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.”
Inspired by a Love Story and a Leather-Bound Journal
Norman’s isn’t just a name, it’s a narrative. The restaurant draws inspiration from a story about a WWII veteran from Texas who fell in love with Japan during the postwar U.S. occupation. Norman’s character is imagined as someone who returned home to create a space rooted in memory, craft and cultural exchange. This neighborhood spot is also inspired by Wes Anderson’s signature quirkiness with the warmth of Texas nostalgia and the intrigue of faraway travels.
“If John Wayne were to open a Japanese restaurant, this would be it,” said Co-Founder Chas Martin. “Incredible quality, yes, but not stuffy. Norman’s is all about that space in between elegance and ease — and making it feel like a true neighborhood spot where people can drop in often.”
A Menu That Marries Fire and Precision
The open kitchen at Norman’s blends two cooking traditions with precision and flair: a large Argentinian-style wood-fired grill and a Japanese robata charcoal grill. The menu weaves together:
- High-quality sashimi, nigiri and handrolls
- Skewers hot off the robata
- Larger meat cuts grilled over hickory wood
It’s a genre-bending offering, deeply technical yet full of joy.
The Design: Kyoto Ryokan Meets Marfa Bunkhouse
Designed by See’s Design, led by Duro partners Corbin and Ross See, Norman’s interior channels a curated, lived-in feeling. The 3,100-square-foot space features:
- 70 indoor seats and a 7-seat sushi bar
- 35 patio seats with a seamless indoor/outdoor bar
- A sunken bar — a nod to traditional Japanese interiors
The design is layered with meaning and memory: sumi ink, oxblood and indigo tones echo kimono dyes and cowboy boots; materials like blackened steel and hand-planed wood feel timeless and well-traveled.
“Think Kyoto ryokan meets Marfa bunkhouse,” said Corbin See. “The materials are worn-in and layered: blackened steel, hand-planed wood, lacquered finishes and vintage textiles. The interiors of Norman’s feel like a personal collection — curated over time by a man who once carried a leather-bound journal and a Nikon rangefinder.”
A Continued Commitment To Craft
Founded in 2020, Duro Hospitality has become synonymous with experience-driven dining that’s equal parts culinary artistry and interior magic. With Norman’s, the group adds another distinctive voice to its growing portfolio, which includes Michelin Key–winning Casa Duro and recommended standouts like El Carlos Elegante and Mister Charles.
Opening Details
Norman’s Japanese Grill will open for dinner service from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on weekends). Reservations are available via OpenTable.
For Duro, Norman’s is more than a restaurant, it’s a love letter. To Japan. To Texas. To story. And to the beautiful, unexpected places they overlap.
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