Best things we ate in Dallas in 2022

We ate a variety of good meals in Dallas-Fort Price this 12 months. We documented most of the finest bites in a weekly series called “Best things we ate this week,” which served as a journal, of kinds, for us and for our readers. This week’s story is the ultimate journal entry in 2022.

Reflecting upon the whole lot we ate and drank over the previous 12 months, these are the perfect issues we ate in 2022.

Pepperoni Pie at Palace Pizza

I ate my first slice of Palace Pizza standing in Peter Cho’s kitchen, leaning on the tile counter in his residence the place he runs his pizza pop-up. The cheese crackled and burbled because it got here out of the chef’s residence oven. The crust has plumes of char. It folds and offers (barely, with one finger positioned on the center of the crust) however maintains a gentle, stretchy inside. You need to have heard the way in which the crust broke aside below the palm slam on his pizza cutter. Smash-crack. The sauce, Bianca DiNapoli’s canned tomatoes with contemporary chopped garlic flung into its center, shines. The most effective place to find out about Cho’s cottage pizzeria is — of all locations — on Instagram, however if you would like a bit of this pie, it’s a must to keep on high of it as a result of it sells out rapidly. That is elegant, easy pizza. — Nick Rallo, contributing author

Palace Pizza is a pop-up run out of the residence of chef Peter Cho. Observe his Instagram page for info on availability.

Grilled seashore cheese at Meridian

The grilled beach cheese on a stick at Meridian is a dish I take into consideration typically. It’s extremely easy – it’s fairly actually cheese on a stick (queijo coalho, to be precise) – however it’s a feast for the senses. The cheese is brushed with scorching honey earlier than hitting the grill, so it has a crisp, caramelized exterior. It’s then doused with a little bit of lime juice and topped with oregano leaves, and served on a mini grill with charred herbs smoking up from beneath. At $7, it’s a reminder that meals doesn’t should be sophisticated or costly to be good. — Claire Ballor, meals reporter

Meridian is at 5650 Village Glen Dr., Dallas. thevillagedallas.com/meridian.

Omakase at Tatsu

I first skilled chef Tatsuya Sekiguchi’s meals throughout an in-home dinner a number of months earlier than his Deep Ellum restaurant opened earlier this 12 months. I used to be hooked on the wonderful sushi and the nice and cozy hospitality exhibited by Tatsu and his spouse. So I made reservations as quickly because the couple’s brick-and-mortar spot opened within the Continental Gin Constructing, and I sat on the counter face-to-face with 17 programs of impeccable nigiri, tomago, soup and small plates. It’s inconceivable to select only one standout dish, however every bit of nigiri was so lovingly introduced, laid atop completely cooked and seasoned rice and dressed to perfection (no must douse your fish in soy and wasabi right here), that I haven’t stopped interested by it since. — Kevin Gray, contributing author

Tatsu is at 3309 Elm Avenue, Suite 120, Dallas. tatsu-dallas.com

Cheeseburger at Sky Rocket Burger

I don’t know what the perfect factor I ate this 12 months was, however to assuage the guilt I really feel about probably contributing to a snobbish meals tradition after watching the darkish comedy horror movie “The Menu,” I’m going with a single cheeseburger from Sky Rocket Burger. The scent of grease hit me after I walked via the door — a very good signal. My cheeseburger that got here double-wrapped in crimson checkered paper was prepared in 10 minutes. Inside, a skinny, blackened patty from the flat high despatched up a faint smoke sign within the graffiti-lined, cinder block eating room. Surrounding the patty was a buttered bun with zillions of sesame seeds (on the highest and backside), which amazingly maintained fluffiness whereas holding onto mayo, ketchup and a secret sauce. Low-cost American cheese — the perfect cheese for burgers — cloaked the patty alongside the classics: crunchy uncooked onions, tomatoes, pickles and iceberg lettuce. Even when I had been to scroll via my cellphone in an try to search out the fanciest or neatest thing I ate this 12 months, I’d be hard-pressed to search out something as pleasant as this burger was, particularly because it price lower than $10. — Amanda Albee, contributing author

Sky Rocket Burger has a number of areas in Dallas-Fort Price. skyrocketburger.com.

