Fort Worth restaurants to watch in 2026: BBQ and a few surprises
More steaks and lots more pizzas lie ahead for Fort Worth in a 2026 that will be dominated by new restaurants in downtown Fort Worth, Southlake and summer specials for the FIFA World Cup.
What is usually a slow time for restaurants — mid-June to mid-July — will bring a boom to downtown and north Arlington, with soccer tourists all over North Texas looking for grilled Argentine chorizo, Texas brisket or anything American.
The biggest opening in 2026 is obvious: the new Roy Hutchins BBQ Factory, taking shape at 1600 E. Copeland Road (Interstate 30) in Arlington on the corner at Nolan Ryan Expressway just north of AT&T Stadium.
The Roy Hutchins side of the divided North Texas barbecue family already opened one thriving restaurant in far north Tarrant County at 3000 Texas 114 in Trophy Club.
Barbecue fans used to debate whether that Hutchins is better than the other side of the family’s Hutchins Barbeque locations in Frisco and McKinney. But there’s not much difference anymore, and the new Roy Hutchins will get its share of crowds.
Meanwhile, the ruling barbecue king of Arlington is opening a location up north.
Hurtado Barbecue, a mainstay at Globe Life Park, will open at 421 S. U.S. 377 in Argyle, moving into a market currently dominated by Roy Hutchins and by 407 BBQ.
Here are a few more of the most anticipated new restaurants that will open in 2026, with opening dates dependent on construction and hiring:
Central Fort Worth
— Felina, 411 Bryan Ave., is a new Roman-style pizzeria from the founders of the excellent Bocca Osteria Romana restaurant. It will open the first week of January and serve thin, crunchy pizza, in contrast to other Italian pizza restaurants’ Neapolitan style.
— Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse, 969 Commerce St., will be a prime steakhouse from Oklahoma City opening in the new Deco 969 condo tower.
— Madrone, 1400 Henderson St., is coming to the historic Public Market building and apartments in downtown Fort Worth along with Public Market Cafe.
— Partenope Ristorante, 2949 Crockett St. in Artisan Circle, will be a new location for a popular Dallas restaurant known for Neapolitan pizza.
— Cafe Mirador, 3220 W. Seventh St., will be an upscale restaurant inside the Forty Five Ten boutique from Dallas.
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— Meraki, 1615 Rogers Road, is promoted as a new Mediterranean restaurant from chef Tim Love. It replaces the dining room at Courtside Kitchen.
— Bella Italia, 6115 Camp Bowie Blvd., is the new location for a 45-year Fort Worth favorite that lost its lease at its old location in the boulevard.
— Brooklyn’s, 401 S. Main St., opened the first week of January. It’s a stylish bar that also serves bacon-jam cheeseburgers, teriyaki quesadillas, pizzas on naan, wraps and Phillys.
— Shug’s Bagels, 5101 Camp Bowie Blvd., is a prize-winning Dallas bagel shop known for New York-style bagels and deli-quality bagel sandwiches.
— Top of the Morning, 2948 Crockett St., will be a new brunchy restaurant along the lines of Snooze or Yolk.
— Beverly’s Mexican Cuisine, 901 Houston St., has run into some delays but will open as an interior-Mexico restaurant in the historic Hogan Building.
— One Trick Pony Pizza Tavern, 313 S. Main St., will be a new thin-crust, New York-style pizza tavern from Emma and Travis Heim, founders of Heim Barbecue.
— Beren Mediterranean Empire Kitchen, 1216 Sixth Ave., will be the new location for a Turkish restaurant moving from 1229 Eighth Ave,
— The Original Mexican Eats Cafe, 4735 Camp Bowie Blvd., is designed as a small tacos-and-margaritas stand near the first location of The Original, now at 1400 N. Main St.
Southlake
— Dakota’s, 1901 W. Kirkwood Blvd. in Southlake, is a new suburban location for a 40-year-old downtown Dallas fine-dining landmark.
— Hudson House, 1131 E. Southlake Blvd., is a popular New England-style restaurant from Dallas known for mussels, oysters and light grill dishes such as French chicken and cheeseburgers.
All around
— Teddy Wong’s Dumplings & Wine, 102 Houston Ave., Weatherford, will be the second location for the popular Fort Worth restaurant.
— Fred’s Texas Cafe, 100 N. Texas St., Crowley, will be the third location for the iconic Fort Worth burger tavern and chicken-fried steak cafe.
— il Capo Italian, 9300 Team Ranch Road, will be new from the company behind the Tavern, Pacific Table and Press Cafe.
— Duong DeVille, 405 S. Jim Wright Freeway, White Settlement, will be a new Vietnamese restaurant by chef Hao Tran in the Entrepreneur Park development.
— Pulido’s Mexican Kitchen, 104 S. Ranch House Road, Willow Park, will be the fourth location for the renewed Tex-Mex restaurant chain with new owners and 60 years of history.
— White Castle, 4520 Destination Drive, The Colony, will bring the famous Ohio-based slider restaurants to Texas for the first time.
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 4:21 AM.
