Best Mexican food in Dallas?

[guitarpkr67]

I'll be in Dallas next weekend and want some good Mexican. Not really looking for Tex-Mex. Any suggestions? We'll be around Las Colinas, but don't mind driving.

[pickaguitar]

Ummm...I think they are all tex mex. My favorites are Chuys, Uncle Julios, Desperados & Abuelos.
Abuelos might be more Mexican...a lot more seafood plates there

[guitarpkr67]

Well, I guess we could do Tex Mex. I'm not really against it.

This thread is now open to Tex Mex suggestions also!

[Diablo]

Pappasitos is very good too in addition to pickaguitar's list! Lots of choices here. It's Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex is the best food on the planet! There are tons of Mexican restaurants in DFW. Almost all of them are good as there is so much competition that bad ones don't last long. I have found though, that some of the high end ones, aren't any better than some of the standard fare ones. Those are the exceptions though as most higher end ones are VERY good.

Hope that you enjoy your stay here. Don't forget to bring your jacket as it is only 108 degrees right now. :D

[ckeathley14]

Ojedas FTW

[Jarrett]

Uncle Julios on Lemon
/thread

[guitarpkr67]

Pappasitos is very good too in addition to pickaguitar's list! Lots of choices here. It's Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex is the best food on the planet! There are tons of Mexican restaurants in DFW. Almost all of them are good as there is so much competition that bad ones don't last long. I have found though, that some of the high end ones, aren't any better than some of the standard fare ones. Those are the exceptions though as most higher end ones are VERY good.

Hope that you enjoy your stay here. Don't forget to bring your jacket as it is only 108 degrees right now. :D


Thanks man. I can handle the heat.......hopefully :). We actually visit Dallas 2 to 3 times a year. It's the closest big city to where we live. And out of all the times we've been we've never eaten Tex-Mex. I guess we'll change that. Gonna try to get back over to Twisted Root Burger too! Love that place!

[RickV]

Not far away (Irving) is an authentic (not tex-mex) joint. I eat there often, as it's only a couple blocks from my work, the food is excellent and prices are very reasonable. I judge a good Mexican restaurant by their salsa. This place has some of the best. It's on Irving Blvd, about 3-4 blocks east of HW12, called Rancho Restaurante.

If you want killer BBQ, continue east about 2 more blocks on Irving Blvd and look for Fred's BBQ on the south side (same side) of the street. Get the baked potato with everything. You won't regret it!!!

[Big B]

In addition to those already mentioned, let me add:

Tupinamba's
El Fenix
Blue Goose

(I'm a fan of Pappacitos and Abuelos as well)

[Bluedawg]

I was told that someone once developed a set of questions to determine if you were truely a Dallas resident ....

One question was "What is the best Mexican Restaurant?"

Correct Answer ... " I don't know, I haven't been to all of them."

Good Luck ... some of my favorite "Comida Mexicana" can be had in the Dallas Fort Worth area, but it's been so long that I've had Mexican there that I don't remember any names.

IIRC even the Pancho's buffets are good .... but you can do a lot better than Pancho's.

:hide

[Diablo]

Oh, yes, I see that you are in Monroe, LA. The heat won't bother you as much. Glad that you get to come to Dallas. It's a nice place. I can't believe that you've been here that much and haven't had Tex Mex. That would seem almost difficult to achieve given that sheer number of places here.

Hope that you have a great trip! I think that Tuesday, we break the "unbreakable" heat streak from 1980 of 42 days in a row above 100. We've all ready broken the record for days above 105. It's not that bad though because it is soooo dry here. Have fun!

Bluedawg, that is so correct. I laughed when I read it. One couldn't possibly go to all of them so how could one know? Oh yes, I got to El Fenix once a week. It's good and not expensive. On Wed, they have the enchilada special for 4.99!!!! You can't beat that.

