Those who want to satisfy their South of the Border cravings will want to head to this festive spot (around a mile away from the arena) for authentic Salvadoran, Mexican and Tex-Mex specialties. Favorites include pupusas, (griddled tortillas filled with cheese and meat), fried plantains topped with sour cream and ceviche tostadas. But the menu also covers everything from tacos, enchiladas and fajitas to grilled quail, pork tenderloin and ribeye steak. Prices are easy on the wallet (most main courses come in under $15) plus happy hour is offered all day throughout the week. Speaking of happy hour, expect to find an extensive list of exotic mojitos and margaritas as well as wine, beer and sangria. Don't overlook dessert, Gloria's tres leches cake is insanely good.
Recommended for Restaurants near Dr Pepper Arena because: Gloria's is ideal for when you want more than the usual Tex-Mex offerings.
Ilene's expert tip: Gloria's offers all day Happy Hour all day Monday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday.
Situated less than a mile from the arena, this upscale Japanese restaurant offers top-notch sushi as well as innovative Japanese options ranging from chicken tatsuta and roasted duck to grilled abalone and miso-marinated halibut. Must-try dishes include a wagyu steak that's cooked on an ishiyaki-style hot stone and served with a truffle oil ponzu. There's also an assortment of combo plates (sushi rolls, entrée, soup and salad) on offer during lunch and a special menu just for kids. The drink menu isn't too shabby either, expect to find everything from Japanese whiskey, beer and wine to a serious selection of sake and shochu. Keep an eye out for daily specials, and don't miss the matcha mont blanc pastry for dessert.
Recommended for Restaurants near Dr Pepper Arena because: For sensational sushi and innovative Japanese food, Wa Kubota is the place to go.
Ilene's expert tip: Wa Kubota offers a kid's menu for ages 12 and under. Check Facebook for daily specials.
This high-end bastion of beef started out as a butcher shop in 1979. Now, the family-owned, Houston-based restaurant boasts seventeen locations around the country, including this snazzy Frisco offshoot, which happens to be located within walking distance of the arena at Stonebriar Centre. The menu features everything from prime, dry aged steaks served every which way to an assortment of fish and seafood. If you're not in the mood to go big, the bar features a variety of selections (think burgers, steak pizza, oysters and crab cakes) priced under $20. Even better, head here from 4-7 p.m. weekdays and 4-9 p.m. Sundays when you can score bites and booze for half-price.
Recommended for Restaurants near Dr Pepper Arena because: Perry's is where to go when you have carnivores in tow.
Ilene's expert tip: Hit this place between 11 and 4 p.m. on Fridays when you can score a lunch-sized version of Perry's famous pork chop for only $14.95.
This upscale California-based restaurant, located nearby at Stonebriar Centre, not only features Korean barbecue but also sushi, sashimi and assorted Korean dishes, all of which can be ordered à la carte. But what you really come here for is the grill-your-own barbecue. For around $28, you can dig into a seemingly endless supply of prime beef bulgogi, pork belly, squid, chicken, pork and brisket plus rice, soup, salad and loads of complimentary banchans (sides). And if you're willing to fork over a little more, you can add jumbo prawns and duck breast to the mix. Another reason to come? Kids ages 6-10 can eat for half-price and those ages 5 and under eat free.
Recommended for Restaurants near Dr Pepper Arena because: Breakers Korean BBQ is an ideal place for families and groups.
Ilene's expert tip: Look for dining coupons on sites like Groupon.
Tacos? Burgers? Beef vindaloo? Poutine? Not sure what you're in the mood for? Then Moxie's will be your happy place. Conveniently located in the Sandman Signature Hotel, less than a mile down the road from the arena, this bustling Canadian export boasts an extensive crowd-pleasing menu, a terrific beverage program (including Canadian beer and whiskey that you won't find anywhere else in town), and all at prices that are friendly on the wallet. Even friendlier on the wallet is Moxie's happy hour (3-6 p.m. weekdays), where you can score wine, beer, maragaritas and select sharing plates for under $10. Bonus: They're open until midnight during the week and 1 a.m. on weekends.
Recommended for Restaurants near Dr Pepper Arena because: Moxie's is the perfect place for groups who have a variety of tastes.
Ilene's expert tip: Moxie's offers a special menu for kids under age 12. Brunch served Saturday and Sunday until 2p.m.
