Cedar Hill BBQ joint says goodbye, plus other food news bites

There's a lot happening on the Dallas food scene, as usual. We've seen surprising closings and delightful openings.

Here are some dining openings, closings, pop-ups, and events I've come across either from emails, drives, or social media scrolling.

Hank's Hideaway rooftop bar. Courtesy The Henry

Mija BBQ closing in Cedar Hill

This is kinda a sad one. Mija BBQ, the family-owned Mexican-BBQ restaurant is closing it’s Cedar Hill restaurant on June 27 after eight years.

They went from a pop up to breweries to opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2024. The owners made the announcement in a Facebook post on June 5, stating: “While this chapter is coming to an end, we do so with full hearts.” The closure is due to reported economic challenges, according to NBC DFW.

I know they have really good tacos, which were my favorite from their menu.

Restaurant Beatrice closed

The Bishop Arts restaurant closed in early June after a four-year run. It was the first B-Corporation certified restaurant in Texas due to its reduced carbon footprint measurement. According to D Magazine, co-owner Michelle Carpenter and her partner, Hanh Ho, decided to close Restaurant Beatrice after Carpenter had brain surgery.

New Trinity Grove spots

Saint Rocco's closed at Trinity Groves, one of the most prominent anchors there thanks to the rooftop a few months ago. Seek and Pangea are among the new tenants joining Trinity Groves in West Dallas including Lyla, and BLVD Social. They're just in time for the area's World Cup-centric fan zone giving new life to Trinity Groves. Many of these tenants are smaller-sized second locations of the original locations that can be found across Dallas.

Kuluntu Bakery open in East Dock Oak Cliff

What started as an Oak Cliff home bakery in 2020 is now open inside of East Dock, the mixed use complex in Oak Cliff. They serve fresh pastries such as croissants, cinnamon rolls, bread, and more. They also join other dining concepts coming into the development including Bite Sushi and Lola's Cantina and Snacks.

Hank's Hideaway summer pop up returns to The Henry

The Henry's annual summer tiki-themed bar pop-up opened May 6 and is open until Sunday, August 2. Their beverage menu features a selection of summer cocktails including

Featured items on the food menu include delicious coastal bites and summer-inspired dishes. Highlights include the Kalua Pork Sliders, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, and Yellowfin Poke Bowl. Happy hour includes $7 draft beers and $9 wines, alongside bites such as Umami Brussels Sprouts and Truffle Fries from Monday - Friday, 4-6 pm. Opens daily at 4 pm.

Olive Garden in Cedar Hill

Olive Garden opened in Cedar Hill on Monday, April 27. I attended the ribbon cutting, but we unfortunately didn’t get any food or a preview of the inside of the restaurant. We did later try it out, however, but it didn't meet expectations. It's in the old TGI Fridays space, which closed in 2024

Eki Sushi coming to Cedar Hill

A revolving sushi restaurant is going into the old Applebee's space in Cedar Hill, right across from Walmart. Applebee's closed last year and this sushi spot wasted no time scooping up the place. According to Eki Sushi's Facebook page, they were supposed to open in mid November last year. As of now, June, they're still not open.

Messina Hof, Grapevine

• Murder Mystery Dinner: Murder in Maui

  • Transport to a tropical Hawaiian escape for an evening of mystery, elegant appetizers and immersive gameplay. Guests are invited to grab their leis and uncover hidden surprises while enjoying a three-course dinner, featuring options like Jerk Pork Loin with Mango Salsa, Caribbean Salad and Pina Colada Tart, along with glasses of Messina Hof wine throughout the night.

    Friday, June 26 from 6:30-9:30 pm. Tickets start at $81 per person online

• Barrels & BBQ

  • A true Texas pairing this summer with an evening dedicated to slow smoke and fine wine. Guests will enjoy a selection of smoky, savory bites accompanied by Messina Hof wines to highlight bold flavors and unexpected pairings. This experience offers a distinctly Texas twist on traditional wine pairing events.

    Saturday, June 27 from 1-3 pm. Tickets start at $69 per person online

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