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At Norman’s Japanese Grill, an open kitchen pairs Japanese robata with an Argentinian wood-fired grill.
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Norman’s Japanese Grill has introduced seven seasonal menu items, including Honey Ponzu Flounder, Aji Salmon, and Zuke Tuna crudos, Thai Beef Lettuce Wraps, and a Summer Berry Cobbler with yuzu compote and vanilla gelato. The restaurant is also offering two off-menu specials: Sakura Ribs with honey BBQ sauce and gochugaru-roasted peanuts, and Wagyu Sliders topped with charred shishito aioli and bacon jam. There’s also a new “Explore the World of Sake” Flight featuring three rotating expressions.
Norman’s Japanese Grill, the Western-inspired Japanese raw bar and grill that’s one of our go-tos in town, decided to team up with beloved dumpling brand (goals, lol) Mimi Cheng’s for a one-night-only dinner collaboration. Founded by sisters Marian and Hannah Cheng and inspired by thoughtfully-sourced ingredients and their mother Mimi’s Taiwanese cooking, Mimi Cheng’s centers its experience on family tradition and “the comforting experience of sharing handmade dumplings around the table.” THANK GOODNESS that Dallas made the cut as a stop on the New York hotspot’s Dumpling Tour.
Norman’s Japanese Grill is collaborating with Mimi Cheng’s dumpling brand for a one-night-only dinner event on Sunday, June 7. The special dinner will take place from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and marks a stop on Cheng’s Dumpling Tour, celebrating the brand’s nationwide launch.
Guests attending the event can expect an exclusive collaborative menu. This menu will feature Cheng’s signature dumplings alongside favorite dishes from Norman’s Japanese Grill. Specialty sake pairings have also been curated for the evening to complement the meal.
The collaboration is part of Cheng’s highly anticipated Dumpling Tour. This tour celebrates the brand’s official launch across the country.
If you’ve spent any time eating in New York’s East Village, you probably know Mimi Cheng’s. If you haven’t, June 7 is a reasonable introduction.
The dumpling shop at 179 Second Avenue has been one of those quietly essential New York addresses since sisters Hannah and Marian Cheng opened it in 2014. Hannah left a Wall Street career to do it. The idea was simple: their mother Mimi made Taiwanese-style dumplings at home, the sisters couldn’t find anything close to them in the city, so they started making their own. Pasture-raised pork, family-raised chicken, farm vegetables, wrappers spread thin and folded by hand. Whole Foods just named the brand one of its top food trends for 2026. It has that kind of following.
Norman’s? Japanese grill? Yes, the story goes that this concept is inspired by a Texan who developed an appreciation for Japan’s culinary traditions while on deployment after World War II. The team behind it, Duro Hospitality, has put together a string of hits that includes Mister Charles and El Carlos Elegante, both of which are recommended in the Michelin Guide. So, the space is as meticulous as is the food. Stylistically, it’s Western Japanese. Sit at one of the sushi counters, the lively bar or a cozy booth in the center of the room, each offering a different experience (the bar seats are usually saved for walk-ins). The menu ranges from fire-kissed A5 beef and a dry-aged cowboy rib-eye to dumplings and Korean fried chicken. Start with a handroll, which is a unique DIY number (don’t overthink it). Servers will help you hopscotch the sections of the menu for a fantastic culinary adventure with Uncle Norman.
Norman’s Japanese Grill has introduced seven seasonal menu items, including Honey Ponzu Flounder, Aji Salmon, and Zuke Tuna crudos, Thai Beef Lettuce Wraps, and a Summer Berry Cobbler with yuzu compote and vanilla gelato. The restaurant is also offering two off-menu specials: Sakura Ribs with honey BBQ sauce and gochugaru-roasted peanuts, and Wagyu Sliders topped with charred shishito aioli and bacon jam. There’s also a new “Explore the World of Sake” Flight featuring three rotating expressions.
