Whether you live in Plano, Texas, or just passing through, you will note a great culinary scene.
Because of all the different types of people living in the area, there are several great ethnic restaurants to visit during your next trip to Plano. If you are looking for some of the best restaurants in Plano, keep on reading!
1. Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar
$$ | (972) 993-2253 | WEBSITE
If you are looking for comfort food, great cocktails, and an inviting atmosphere, take a trip to Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar. They pride themselves on turning out meals prepared with the freshest, locally grown produce.
As you would imagine, there are many whiskey drinks on the menu, including a whiskey tasting.
From the appetizer menu, the goat cheese fondue is a standout. The salmon and bone-in pork chops are worthy options, but the real stars of the menu are the salads like lemongrass, shrimp, and noodles.
Don’t forget to save room for the whisky cake, with bourbon, toffee, pecans, and whipped cream!
2. Lockhart Smokehouse
$$ | 972-516-8900 | WEBSITE
Looking for a good barbecue? Your first stop should be Lockhart Smokehouse. Whether you have a taste for beef, poultry, pork, or sausage, you will find a great selection here.
They also have an interesting selection of side dishes to pair with your smokehouse meal. Brisket deviled eggs and blue cheese slaw are two interesting options. While the pairings may seem odd at first, after the first bite you will be craving more.
3. The Latin Pig Cuban Restaurant
$ | 972-985-9760 | WEBSITE
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How can you go wrong with a restaurant that has a pig in its name? The Latin Pig Cuban Restaurant features flavors from Cuba, Havana, and Puerto Rico. They have been thriving in Plano since 2012.
The Pollo Guisado, which is chicken stewed with potatoes and carrots, is a filling and affordable meal, and the slow-roasted pork (Lechon) is prepared the traditional way. It is cooked with traditional seasonings and served with black beans and rice.
The Latin Pig also offers catering for groups.
4. Jörg’s Cafe Vienna
$$ | (972) 509-5966 | WEBSITE
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This family-owned restaurant serves Austrian and German specialties in an authentic atmosphere, right down to the outside Biergarten.
Your visit to this lively gem isn’t complete without trying Jörg’s wurst sampler. This includes a variety of sausages served on a bed of sauerkraut and German mustard.
Other authentic items that demand a taste include their wiener schnitzels, Austrian goulash, and apple strudel.
5. Knife Steakhouse
$$$ | (214) 299-5943 | WEBSITE
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At Knife Steakhouse, you will be treated to great steaks and innovative appetizers and side dishes.
For starters, consider the bacon-crusted marrow bone and caviar, their daily oyster choice, or the surf & turf beer tartare. This beef tartare comes with raw oyster and an egg.
Their traditional menu features the expected beef filets and ribeye, along with lamb and pork chops. The new school menu offers some of the newer cuts of meat that are now popular, like the culotte, flat iron, and skirt steak. Also, you can get a cauliflower steak and short ribs.
Seafood options include seared branzino, spicy lobster Shanghai style, and seared tuna.
You will enjoy your meal in an elegant setting enjoying one of their many varieties of wine and craft beer.
6. Densetsu
$$ | 972-964-7874 | WEBSITE
Densetsu is a wonderful option for those that enjoy a variety of Japanese-inspired dishes. Here you can find everything from sushi/sashimi to noodle dishes, salads, rice bowls, and combos meals and about everything in between.
The Dynamite rolls are stuffed with crawfish and shrimp and covered in lobster sauce. It is a filling starter to a great meal.
They have numerous options that are served raw and cold, to hot and cooked. If you love Japanese food and you can’t find anything on the menu you would like, you’re not trying.
7. Marinara’s Pizza
$$ | (972) 881-8884 | WEBSITE
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New York-style pizza lovers rejoice! At Marinara’s, you get a show along with your pizza as you can watch the owner toss the dough and make your pizza right in front of you.
In addition to traditional and specialty pizzas, Marinara’s also turns out great pasta dishes, salads, sandwiches, and stuffed bread (think calzones). There isn’t much on the appetizer menu and there is no alcohol served.
If you are looking for a pizza to eat or to take out, you will get a tasty pie here.
8. Zorba’s Greek Cafe
$$ | (972) 250-0002 | WEBSITE
Appetizers at Zorba’s are what you expect with saganaki, dolmades, and spanakopita; avgolemono is the featured soup. They have quite a few nice salads, including the Santorini salad with spinach, oregano, walnuts, and sauteed mushrooms.