[The Last Rebel]

Pappasitos is very good too in addition to pickaguitar's list! Lots of choices here. It's Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex is the best food on the planet! There are tons of Mexican restaurants in DFW. Almost all of them are good as there is so much competition that bad ones don't last long. I have found though, that some of the high end ones, aren't any better than some of the standard fare ones. Those are the exceptions though as most higher end ones are VERY good.

Hope that you enjoy your stay here. Don't forget to bring your jacket as it is only 108 degrees right now. :D
Pappasitos is great, the fajitas especially are fantastic. It's about as Mexican as I am though (IE, not even a little bit), but if it's Tex-Mex you want, they're hard to beat. Even better than Pappasitos though is Joe T. Garcia's in Ft. Worth. I know that may be a bit of a drive but I can gurantee you that you won't find better Tex-Mex anywhere.

[JayRue]

The wife and I go to Mextopia on lower Greenville probably once a week. Pretty standard Tex-Mex fare, but everything is fresher (they grate their own cheese, fry their own chips, and don't have a freezer) and much cleaner tasting than your average Tex-Mex (no yellow cheese all over everything!). Tasty stuff. Their chile relleno and anything with brisket on it/in it are the way to go. Happy hour at the bar all the time, excellent margaritas, nice staff. I wish I could recommend a "real" Mexican place around here, but I can't. One of many holes in our dining "scene."

[Jerry Shaw]

I was in Dallas a couple months ago (first time), just a real quick trip down from Kansas City and back. I saw nothing BUT Mexican restaurants. I LUVS me some Mexican food, but sadly, didn't have time to stop. I really don't think you'll have a hard time finding good Mexican cuisine there!

[traviswalk]

No question that you need to hit "Javier's" near SMU, for me it's the best in Texas:

http://www.javiers.net/

Amazing food, awesome bar with killer margaritas and plenty of high-end talent to view.

[pickaguitar]

Pappasitos is great, the fajitas especially are fantastic. It's about as Mexican as I am though (IE, not even a little bit), but if it's Tex-Mex you want, they're hard to beat. Even better than Pappasitos though is Joe T. Garcia's in Ft. Worth. I know that may be a bit of a drive but I can gurantee you that you won't find better Tex-Mex anywhere.
yes...forgot Joe T. Garcia's
I don't love their salsa but overall it's a nice experience/food

[Bluedawg]

Not far away (Irving) is an authentic (not tex-mex) joint. I eat there often, as it's only a couple blocks from my work, the food is excellent and prices are very reasonable. I judge a good Mexican restaurant by their salsa. This place has some of the best. It's on Irving Blvd, about 3-4 blocks east of HW12, called Rancho Restaurante.

If you want killer BBQ, continue east about 2 more blocks on Irving Blvd and look for Fred's BBQ on the south side (same side) of the street. Get the baked potato with everything. You won't regret it!!!


So what makes it "authentic" as opposed to "Tex-Mex?"

If it's Mexican style food in Texas ... hard to say that it isn't Tex Mex .... but the term "Tex Mex" is abused and misused so I understand the reluctance to use that term.

I would prefer good Tex Mex to most of the "authentic" stuff I've had in AZ.

And the Mexican food in New Mexico can be awesome as well.

IMHO of course.

:hide

[Papajuice]

Try this place http://mextopia.com/
Or the original Alvia's still off of Maple in Dallas
f332y4goyPk

[nsureit]

No question that you need to hit "Javier's" near SMU, for me it's the best in Texas:

http://www.javiers.net/

Amazing food, awesome bar with killer margaritas and plenty of high-end talent to view.

Yes. This is real Mexican fare (not TexMex). Awesome!

[localmotion411]

Uncle Julios on Lemon
/thread

Shamone! Well, this and Ojedas.

[aroman]

Mi Cocina
Ana Mias (Coppell, Flower Mound)
Cantina Laredo
La Hacienda Ranch has great Fajitas
Matito's has great Margaritas

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

Oh, yes, I see that you are in Monroe, LA. The heat won't bother you as much. Glad that you get to come to Dallas. It's a nice place. I can't believe that you've been here that much and haven't had Tex Mex. That would seem almost difficult to achieve given that sheer number of places here.

