Best Plano Restaurants (North Dallas, Texas)

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Looking for new places to eat in Plano? I’m here to help! Find foodie spots in North Dallas in this guide to the best places to eat in Plano, Texas including restaurants and grocery stores. Let’s dig in…

Menu Tour of Suburban Yacht Club Restaurant at the Boardwalk Granite Park in Plano Texas — I’m on a mission to check out all the best Plano restaurants and give you the inside scoop!

Table of Contents

Lockhart Smokehouse

Kind of like Hutchins BBQ in McKinney, TX, Lockhart is where you want to go for BBQ in Plano, TX. Check out their menu for items like:

Burnt Ends
Smoked Wings
Ugly Smoked Gumbo
Smoked pork
Smoked brisket flat
Candied Bacon Ice Cream Sandwich

See the Lockhart Smokehouse menu.

Mexican Sugar

Called “sultry Mexican comfort food” – this spot for good food in Plano, Mexican Sugar, is close to the shops at Legacy West and has favorite dishes like an arepas appetizer, sharable chilaquiles, and frozen margaritas for happy hour.

The Boardwalk / Granite Park 3 restaurants to try

When you think of Texas you probably don’t think about boardwalks and water-side eateries, but they exist! There’s a freaking boardwalk in the middle of Plano, Texas.

And it’s fabulous if you’re a foodie.

It’s a cool place to chill by the boardwalk water fountains, when you’re waiting for your table to open up…

The atmosphere at the boardwalk is unbelievable considering you’re in the middle of North Dallas. It’s legit a boardwalk with tons of colorful, playful Adirondack chairs overlooking water fountains along a man-made river. Or some body of water.

And all along the boardwalk are eateries like breakfast spots, lunch spots, burger places, and even a prim and proper tea party restaurant. (I had one of their fancy $12 cupcakes.)

There’s also a couple sections for kids (toddlers, younger pre-teens especially) to rome while parents are waiting for tables at restaurants and breweries. You can see the “fake hill” kids can roll down in my video below at Suburban Yatch Club.

OK let’s get to the list…

Suburban Yacht Club

Well it’s about time! I finally got to try a birria style taco at this Mexican / Tex-Mex / California-ish restaurant on the Boardwalk in Plano.

So as soon as we sat down, I said:

“I will take whatever comes in that blow up flamingo” (ended up being a watermelon Grey Goose)

Someone in the table across from us got a cocktail for 2+ people in one large bowl with what looked like a sparkler shooting out of the top of it.

A few must try food items here:

We gobbled up this Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Elote appetizer / nacho plate…

FLAMIN’ HOT CHEETOS ELOTE (the waiter told us to switch from regular-ol’ guac to this appetizer with hot cheetos sprinkled on corn with queso fresco, cholula, cilantro — so tasty!!)
Ceviche
Smoke-roasted BBQ ribs (see my sous vide spare ribs recipe)
Epic Shrimp Burrito (my husband got this, it’s packed with chile dusted shrimp, mexi-rice, pico de gallo, salsa verde, ranchacado, quesadilla tortilla)
SHORT RIB QUESABIRRIA (which I loved! Filled with oaxaca-jack, onion, cilantro, jalapeño, radish, consomé, corn tortilla)
CRISPED PORK CARNITAS (yumm — it’s packed with grilled pineapple, guajillo salsa, micro greens, corn tortilla)

Here’s a look at a meal we had from the menu of Suburban Yacht Club…

See the Suburban Yacht Club menu…

Union Bear Brewing Co.

Owned by the same people behind Suburban Yacht Club is a brewery with West Coast feels. Try things on their menu like:

Roasted Poblano Queso & Chips
Cauliflower Elote
Grilled Fish Tacos
Huevos Rancheros

See the Union Bear Brewing menu…

Legacy Hall Food Options

There’s a hidden gem in Plano that’s a big indoor food hall called Legacy Hall at Legacy West. It’s one of the reasons I’m one happy foodie in this new foodie city and suburbs of Dallas, Texas

Brisket Love at Legacy Hall

I’ve been going nuts with taco places and smoked brisket, so when the two come together in one taco, it’s going to be a satisfying time! I got the 3 brisket taco platter and it came with queso-style cheese on top. Plus I loved the seriously tasty smokey mac and cheese.

Here’s a video from my visit…

North Italia

coming soon!

Foodie grocery stores in Plano

HEB / Central Market Plano

This place is a foodie shopping experience!

First off, before you go inside, your kiddo can burn off some energy outside in their playground…

Whoever decided to put a playground outside Central Market is my hero!

And then when you make it inside, they have so much fresh produce and every option of every type of food imaginable.

I can’t really describe it in one paragraph so here’s a video of a shopping trip we took to Central Market Plano…

Bonus TIP for shopping with kids:

Maybe you also know this trick: but if you’re in a store that gives kiddos balloons, I’ve found the best option is to clip the balloon into the seat belt in the cart.

That way your kiddo can play with it, and it won’t float away, and then it’s not tied to the cart so you won’t have to untie it at the end. Only caveat here is that your kiddo can’t undo the buckle 🙂

Wood fired restaurants in Plano

Urban Crust – Satisfy all your crispy, light, flaky crust cravings at this downtown Plano wood fired pizza restaurant. It’s quite the experience with multi-levels, and Italian-inspired menu, and an ice bar at the top. Get a classic pizza pie. Or, check out something creative like the Black & Blue pizza recipe with basil pesto, wood-fired sirloin, baby portobellos, caramelized onions, and bleu cheese.

Where to find bento boxes in Plano

The best times to check out bento box specials are usually around lunch. Here are some recommendations…

Akari Japanese Restaurant – check out the freshly made spicy chicken bento.
Tomoya Sushi & Hibachi – This place offers a great selection of 12 bento box options! Don’t miss the ramen, and fresh fish sushi rolls, but also check out the hibatchi lunch bento box specials available with 12 main dish options including tempura, shrimp, beef bulgogi, steak, chicken and more.

More fun restaurants in Plano coming soon!

I’m at the lookout and eating around Plano, Frisco, McKinney and Allen at the moment.

My most up-to-date Dallas area restaurant reviews can be found on Instagram @sipbitego and on the Sip Bite Go YouTube channel.

For some tasty home cooking, see the Sip Bite Go recipe collection.

Dallas Area Guides

New recipes and foodie guides….

Grill and smoker recipes…