Moussaka, chicken, lamb, and pork options are on the classic menu. Of course, no Greek restaurant would be complete without gyros and pita favorites.
It may not be the most inventive menu, but the food is prepared well and served in generous portions.
9. Bob’s Steak and Chophouse
$$$ | (972) 608-2627 | WEBSITE
Bob’s Steak and Chophouse is a local favorite, with many locations across Texas. They have an award-winning wine selection and wonderful signature cocktails.
The appetizer menu is basic except for their Grade AAA tuna tartare. Salads too are basic, but that’s OK, you don’t want to get too filled up before you get your Texas-sized steak.
There are many steaks on the menu; the smallest being a nine-ounce filet. The largest is the 32-ounce Tomahawk steak. Sides like glazed carrots, potatoes, and peppercorn gravy are also included in the meal price.
The restaurant also has a banquet hall for conferences or special occasions.
10. Bavarian Grill
$$$ | (972) 881-0705 | WEBSITE
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There are some unique offerings on the Bavarian Grill menu. For starters, there is a ½ pound of select Bavarian cheese, and house-made Meltwurst tea spread served on a pretzel roll.
There are also numerous spaetzles, schnitzels, pretzels, and plenty of other authentic items on the menu.
If you are looking for Bavarian food in an unfussy but delightful venue, this is the place for you. If you are of Alsatian and German descent, this place will bring back memories of home.
11. Urban Crust
$$ | (972) 509-1400 | WEBSITE
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This eatery opened in 2007 but officially changed its name to Urban Crust in 2009.
Very happy to see some innovative upgrades to traditional dishes. Carpaccio is perfectly sliced and presented with chives, aged parmesan, and capers.
Where they excel is in pizzas! They cook all their pizzas in a wood-fired oven. The selection of pizzas is both unique and expansive. The urban amore pizza is topped with fig preserves, prosciutto, goat cheese, balsamic, and arugula and it is amazing.
They also offer a wide selection of Italian desserts.
12. Sixty Vines
$$ | 214-814-8463 | WEBSITE
At Sixty Vines they offer not just great food, but a great variety of wines to pair with anything you may order from the menu. Many of the top wines they serve on tap
Their cheese and sausage boards are delicious, and the ricotta cheese is made in-house. They offer shared dishes like bacon-wrapped dates and a variety of sandwiches.
Sixty Vine’s pizzas are inventive, like the broccolini and potato pizza. The restaurant’s braised pork pappardelle pasta is unique and delicious.
You are sure to find something great to eat and drink at Sixty Vines.
13. Sea Breeze Fish Market
$$$ | 972-473-2722 | WEBSITE
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At Sea Breeze Fish Market, you can purchase your fish to take home and cook, choose from a prepared meal to enjoy at home, or dine in. One thing is certain, their fish is the freshest you can find. Each day, the market gets fresh fish flown in from around the country.
At first glance, the appetizer menu will have your mouth watering for tuna nachos and house-smoked salmon. Soups include Maine mussel and clam pots; this is a meal!
They offer lobster in several ways, such as fried fish plates, seafood plates of pasta, fresh fish, and chef specialties. The cedar-planked steelhead trout and fresh pumpkin-crusted flounder are the top options here. They also have an impressive wine list and craft cocktails.
14. Bulla Gastrobar
$$$ | 972-805-4590 | WEBSITE
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This is part of a small chain of restaurants that started in Florida with a focus on Spanish foods.
They offer cheese and sausage boards and a wide selection of tapas. Some great choices include montaditos, which are brisket, tomato marmalade, guindilla, and tetilla cheese.
The main course solomillo with blue cheese sauce is a delectable combination of pork tenderloin, peppers, and piquillo confit.
They also have weekday happy hour food and drink specials and offer a kid’s menu.
Summary
While Dallas, Houston, and Austin may be the big cities in Texas, some of the finest food around is found in Plano. If you find yourself in the Dallas area, take a short drive to Plano to see all the area has to offer, and be sure to stop in at one of these great local restaurants. Your stomach will thank you.
Hayden has been a digital director for years. He has five years of experience editing and writing about food, restaurant, and recipe review content. At Birch Restaurant, he’s in charge of scouting, showing up unannounced in different restaurants, and writing a thorough food guide!
