At Crème de la Crème childcare in McKinney, we know it can be a challenge to get children to try new things when it comes to food. But when you have so many diverse cuisines within a short drive from your house, it’s a bit easier to introduce your kids to new kinds of food. Here are the five best restaurants with ethnic cuisines in and around McKinney, Texas, where you and your family can try new delicious dishes.

El Juarez

“Mmm… tacos, enchiladas, refried beans” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by jeffreyw

Located in historic downtown McKinney, El Juarez Restaurant serves up some of the best authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex food this side of the border. 

Start with their house salsa and fresh tortilla chips, and get an order of guac, queso, bean dip, or their spicy chorizo-queso dip. While you eat your appetizer, decide between classic Mexican dishes like chile relleno, a torta sandwich, or flautas. Or, go for chalupas, fajitas, nachos, burritos, enchiladas, or your favorite combination of these dishes. You can also order vegetarian dishes like cheese quesadillas, bean burritos, and veggie fajitas. On Fridays, they host a long, delicious buffet of Tex-Mex staples, including flautas, tamales, and tacos so the kids can sample a little of everything to see what they like.

You can find this fantastic Tex-Mex place at 311 E. Louisiana St. in McKinney, Texas. They’re open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Be sure to stop by for their daily lunch and dinner specials, drink specials for parents, and even karaoke nights.

Home Kabob & Bakery

If you love Persian and Mediterranean food or if you’ve never tried it, you’re in luck because Home Kabob & Bakery is located right in McKinney. You can order starters like hummus, baba ganoush, dolmas (stuffed grape leaves), and falafel. Then, get meal options like tabouli, fattoush, or Greek salad, lentil or barley soups, shawarma, gyros, and, of course, kabobs made with chicken, beef, lamb, salmon, or just veggies.

They serve halal food, meaning their meat is prepared according to Muslim law, so if you are looking for a great place to eat halal, Home Kabob & Bakery is your go-to spot. And if you’re plant-based or looking for vegetarian options in McKinney, this restaurant has you covered there, too.

Visit Home Kabob & Bakery on 4550 W. Eldorado Parkway #103 in McKinney. They’re open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Taste of Poland European Tavern

Take a visit to Europe without leaving Texas when you dine at Taste of Poland European Tavern in nearby Plano. Get authentic Polish, German, and other European-inspired dishes like pierogis, potato pancakes, goulash, stuffed cabbage, and Polish sausage. While kids can order fried fish or baked chicken with mashed potatoes on the side, get them to try some delicious potato dumplings or pork schnitzel. And for dessert, indulge in homemade blintzes, which are tube-shaped pancakes filled with cheese and topped with fruit and cream, or traditional poppy seed cake.

This fun place to eat is located at 2301 N. Central Expressway, Suite 155 in Plano. You can visit Tuesday and Thursday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Cafe Istanbul

Cafe Istanbul is another location for yummy Mediterranean food, but this time with Turkish origins. Enjoy cold starters like cacik, which is yogurt with cucumbers, garlic, and dill, or beyaz peynir, which is Turkish feta served with tomatoes, lettuce, and black olives. Or, get warm appetizers like calamari, falafel, spicy Turkish sausage, or sigara boregi, which is phyllo dough stuffed with feta, sauteed ground beef, onion, and parsley.

Feeling pizza? Switch it up and order Cafe Istanbul’s Turkish pizza. You can order a variety of vegetable, meat, or cheese-based crust options and get toppings like ground beef, lamb, Turkish sausage, more cheese, and fresh veggies. Or, go for traditional dishes like kabobs, slow-roasted beef, braised lamb, or a saute made with your meat of choice, peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic, and soy sauce served over rice pilaf. 

Find Cafe Istanbul at 7300 Lone Star Drive in Plano, Texas. They’re open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.

Afrika Fusion

The flavors of African dishes are robust and diverse, and Afrika Fusion offers plenty of options from Kenyan, Nigerian, South African, and other cuisines. 

Get samosas, which are delicious veggie- or meat-stuffed pastries. Try Kenyan or South African sausage with sides like creamed spinach, cabbage, or kachumbari, which is a blend of tomatoes, onion, and cilantro. For the meat-lovers, order a dish of slow-roasted beef, goat, or chicken marinated in the house spice blend, or get pan-fried tilapia topped with coconut or masala sauce. Vegetarians will love githeri, boiled corn and bean stew, or ndengu, which is slow-cooked lentils in a stew of house spices.

French fries are the favorite food of many children, and Afrika Fusion has a few twists on this side dish. Order the chips masala, french fries in a masala sauce, or Nairobi Karanga, beef stew served over french fries. You can also have them try yuka fries or plantains, both of which are rich and starchy.

Head to 18900 N. Dallas Parkway #125 to visit Afrika Fusion in Dallas. Enjoy their amazing dishes Tuesday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m., Friday and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.There you have it, the McKinney area’s best ethnic restaurants With so many diverse cultures and foods in and around McKinney, you can introduce your children to some fantastic new flavors and even get inspired to try your own ethnically inspired meals at home. Did we miss any of your favorite ethnic restaurants in McKinney? Let Crème de la Crème of McKinney know! We’ll definitely add it to our list!