Jākö Cocina Y Agave, an upscale Mexican restaurant that first appeared on the Dallas-Fort Worth dining scene in 2024, is preparing to open a second location in Uptown Dallas. The new restaurant will take over the space at 3301 McKinney Ave. #200, formerly home to the Quarter Bar, which has closed.
The original Jākö is located at The Grandscape in The Colony. Co-founder Adafel Acosta says the Uptown restaurant is scheduled to open in mid-November. "We're excited to debut a new Jākö Cocina Y Agave in such a dynamic location," Acosta says. "We always had the intention of expanding and are looking forward to sharing our unforgettable food and drink with diners in Dallas."
The kitchen is led by executive chef José Caballero, a Venezuela native who previously worked at Michelin-starred restaurants. His menu pairs authentic Mexican flavors with a South American twist, mixing familiar dishes such as birria and enchiladas with a modern approach to Mexican gastronomy. Acosta says that although the menu is described as elevated Mexican cuisine, it carries "a pronounced Caribbean influence."
Ceviche is a major focus, including the Ceviche Mixto, which combines whitefish and shrimp in a citrus "leche de tigre" marinade. Starters include beef-stuffed empanadas and croquettes made with Iberian ham. Tacos come filled with barbacoa, fried snapper or pollo al carbon, and the picanha a la parilla features Allen Bros. Prime beef served with truffle cilantro potatoes.
The drink menu emphasizes tequila and mezcal, with margaritas in many varieties and cocktails presented in a striking, visual style.
The Uptown space is smaller than the flagship, at about 3,200 square feet. As a result, it will not have the division between lounge and restaurant found in The Colony. "Instead, it will be a 100-percent restaurant environment," Acosta says. The location will, however, offer something The Colony does not: a courtyard patio. "We are thrilled to have an amenity like that in Uptown," Acosta says.
Hours will also differ. The Colony location serves dinner and brunch only, while the Uptown restaurant will add lunch service.
The Quarter Bar had reportedly been in poor condition. It was said to be closing temporarily in January for a remodel that apparently never happened. Acosta and his team have since been renovating the space, giving it a Caribbean-style atmosphere meant to evoke the resort town of Tulum. For now, Jākö is occupying only the ground floor of the two-story building, and the plans for the second floor have not been decided.
Before launching Jākö, Acosta spent 25 years in the hospitality industry, mostly in hotels such as Virgin. He was part of the group that founded 3ntourage Hospitality, which has launched multiple concepts around Dallas over the years. "Thankfully, Jākö has been successful," Acosta says. "This was a beautiful concept put together between two friends, with a goal that everyone else would love the concept, too."
