A bunch of places in Richardson (Texas) worth eating at. If you think something's missing, let me know. Updated 2/2025. —Stephen E.

Open in Google Maps

85c Bakery

Bakery (Asian)

Super delicious Asian bakery in Chinatown.

Recommended Order:

  • Coffee bread
  • Milk breads (all of them)
  • Red bean buns
  • Cream puffs
Open in Google Maps

Aloha Chicken and Shrimp

Hawaiian

Much better than Hawaiian bros. Super friendly owners.

Recommended Order:

  • Original Combo Plate (that shrimp! that chicken!)
  • Sweet Chili Chicken Plate
  • Spam Musubi
  • Pokemon Cards
Open in Google Maps

Asian Mint

Thai

Great modern thai spot.

Recommended Order:

  • It's all good
Open in Google Maps

Afrah

Nediterranean

The O.G. Mediterranean buffet in Richardson. Recently moved into a much bigger space.

Recommended Order:

  • Buffet (all the things)
  • Gyro plate
  • Chocolate mousse
  • Pistacho or cardamom gelato
Open in Google Maps

Albaghdady

Arabic / Dessert

Arabic/Iraqi desserts. Also have kabobs, but I haven't tried them yet.

Recommended Order:

  • Any of the mixed dessert platters (ie: everything)
Open in Google Maps

Ali Babba

Mediterranean

The king of mediterranean buffets. Gets busy. Go early, go often.

Recommended Order:

  • Buffet
Open in Google Maps

Angel Chicken Kitchen

American

Fried chicken everything. Near Cindi's Diner. (In Dallas, but close enough.)

Recommended Order:

  • Hill Country sandwich
  • Austin Heat sandwich
  • House made chips
Open in Google Maps

Bambu

Thai

Legit thai. Only place I've seen that serves raw peppercorn in their curry. Leslie Brenner loves this place.

Recommended Order:

  • Try the daily specials
Open in Google Maps

Bangkok at Beltline

Thai

Our go-to Thai spot. Super friendly owners and delicious food.

Recommended Order:

  • All the curries
  • Fried fish dishes
  • Pad Kee Mow
  • Thai Afternoon Tea
Open in Google Maps

BB.Q Chicken

Korean / Karaoke

Super delicious Korean fried chicken spot that also has a karaoke room.

Recommended Order:

  • Chicken!
  • Karaoke!
  • Hitup the claw machine place after
Open in Google Maps

Bigdash

Desserts

Amazing Middle Eastern desserts with a super friendly owner. Kinfa all day long.

Recommended Order:

  • Red kinafa
  • Arabic ice cream
  • Lemon mint ice cream
Open in Google Maps

Big Shucks

Seafood

The best shrimp cocktail in Richardson.

Recommended Order:

  • Shrimp Cocktail
  • Po Boy + Fries + Extra Tartar
  • Fish Special
Open in Google Maps

Café Amore

Italian

Neighborhood BYOB Italian red sauce joint. Bring a bottle or two of red, order some pasta and live your best life.

Recommended Order:

  • Chicken Parm
  • Pasta Sampler
  • Pizzas
Open in Google Maps

Café Brazil

American / 24hr

If you're hungry at 3am, go here.

Recommended Order:

  • Quesadillas
  • Snickerdoodle coffee (kidding?)
Open in Google Maps

Cindi's New York

Deli

Richardson's only NY style deli. I love this place so much. (In Dallas, but close enough.)

Recommended Order:

  • BLT
  • Reuben
  • Toasted Everything Bagel + Whitefish
Open in Google Maps

Communion Coffee

Coffee

Coffee shop next to Lockwood Distillery. Also functions as a coworking space.

Recommended Order:

  • Coffee?
Open in Google Maps

Curry Bliss

Vegetarian / Indian

Vegetarian Indian spot, super nice owners.

Recommended Order:

  • Malaai Kofta Curry
  • Navratan Korma
  • Masala Dosa
Open in Google Maps

Del's Charcoal Burgers

Burgers

Best burgers in Richardson since 1957.

Recommended Order:

  • Any burger
  • Root Beer in a frozen mug
  • Tater tots
Open in Google Maps

Dutch Bros

Coffee

New coffee spot with an interesting (but sugary) menu. Not Starbucks.

