Long gone are the days when Planoites had to load up their wagons and trek to Dallas for dinner; in fact, some of Plano’s top restaurants have become destinations for Dallasites. We may think of it as a Dallas suburb, but Plano, Spanish for “flat” (a fair characterization), is the ninth most populous city in Texas, one that boasts nearly 300,000 residents and a thriving, eclectic dining scene.
The Shops at Legacy, Legacy West, and the Historic Downtown host some of the most popular restaurants, but Plano’s neighborhoods stash plenty of strip-mall hidden gems, too. From the first dedicated kaiseki establishment in North Texas to an extravagant 16-course Indian tasting menu with wine pairings to an Austrian cafe that’s remained beloved for over two decades, Plano’s culinary offerings span all continents and price points. Here are nine of our favorites.
Jashan
Legacy North | Indian
At this upscale Indian restaurant in Legacy North, the “Dil Se,” or 16-course tasting menu with wine pairings, stands among the most innovative culinary experiences for miles. Diners sit around a semicircular black marble bar to watch the food preparation. Before each course, as a sommelier makes his way from party to party, the chef gives a speech about the upcoming dish’s historical and cultural significance. Many Indian food-lovers may be accustomed to cooling the spice with a bottle of Kingfisher, but at Jashan, diners start the meal with champagne and finish with Málaga. Every ingredient, from the foamed saffron to the Tandoori-seared barramundi to the Kashmiri morels, pays homage to the Subcontinent.
7401 Lone Star Dr. Ste B 120
Flamant
Granite Park | European Fusion
The team behind Apothecary and Rye brought this European fusion restaurant to the Boardwalk in Plano, where the menu offers homemade pastas, Spanish meatballs, and grilled octopus alongside whimsical cocktails. Try a refreshing salt-and-pepperoncini margarita garnished with an entire pepperoncini or sip a Breakfast in Marseilles espresso martini that incorporates croissant essence and orange marmalade. With its sprawling Cubist wall mural and bustling open kitchen, Flamant’s atmosphere is as vibrant as its beverage program. The live-fire dishes, including the sourdough bread, pair nicely with those ice-cold drinks…