Dallas-Fort Worth attracts people of all kinds, including celebrities such as Sydney Sweeney, Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Keith Lee, Glen Powell, Jamie Foxx and Reba McEntire. Movie stars, sports commentators, musicians, politicians and other well-known people travel to the Dallas area for work, whether to film or perform, and sometimes for leisure. A handful of celebrities are from North Texas or have homes in the area, which lends itself to more frequent celebrity sightings in D-FW.
Hands-down the No. 1 spot to see famous people in the region is by dining out. And not just while crews are filming scenes for new hit television program Landman, starring Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Hamm, at well-known spots like Don Artemio in Fort Worth and Petroleum Club in Dallas. (As a note, you’ll need to head west if you’re trying to run into supermodel Bella Hadid.)
So, you want to rub elbows with someone famous? Organize a meet-cute perhaps? Maybe start by trying one of the spots where famous people eat and hang in Dallas-Fort Worth:
Tom Cruise has been jetting around the globe to promote the latest Mission Impossible film. Ahead of his trip to Dallas-Fort Worth, he made a bold declaration that he’d be sampling barbecue in the area. While many speculated on where the movie star would dine, it was ultimately Pecan Lodge, located in Dallas’ Deep Ellum neighborhood, that won out.
Joe Jonas made the rounds during a recent trip to Fort Worth, but what caught our eye was his stop into an all-new spot. Stewart’s Croquet & Cocktails is the latest concept from North Texas chef Tim Love. The pair took part in a croquet match, of course, playing on the same team.
Jonas also stopped into two more of Love’s spots, White Elephant Saloon and Paloma Suerte.
Fort Worth institution Joe T Garcia’s was a recent stop for actor Sam Elliott, an Instagram post from the restaurant showed. Joe T’s recently served as the location for a wrap party of television program Yellowstone in October 2024. Taylor Sheridan, who created the shows Yellowstone and Landman (Elliott is expected to appear in the show’s second season), is a native of Fort Worth and has been known to stop into the spot serving up Tex-Mex with family-style fare. Another celebrity-sighting at Joe T’s was Cole Ha, also of Yellowstone fame, in September 2024.
It’s not a surprise that barbecue is a favorite choice among famous visitors to Texas. In an interview with The Dallas Morning News, country music star and entertainer Reba McEntire said Hutchins BBQ was “amazing.” McEntire, who hosts the annual ACM Awards in Frisco, ate Hutchins after the 2024 awards.
Actor Jamie Foxx dined at Al Biernat’s on Oak Lawn in Highland Park on Easter Sunday 2025. Foxx ordered crawfish benedict, sampled chicken and waffles with Grand Marnier brown sugar butter, and reportedly sipped on a Tequila Mockingbird cocktail.
This certainly isn’t the first celebrity appearance at the Dallas steakhouse, with actors, athletes and comedians making it a fixture for fine dining in the city.
Tom Brady, NFL quarterback-turned-sports-commentator, has previously been spotted at Al Biernat’s ahead of a Cowboys football game in September 2024. He was accompanied by reporter Erin Andrews and play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt.
Al Biernat’s was the restaurant of choice when the Texas Rangers baseball team needed a spot to celebrate its 2023 World Series win. The team hosted a 200-person party at the steakhouse.
A wedding brought Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, who grew up in Austin, and John Stamos to Dallas. The trio was spotted at Joe Leo Fine Tex Mex on Fitzhugh Avenue in East Dallas for the rehearsal dinner of Powell’s sister in March. Sweeney and Powell also dined at Hudson House on Lovers Lane in University Park.
A brand-new restaurant is a big draw for big names.
Richard Rawlings stopped by a new Dallas Design District steakhouse infused with Old Hollywood glamor called Evelyn in March 2025. The Fast N’ Loud star was the first to purchase an over-the-top martini for $150 called “The Price of Fame” during a friends-and-family event.
Rawlings’ own restaurant concept, Gas Monkey Icehouse, opens May 6, 2025, in The Colony at the Grandscape development. He is expected to shoot episodes for his YouTube show at the spot serving up burgers, pizzas, nachos and beers.
