DALLAS, Texas — A Palestinian restaurant that drew Michelin Guide notice is turning a former church in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas, Texas, into its next dining room. Ayat said in a social media announcement that it will open at 660 S. Zang Blvd. sometime in 2027.
The building covers about 20,000 square feet and stands two blocks or so below Jefferson Boulevard, backing up to I-35 a few blocks beyond the Bishop Arts District. No opening date has been set.
Plans call for outdoor seating and a children’s play area built around Montessori ideas, named Lyanna’s Playground, so families can linger over a meal. The owners framed the move as a way to keep the old church a gathering place, this time around shared food instead of worship.
Ayat began in New York City in 2020 and came to North Texas this year by opening its tenth restaurant on West Spring Valley Road in Richardson. The Oak Cliff site will be its second in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Michelin Guide recognized the restaurant in 2024.
Expect a mix of home-style Palestinian cooking and familiar dishes from around the Middle East. Regulars order the hummus, falafel and kebabs, the slow-cooked lamb dish Mansaf, and the Pizzawarma, a pizza crust packed with shawarma, halloumi and pickles. Knafeh is a favorite for dessert.
Until the Zang Boulevard building opens, the Richardson restaurant remains the closest place for Dallas diners who want a taste. The church site will give Ayat a second Dallas-Fort Worth address, this one just outside the Bishop Arts District.
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