As fans of cronuts and cake pops can attest, food trends come and go. So, how can you tell which tastes are trending this very moment?
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp and SafeGraph, a dataset of commercial points of interest and their visitor patterns, to uncover which restaurants have been on the tips of diners' tongues this month.
To find out who made the list, we first looked at Dallas businesses on Yelp by category and counted how many reviews each received. Rather than compare them based on number of reviews alone, we calculated a percentage increase in reviews over the past month and tracked businesses that consistently increased their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers, compared to past performance. Then, we analyzed foot traffic data from SafeGraph to validate the trends.
Read on to see which outposts are getting loads of attention, right now.
Te Deseo
This cocktail bar and Latin American bistro is trending, in comparison to other businesses categorized as "Cocktail Bars" on Yelp.
Citywide, cocktail bars saw a median 2.3% increase in new reviews over the past month, but Te Deseo saw a 55.6% increase, maintaining a mixed 3.5-star rating throughout.
Located at 2700 Olive St. in the Harwood District, Te Deseo specializes in elevated Latin American fare and cocktails. Popular dishes to try here include the brisket quesadillas, sea bass ceviche, skirt steak fajitas and charred octopus.
Te Deseo is open from 5 p.m.–midnight on Monday-Thursday and Sunday and from 5 p.m.–2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Babb Brothers BBQ & Blues
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Trinity Groves' Babb Brothers BBQ & Blues, the well-established bar and Southern joint, which is best known for its barbecue, is a hot topic, according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Bars" on Yelp saw a median 1.4% increase in new reviews over the past month, Babb Brothers BBQ & Blues bagged a 1.5% increase in new reviews within that time frame, maintaining a mixed 3.5-star rating. According to SafeGraph foot traffic data, Babb Brothers BBQ & Blues saw visits triple in the past month.
There's even more trending in Dallas' bar scene: RM 12:20 Bistro has seen a 13.4% increase in reviews.
Open at 3015 Gulden Lane, Suite 105, Babb Brothers BBQ & Blues features a menu brimming with classic barbecue fare, including pulled pork, brisket, hickory sausage, smoked turkey and St. Louis-style pork ribs, plus sides like potato salad, coleslaw and fried okra.
Babb Brothers BBQ & Blues is open from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. on Monday-Thursday and Sunday and 11 a.m.–11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. According to SafeGraph, foot traffic is heaviest at noon, 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays, with a slowdown on Mondays.
Miriam Cocina Latina
The Dallas Art District's Miriam Cocina Latina is also making waves. Open at 2015 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, the well-established Mexican restaurant has seen a 17.4% bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 2.6% for all businesses tagged "Mexican" on Yelp.
There's more than one hot spot trending in Dallas' Mexican category: Tacos Patron has seen a 12.3% increase in reviews.
Miriam Cocina Latina offers both traditional and modern interpretations of quintessential Mexican plates, with options ranging from salads, soups and shared dishes to enchiladas, tacos, combination platters and Mexican-inspired desserts. Over the past month, it's maintained a superior 4.5-star rating among Yelpers.
Miriam Cocina Latina is open from 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. on Monday-Wednesday and Sunday and 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday.
San Pedro's
Preston Hollow's San Pedro's is the city's buzziest breakfast and brunch destination by the numbers.
The well-established Honduran breakfast and brunch cafe, which opened at 2445 W. Northwest Highway, Suite 102, in 2016, increased its new review count by 10.2% over the past month, an outlier when compared to the median new review count of 1.7% for the Yelp category "Breakfast & Brunch."
It's not the only trending outlier in the breakfast and brunch category: Tribal All Day Cafe has seen a 9.8% increase in reviews, while Chelsea Corner and Toasted Coffee + Kitchen have seen 5.3 and 6.6% increases, respectively.
San Pedro's is a family-run restaurant that specializes in authentic Honduran and Central American fare. On the menu, look for Honduran-style tacos, steak with fried bananas, liver with sauteed onions, grilled shrimp with mixed vegetables and baleadas, a traditional Honduran breakfast item, consisting of a thick handmade flour tortilla with refried beans, sour cream and cheese.
San Pedro's is open from 9 a.m.–9 p.m. on Monday-Thursday and from 9 a.m.–10 p.m. on Friday-Sunday.
Whistle Britches
North Dallas' popular Whistle Britches is currently on the upswing in the traditional American category on Yelp.
While businesses categorized as "American (Traditional)" on Yelp saw a median 1.8% increase in new reviews over the past month, this beer bar and Southern American gastropub increased its new reviews by 1.9% — and kept its rating consistent at four stars. Visits to Whistle Britches increased by more than 50% over the same time frame, according to SafeGraph's foot traffic data.
Open for business at 6110 Frankford Road since 2016, Whistle Britches is well-known for its chicken sandwiches, specialty frozen custards and biscuits, along with its vast drink menu, which includes a wide selection of draft beer, local craft brews, seasonal cocktails and wine.
Whistle Britches is open from 11 a.m.–9 p.m. on Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.–3 p.m. on Sunday. According to SafeGraph, it usually gets busy at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m., and on Sundays and Saturdays, so go on Tuesdays if you want to avoid the rush.
This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
