These D-FW restaurants, bars are prime spots for seeing celebrities, like Tom Brady, Shaq

Dallas-Fort Worth attracts people of all kinds, including celebrities such as Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Keith Lee and Martha Stewart. 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:

If you’re serious about your celeb-watching, the holidays are the best time to try your luck in Dallas. 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.”

Tom Brady, NFL quarterback-turned-sports-commentator, was spotted at Al Biernat’s steakhouse on Oak Lawn Avenue in Dallas 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 on Oak Lawn 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 popular steakhouse.

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.

Fort Worth institution Joe T. Garcia’s was the location of choice for a wrap party for the cast and crew of television program “Yellowstone” in October 2024. The show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, is a native of the city. Another celebrity-sighting at Joe T.’s was Cole Hauser of the T.V. show Yellowstone in September 2024.

Leon Bridges visits State Fair of Texas

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It’s no surprise that the State Fair of Texas in all its glory 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 Fletcher’s corny dog.

NBA icon and TNT 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.

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.