Hope that you have a great trip! I think that Tuesday, we break the "unbreakable" heat streak from 1980 of 42 days in a row above 100. We've all ready broken the record for days above 105. It's not that bad though because it is soooo dry here. Have fun!

Bluedawg, that is so correct. I laughed when I read it. One couldn't possibly go to all of them so how could one know? Oh yes, I got to El Fenix once a week. It's good and not expensive. On Wed, they have the enchilada special for 4.99!!!! You can't beat that.


Wow! I hope you guys get a break soon! The next strong front that blows through is going to be a dust storm / mud rain event! :beer

There used to be a one of a kind hole in the wall place in old town Plano that was GREAT! That was back around 93 or so ... so who knows if they are still there :dunno

[Bankston]

Hard to beat Joe T. Garcia's in Fort Worth.

I also will always love El Fenix.

Pappasito's is a Houston chain and Chuy's is an Austin chain. Both are very good but not really a taste of DFW.

[vandi]

For something slightly different you could check out Gloria's. It's a tex-mex/el salvadorian hybrid. Good stuff:

http://www.gloriasrestaurants.com/

[smokey]

Pappasitos is great, the fajitas especially are fantastic. It's about as Mexican as I am though (IE, not even a little bit), but if it's Tex-Mex you want, they're hard to beat.

Yeah I like Pappasitos. But it's a chain and I would try some local stuff first. They also do a Cajun place called Pappadeuxs and that's pretty good too, but I'll bet the OP being from Cajun country probably wouldn't recommend that to people visiting Louisiana.

They actually started as Pappa's Seafood and also have a Pappa's BBQ. I think you can see they cover all the bases. They are Greek by the way.

[Prof.Fuzz]

For something slightly different you could check out Gloria's. It's a tex-mex/el salvadorian hybrid. Good stuff:

http://www.gloriasrestaurants.com/

Gloria's is excellent.

[Flying Panda]

My little sister lives in Bedford and has neighbors who are Mexican. Just go to their house. The dad makes tamales that cause grown men to weep openly.

As for restaurants, El Fenix and Blue Goose have both treated me well on visits to the D.

[memiller]

Ana Mia's in the Southlake area gets my vote. At times it's been a weekly venture for me. Always good food, never bad service. Just good straightforward Tex Mex.

[memiller]

So what makes it "authentic" as opposed to "Tex-Mex?"

If it's Mexican style food in Texas ... hard to say that it isn't Tex Mex .... but the term "Tex Mex" is abused and misused so I understand the reluctance to use that term.

I would prefer good Tex Mex to most of the "authentic" stuff I've had in AZ.

And the Mexican food in New Mexico can be awesome as well.

IMHO of course.

:hide

Immigrants couldn't get exactly what they used back home and had to improvise, creating new dishes with what was available. This is much in the way that Italian immigrants created many of the dishes we over here consider Italian, but are unknown (or very different) in their "native" country.

[dohootowl]

Ummm...I think they are all tex mex. My favorites are Chuys, Uncle Julios, Desperados & Abuelos.
Abuelos might be more Mexican...a lot more seafood plates there


All of the above are good, but...best kept secret in the Dallas area---Amigos. It's in an old, small strip shopping center on Belt Line Road, just west of the intersection of Glenville and Belt Line. East of 75 about 2 miles.

Examples:
Enchiladas Mexicanas--Queso fresco in corn tortillas soaked in guajillo sauce with potatoes and carrots. Our favorite.

Frankie's Enchiladas--Cheese enchiladas in mole sauce topped with pork or chicken

Menu here: http://www.amigosrestaurantcomidacasera.com/

[dohootowl]

I also will always love El Fenix.



When people recommend El Fenix, my wife and I just shake our heads in amazement. We dislike it with one exception--fajitas; you can't really screw up fajitas. My Dad owned a Mexican restaurant for over 40 years until he retired, so I deem myself an authority on Tex-Mex.