The latest spot from Duro Hospitality group (Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante), which opened in July, has a menu loaded with skewers cooked on a charcoal robata grill and meats from an Argentinian hickory wood-fired grill. On the cold food end, a trio The latest spot from Duro Hospitality group (Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante), which opened in July, has a menu loaded with skewers cooked on a charcoal robata grill and meats from an Argentinian hickory wood-fired grill. A trio of chefs at the sushi counter prepare nigiri, sashimi, and handrolls. There’s a Korean fried chicken dish, dumplings, crudo topped with caviar, and even fritto misto. The kitschy decor is cool, with fun knick-knacks and a mixture of unexpected fabrics, materials, and patterns by the designers.
Norman’s Japanese Grill®
For adventurous food lovers and true Texans with a bit of cowboy spirit, Norman’s is the reservation worth fighting for. One of the city’s most buzzed-about new openings this past year, the restaurant is playful and imaginative, blending Western influences with authentic Japanese raw bar and grill traditions. Inspired by the founders of Duro, Chas Martin and Benji Homsey’s deep appreciation for Japanese cuisine and culture, the menu strikes a vibrant balance, featuring immaculate sashimi, hand rolls and inventive nigiri, paired with smoky robata skewers and fire-grilled meats. 4002 Oak Lawn Ave.
The newest addition from Duro Hospitality, this chic Japanese-Texas fusion spot has decór that’s just right for birthday photos. Bold patterns, deer trophies, cowboy hats, and Japanese art juxtapose a stunning open kitchen. Everything on the menu shines—from the deconstructed hand rolls and perfectly fried tempura to the wood-fired ribeye—but it’s the cocktails that truly steal the show. Try the Crazy 88, a mezcal-fueled margarita mixed with wasabi, agave, and lemongrass, served with a side of wasabi peas. 4002 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, normansjapanese.com/
Duro Hospitality’s latest venture, Norman’s, garnered a lot of attention this year for its Japanese-meets-Western menu and decor. The Argentinian wood-style grill for larger cuts of meat and a Japanese charcoal robata grill for skewers is the focal point of the dishes, but you can try several handrolls, sushi, or crudo dishes too.
Norman’s Japanese Grill is newest Western-style Japanese spot from Duro Hospitality tucked in the heart of Oak Lawn in Dallas. Their cuisine push creative boundaries. One of their hottest menu items is the Edamame Hummus with jalapeño, plum chutney, and shichimi-dusted wonton chips, or go bold with the Dry-Aged Cowboy Ribeye paired with papaya salad and glazed tableside with honey butter. Also on the menu: Oh’ Godzilla handroll (bluefin tartare, Hokkaido uni, Ossetra caviar) and Udon Carbonara with cured egg yolk and pancetta.
Norman’s Japanese Grill is one of the newest fusion restaurants in Dallas that excited us all this year. It was opened by Duro Hospitality (behind Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante, Sister and others), and blends Texas grit with Japanese craft. This year’s opening was truly a standout, bringing something new and interesting to Dallas dining. Dishes like the udon carbonara and the dry-aged cowboy rib-eye, served with a tare glaze, papaya salad and peanuts, are wooing diners.
Cold-Smoked Hamachi Crudo at Norman’s
The latest restaurant opening from Duro Hospitality (Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante) surprised us this summer as a Western-inspired Japanese raw bar and grill. Designed by Sees Design, the space is playful and stunning, like all Duro concepts, featuring fun artwork and knick-knacks scattered all over the place. During our visit, we especially loved the cold-smoked hamachi crudo with Tom Kha, charred shiitake, and papaya. The creamy coconut soup paired with the mild buttery taste of the fish and subtle sweetness of the papaya is an absolute winner.
Duro Hospitality, the opulent Dallas restaurant group, has a signature calling card that helps it stand out from its big-budget competition. That trait isn’t its love of caviar and foie gras; plenty of other kitchens love those ingredients, too. The whole city is caught in an Instagram-inspired arms race, so the more-is-more aesthetic is no great surprise. Duro’s special touch isn’t even its habit of naming each new business some variation on “Charles,” after founder Chas Martin.
No, Duro’s selling point is its sense of humor. Your dinner will be deluxe in cooking, presentation, and price. But you’ll also have a few giggles. For The Charles, the owners created a wallpaper with blue paint blots, using their wives’ anatomies as the brushes. Mister Charles parodies mid-century tableside service by using it to construct ice cream sundaes, the sprinkles conveyed in crystal dishes. At a time when other restaurants are serving cocktails with names like Passionate Kiss and Up All Night, Sister has a drink called Let’s Just Be Friends.
