Quick Summary
- Insurgent, an award-winning Denton food truck founded by chefs Sam and Gabby Lopez, is opening a permanent Dallas restaurant at Dallas Farmers Market.
- The new Insurgent location at 920 S. Harwood St. will expand the concept with plated dishes, shareable food, a chef’s tasting counter, tasting dinners, pastries, desserts, natural wine, and beer.
- Insurgent will continue food truck pop-ups and events after opening its Dallas Farmers Market location.
An award-winning Denton food truck is making the move to Dallas, bringing a unique Texas-focused dining concept to one of Downtown Dallas’ most recognizable food destinations.
Insurgent, founded by husband-and-wife chefs Sam and Gabby Lopez, is opening a permanent brick-and-mortar restaurant at Dallas Farmers Market at 920 S. Harwood St., Ste. 174, the former home of Caribbean Cabana. According to CultureMap Dallas, the restaurant is scheduled to open in late October.
For Dallas restaurant fans, this is an interesting addition because Insurgent is not built around one specific type of cuisine. The chefs draw from their fine-dining training and work with ingredients from Texas farmers and producers to create a menu that changes with the seasons.
From Denton Food Truck to Dallas Restaurant
Insurgent started as a food trailer and has built a following in Denton since 2022. The concept has also earned significant recognition on the Texas food truck circuit.
Insurgent was named Most Unique Food at the 2023 Eighter From Decatur Food Truck Challenge. The team then won Grand Champion at the 2024 Food Truck Championship of Texas and Best American Cuisine at the 2025 Food Truck Championship of Texas.
The move to Dallas Farmers Market gives the Lopezes an opportunity to take the food truck concept into a much larger kitchen and dining environment.
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The new Dallas restaurant will offer more shareable and plated dishes, along with a chef’s tasting counter and reservation-based tasting dinners throughout the year. The menu will also include rotating pastries and desserts from Gabby, as well as natural wine and beer.
One food truck favorite that is expected to remain is the Koji Fried Chicken Sandwich.
What Makes Insurgent Different?
One of the most interesting parts of Insurgent is its approach to ingredients and menu development.
Rather than committing to one cuisine, the chefs work with what is available from Texas farmers and producers and allow the seasons to influence the menu. The restaurant has worked with producers including Brushy Creek Farm, Sapling Farm, Winona Orchard, Tree Folk Farm and TX Fungus.
That seasonal approach means the menu can change as different ingredients become available.
The chefs also emphasize using as much of each ingredient as possible. For example, carrot tops can be turned into chimichurri or salsa instead of being discarded.
The Lopezes have culinary backgrounds that include experience at renowned restaurants such as The French Laundry and Bouchon Bakery, and their philosophy combines fine-dining techniques with a more approachable restaurant experience.
That combination is part of what makes this Dallas restaurant opening worth watching.
What This Means for Dallas Farmers Market
The Dallas Farmers Market has become an important destination in Downtown Dallas for restaurants, food vendors, local producers and shoppers. The Market building at 920 S. Harwood St. is a 26,000-square-foot food hall and artisanal market with restaurants, specialty food vendors and local retailers.
Adding Insurgent gives Dallas Farmers Market another restaurant concept with roots in the North Texas food scene.
I also think the Denton-to-Dallas connection makes this particularly interesting. Instead of a restaurant concept arriving in Dallas from another major market, Insurgent is growing from a Texas food truck into a permanent Dallas restaurant while continuing to work with Texas farmers and producers.
For people who enjoy discovering independent restaurants, seasonal menus and creative Texas food, this is the kind of local opening worth keeping on the radar.
Insurgent Will Still Do Food Truck Events
Denton customers will not necessarily lose access to the food truck experience.
According to the announcement, Insurgent plans to continue food truck pop-ups and events even after opening the permanent Dallas Farmers Market location.
That gives the concept an opportunity to maintain its Denton roots while expanding its presence in Downtown Dallas.
My Take
I think Insurgent could be a strong addition to the Dallas Farmers Market because it brings something different from a traditional restaurant chain. The combination of award-winning food truck experience, fine-dining training, Texas-grown ingredients, and a rotating seasonal menu gives the concept a clear identity.
More importantly, the permanent Dallas location gives the chefs room to experiment with dishes and dining experiences that simply are not practical from a food trailer.
If you are already a fan of Insurgent in Denton, the Dallas Farmers Market location gives you another place to experience the concept. If you have never tried it, the new location could be a good opportunity to see what made the food truck so successful.
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For another Dallas food and entertainment story, you can also read my previous article, “2026 State Fair of Texas Unveils 40 New Foods and Drinks,” for more on what’s happening across the North Texas food scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Insurgent opening at Dallas Farmers Market?
According to CultureMap Dallas, Insurgent is scheduled to open its permanent Dallas Farmers Market location in late October. The restaurant will be located at 920 S. Harwood St., Ste. 174, in Downtown Dallas.
What is Insurgent in Dallas?
Insurgent is an award-winning food concept founded by Denton chefs Sam and Gabby Lopez. It began as a food trailer and is expanding into a permanent restaurant at Dallas Farmers Market.
What food will Insurgent serve in Dallas?
The restaurant plans to offer more shareable and plated dishes, a chef’s tasting counter, reservation-based tasting dinners, rotating pastries and desserts, natural wine and beer, and food truck favorites including the Koji Fried Chicken Sandwich.
Will Insurgent still have food truck events in Denton?
Yes. The owners say Insurgent will continue food truck pop-ups and events after opening the permanent Dallas Farmers Market location.