It should come as no surprise that Irving has so many top-shelf restaurants. Situated northwest of Downtown Dallas, the city draws both Dallas and Fort Worth diners, as well as travelers landing just 10 miles away at DFW. Moreover, Irving is known for its diversity, with its dining scene reflecting cuisines from all over the world. Irving is also home to Las Colinas, a mixed-use development populated by more than 2,000 companies and restaurant choices galore for business lunches and dinners.
Within the last few years, a few dining destinations have put Irving on the map, including a fine-dining Indian restaurant and a halal-certified wagyu barbecue joint. This list of Irving’s best restaurants offers a mixture of buzzy new eateries with some old-guard neighborhood favorites.
Mr. Max Izakaya Restaurant
Izakayas like Mr. Max are reminiscent of Spanish tapas bars, with the perfect portion sizes for sampling a number of Japanese snacks. Mr. Max’s bar scene is lively, and part of the fun is slipping out of your shoes, and sitting at one of the low wooden tables. Pair a bottle of sake with an order of sashimi and imaginative dishes like eel omelet ($7), and steamed monkfish liver with ponzu sauce ($10). While it changed hands in 2014 after a brief closure, Mr. Max has been a beloved Irving staple for decades. A second location recently opened in Richardson. 3028 N. Belt Line Rd., Irving, mrmaxtx.com
Familia Restaurante
An Irving institution since 1993, Mexican restaurant 7 Salsas closed in 2019 when its owner Roberto Villa retired. Four years later, to the delight of old 7 Salsas loyalists, Villa changed his mind about retirement and opened Familia Restaurante. Tex-Mex favorites like nachos supreme ($12) and fajitas Texanas ($18) meet classic Mexican recipes, including camarones a la diabla ($15) and mole poblano ($11). Cozy booths give the place a diner feel, with south of the border touches like terra cotta-style flooring. 5330 N. MacArthur Blvd. Ste. #108, Irving
Kafi BBQ
Silicon Valley tech guy turned pitmaster Salahodeen Abdul-Kafi opened this halal-certified barbecue joint and swiftly drew lines around the parking lot. Here, Texas barbecue meets fine dining-quality food. Meats are seasoned with a rub that Abdul-Kafi spent years perfecting, sides are made from scratch, and the wagyu has a marbling score of nine out of 12. While Kafi has been an important addition to the halal dining scene, it caters to a much broader demographic: anyone who loves barbecue. Kafi is open Friday to Sunday, and arriving early is recommended because Abdul-Kafi often sells out by 5 p.m. 8140 N. MacArthur Blvd. #100, Irving, kafibbq.com
Edoko Omakase
Its discreet location in a Las Colinas strip mall may be unexpected, but the hidden-gem factor is part of what makes Edoko so special. Belly up to the bar in the sleek, minimalist space and let the chef feed you whatever’s fresh. The omakase experience ($120) includes samplings of nigiri, maki, and sashimi, but dining a la carte is also an option. Create your own adventure with sushi and robata selections, like chicken skewer ($4), grilled yellowtail collarbone ($16), and uni shooters ($26). The carefully curated sake list stands among the best in the Metroplex. 1030 W. John Carpenter Fwy. #100, Irving, edokolascolinas.com
Sanjh
This spectacular fine-dining Indian restaurant in Las Colinas garners praise for its food, and also its cocktail program that pays homage to various regions of the Indian Subcontinent. Concoctions include the gin-fueled Monsoon in Meghalaya, crafted with bay leaf-infused tea and house-made clove and bay leaf cordial; and the Gulab Jal, fragrant with rose water and rose petal jam-infused with orange liqueur combined with vodka. A decadent paneer makhni ($35) offers a harmonious balance of flavors from the paneer, cream, and butter with tomatoes. 5250 N. O’Connor Blvd. Ste. 146, Irving, sanjhrestaurant.com
Via Real
In a Metroplex full of Tex-Mex restaurants, Via Real, which has been a staple of the Irving dining scene since the 1980s, offers something different. The menu leans into Santa Fe-style cuisine, combining Mexican and Southwestern flavors. Mango black bean salsa and lemon butter sauce accompany crab enchiladas, topped with grilled jumbo shrimp ($38). The chicken Monterey ($21) arrives atop a bed of poblano rice with a roasted red bell pepper sauce. Save room for the vanilla bean flan ($10). 4020 N. MacArthur Blvd. Ste. 100, Irving, viareal.com