Dips!

My finest dinners in Dallas in 2022 began with dip. Fairly than decide one favourite, let’s go on a bar snack tour.

My most up-to-date love is at The Finch in Dallas’ Mockingbird Station, the place chef Eric Freidline is making blue crab dip topped with smoked trout caviar. Little triangles of potato waffles (bonus, they’re gluten-free) make scrumptious vessels for this creamy app. Fish dip followers ought to then seize a seat at Douglas in Snider Plaza, the place proprietor Doug Pickering is doing smoky salmon dip with capers and dill. Whilst you’re in College Park, slide into Kuby’s Sausage Home and European Market, delightfully open since 1961, for smoked gouda pimento cheese to-go. It’s the perfect pimento cheese on the town, belief me. Then it’s on to Sister in East Dallas for charred eggplant dip. The dip journey ends at Clifton Membership on Dallas’ Fitzhugh Avenue for whipped ricotta topped with blistered tomatoes and pistachio dukkah. It’ll pair nicely with a martini. Truly, any of those will. — Sarah Blaskovich, senior meals reporter

The Finch is at 5307 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. thefinchrestaurant.com. Douglas is at 6818 Snider Plaza, Dallas. thedouglastx.com. Kuby’s Sausage Home and European Market is at 6601 Snider Plaza, Dallas. kubys.com. Sister is at 2808 Greenville Ave., Dallas. sempresister.com. Clifton Membership is at 3333 N. Fitzhugh Ave., Dallas. instagram.com/cliftonclubdallas.

Candy Potato Casoncelli at Lucia

I didn’t have a reservation after I confirmed up at Lucia on a latest Saturday night time, however due to Claire Ballor’s recent story on restaurant reservations, I knew walk-ins may await seats on the bar. It could be 90 minutes, we had been informed — simply sufficient time for purchasing at close by Indigo 1745 and drinks at Atlas. My meal was nicely well worth the wait, and I’ll be craving one dish particularly every time there’s a chill within the air: Candy Potato Casoncelli, $30, a crammed ravioli-like pasta with roots in Italy’s Lombardy area. Whimsically formed like twist-wrapped candies — or large wing nuts — Lucia’s Casoncelli had been full of a luscious, candy potato-ricotta filling. A nutty, brown butter sauce with sage leaves cloaked the tender but sturdy pasta; it’s a traditional pairing, however chef David Uygur amped up the flavour with browned pancetta lardons and candy cippolini onions. A dent in the course of every casconcelli allowed for pooling of the wealthy butter sauce. The crowning contact was a bathe of coarsely floor Parmigiano Reggiano. This scrumptious, stick-to-your-ribs dish masterfully melded earthy, caramelized, savory, nutty, candy and salty flavors. Paired with a glass of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, it was an ideal fall-winter indulgence, and my favourite dish of the 12 months. — Tina Danze, contributing author

Lucia is at 287 N. Bishop Ave., Dallas. luciadallas.com.

Bonus: Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glaze Pores and skin Smoothie, present in Los Angeles

I’ve to offer it to Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glaze Pores and skin Smoothie. The mannequin collaborated with Erewhon Market in Los Angeles to create this web well-known $17 drink, and I couldn’t assist however strive it after I was there on a visit earlier this 12 months. It tasted like strawberry shortcake made with coconut milk, and apparently it’s really good in your pores and skin. It’s loaded with strawberries, avocado, dates, collagen powder, hyaluronic acid, maple syrup, coconut cream, almond milk and sea moss gel. The drink was stunning, with layers of pink and white swirls topped with housemade strawberry jam. My pores and skin didn’t appear to be Beiber’s after I drank it, however I do wish to assume it had a new-found glow. — Tina-Tien Nguyen, contributing author

Erewhon Market has a number of areas throughout Los Angeles, CA. erewhonmarket.com.