Recommended Order:

  • Coffee?
Open in Google Maps

Eiland Coffee

Coffee Shop & Roaster

Super friendly coffee roaster making the best beans in town. This links to the original roaster location, but there's also a second location by Shady's.

Recommended Order:

  • Everything
  • Decaf Latte (all their coffee is top tier but their decaf is so much better than all other decaf)
Open in Google Maps

Free Play

Bar / Arcade

More than just your average barcade. Kid friendly before 9pm.

Recommended Order:

  • Everything
Open in Google Maps

First Watch

Breakfast

Solid breakfast/brunch spot, although Cindi's is where you should really be.

Recommended Order:

  • Power Quinoa Bowl
  • Millionaire's Bacon
  • Green Juice
Open in Google Maps

Good Union BBQ

BBQ

Hard to compete with other BBQ options in DFW, but their sandwiches/fries are great. Patio looks out on a green space where the kids can run around.

Recommended Order:

  • BBQ Turkey Sandwich
  • Fries
  • Margarita
Open in Google Maps

Great Outdoors

Sandwiches

Expensive subs, but I keep buying them anyway.

Recommended Order:

  • Outdoorsman on wheat, w/everything, double vinegar
Open in Google Maps

Guitars & Growlers

Bar

Best selection of beers in Richardson + relaxed vibes.

Recommended Order:

  • Beer
  • Beer
  • CBD/THC Drinks
Open in Google Maps

Haystack Burgers

Burgers

Greasy burgers next to the Alamo.

Recommended Order:

  • Haymaker (drink)
  • Onion Rings
Open in Google Maps

Hoki Poki

Poke

Richardson's first Poke shop.

Recommended Order:

  • Only been once, need to go back
Open in Google Maps

Industrial Pizza + Brew

Pizza

The best thin pizza in Richardson.

Recommended Order:

  • Imperial Pizza
Open in Google Maps

Jeng Chi

Chinese

All around great Chinese. The café in front serves loose leaf tea from the Cultured Cup.

Recommended Order:

  • Dumpling Sampler
  • Green Onion Pancake
  • Hot & Sour Soup
Open in Google Maps

Kirin Court

Chinese

Dim-sum, sum laude.

Recommended Order:

  • Dim sum, dummy
Open in Google Maps

Kung Fu Tea

Bubble Tea

Get 'yer boba tea here.

Recommended Order:

  • Taro Slush w/ boba
  • Red Bean Slush w/ boba
Open in Google Maps

LA Burger

Burgers / Vietnamese

Kimchi + Burgers = Good

Recommended Order:

  • K Town Burger
  • Seoul Dog
Open in Google Maps

La Casita Bakery

Bakery

Best pastries in town. Order all the things.

Recommended Order:

  • Queen Aman
  • Cruffin
  • Another Queen Aman
Open in Google Maps

Lockwood Distillery

Gastro-distillery

Absolutely banger of a menu. Do not sleep on this place. Wonderful food + cocktails using their own spirits.

Recommended Order:

  • Veggie Sandwich
  • Burger
  • Pastrami on Rye (D Mag recently rated as #1 in Dallas)
Open in Google Maps

Masami

Sushi

Neighborhood sushi joint. Not as fancy as Sushi Sake, but half the cost and great quality, Owned by super friendly husband and wife team. Eat here often.

Recommended Order:

  • Spicy Tuna Handroll
  • Fried Baby Octopus
  • Albacore Tuna
  • Double order of Aji sashimi, w/fried bones
  • Lunch Special Box
  • Black Sesame Ice Cream
  • Seriously, just order everything
Open in Google Maps

Moriya Shokudo

Japanese

Japanese comfort food.

Recommended Order:

  • Chicken Katsu Curry
  • Katsudon Donburi
  • Omurice
  • Tokyo Spicy Miso Ramen
  • Miso Soup (it's so good!)
Open in Google Maps

Mr Max

Izakaya

Richardson's best (and only) Izakaya. Fun spot to grab drinks and food with friends. RIP Monta Ramen, although the Ramen is (still) great here. The more plates you order the better it gets.

Recommended Order:

  • Try all the things
  • Drink all the drinks
  • Demon Slayer Sake is fun to order and delicious
Open in Google Maps

Olive Burger

Burgers

Hole in the wall burger joint.