Benny Blanco recently went to fiancée and North Texan Selena Gomez’s “favorite place in the world”: snow cone shop Tastee Ice in Grand Prairie.
One of the best times to try your luck if you’re serious about your celeb-watching is the holiday season.
Stars, now far flung, return home. St. Vincent, a.k.a. Annie Clark, played a D.J. set at Resident Taqueria in Lake Highlands in December 2024.
Kacey Musgraves performed a karaoke set at The Round-Up Saloon and Dance Hall on Christmas Eve 2024 under the name “Bianca Valentine.”
Like the aforementioned Al Biernat’s, another popular spot for those in the sports world is Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse on Maple Avenue in Dallas. Celebrities and professional athletes have made the restaurant a mainstay. Former Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic even earned a dish named after him. The steakhouse plans to keep The Luka, a 77-ounce steak that’s a nod to his jersey number, on the menu even though Doncic has been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
To name a few more who have stopped into Nick & Sam’s over the years: Shaquille O’Neal, George Clooney, Kobe Bryant, Christina Aguilera, Tobey Maguire, the Jonas Brothers, Troy Aikman, Jessica Simpson, Dak Prescott, Derek Jeter, Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft and many, many others.
In October 2024, Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel dined at Mister Charles in Dallas’ Knox District. She raved about her experience - and that was before the restaurant was named a Recommended restaurant by Michelin. She also touted her stay at the Mansion on Turtle Creek.
The State Fair of Texas lures celebrities like no other. September 2024 saw Usher and Leon Bridges make appearances, just to name a few. Over the years, Oprah Winfrey has even been among the heavy hitters that sampled a Fletcher’s corny dog.
NBA icon and basketball commentator Shaquille O’Neal opened an outpost of the chicken chain he owns, Big Chicken, in Fort Worth in September 2024. But the North Texas connections don’t stop there. Real estate rumors around where Shaq has acquired and sold homes in the area are always in play.
In May 2024, musicians Post Malone, a native of Plano, and Jelly Roll were both spotted at Koe Wetzel’s Riot Room in Fort Worth. They were in town for the Academy of County Music Awards, which are hosted in Frisco. The same occasion saw Miranda Lambert visit Dee Lincoln Prime in Frisco.
After winning his second Masters title at Augusta National in April 2024, golfer Scottie Scheffler landed at Dallas Love Field and headed straight to dive bar Inwood Tavern. It is located at Inwood Road near West Lovers Lane, so its proximity to the airport within the Dallas city limits was likely a no-brainer. Don’t be expecting high-end cocktails if you stop in; your drink is going to be served in a red Solo cup. Pony up for a Jell-o shot or two for the true experience.
January 2024 brought Dallas a taste of the “Keith Lee Effect.” The TikTok food critic with a background as an MMA fighter stopped into a handful of restaurants that included Halal Fusionz, Terry Black’s Barbecue and Absolutely Edible Cakes and Catering. Now, Lee has moved to North Texas, and that means he may just be trying some of the bites again and adding new favorites to his list.
With the Academy of Country Music Awards in Frisco, country music stars are no strangers to celebrity sightings in Dallas-Fort Worth in recent years. A group of musicians that included Jon Pardi, Ashley McBryde, Jordan Davis, and T.J. and John Osborne of the Brothers Osborne ate at Sushi Marquee, near the awards venue in Frisco, in May 2023. Singer Cole Swindell rented out nearby Chido Taco Lounge while in town for the same awards.
It somehow seems right that Martha Stewart would stop in for a souffle while visiting Dallas. The DIY expert made an appearance at Rise No. 1 in Inwood Village while in town for a speaking engagement in May 2023. It’s rumored to be one of former president George W. Bush’s restaurants in Dallas. The souffle-centric concept has multiple restaurants across the state.
Chef Thomas Keller was seen at Irving’s Pacific Table in early 2023. The world-renowned chef behind French Laundry and Per Se capped off his meal with creme brulee after trying a smattering of dishes.
Ahead of his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks great Luka Doncic has been known to stop into Eddie’s EuroMart, a Balkan market. NBA stars Nikola Jokic and Boban Marjanovic have reportedly visited as well.