Tag Archives: McKinney

A Perfect Weekend on McKinney Historic Square


McKinney’s historic square is about 30 miles north of Dallas and worth every one of them. The buildings date to the 1800s, the shops are locally owned, and on a good weekend the whole thing hums in a way that’s hard to manufacture and easy to enjoy. Two days here goes fast.

The historic downtown square is the whole point of the trip — more than 120 shops and two dozen-plus restaurants packed into a walkable stretch of 19th-century buildings. Come on a Friday. Stay through Sunday. You won’t run out of things to do.

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The Best Burger in McKinney Was Opened by Two Chefs Who Had No Business Making Burgers

Lamb Burger on Pita

Most people who end up at Square Burger in McKinney did not plan to be there. They were walking around the downtown square, realized they were hungry, and pushed open the door of a 1929 building on the corner of Kentucky and Virginia streets. What they found inside surprised them. It still does.

Brandon Horrocks and Craig Brundege opened this place in June 2010 with credentials that had no business ending up in a burger joint. Horrocks graduated at the top of his class from the Culinary Institute of America, did a fellowship at Wolfgang Puck’s Granita in Malibu, cooked in Mexico City, and worked Dallas rooms like Patrizio’s and Café Pacific. Brundege came through serious kitchens in San Francisco and Los Angeles — Providence, one of the best seafood restaurants on the West Coast, was on his résumé. They chose burgers. Specifically, they chose McKinney.

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Oak & Stone to Open McKinney Location Tuesday, May 19

Florida has been quietly building something worth paying attention to. Oak & Stone started in St. Petersburg in 2018, spent eight locations proving its concept worked, and then decided Texas was the next move. McKinney got the first one. It opens May 19 at 8575 W. University Drive in the West Grove development, and if you have been waiting for something genuinely different in North Texas, this is worth the drive up.

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Hugs Cafe Opened in Dallas in December. It’s Time You Knew About It.

Ruth Thompson was teaching cooking classes to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in McKinney in 2008 when the idea started taking shape. Not a program. Not a workshop. A real restaurant, with real jobs, real wages, and real customers who came because the food was good. It took four years to build the model and three more to open the first location. Thirteen years after those first cooking classes, Hugs Cafe opened its Dallas doors on December 8, 2025, and the people who work there will tell you exactly what it means to them.

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Oak & Stone to Open First Texas Location in McKinney Spring 2026

Oak & Stone, the elevated American restaurant known for bold flavors, genuine hospitality, and its self-pour tap wall experience, will make its Texas debut in McKinney in Spring 2026. The restaurant will be located at 8575 W. University Drive, Suite 150, McKinney, TX, welcoming guests for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

Founded in Florida as part of the Artistry Restaurants family, Oak & Stone was built on a simple belief: people don’t just come to eat – they come to have an experience. The brand offers an elevated yet approachable dining experience where guests are invited to slow down and connect while enjoying housemade dishes and a robust drink program

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Fire Bowl Café Opens First North Texas Location in McKinney

Fire Bowl Café, a popular Austin-based Asian cuisine brand, is excited to announce the grand opening of its first North Texas location in McKinney! Known for its fresh and fully customizable stir-fry dishes, Fire Bowl officially opened at 4060 W University Dr, Suite 300 on April 24, 2025.

Owned by DLC Restaurant Holdings—the team behind Firo Pizza, Craft Pies Pizza, and Desperados Mexican Restaurant—Fire Bowl Café brings its signature “Stir Fry Your Way” concept to the DFW area. Since launching in Austin in 1996, Fire Bowl has been serving fast, fresh, and flavorful Asian-inspired meals made with premium ingredients and prepared to order in sizzling woks.

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Birdcall Launches Daily Breakfast Offerings in McKinney

Birdcall, a rising star in the fast-casual dining scene, is making mornings in McKinney, Texas, a little brighter with the introduction of its innovative new breakfast menu. Known for its commitment to all-natural chicken, award-winning sandwiches, and a fresh approach to comfort food, Birdcall is expanding its offerings to include a morning spread that pairs perfectly with its reputation for quality. This new breakfast menu is available at their McKinney location, at 4702 W. University Drive, and is a fresh chapter in the brand’s growth, catering to early risers with delicious, hearty options.

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Birdcall Continues DFW Expansion with Opening of New Restaurant in McKinney

Birdcall – a burgeoning fast-casual craft chicken chain that specializes in all-natural chicken, award-winning sandwiches, and more – is set to open its second Dallas-Fort Worth area location in McKinney. Located at 4702 West University Drive, the new restaurant will officially open on Monday, February 24 at 10:30 a.m.

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