Did you know that April is Diversity Month?! Sampling food from around the world is year round but April is a great time to recognize, celebrate and support the local businesses that make the area a delicious melting pot. And by area, we mean the City of Garland! Northeast of Dallas past White Rock Lake holds a blend of unique cultures, backgrounds and traditions that reflect in the city's diverse food scene! Consider this guide your roadmap to trying new foods or indulging in your favorites thanks to the City of Garland!
Ferah’s chef owned restaurant is easily one of the top raves of Garland fusing modern Mediterranean fare with a Texas twist aka Tex Med! There are countless reasons to try including a build your own brunch special for $9.95 and $1 mimosas on Sundays, $3-$5 happy hour every day, diet friendly dishes, a gorgeous patio and a darling interior.
Settle into a cozy table and expect a spread of Chinese cuisine because it's too hard to pick just one thing! My Canh features a menu of classic Chinese offerings, late night hours and a laid back, casual setting. Try individual dishes from seafood, beef, chicken, pork and vegetarian to fire pot, family style bowls like savory soups that feed the whole crew!
You can’t miss the brightly colored digs that invite you into this fast casual eatery serving a mix of Colombian and traditional Mexican. They’ve been around since 2000 and the meals vary from classic to adventurous, new age and though it's casual and humble, expect quality in whatever you pick! Start off with an app of empanadas before selecting your entree using classic ingredients like yucca, papa and more!
Dive into an authentic, comfort food Filipino menu that will have you feeling transported to Quezon City! Not only do they offer the best of Filipino flavors like lumpia and pancit, but they offer a fun range of specialty drinks from coconut juice to iced coffee with jelly. If you’ve never had halo halo, ube or sweet spaghetti add it to your list of things to try. And a bonus is that you receive a side of steamed white rice for free on all orders.
There’s not much information about this Japanese gem online but the Yelp reviews and photos speak for themselves! You get a lot of food for what you order and it's near an outdoor mall so you could make it a day of shopping followed by some yummy sushi + ramen! The atmosphere is posh yet casual with high top booths and a front row seat to the sushi bar if you’re into rolls.
We were thrilled to hear that an authentic African restaurant can be found not far from Dallas specializing in all Nigerian dishes. They use quality ingredients to ensure that all your faves from alama to jollof are worth the hype! The owner is so passionate about his establishment and it shows! Plus if you’re nearby the Garland area you can find Salt N Pepper on Doordash. The grilled tilapia with fried plantain is calling our name!
While BBQ King serves Indian and vegetarian dishes and not actual barbecue like in the name we were excited to learn that they specialize in Pakistani dishes! We were first introduced when we saw the variety of yummy desserts they were serving around Christmas and really want to make a trip for some Pakistani curry after seeing the expansive patio.
Get a taste of Peru at a great value as the eatery often promotes meal specials like ¼ chicken, rice, chips and salad for just $8.99 plus a full menu of desserts and dessert drinks! Traditional meals are approachable + flavorful for newcomers trying for the first time and will remind others of home in a family style restaurant setting!
When it comes to legit Salvadoran food Pupuseria Lilian’s family cocina is as genuine as it gets with all the food being handmade and cooked to order. The star dish is of course, papusas, that are made fresh daily by Doña Lilian and stuffed with delicious fillings! They’re the perfect starter to accompany seafood stew, elote and more traditional dishes! Don't forget to try a horchata, too!
The shopping center working bakery for Vietnamese sandwiches, speciality breads and other baked goods is a no frill pitstop but doesn’t lack in quality. The bánh mì is a must with the perfect, flaky bread to top it off! It’s supposedly a bustling hotspot so we recommend having a look at the menu to save time to get to your yummy goods faster including a mouthwatering Vietnamese coffee!
For tried and true, high quality Tex Mex, Chips and Salsa has excellent reviews that can attest to the cuisine and atmosphere! The food is always made fresh from the guac to the ceviche and everything in between. And the photo above of the Carne Asada Ribeye has our mouths watering! It boasts a welcoming interior, full bar and a charming patio that can be rented out for special occasions. Plus on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays enjoy happy hour all day and a food special to go with it!
For undeniable Italian food I think we can agree that it has to be done by true Italian influences. This family owned restaurant started with the owner who was born in Reggio di Calabria, Italy and showcases southern Italian dishes passed down through generations. The ambiance is influenced by European decor complete with murals, dim lighting and pillar + Tuscan roof-clad sections for the booths making them feel more intimate for dining.
Whether it's lunch or dinner India Garden has you covered if you’re craving fine Indian fare in a sit-down restaurant setting. Dishes are made fresh customized to your spice level and plenty are veg friendly! If you need a lunch spot to grind out some work they also have free wifi to accompany the buffet or full menu! Plus there’s a Sunday brunch to look forward to on weekends.
Cool off the spices and flavors from the local restaurants with a scoop of ice cream at Scoop N' Buns, a Filipino style ice cream shop located in a previous thrift store in downtown Garland! The concept is as spot on as the name, hand selected ice creams served in between 2 freshly baked, warm donuts for a full body dessert experience. Go for a classic flavor like Vanilla Bean to Texas flavors like Tin Roof Sundae and of course more international flavors such as Horchata, Sweet Corn, Ube and Coconut!
