Start Here (New to DFW?)
Welcome to Dallas–Fort Worth. If you’re new here—or even if you’ve lived in Texas for a while—this guide is designed to save you time, money, confusion, and a few unnecessary mistakes.
Think of this page as the one link you can send to a friend who just moved to DFW and say: “Start here. Everything you need is in this.”
Below is a simple walkthrough of what matters most—and where to go next.
1) Choosing the Right Area to Live
DFW is huge. Two places can be 12 miles apart and feel like different worlds. Where you live will affect commute time, school experience, grocery/temple access, and your daily stress level.
- Family-focused suburbs vs. more central locations
- School zones and practical “daily life” convenience
- Where community naturally forms (and where it doesn’t)
2) Indian Groceries & Daily Essentials
Food is comfort. Groceries are survival. The good news: DFW has excellent Indian grocery stores. The better news: each store is good for different things—rice, vegetables, snacks, frozen food, or regional specialties.
- Stores organized by North / Central / East / South DFW
- Specialty stores (South Indian, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi)
- Parking + weekend crowd reality
3) Temples, Gurudwaras & Spiritual Centers
Faith and community go hand in hand—especially when you’re far from home. This section includes Hindu temples, Jain temples, Gurudwaras, and ISKCON/meditation centers.
- Hours (weekday/weekend)
- Map embeds for quick navigation
- Festival highlights + crowd/parking tips
4) Indian Restaurants & Street Food
Yes, there’s good Indian food in DFW. No, not every place is worth your time. We group restaurants by what they do best—not hype.
- Biryani, thali, chaat, dosa, vegetarian-only
- Indo-Chinese + sweets/mithai
- What to order + wait-time honesty
5) Doctors, Dentists & Everyday Services
Finding doctors you trust—especially for kids—takes time. This section includes community-recommended options to help you start.
- Primary Care Physicians (PCP)
- Pediatricians
- Dentists
- Urgent care options
6) Schools & Education Cheat Sheet
School districts are one of the most confusing parts of moving to DFW. We explain it simply—without education-consultant jargon.
- Public districts in plain English
- “Indian-heavy schools” — pros & cons
- Charter vs public vs private
- After-school culture (music, dance, tutoring)
7) Housing, Renting & Real Estate
Rent first or buy immediately? New construction or resale? Why are property taxes high? This section helps you make decisions with clarity, not emotion.
- Renting vs buying in DFW
- New build vs resale trade-offs
- Property taxes explained simply
- Common buyer mistakes
8) Festivals, Events & Community Life
Life in DFW isn’t just work and school. This section helps you find what’s happening throughout the year and connect with the community.
- Holi events
- Diwali celebrations
- Navratri garba
- Temple festivals + cultural associations
9) Weddings, Parties & Big Life Moments
From weddings to milestone birthdays, DFW has no shortage of venues and vendors. This section helps you plan without 48 phone calls and 12 group chats.
- Marriage venues
- Party/banquet halls
- Caterers, decor, planners
- Priest / puja resources
10) Cooking, Classes & Spice Culture
For many of us, food is identity. This section is for beginners, busy families, and serious food lovers.
- Indian cooking classes
- Spice shops
- Regional ingredient stores
- Meal prep + home catering options
11) Indian Passport & Consular Services
Passport renewal, OCI, visas—this is where confusion peaks. We simplify the steps and share practical tips to save time.
- Passport renewal
- OCI services
- Visa services
- Consulate jurisdiction + common mistakes
12) Help Keep This Guide Alive
This is a living community guide. If you know a great place we missed—or see outdated info—please share it. We’ll keep improving this so the next family has it easier.