Situated at the Star District is Tupelo Honey, a massive North Carolina-based restaurant known for its upscale southern fare that includes the likes of biscuits the size of cat heads, pimento cheese nachos, fried green tomatoes, and fried chicken dusted with "bee dust." The restaurant also boasts an outdoor grill menu (think burgers and street corn); a kid's menu; a selection of Texas sourced steaks; DIY hot stone entrees, plus a host of delicious starters, salads, sides and desserts. Food isn't the only draw here, there's an equally extensive beverage program, an expansive patio and a double happy hour on offer seven days a week (3-6 p.m. and 9 p.m.-close). And we haven't even gotten to what's on tap during weekend brunch. Keep an eye out for daily specials (like $5 burgers on Mondays) and weekly live entertainment.
Recommended for Restaurants near Dr Pepper Arena because: Tupelo Honey is the best place to take families and groups.
Ilene's expert tip: Download the Tupelo Honey social club app or sign up with email and receive a free Tupelo Honey pint glass plus freebies and discounts on food and drinks.
One of Dallas' best craft brew pubs has opened a second, and much larger location at the south end of the Star District, featuring more than two dozen constantly rotating beers on tap, a global selection of wines, innovative cocktails and a menu of upscale pub grub to match. We're talking Kobe beef corn-dogs, Philly cheese steak egg-rolls and Bavarian pretzel bites with beer cheese fondue alongside blackened grouper sandwiches, Thai chili glazed salmon and chicken fried ribeyes. They also offer build your own burgers, daily flatbreads, kid's plates, plus specials on food and drink through the week. Free live music on Friday and Saturday, weekend hip hop brunches and weekly Sporcle trivia only sweeten the deal. Did we mention the table-side s'mores?
Recommended for Restaurants near Dr Pepper Arena because: The Common Table is the best place to hang before and after an event at Dr Pepper Arena.
Ilene's expert tip: Follow on social media to find out about Pour Man Dinner menus, special events and what brews are on tap.
One of Dallas' favorite Neapolitan-certified pizza joints has now expanded into the Star District bringing with it a Cowboys themed wood-fired oven imported from Italy plus a round of specialties not found at any other location. In addition to Cane Rosso's award-winning pizzas, focaccia, salads, sandwiches and pastas, Star District diners can also chow down on everything from chicken wings and fried calzones to a star shaped pizza-calzone hybrid stuffed with mozzarella, ricotta and pepperoni. The do boozy milkshakes too. And here's the best part: Weekdays, between 3 and 6 p.m. they offer a selection of pizzas, appetizers, cocktails, and wine for only $5-$7.
Recommended for Restaurants near Dr Pepper Arena because: Cane Rosso's pizzas are so good that they were featured on The Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives."
Ilene's expert tip: Cane Rosso also serves weekend brunch. Follow on Facebook to find out about menu specials and dining deals. Be sure to ask about the secret menu items too.
Dallas restaurateur/chef Nick Badovinus has also landed his uber-popular eatery in the Star District at the Omni Frisco Hotel, and this one comes complete with a wraparound patio sporting prime views of the Cowboys' practice field. The menu showcases modern American comfort food and features everything from salads, sandwiches, fish, and steaks to some of the best burgers in metroplex. Keep an eye out for daily specials like chicken fricassee pot pie, chicken & waffles, and caramelized scallops. Musts include anything that comes with the restaurants signature voodoo peppercorn sauce. The cocktails here are top-notch too. A special feature of this location is that it serves breakfast and weekend brunch.
Recommended for Restaurants near Dr Pepper Arena because: Neighborhood Services is a trendy spot to enjoy upscale food and cocktails.
Ilene's expert tip: Note that the kitchen stays open until 11 p.m. on weekends but closes by 9 p.m. on Sundays.
Headlining the Star District restaurant roundup is Zaytinya, an offshoot of award-winning chef José Andrés' famous D.C. Mediterranean-inspired dining spot. Expect to find an expansive array of mezze offerings (meat, poultry, seafood and vegetable) as well as family style plates, artisanal cheese platters, flatbreads, salads, soups, and exotic desserts. The beverage problem is no slouch either. Look for Mediterranean-inspired cocktails, wines and beers along with Turkish teas, coffees and juices. Lunch brings on a variety of specialty sandwiches, and don't even get us started on weekend brunch. If you're not sure what to order, there's a multi-course, chef-choice tasting menu on offer here too.
Recommended for Restaurants near Dr Pepper Arena because: Zaytinya is the best place to go when you're dining out with friends who don't mind sharing.
Ilene's expert tip: Score select cocktails, beer, wine and bar bites for $5-$7 during Mezze Óra (happy hour), offered Monday-Friday from 4-6 p.m.