Portuguese burger chain Dallas crosses the Atlantic ethos to Shoreditch in first UK opening

Dallas, a burger restaurant chain founded in Lisbon, has opened its first site outside Portugal in Shoreditch, east London, taking over a former pub on Shoreditch High Street. The 48-cover restaurant marks the sixth location for the business and its first international expansion since it was established in 2019.

The company was founded by Pierre d’Andrimont, who opened the first Dallas on Pink Street in Lisbon after a trip to New York prompted him to bring an American-style burger counter to the Portuguese capital. Five further sites have since been launched across Portugal, operated under the Vida Plena Group. The London opening is the chain’s first venture into the UK market.

“Dallas started in Lisbon with a small idea and a lot of care, and the response has been incredible. Shoreditch felt like the right place to introduce Dallas to the UK,” said d’Andrimont.

The Shoreditch site occupies a building that previously operated as a pub, and the company has retained the original facade and a number of architectural details. The interior combines mustard and orange accents with cherry-toned wood panelling, mosaic flooring, Formica tabletops, vintage lighting and Portuguese tiles. Photographic work by William Eggleston, Devlin Claro and Martin Parr hangs on the walls.

The approach reflects the company’s wider property strategy, which has favoured older and often overlooked buildings over purpose-built units. In Lisbon, the chain has positioned itself as a neighbourhood operator, a model it says it intends to replicate in east London, an area with an established mix of independent businesses, markets and creative workspaces.

The menu is deliberately limited, with the company stating it has avoided the multi-layered burgers and extensive customization options common elsewhere in the sector. Beef is supplied by Aubrey Allen, a Royal Warrant holder, and each patty weighs 165g and is made from a blend of three cuts. Aubrey Allen sources its cattle from farms located in designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A vegan patty is available as a substitute across the menu.

Food Desk

For further information, visit the Dallas’ website here.