Norman’s Western Japanese Grill introduces a new first name to the Charlieverse, and it is the group’s goofiest restaurant yet. Of course, everyone has a different sense of humor, so judge the premise for yourself. The restaurant is named after an imaginary Western cowboy, Norman, who, according to a biography given to every customer, “went to Japan a soldier, and came back a cowboy with a love for Wagyu, whisky, and most importantly, an unforgettable woman.” (The woman is unnamed.)
Newly opened Norman’s Japanese Grill is a must-visit destination. Inspired by Duro founders Chas Martin and Benji Homsey’s love for Japanese cuisine, the concept fuses authentic raw bar and grill traditions with Western flair. Alongside a menu of vibrant sashimi, handrolls and robata-grilled meats, the bar pours creative, Japanese-inspired cocktails and a curated selection of sake and whiskies.
Open since August, Norman’s Japanese Grill reimagines a traditional raw bar with a Western flair. The restaurant’s open kitchen combines a traditional Japanese charcoal robata and an Argentinian-style wood-fired grill, and the unique menu spans options ranging from creative sashimi, handrolls and nigiri, to large cuts of grilled meat. The decor follows suit, with elements of both the American West and post-WWII Japan. Encompassing 3,100 square feet, the restaurant seats 70 inside and 35 on the outdoor patio.
From the group behind Mister Charles and El Carlos Elegante is this Western Japanese grill that took over the space formerly occupied by Homewood. Both the food and the design at Norman’s are inspired by the American West and post-war Japan, according to its owners. This restaurant is casual, but reservations are a good idea.
We’re sensing a theme in Dallas restaurants right now: Some of the places that could cost $100+ per person still fancy themselves as an everyday spot. That’s the case with Norman’s, a decidedly not-fancy Japanese restaurant. The eclectic menu includes sushi, pasta, a selection of meat on skewers, Korean fried chicken and more. It would be fun for a meetup with friends.
Wanna be a cowboy? How about a Japanese one?
The fusion of East-meets-West at the recently debuted Norman’s Japanese Grill exceeded our expectations when we dined there for the first time two weeks ago.
Last month, Duro Hospitality unveiled its newest concept, Norman’s Japanese Grill, and it’s quickly becoming one of the city’s most sought-after reservations. The 10th concept for the Michelin-recognized group, Norman’s is a Japanese raw bar and grill with Texas twang, inspired by the hospitality group’s co-founders Chas Martin and Benji Homsey’s travels and growing reverence for Japan.
The restaurateurs created a vision for the concept through the eyes of a fictional World War II veteran named Norman, a Texan who fell in love with a woman and with Japanese culture during postwar U.S. occupation.
“We wanted this to feel like the kind of restaurant someone like Norman would build with his own hands over time—something honest and full of soul,” says Homsey in a press release. “This is our tribute to both Western and Eastern cultures.”
From a Michelin-recognized hospitality team, this Western Japanese collision is the city’s hottest reservation right now
An eclectic Japanese restaurant has opened on Dallas’ Oak Lawn Avenue, replacing Homewood. Dallasites are already clamoring for a seat. I found myself intrigued by the choice in cuisine. And I was impressed by the team behind it, which owns The Charles, Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante and Sister.
The group’s latest restaurant is a raw bar and grill inspired by the American West and post-war Japan
Newly opened Norman’s Japanese Grill is a must-visit destination. Playful and imaginative, Norman’s blends Western influences with authentic Japanese raw bar and grill traditions, inspired by Duro founders Chas Martin and Benji Homsey’s passion for Japanese cuisine and culture. The menu offers a vibrant balance of bold sashimi, handrolls, and creative nigiri alongside smoky robata skewers and succulent fire-grilled meats. 4002 Oak Lawn Ave.
This summer has been hot for the Dallas dining scene, especially with the surprise opening of Duro Hospitality’s latest concept, Norman’s Japanese Grill, just two weeks ago, a new omakase spot with a unique twist in downtown, and more. But the summer isn’t over yet. There are at least five exciting new restaurants still on the way. Recently, we stopped by a few brand new Dallas spots (and one kind of new, but we just got to) that made an impression on us.
