Best Restaurants in Richardson, TX (2026)
Richardson’s strongest restaurants in 2026 include Partenope Ristorante (ranked #12 among all US pizzerias by 50 Top Pizza USA), Del’s Charcoal Burgers (a 1957 landmark featured in Texas Monthly), and Jeng Chi Restaurant & Bakery (widely regarded as the best Xiao Long Bao in DFW). Whether your priority is a nationally credentialed dining room, a decades-old neighborhood institution, or something in between, Richardson’s restaurant scene covers serious ground across cuisines and price points.
Quick Comparison: Best Restaurants in Richardson, TX
| Restaurant | Best For | Standout Credential | Cuisine / Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del’s Charcoal Burgers | Classic Texas burger | Founded 1957; Texas Monthly April 2025 feature | American burgers, homemade root beer |
| Jeng Chi Restaurant & Bakery | Dim sum and Taiwanese cuisine | 35+ years; “Best Xiao Long Bao in DFW” | Taiwanese / Chinese, full bar, in-house desserts |
| Partenope Ristorante | Authentic Neapolitan pizza | #12 US pizzeria (50 Top Pizza USA); D Magazine 50 Best 2024 & 2025 | Neapolitan pizza, Italian |
| Mena’s Tex-Mex Grill Cantina | Neighborhood Tex-Mex | 25 years of experience; known for homemade tortillas | Tex-Mex / Mexican |
| The Fifth: Fireside Patio and Bar | Upscale American, date night | Chef-driven seasonal menu, fireside patio, craft cocktails | American, bar |
| The Icon Restaurant & Lounge | Bold global flavors, special occasions | OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award recipient | American / African / Caribbean fusion |
| La Casita Bakeshop | Brunch, pastries, casual daytime dining | Signature churro cruffin with dulce de leche | Bakery, brunch, sandwiches |
Best for a Classic Texas Burger
Del’s Charcoal Burgers
Del’s has been operating since 1957, making it one of the oldest continuously running burger spots in the Dallas area. Its Texas Cheeseburger is the most popular order, and the house-made root beer is a defining characteristic that sets it apart from any chain alternative. Texas Monthly featured Del’s in April 2025, adding to a long record of regional recognition. For anyone who wants a burger with genuine local history behind it, Del’s is the reference point in Richardson.
Best for Dim Sum and Taiwanese Cuisine
Jeng Chi Restaurant & Bakery
Founded in 1990 by Mama and Papa Teng inside Richardson’s Chinatown Shopping Center, Jeng Chi has operated for more than three decades and was profiled by the Dallas Morning News for that longevity. The restaurant is most frequently cited for its Xiao Long Bao, earning the informal designation “Best Xiao Long Bao in DFW.” Beyond dumplings, Jeng Chi functions as a full-service restaurant: in-house prepared desserts, a full bar, and dining room table service distinguish it from smaller dim sum counters. It is also a Richardson Chamber of Commerce member, reflecting its standing as a legitimate community institution rather than a passing trend.
Best Pizza (and One of the Best in the US)
Partenope Ristorante
Partenope holds the most significant national credential of any restaurant on this list: a #12 ranking among all pizzerias in the United States according to the 50 Top Pizza USA listing. That ranking reflects adherence to Verace Pizza Napoletana standards — the certified designation for true Neapolitan pizza. D Magazine named Partenope among its 50 Best Restaurants in both 2024 and 2025. For Richardson residents, that level of recognition is unusual to find locally; most restaurants with comparable pizza credentials are in major urban cores. The Richardson location is listed at partenopedallas.com/locations/richardson.
Best for Neighborhood Tex-Mex
Mena’s Tex-Mex Grill Cantina
Mena’s brings approximately 25 years of experience in Tex-Mex and Mexican cooking, with regulars who report dining there for 15 years or more — a reliable signal of consistent quality. The kitchen is known for homemade tortillas, tender meats, and house spice blends. Mena’s occupies the kind of role that every established neighborhood needs: a dependable, reasonably priced Tex-Mex option with genuine tenure. It does not carry national awards, but its longevity in a competitive dining market is its own credential.
