In the interest of full disclosure, we were slightly concerned when we learned last year that Todd David had sold Cattleack Barbecue. David's barbecue prowess started as a post-retirement hobby that blossomed into a full-time business, and Cattleack became synonymous with the best barbecue in the state and an easy recommendation to anyone who asked us. We needn't have worried; Cattleack's new owner, Andrew Castelan, had worked for David for the previous six years, allowing his barbecue passion to grow. Under Castelan's guidance, Cattleack is still the same gem, just slightly more accessible. It has added Wednesday lunch hours, and is open the first Saturday of the month as well. The same stellar barbecue, served on more days? That's a change we can get on board with.

Al Biernat's is an old-school Dallas institution and steakhouse destination. Since the Oak Lawn location opened in 1998 (there's a second location in North Dallas), Al Biernat's has developed a reputation for high-end steaks and chops, a stellar wine selection and spot-on service. While prime and wagyu steaks take center stage, don't sleep on the seafood options if something from the water is more your speed. And don't take our word for it. When the Texas Rangers won their first World Series last fall, the team headed here for a post-parade dinner celebration. If it's good enough for the world champs, it's good enough for us.

A historic house on North Zang Boulevard that has been in and out of development deals for years has finally been repurposed into a Mediterranean restaurant from the same folks who brought us Selda Mediterranean Grill in North Dallas. Focusing primarily on Turkish-inspired fare, The Mayor's House by Selda offers several dining areas, including an outside wraparound porch as well as a second-floor balcony, that are eclectically decorated and staged, providing a relaxed and warm atmosphere in which to dine. The kababs and hummus are all on point, and the Turkish tea expertly served, but the lavas puffy bread, hot and still steaming fresh from the oven, is the chef's kiss here.

Hidden away and hard to find? Check. Unpretentiously adorned and decorated? Check. Really good food that tastes homemade and is priced relatively low? Check. John's Backyard Grill ticks all the boxes. Located in the back of a Chevron gas station in Far North Dallas, John's offers mainly hamburgers and tacos, along with breakfast burritos, tortas and a quesadilla platter, but the burger is the star here. Juicy and thick, it captures exactly the flavor of that old Weber kettle grill from late July summer backyard patio cookouts, and at $8 (which includes above-average fries), it's a bargain.

This place lives in the shadow of what used to be Valley View mall, in a small strip center that's a challenge to navigate because of the gas station that shares the parking lot. It's worth the effort. The corn is the star here, including tortillas made from heirloom corn varieties that come in a large range of colorful hues. It's a popular place for workers in the early morning or at lunchtime, and for good reason. We originally visited for the strawberry masa tamal, but everything's been good. There are several protein options for the tacos, and you can order a machete, a long slender tortilla stuffed full of goodness and fried that could probably feed a small family.

Sura translates to "a royal meal, the king's dinner" in Korean. And, yes, a meal at Sura Korean Bistro is indeed fit for a king. Before getting to your main course, you'll be treated to a dazzling carnival of small dishes (known as banchan) that'll leave your tastebuds spinning. The banchan is an experience in itself, but where Sura really shines is its immense menu of Korean-style barbecued meats and seafood selections. From richly marinated black Angus beef short ribs to braised pork ribs to spicy baby octopus and grilled flounder, Sura has it all.

Located at The Star in Frisco, La Parisienne is smartly decorated in Tiffany blue with lots of warm, natural light. It captures the atmosphere of a French café that one might find on a hidden boulevard near Sacré-Cœur or along the banks of the Seine, but sans the thinly veiled contempt often felt just because of a perceived mispronunciation of the word demitasse or something. There's brunch, lunch and dinner, along with an afternoon tea, coffee, wine, cocktails and desserts. Starters include baked brie, a cheese plate and escargot, and there are quiches and croque monsieurs along with confit de canard and boeuf bourguignon, and an above-average French onion soup full of rich broth and topped with melted Swiss and a toasted crouton.

Long conversations over single-origin coffee and mezcal brought this pre-Hispanic-influenced cafe and agave bar to life in Oak Cliff. The food and drink at Xaman Cafe is deeply rooted in the owners' Mexican heritage, and through it they can enjoy and feel what they've longed for. Tradition and modern classics are evenly divided across the two-page menu, with a complete drink section for coffee and cocktails. Experience a hot plate of chilaquiles verde to start your morning. It's best to pair this savory plate with something sweet, and the house-made Xaman horchata served with espresso on the side is the obvious choice. It'll take all your restraint not to steal the mugs each is served in.

For an authentic start-to-finish Vietnamese meal in Dallas, look no further than Bep Nha, a jungle-themed Vietnamese oasis tucked away in the outskirts of the city. A fully Vietnamese menu — only loosely translated to English — speaks to the authenticity of the food, which ranges from bun bo hue, a spicy beef noodle soup, to the more commonly known banh mi, a crunchy bread filled with your choice of protein and served with a side of peanut sauce. End off with the ca phe trung nuong (egg coffee), topped with an indulgently creamy egg foam that has an almost-addicting flavor depth to it. Enjoy it all in a dining room festooned with jungle-themed greenery.

When we were headed to Bali Street Café for a first look, it had us wondering: How many Indonesian restaurants are even in North Texas? Turns out, they're an exceedingly rare breed. Bali Street's tantalizingly aromatic soto betawi soup of braised beef tongue, tomato and potato in a velvety broth of coconut milk and lemongrass is divine. We also tried the rendang, which features tougher cuts of beef (such as the neck or shoulder) simmered for hours in coconut milk and spices until fork tender. How do you say delicious in Indonesian?