Any recommendations on non-chain restaurants in Dallas proper? Have not identified a decent Tex-Mex spot but also looking for any and all recs.
Dallas Non-Chain Restaurants
4,327 Views |
55 Replies |
Last: 1 mo ago by Texker
Desperado's ain't too bad
Javier's
eot
eot
Maple and Motor is pretty awesome for burgers. For fine dining, we love Georgie on Travis Street. For trendier fare, we love Paradiso in the Bishop Arts district.
Jimmy's for Italian sandwiches
My Son thinks this is the best place in town - Home - Mot Hai Ba Dallas
My Son thinks this is the best place in town - Home - Mot Hai Ba Dallas
What do you boys want for breakfast BBQ ?.....OK Chili.
There are thousands.
Langley said:
Javier's
eot
Agreed on Javier's. It's really good and more interior Mexican than Tex-Mex. Get the filet cantiflas for your meal and the cafe pierre for dessert.
Mia's is a really good non-chain Tex-Mex place on Lemmon Ave.
La Calle Doce is also really good if you like Mexican seafood.
E-bar is very good Mexican food. And Avila's and Hacienda Ranch are also very good. Avilas is in a somewhat rough part of town but worth it.
You are going to need to at least give us a type of food if you want other recs. Like a poster mentioned above, there are thousands.
You are going to need to at least give us a type of food if you want other recs. Like a poster mentioned above, there are thousands.
Dunston's
Dallas proper is still a huge area. Where are you located/how far are you willing to travel / what kind of places are you looking for? There are a ton of options
Pepe & Mitos is my favorite Tex-mex spot. It's in Deep Ellum.
Pepe & Mitos is my favorite Tex-mex spot. It's in Deep Ellum.
Pepe & Mitos
Ojedas
E-Bar
Desperados
Lots of other mid spots like the spot you can smoke cigars at, get hammered, and look at beautiful women. Most tex Mex or Mexican food in Dallas caters to white women and drinkers. There are plenty of more Mexican joints that are authentic (for that part of the state) and are easy to find.
Ojedas
E-Bar
Desperados
Lots of other mid spots like the spot you can smoke cigars at, get hammered, and look at beautiful women. Most tex Mex or Mexican food in Dallas caters to white women and drinkers. There are plenty of more Mexican joints that are authentic (for that part of the state) and are easy to find.
Lynott said:
Any recommendations on non-chain restaurants in Dallas proper? Have not identified a decent Tex-Mex spot but also looking for any and all recs.
Tupinamba's at Walnut Hill and Central - unless fajitas are your go to Tex-Mex. While their fajitas are fine, they aren't the spotlight and not as good as others. If you want enchiladas with 5 choices for sauces(red chile, chile con carne, queso, verde or ranchera) or great chile rellenos and enjoy a Tupy taco - that's your spot.
Lunch specials can't be beat. Chips and salsa are spot on(ask for the special salsa). Rice and beans are nearly perfect.
Carnitas and guisado are also available and are really good.
The owner played basketball for Shelby Metcalf in the 60s. Weekday lunches will probably run you into an Aggie class having their weekly get together.
TMfrisco said:Lynott said:
Any recommendations on non-chain restaurants in Dallas proper? Have not identified a decent Tex-Mex spot but also looking for any and all recs.
Tupinamba's at Walnut Hill and Central - unless fajitas are your go to Tex-Mex. While their fajitas are fine, they aren't the spotlight and not as good as others. If you want enchiladas with 5 choices for sauces(red chile, chile con carne, queso, verde or ranchera) or great chile rellenos and enjoy a Tupy taco - that's your spot.
Lunch specials can't be beat. Chips and salsa are spot on(ask for the special salsa). Rice and beans are nearly perfect.
Carnitas and guisado are also available and are really good.
The owner played basketball for Shelby Metcalf in the 60s. Weekday lunches will probably run you into an Aggie class having their weekly get together.