Finally, one of Dallas’ most puzzling new restaurants, Norman’s Japanese Grill, is ready to serve.
“We took so much time with this,” said partner Chas Martin. The restaurant opened in late July 2025 on Oak Lawn Avenue, though it’s been in the works – and on the lips of plugged-in Dallas diners – for nearly two years.
The design and menu are inspired by the American West and post-war Japan, a mashup that is decidedly “not trendy,” partner Benji Homsey said as he sat in the new Dallas dining room.
Norman’s Japanese Grill, the latest concept from the Duro Hospitality group (known for Mister Charles and El Carlos Elegante), officially opened on August 1. Located in the former Homewood space at 4002 Oak Lawn Avenue, this new restaurant promises a bold fusion, offering a Western-inspired Japanese raw bar and grill that blends Duro’s signature flair with the tradition of Japanese cuisine.
Until last week, we didn’t know what kind of restaurant the next Duro Hospitality concept would be, or even what they named it. All we knew was that it would open in the former Homewood space in Dallas’ Oak Lawn. The owners of Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante, and several other local hotspots have consistently opened standout restaurants since The Charles debuted in the Design District in 2018.
Japanese restaurant from Duro Hospitality (The Charles, Mister Charles, Cafe Duro) opened in August and like all Duro concepts is sizzling hot. Located in the former Homewood space, it boasts an Argentinian-style wood-fired grill for larger cuts of meat, and a Japanese charcoal robata for skewers to share. Fun dishes include a clever udon carbonara, Korean fried chicken, and edamame hummus, and there’s a raw program with sashimi and handrolls. The bar has pina coladas and seven different sakes by the glass.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/norman-s-japanese-grill-breaks-all-the-rules/ar-AA1JTBDT
Every time Duro Hospitality opens a new restaurant, it immediately becomes the hottest and hardest to get reservation in town. The trend continues with Norman’s Japanese Grill, which officially opened on Friday, August 1, in the space that used to be occupied by the much-lauded restaurant Homewood. The menu marries Japanese dishes, spices, and cooking styles with the same from archetypes of the Old West — with a few elements of other cuisines mixed, including Chinese, Korean, and Thai flavors.
Duro Hospitality, the hospitality group behind a few of Dallas’ most acclaimed restaurants like The Charles, Sister, Mister Charles and El Carlos Elegante, opened Norman’s Japanese Grill, on Friday, Aug. 1, at 4002 Oak Lawn Ave. in the former Homewood location. Norman’s is a Western-inspired Japanese raw bar and grill. At the heart of the 3,100-square-foot restaurant is an Argentinian-style wood-fired grill and a traditional Japanese charcoal robata. Open daily at 4 p.m. for dinner.
“If John Wayne were to open a Japanese restaurant, this would be it,” said Dallas restaurateur Chas Martin, speaking of his company’s new spot, Norman’s Japanese Grill. There’s sushi, Wagyu steaks, skewered meat and more, all served in a maximalist restaurant that used to be Oak Lawn Avenue’s beloved Homewood restaurant.
Norman’s opens Aug. 1, 2025, and you can expect Dallas’ well-heeled diners to put on a pair of boots and check it out.
The latest spot from Duro Hospitality group (Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante) has a menu loaded with skewers cooked on a charcoal robata grill and meats from an Argentinian hickory wood-fired grill. On the cold food end, nigiri, sashimi, and handrolls are prepared by a trio of chefs at the sushi counter. It’s not strictly Japanese with Western flair — there’s a Korean fried chicken dish, dumplings, crudo topped with caviar, and even fritto misto. Where there are rules for menus, Norman’s Japanese Grill seeks to break them.
Duro Hospitality, the team behind iconic spots like The Charles, Sister, and Cafe Duro, is venturing into a new cuisine: Japanese. They’re giving it a Wild West twist, serving sushi and wood-fired meats in the former Homewood space.
Duro Hospitality, the hyper-creative group behind such dynamic restaurants as The Charles, El Carlos Elegante, and Mister Charles, is opening Norman’s Japanese Grill, a “genre defying” concept that embraces fire and ice to serve char-grilled meats alongside a raw bar.