Recommended Order:

  • Jalapeno cheese burger
  • Fried Zucchini
Open in Google Maps

Partenope Ristorante

Italian/Pizza

One of Richardson's best restaurants.

Recommended Order:

  • Burrata e Cavoletti
  • Tridente Pizza
  • Lasagna Napoletana
  • Barrel Aged Old Fashioned
Open in Google Maps

Pho is for Lovers

Pho

Solid pho.

Recommended Order:

  • Chicken Pho + Meatballs
Open in Google Maps

Pho Pasteur

Pho

Best pho.

Recommended Order:

  • Chicken Pho + Meatballs
  • Grilled Pork Vermicelli Bowl + Eggroll
  • Pickle Lemonade
Open in Google Maps

Ricky's Hot Chicken

American

Really delicious Nashville style hot chicken. Takeout only.

Recommended Order:

  • Everything
Open in Google Maps

Roman Cucina

Italian

Neighborhood non-BYOB Italian joint.

Recommended Order:

  • Chicken Strappato
  • Eggplant Parm
Open in Google Maps

Royal Sichuan

Chinese

Authentic Sichuan dishes. Super cheap and everything is good.

Recommended Order:

  • Everything
Open in Google Maps

Royal Sweets

Indian / Chaat

Indian street food and desserts.

Recommended Order:

  • Try a bunch of stuff
  • Samosas
Open in Google Maps

Saigon Block

Vietnamese

The best Vietnamese in Richardson.

Recommended Order:

  • Imperial Rolls
  • #40 Vermicelli with charcoal broiled pork, egg roll
  • #44 Shredded pork, charcoal broiled thin slices of pork and egg cake served over crushed rice
  • Need to try more here, whole menu looks great
Open in Google Maps

Shady's

Burgers

Neighborhood burger joint. Has since expanded to a second location in Lakewood. Get ice cream at Sweet Firefly after.

Recommended Order:

  • Slim Shady
  • Margherita Chicken Salad
Open in Google Maps

Starship Bagels

Burgers

Award winning bagels. Not in Richardson, but close enough.

Recommended Order:

  • Sesame Bagel (un-toasted) + Green Olive Schmear
Open in Google Maps

Sweet Firefly

Ice Cream

Best ice cream in Richardson. Go after eating at Shady's.

Recommended Order:

  • Literally everything
Open in Google Maps

Sueno Mex-Tex

Mexican

Fantastic "Mex-Tex" with a cool cocktail menu that took over the old Pizza Americana spot.

Recommended Order:

  • Birra Tacos
  • Tepache (cocktail)
  • Chamoy Mezcalita (cocktail)
Open in Google Maps

Sushi Sake

Sushi

Best sushi. Always busy.

Recommended Order:

  • Hamachi Kama (Grilled Yellowtail Collar)
  • Everything
Open in Google Maps

Taco Ocho

Mexican

Also tacos. Not as good as Taco Joint, but still solid.

Recommended Order:

  • Latin loves
  • Beef Colorado
Open in Google Maps

Thai Soon

Thai

O.G. Thai spot. Go late, as the chemicals from the nail salon next door need some time to dissipate.

Recommended Order:

  • Haven't been in a while, see nail salon
Open in Google Maps

Tongue In Cheek

Ice Cream

Delicious local ice cream shop that's just as good as Sweet Firefly.

Recommended Order:

  • Cinnamon Chip
Open in Google Maps

Torchy's Tacos

Mexican

Not as good as Taco Joint, but good.

Recommended Order:

  • Chips/Queso
  • Dirty Sanchez
Open in Google Maps

Velvet Taco

Tacos!

Best non-traditional tacos.

Recommended Order:

  • Mexican Street Corn
  • Beer Battered Cauliflower
  • Kobe Smash Burger
  • Spicy Tikka Chicken
Open in Google Maps

Yoshi Shabu Shabu

Japanese

Shabu Shabu.

Recommended Order:

  • Shabu Shabu
Open in Google Maps

Yumilicious

Desserts

Best froyo.

Recommended Order:

  • Taro Root
Open in Google Maps

Zak's Donuts

Donuts

Neighborhood donut spot.

Recommended Order:

  • Blueberry Cake Donut