Tupinamba's Al way had an ad in the football programs in the late 70s and early 80s and there was a line about Shelby Metcalf is numero uno
Mariano's Hacienda is the best Tex-mex in Dallas
I don't live in dallas anymore, but spent 20+ years here, and travel back monthly for work. I try to hit at least 2-3 of these each time I am back. I'm not advocating that these are the best in town, but ones we prioritize (esp Tex Mex) since it's tough to find where we live now. I worked downtown and we lived in NDallas, so most of these will reflect that
Texmex:
Tupinambas (had it last night)
Jose's
Muchacho
Escondito
American:
Hillstone, R&D
Kenny's
Perry's for a pork chop
Sushi:
Uchi / Uchiba
Blue sushi
Misc:
Eatzis for a sandwich
Baby bak rib shack, pecan lodge for BBQ
Bad chicken for wings (get the Caesar wrap too)
Texmex:
Tupinambas (had it last night)
Jose's
Muchacho
Escondito
American:
Hillstone, R&D
Kenny's
Perry's for a pork chop
Sushi:
Uchi / Uchiba
Blue sushi
Misc:
Eatzis for a sandwich
Baby bak rib shack, pecan lodge for BBQ
Bad chicken for wings (get the Caesar wrap too)
With Hillstone and R&D Kitchen you may as well add Honor Bar fir the Hillstone chain trifecta, but the OP said no chains
GAC06 said:
With Hillstone and R&D Kitchen you may as well add Honor Bar fir the Hillstone chain trifecta, but the OP said no chains
Yup. No chains no food straight from the back of the Sysco/BEK truck…
Pie Tap Pizzaworks for pizza and a beer
have over 100 beers on tap, and they make their pizza using sourdough starter
Oh and to add to the thread
Al Biernat's
Mamani
Sachet
Cafe Pacific
Fachini
Mia's
Neighborhood Services (they have a few locations now so maybe it's a chain)
Al Biernat's
Mamani
Sachet
Cafe Pacific
Fachini
Mia's
Neighborhood Services (they have a few locations now so maybe it's a chain)
With fachini, you may as well add Nonna and Barsotti for the (formerly known as) Carbone's trifecta, but OP said no chains.
Three restaurants in the same city run by the same guy isn't really the same thing as 40+ locations across the country like Hillstone's group but sure, ok.
Muchacho is damn good
And people forget about terrelis on Greenville. Great Italian.
And prego on Greenville as well.
Super under the radar but damn good is enotecha in the centrum building. Fantastic
And people forget about terrelis on Greenville. Great Italian.
And prego on Greenville as well.
Super under the radar but damn good is enotecha in the centrum building. Fantastic
Quantarius said:
Muchacho is damn good
And people forget about terrelis on Greenville. Great Italian.
And prego on Greenville as well.
Super under the radar but damn good is enotecha in the centrum building. Fantastic
Terelli's is very good as is Prego. I'll have to check out Enoteca, although elevated Italian is a dime a dozen in Dallas. What's the order at Muchacho?
+1 on Muchaco
TJs Seafood is also great
TJs Seafood is also great
Cattleack is the best BBQ but technically in Farmers Branch just N of 635 off Midway.
Came here to say muchacho (and anything else by the big dill hospitality group).
Maroma(coastal mexican) just opened and is great.
We also like Mesero, Las Palmas, and La Hacienda Ranch for mexican. various levels of nice-ness and $$$.
Taqueria la ventana has good street tacos for cheap.
Maroma(coastal mexican) just opened and is great.
We also like Mesero, Las Palmas, and La Hacienda Ranch for mexican. various levels of nice-ness and $$$.
Taqueria la ventana has good street tacos for cheap.
It is Taco Tuesday, Taqueria & Tamaleria Nuevo Leon serves $1 tacos all day.
St.Petes Dancing Marlin.
SKY1 said:
St.Petes Dancing Marlin.