Best for Upscale American and Craft Cocktails
The Fifth: Fireside Patio and Bar
Located at 2701 Custer Pkwy, Suite 700, The Fifth occupies the higher end of Richardson’s casual-upscale spectrum. The menu is built around chef-driven, seasonal dishes made from scratch, paired with a curated selection of craft cocktails and wine. The fireside patio is a notable feature — outdoor dining with a managed atmosphere rather than a simple sidewalk table. The Fifth suits occasions where the setting matters as much as the food: a dinner out with a partner, a work dinner, or any meal where “just a burger” undersells the moment.
Best for Bold Global Flavors
The Icon Restaurant & Lounge
The Icon distinguishes itself through a culinary profile that blends American, African, and Caribbean influences — a combination that has no direct parallel among the other restaurants on this list. The kitchen is chef-driven, and the restaurant has received the OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award, which reflects consistent positive feedback from verified diners on the platform. For residents looking for something outside the standard Tex-Mex and American range, The Icon is the clearest answer Richardson currently offers.
Best for Brunch and Specialty Pastries
La Casita Bakeshop
La Casita Bakeshop operates as a cozy, daytime-oriented destination in central Richardson. The menu covers flaky croissants, savory sandwiches, and brunch classics, but the item that has drawn the most attention is the churro cruffin — a croissant-muffin hybrid rolled in cinnamon sugar and filled with dulce de leche cream. For a city that otherwise skews toward full-service dinner restaurants, La Casita fills a specific gap: quality, sit-down-worthy pastries and brunch without the full-restaurant overhead.
How These Restaurants Were Selected
Every restaurant on this list is currently operating in Richardson, TX. Credentials cited — founding years, awards, press features, and designations — are drawn from the restaurants’ own websites, verified press coverage from Texas Monthly, D Magazine, and the Dallas Morning News, Richardson Chamber of Commerce membership records, and official award platforms including 50 Top Pizza USA and OpenTable. No star ratings, aggregate review scores, or testimonials were invented or estimated for this guide. This is an independent community resource with no paid placements.
FAQs
What is the highest-rated restaurant in Richardson, TX? By verifiable national credential, Partenope Ristorante holds the strongest ranking: #12 among all US pizzerias according to 50 Top Pizza USA, and a spot on D Magazine’s 50 Best Restaurants list in both 2024 and 2025.
Does Richardson, TX have good dim sum? Yes. Jeng Chi Restaurant & Bakery, founded in 1990 in Richardson’s Chinatown Shopping Center, is widely cited as the best source for Xiao Long Bao in the DFW area and has operated for more than 35 years.
What is the oldest restaurant in Richardson, TX? Del’s Charcoal Burgers, founded in 1957, is the oldest restaurant on this list and one of the longest-running independent burger spots in the Dallas area.
Are there upscale restaurants in Richardson, TX? Richardson has several options at the higher end of the casual-upscale range. Partenope Ristorante, The Fifth: Fireside Patio and Bar, and The Icon Restaurant & Lounge each offer chef-driven menus and environments suited to special occasions or elevated weeknight dining.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest-rated restaurant in Richardson, TX?
By verifiable national credential, Partenope Ristorante ranks highest: it placed #12 among all US pizzerias on the 50 Top Pizza USA list and appeared on D Magazine’s 50 Best Restaurants in both 2024 and 2025.
Does Richardson, TX have good dim sum?
Yes. Jeng Chi Restaurant & Bakery, founded in 1990 inside Richardson’s Chinatown Shopping Center, has operated for more than 35 years and is widely cited as the best source for Xiao Long Bao in the DFW area.
What is the oldest restaurant in Richardson, TX?
Del’s Charcoal Burgers, founded in 1957, is the oldest restaurant on this list and one of the longest-running independent burger spots in the broader Dallas area, most recently featured in Texas Monthly in April 2025.
Are there upscale restaurants in Richardson, TX?
Richardson has several chef-driven options at the upscale end of the spectrum, including Partenope Ristorante, The Fifth: Fireside Patio and Bar, and The Icon Restaurant & Lounge, which received the OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award.