasonal flavors alongside three staples.
- Seared: New steakhouse Seared is officially open at 4006 White Settlement Road, offering a prix fixe menu of steak, seared romaine salad and bottomless fries.
- Phoenix Pho: Phoenix Pho opened a drive-thru Vietnamese restaurant in the Alliance neighborhood with a June 21 soft launch and 15 percent off meals plus a free drink until the July 5 grand opening.
- MUTTS: MUTTS Canine Cantina permanently closed all locations on June 29, including the Fort Worth Clearfork dog park and bar that opened in 2018, with parent company Free Range Concepts shifting focus to other brands.
Other light-hearted food stories
- Roy Pope Grocery: More than 1,000 pounds of leftover groceries from Roy Pope were donated to Community Crossroads before the 80-year-old store closed May 31 for conversion into a Westland Hospitality restaurant and bar.
- Stop Six food court: Fort Worth native and Polytechnic High School counselor Manuel Gaona is seeking $100,000 in Kickstarter donations to finish a mobile food court in the Stop Six neighborhood, which could open by the end of August if fully funded.
- Waffle House: French influencer Eros Brousson posted a satirical video calling Waffle House an “indestructible fortress of violence and syrup”, contrasting with a German visitor’s positive review that drew more than seven million views on X.
- Favorite Chef: Self-taught Fort Worth home chef Suzie Torres is competing in the top 10 of Colossal’s national Favorite Chef competition benefiting the James Beard Foundation, with a chance to advance to the final five on July 2.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
Ella Gonzales
Fort Worth Star-Telegram