A line of customers stretched around the corner of Haltom City's newest shopping plaza yesterday morning, all waiting for a taste of Japan's famous soufflé cheesecake. Uncle Tetsu officially opened its doors yesterday, marking the international bakery chain's first location anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
The grand opening, detailed by Haltom City, TX - Government on Facebook, featured taiko drums and a dove release as part of the celebration. Haltom City leadership, members of the Haltom City Council, and representatives from the North Tarrant Chamber of Commerce all joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which took place at the new H Mart Plaza. The bakery's cheesecakes, baked cheese tarts, coffee, cold brews, teas, tea lattes, and Dallas-exclusive beverages were on offer as the crowd waited for the doors to open.
The 1,406-square-foot bakery represents a serious investment in the fast-growing corridor. Texas licensing records reviewed by TDLR TABS show the space underwent a $500,000 interior buildout developed by Haltom City Forest Properties LLC, with construction beginning in late 2025.
A Regional Dining Hub Takes Shape
Uncle Tetsu's new storefront sits inside a 50-acre mixed-use development at NE Loop 820 and Beach Street, anchored by a 42,500-square-foot H Mart supermarket, according to CultureMap Fort Worth. Haltom City economic development records project the full 50-acre development will generate $100 million in capital improvements and produce $80 million to $90 million in gross annual sales once fully operational. The commercial center reached full retail leasing commitments in late 2025, even as the anchor supermarket has faced construction and timeline delays pushing its own grand opening into fall 2026.
That has not stopped the surrounding plaza from filling in fast. Neighboring tenants include Taiwanese bakery chain 85C Bakery Cafe, Wooga Korean Steakhouse, Dal Pocha pub, and Hanabi Ramen — several of which opened ahead of the main supermarket itself. Hoodline previously covered the arrivals of a new ramen spot, a Korean BBQ restaurant, and a Korean pocha bar at the same plaza, along with plans for a Tokyo ramen chain. Together, the cluster has turned the site into a regional dining destination for Tarrant County even before the grocery anchor opens.
From Hakata to Haltom City
Uncle Tetsu was founded in 1985 in Hakata, Japan, by Tetsushi Mizokami and grew into a global chain known for its soufflé-style cheesecakes, which blend the richness of American cheesecake with the lightness of a French soufflé, per the company's official history. Uncle Tetsu now operates more than 80 bakeries worldwide, and the Haltom City shop marks its third location in Texas, following earlier debuts in Katy in 2023 and in Austin, as reported by Community Impact.
The H Mart supermarket anchoring the plaza traces its own roots to Woodside, Queens, where Il Yeon Kwon founded the chain in 1982. It has since grown into North America's largest Asian supermarket chain, with nearly 100 U.S. locations, according to Time Out.
Tax Base Growth Tied to the Boom
The wave of new businesses filling H Mart Plaza has had ripple effects beyond the dining scene. Supported by new tax revenue from the plaza and more than 700,000 square feet of new industrial space, Haltom City reduced its 2026 municipal property tax rate to $0.556999 per $100 valuation — its lowest in two decades, down from $0.645651 in 2021, Hoodline previously reported. City officials have credited developments like H Mart Plaza directly with fueling that reduction, expanding the commercial tax base without shifting the burden onto homeowners.
For now, the draw remains the cheesecake. Customers described a line stretching around the corner before the doors even opened yesterday, eager for a first bite of the open-kitchen bakery's signature original Japanese cheesecakes, Hokkaido cheese tarts, Basque cheesecakes, and the Dallas-exclusive beverages unique to the new location.