For a second there, I thought you were trying to send him to the Blue Oyster Bar
Haven't lived in Dallas in almost 8 years, but Gabriela's and Sofia's was my go to for several years.
E Bar and Mia's were good. Pepe y Mitos, Desperados, and Hacienda Ranch had their good dishes.
Back then Dallas was really missing taqueria style Tex Mex if you grew up more south, G&S was the only thing close back then.
E Bar and Mia's were good. Pepe y Mitos, Desperados, and Hacienda Ranch had their good dishes.
Back then Dallas was really missing taqueria style Tex Mex if you grew up more south, G&S was the only thing close back then.
Good list. One small correction is Perry's is a chain.752bro4 said:
I don't live in dallas anymore, but spent 20+ years here, and travel back monthly for work. I try to hit at least 2-3 of these each time I am back. I'm not advocating that these are the best in town, but ones we prioritize (esp Tex Mex) since it's tough to find where we live now. I worked downtown and we lived in NDallas, so most of these will reflect that
Texmex:
Tupinambas (had it last night)
Jose's
Muchacho
Escondito
American:
Hillstone, R&D
Kenny's
Perry's for a pork chop
Sushi:
Uchi / Uchiba
Blue sushi
Misc:
Eatzis for a sandwich
Baby bak rib shack, pecan lodge for BBQ
Bad chicken for wings (get the Caesar wrap too)
Partenope is legit, at least the Richardson locale
Fortunate Son in Garland is some of the best pizza you will eat. Connecticut style. It's top tier and I say that as someone who has been blessed to eat pizza all over the nation.
Their other concept, Good Friend Package has incredible pastrami sandwiches and their French dip is a 10/10.
Their other concept, Good Friend Package has incredible pastrami sandwiches and their French dip is a 10/10.
VP at Pierce and Pierce said:
Fortunate Son in Garland is some of the best pizza you will eat. Connecticut style. It's top tier and I say that as someone who has been blessed to eat pizza all over the nation.
Their other concept, Good Friend Package has incredible pastrami sandwiches and their French dip is a 10/10.
Fortunate Son looks like they ripped off Pie Tap, except they claim it is Connecticut-style and use gas-fired ovens instead of coal-fired ovens like those used in Connecticut.
Backyard Gator said:VP at Pierce and Pierce said:
Fortunate Son in Garland is some of the best pizza you will eat. Connecticut style. It's top tier and I say that as someone who has been blessed to eat pizza all over the nation.
Their other concept, Good Friend Package has incredible pastrami sandwiches and their French dip is a 10/10.
Fortunate Son looks like they ripped off Pie Tap, except they claim it is Connecticut-style and use gas-fired ovens instead of coal-fired ovens like those used in Connecticut.
It's way better than Pie Tap. Have you been? Pretty unique crust done right.
Featured Stories
See All
4:21
1d ago
6.2k
Offense in Review feat. Stephen McGee: Missouri 27, Texas A&M 6
by Billy Liucci
SEC projects to be a 'top-heavy' league in 2026-27
by Olin Buchanan
Davis-Swain's impact in his first start as an Aggie
by Richard Zane
Momentum Shifts: When the wind is blowing hardest
by Brandon Leone
29:02
2h ago
752
USNA74
Billy: "Don't start Brady 'we have to get Marcel right'..."
in Billy Liucci's TexAgs Premium
232
GeorgiAg
Billy: "Don't start Brady 'we have to get Marcel right'..."
in Billy Liucci's TexAgs Premium
165
WestTexasAg
Billy: "Don't start Brady 'we have to get Marcel right'..."
in Billy Liucci's TexAgs Premium
152
Sher Thing
Billy: "Don't start Brady 'we have to get Marcel right'..."
in Billy Liucci's TexAgs Premium
88
BCrusher91
Billy: "Don't start Brady 'we have to get Marcel right'..."
in Billy Liucci's TexAgs Premium
72