5 Awesome New Restaurants in Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth has an incredible portfolio of restaurants, from barbecue joints to wine houses to Thai street food to hand-rolled pasta and ramen. But if you’re looking for the hottest new openings in Fort Worth, Texas, here’s the list of the best and most anticipated new restaurants that are not to be missed.

Ascension Coffee

Set in a 2,420-square-foot store that overlooks the Trinity River and Trinity Trails, the popular Dallas-based Ascension Coffee opened in October 2020 in Fort Worth. With an expanded covered patio and spectacular views from one of Fort Worth’s finest possible locations for any establishment, the Australian-style Ascension Coffee’s indulgent menu and farm-to-cup coffee choices showcase the best that nature has to offer. Owner Russell Hayward has curated the wonderful interior of the restaurant.

You can kick things off with the all-day breakfast — or brekky, as the Australians have nicknamed the best meal of the day — of gluten-free/dairy-free bacon and egg protein with roasted mushrooms, avocado, and blistered cherry tomatoes, or enjoy the chia seed pudding, drenched with coconut, fresh bananas, berries, and paleo nut mix. 

Need a spicy start? Go for the smoked salmon hash with succulent, smoky flavor, featuring poached eggs, chorizo, and peppers topped with hollandaise, and you’ll be left feeling extremely satisfied. Pair it with your choice of craft coffee or latte, served hot or iced. The “Community Bites” include whipped ricotta peppered with warm olives, tomato jam, and toasted pane aria, and an assortment of barbecued flatbreads.  

To finish off, you’ve got to try the desserts, which include Australian hand pies, cheesecakes, sticky toffee pudding, and pastries.

Matching the exquisite food is the most comprehensive wine list, draft beers, and craft cocktails.

Maestro Tacos

Opened in October 2020, Maestro Tacos offers a marvelously modern interpretation of classic Mexican cuisine alongside a margarita bar and smart street-food specials. The dishes acknowledge the roots in authentic Mexican cuisine and family recipes, from handmade tortillas to fresh salsa.

The owner, Miguel Mendoza, has reasonably priced some of the most celebrated Mexican dishes. For breakfast, gorge on the fried eggs over lightly fried corn tortillas topped with chili salsa, or go for the delicious tortilla wraps stuffed with spiced minced meat. Load your corn taco shells with grilled onion, lime wedges, hot jalapenos, and your choice of minced meat for a sumptuous bite.

You can get combinations of traditional chorizo, bacon, egg, and the bean and cheese option, perfectly complemented by sides such as chips and salsa or a generous serving of traditional Mexican guacamole. On weekends, you can relax on the open-air patio and enjoy menudo and pozole.

Oak Acres BBQ & Bistro

The newest barbecue joint in Fort Worth, Oak Acres BBQ & Bistro is a breakfast and lunch cafe. Fine-dining chef Sage Sakiri, now a barbecue expert, owns this place, which serves breakfast and barbecue lunches six days a week. Fresh ingredients highlight the carefully crafted recipes.

Breakfast includes the usual biscuit and toast sandwiches, tacos, Belgian waffles, and pancakes. But this place is really about the huge flavors of the pecan-smoked meat, including an assortment of the juiciest ribs, pulled pork, brisket, turkey, and sausage.

The side dishes are very enticing; the green beans, potato salad, and coleslaw may get all the glory, but you’ll find plenty of other options that are fresh, homemade, and utterly delicious. Oak Acres serves salads as well; you can get smoked chicken, Caesar, or candied bacon-pecan house salad.

Zaap Kitchen

Image via Flickr by Maggie Hoffman | License CC BY 2.0

Looking to try mouthwatering Laotian food packed with herbs and chilies and Thai street food that’s guaranteed to thrill your taste buds?

Opened at Westbend in Fort Worth in March 2021, Zaap Kitchen is a family-owned restaurant that boasts fresh and authentic Lao and Thai cuisine. The delicious platters, accompanied by a variety of dips, will have you keep coming back for more.

Packed with herbs and goodness, the signature dishes include pineapple fried rice, Tom Kha soup, dancing garlic riblets, traditional handmade Lao sausages, Laotian fried rice, Nam Khao, Pad Thai, and plenty of standout vegetarian options, such as sizzling veggies, green papaya salad, and mango sticky rice. Chef Kevin Singharaj, an operating partner, has made sure that gluten-free options are available, too.

Grab a seat inside or on the patio, or enjoy delivery via Door Dash, Chow Now, or Uber Eats.

Smokestack 1848

Opened in December 2020, Smokestack 1848 is a craft cocktail bar and gourmet pizza concept. The owner, Carter Froman, was inspired by the outdoor food truck parks he had seen in Austin, Texas, and decided to model this all-in-one bar/food trailer/live music venue on them.

You’ll find a sports bar where you can watch your favorite televised sporting event with canned or tap beer, wine, or cocktails. If you need a more relaxed atmosphere, head to the lounge and enjoy a craft cocktail. The courtyard spread between the sports bar and lounge has a patio, space for yard games, a play area for children and dogs, and a “music shed” where live musical acts are staged.

Complementing the authentic Texan food is your choice of beer, wine, and craft cocktails. The cocktail menu is balanced and includes some batch cocktails such as Naked & Famous, Toucan Play This Game, Bramble, and This Must Be the Place.

Pizzas and sandwiches are made from house-made bread. The pizzas are made Texas-style from focaccia dough and are topped with Oaxaca cheese and meats such as brisket, bacon, chicken, and sausage, all of which are smoked on-site.

So, now that you’ve looked through the Hiley Mazda of Fort Worth suggestions and seen Fort Worth’s hottest new restaurants, be prepared to block out your dining calendar for the foreseeable future. We hope you’ll find some new restaurants from our list that you’ll enjoy. Did we miss your favorite Fort Worth restaurant? If so, do let us know in the comments so you can give us the opportunity to add your top dining establishments to our list.