Anyone paying attention to the North Texas food scene may have noticed the recent wave of Mediterranean restaurants popping up across the region.
For those who love Mediterranean food, the surge of these restaurants is a big deal. Here’s what you need to know about the spots serving Dallas-Fort Worth’s hottest cuisine.
Aba
Aba, from Chicago, is bringing its second Texas location to Dallas’ Design District. The restaurant’s first location in the state is in Austin.
Aba’s menu is full of shareable dishes with ample vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Highlights include a range of hummus options, whipped feta, yellowtail crudo and shawarma-spiced skirt steak frites.
Opening date: Late 2026
Address: 1444 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas
Alára Modern Mediterranean
Turkish-born chef Onur Akan recently opened Alára Modern Mediterranean in the Design District.
Akan promised Alára would be different from the flood of Meditteranean restaurants entering the region in two ways: Alára’s menu is made of digestion-friendly dishes and Akan leans on his Turkish heritage for the restaurant’s hospitality.
“In Turkish culture, table culture is everything,” he told The Dallas Morning News.
The menu features six mezze, which include caramelized onion hummus, marinated olives and whipped feta with sun-dried tomatoes. Other highlights include the Halloumi en croute ($18), a rectangle of warm cheese in a handmade hot pocket drizzled with honey; the green goddess Caesar ($18), a salad topped with fried anchovies instead of croutons; and the signature dish, Turkish coffee-crusted Wagyu hangar steak ($55) served with potato pavé, a French-inspired side of thinly sliced potatoes.
Hours: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Open for dinner only, for now. Lunch coming soon.
Address: 1628 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas
Corsaire
Corsaire is expected to open soon on Dallas’ Greenville Avenue.
Chef and co-owner Jeff Bekavac’s menu dips into North Africa, Spain, France, Turkey, Morocco and more — anywhere travelers followed the spice trade. The sprawling restaurant — which used to be Pizzeria Testa —will be redesigned, with a new patio covered in greenery. “We’re putting a lot of effort into making this a cool oasis on Greenville,” Bekavac said.
Opening date: April or May 2026
Address: 3525 Greenville Ave., Dallas
Meraki
Prolific restaurateur Tim Love recently opened Meraki, his 20th restaurant concept, in Fort Worth. The News called it one of the most exciting new restaurants to open in North Texas this year.
Meraki was inspired by Love’s travels to Saint Barthélemy, Greece, Spain and Italy. The menu has some Turkish and Lebanese influences, too. If you close your eyes at Meraki, you might feel like you’re at a hotel resort from The White Lotus.
Soon, Meraki will offer tasting menus at lunch: $49 for three courses. And a dinner tasting recently launched: $128 for seven courses.
Hours: Open six days a week for lunch and dinner. Sunday hours are 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations recommended.
Address: 1615 Rogers Road, Fort Worth.
Théa
Théa comes from Phoenix restaurateur Sam Fox, who created Flower Child, North Italia, Culinary Dropout and other eateries. It’s set to open on the fast-developing Knox Street next year.
Théa will be a two-story rooftop restaurant overlooking the Katy Trail, according to a news release. Similar to other Mediterranean spots, this spot will have bright dishes like hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel, zucchini chips, Greek salads, kofta skewers and a selection of roasted veggies.
Théa is also known for spritzes — alcoholic cocktails that are bubbly and easy to sip.
Opening date: Early 2027
Address: 3333 Knox St., Dallas