A new Japanese grill with a Western twist is set to open in Dallas, bringing an intriguing blend of cultures to the Oak Lawn dining scene.
Duro Hospitality, the award-winning hospitality group behind a selection of Dallas’ most acclaimed restaurants (The Charles, Sister, Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante), is set to unveil its newest concept Norman’s Japanese Grill, on Friday, August 1 in the heart of Dallas’ Oak Lawn neighborhood at 4002 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, TX 75219. Playful, imaginative, and rooted in reverence, Norman’s is a Western-inspired Japanese raw bar and grill that was influenced by the Duro Founders’ deep admiration for Japanese food and culture.
We finally know what new Duro Hospitality (Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante) concept will go into the former Homewood space on Oak Lawn Avenue, and it’s not at all what we expected. Norman’s Japanese Grill will debut this Friday, August 1, as a “Western-inspired Japanese raw bar and grill that was influenced by the Duro Founders’ deep admiration for Japanese food and culture.
Duro Hospitality, the creative force behind acclaimed North Texas favorites like The Charles, El Carlos Elegante and The Chumley House, is opening the doors to its newest concept, Norman’s Japanese Grill, on Aug. 1.
Located at 4002 Oak Lawn Ave., Norman’s brings a deeply personal and imaginative take on Japanese cuisine to one of Dallas’ most vibrant neighborhoods.
A Japanese grill filtered through a Texan lens, Norman’s is at once reverent and whimsical, shaped by Duro’s signature attention to detail and storytelling. As Co-Founder Benji Homsey puts it, “This is our tribute to both Western and Eastern cultures.”
Duro Hospitality is set to unveil its newest concept, Norman’s Japanese Grill, on August 1 in the heart of Dallas’ Oak Lawn neighborhood (4002 Oak Lawn Ave).
Norman’s is a Western-inspired Japanese raw bar and grill that was influenced by the Duro Founders’ admiration for Japanese food and culture.
Norman’s Japanese Grill opened in late July 2025, serving sushi, skewered meats, Wagyu steak and other Japanese food at a notable Dallas location.
The Oak Lawn and Avondale avenues address, a block off Turtle Creek, was once Homewood, the cozy restaurant we called Dallas’ most anticipated newcomer in 2019. Homewood closed in 2023, and Dallas restaurant company Duro Hospitality has been quietly redoing the space for more than a year.
Duro Hospitality, the award-winning hospitality group behind a selection of Dallas’ most acclaimed restaurants (The Charles, Sister, Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante), is set to unveil its newest concept Norman’s Japanese Grill, on Friday, August 1 in the heart of Dallas’ Oak Lawn neighborhood at 4002 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, TX 75219. Playful, imaginative, and rooted in reverence, Norman’s is a Western-inspired Japanese raw bar and grill that was influenced by the Duro Founders’ deep admiration for Japanese food and culture.
An acclaimed Dallas hospitality group is debuting a new concept: Called Norman’s Japanese Grill, it’s an Asian restaurant from Duro Hospitality (The Charles, Sister, Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante), coming to the Oak Lawn neighborhood at 4002 Oak Lawn Ave. where it’ll open on August 1.
We finally know what new Duro Hospitality (Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante) concept will go into the former Homewood space on Oak Lawn Avenue, and it’s not at all what we expected. Norman’s Japanese Grill will debut this Friday, August 1, as a “Western-inspired Japanese raw bar and grill that was influenced by the Duro Founders’ deep admiration for Japanese food and culture.” Read more about it here.
After opening Chumley House in Fort Worth at the end of 2024, Duro Hospitality Group’s Chas Martin assured Eater Dallas that its next project, which will open in the former Homewood space on Oak Lawn Avenue, would not be a rush job. It turns out they’ve needed less time than even Martin imagined, and the group will open a Japanese-influenced restaurant in mid- to late summer. Duro was not ready to share the name yet, but we do know the menu will feature sushi, among other dishes.
We finally know what new Duro Hospitality (Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante) concept will go into the former Homewood space on Oak Lawn Avenue, and it’s not at all what we expected. Norman’s Japanese Grill will debut this Friday, August 1, as a “Western-inspired Japanese raw bar and grill that was influenced by the Duro Founders’ deep admiration for Japanese food and culture.” Read more about it here.