[dohootowl]

There used to be a one of a kind hole in the wall place in old town Plano that was GREAT! That was back around 93 or so ... so who knows if they are still there :dunno

That would be the Plano Tortilla Factory. They built a new, larger restaurant next door and while still good, it's not like it was back in the day.

[Stratobuc]

When people recommend El Fenix, my wife and I just shake our heads in amazement. We dislike it with one exception--fajitas; you can't really screw up fajitas. My Dad owned a Mexican restaurant for over 40 years until he retired, so I deem myself an authority on Tex-Mex.


Please let me know which one(s) you approve of. When I was a child growing up in Dallas, El Chico was a great Mexican restaurant - but as time goes, things change......

[dohootowl]

OK, since I anoint myself the authority on Tex-Mex, and there are good suggestions here, let me tell you the ones I AVOID:

Blue Goose
El Fenix
El Chico
Uncle Julios (not bad but terribly overpriced!)

The poster that suggested the place in Irving, Rancho Restaurante is probably a good bet. Irving has a large Mexican population and the places that cater to Mexicans are usually the best! I should know--I'm a Mexican--well, I'm half.

Also, traviswalk is trying to get you in trouble with the wife. I haven't been to Javier's, but the talent around SMU is outstanding, if pretentious as all get-out.

[dohootowl]

Please let me know which one(s) you approve of. When I was a child growing up in Dallas, El Chico was a great Mexican restaurant - but as time goes, things change......

I've had decent meals at El Chico, but also really bad ones. El Chico and El Fenix live off their reputations founded decades ago. My Dad worked for the Cuellar's in Dallas before moving to East Texas and starting his own restaurant. He used to say that the Cuellar's couldn't maintain the quality when they expanded.

Of the chains, I do enjoy Abuelos, Pappasitos, Mi Cocina and Chuy's. Although Chuy's is more New Mexican, as evidenced by their use of Hatch chiles.

Amigos in Richardson is our hands-down favorite. We drive down from Allen about once every couple of weeks. There's a place in McKinney that's gotten rave reviews, but we haven't tried it yet. Can't remember the name--but it's not a chain.

[Stratobuc]

Thanks, Do...... I know things / restaurants have changed a lot since the time I lived in DFW... I appreciate the opinion of a local resident. Wish I was there to have dinner with you guys at a great Tex-Mex restaurant - maybe some day.....?

[dohootowl]

Thought I'd post this from D Magazine--I haven't been to this place:

Best Tex-Mex
El Jordan (http://directory.dmagazine.com/restaurants/El-Jordan/21632)

Long before breakfast tacos were a trend, this tiny 15-table mom-and-pop spot in Bishop Arts had early-morning customers lined out the door for its homemade tortillas filled with combinations of eggs, bacon, chorizo, and vegetables. Bishop Arts has grown up around El Jordan. Regulars come from as far away as Plano for pure, old-fashioned Tex-Mex served in humble surroundings. Wean yourself off designer enchiladas and chow down on El Jordan’s version: thick chili con carne-covered tortillas filled with cheddar cheese and chopped raw onion.

Readers’ Pick: El Fenix (http://directory.dmagazine.com/restaurants/El-Fenix/50377)WHY? I have no clue. Maybe the old Dallas El Fenix is different. Wife went to a luncheon at one in McKinney and simply said "it sucks".

[memiller]

No, it's true, El Fenix blows ass.

[Stratobuc]

She shoulda gone to the one on Lemon....

To be fair, none of the older restaurants are what they once were, and a lot of new GREAT restaurants have sprung. :beer

[Scott Whigham]

OMFG you poor unenlightened souls! A three page thread and no one has mentioned Matt's Rancho Martinez? Holy smokes - you people need to get out more :D

http://www.mattstexmex.com/

Matt's is ****ing amazing. It's our favorite but... we haven't tried them all :)

[TD_Madden]

parking-lot taqueria truck.

[KCWM]

My wife and I will drive 45 minutes from Lewisville to Lake Worth to eat fajitas at Arizola's. The rest of the menu has its ups and downs, but their Fajitas for Two plate is awesome. There's enough meat (we get the combination) and vegetables to feed 4 people 2 or 3 fajitas each (we put three pieces of meat and stack the veggies).

I'm sure there are better places, but it's a small chain that we've been frequenting for years. We've tried fajitas at most of the chains, and even some of the "hole in the wall" places, and no one's come close.

[Mullenski]

Ditto -- Javier's.

Not Tex-Mex and a little more upscale.

[pickaguitar]

When people recommend El Fenix, my wife and I just shake our heads in amazement. We dislike it with one exception--fajitas; you can't really screw up fajitas. My Dad owned a Mexican restaurant for over 40 years until he retired, so I deem myself an authority on Tex-Mex.
I cringe a little...I don't get the El Fenix love. To me it's just a run of the mill cheap mexican food place. I was not impressed by the place nor the food. I kinda thought it was a quick, simple, nothing special type of meal

[pickaguitar]

OMFG you poor unenlightened souls! A three page thread and no one has mentioned Matt's Rancho Martinez? Holy smokes - you people need to get out more :D

http://www.mattstexmex.com/

Matt's is ****ing amazing. It's our favorite but... we haven't tried them all :)
One is near to me now...is this place really all that? The name itself weirds me out. MATT'S RANCHO MARTINEZ??
I'll have to try it lol

[Devnor]

Lifetime resident of D/FW...I'm a little shocked to see the big chains mentioned. El Fenix was bought by a group of investors and it shows. Its pretty hard to go wrong mexican with anything on Maple Ave tho my favorite place is Mia's on Lemmon. Enjoy your stay in our wonderful City!

[Ultrawaffle]

My rule of thumb for mexican food is the nicer the restaurant is the less authentic and delicious. Shoot for the little hole in the wall places, if you can hardly understand what the waiter/waitresses are saying that's a good sign. A run down building that just says "Taqueria" or something similar offers some promise, or if you're daring enough try ordering something from one of the food trucks or stands on the side of the road.

[KCWM]

Agreed on that point, Ultrawaffle. The best mexican food places I've been to have dinky tables and even dinkier chairs/booths. But the food? Awesome.

[TD_Madden]

:agree Had great chow at places that didn't have tables as well.

YMMV, of course.

[Jarrett]

My rule of thumb for mexican food is the nicer the restaurant is the less authentic and delicious.That's just psychological. If it has to be a hole in the wall for you to enjoy it, that's cool. I only gear my food decisions on the taste of the food.

[traviswalk]

My rule of thumb for mexican food is the nicer the restaurant is the less authentic and delicious.

While I agree, sometimes this can be proven wrong. See: Javier's above.

[Bankston]

I've had decent meals at El Chico, but also really bad ones. El Chico and El Fenix live off their reputations founded decades ago. My Dad worked for the Cuellar's in Dallas before moving to East Texas and starting his own restaurant. He used to say that the Cuellar's couldn't maintain the quality when they expanded.

Of the chains, I do enjoy Abuelos, Pappasitos, Mi Cocina and Chuy's. Although Chuy's is more New Mexican, as evidenced by their use of Hatch chiles.

Amigos in Richardson is our hands-down favorite. We drive down from Allen about once every couple of weeks. There's a place in McKinney that's gotten rave reviews, but we haven't tried it yet. Can't remember the name--but it's not a chain.

El Fenix is definitely a nostalgia thing with me. Used to go there as a kid. The original near downtown is still pretty good.

But I agree that there are better choices.

[FredW]

Lifetime resident of D/FW...I'm a little shocked to see the big chains mentioned. El Fenix was bought by a group of investors and it shows. Its pretty hard to go wrong mexican with anything on Maple Ave tho my favorite place is Mia's on Lemmon. Enjoy your stay in our wonderful City!


I used to go to a place on Maple called Chito's 20 years ago. It was a dump, but the food was fantastic.

[aroman]

My rule of thumb for mexican food is the nicer the restaurant is the less authentic and delicious. Shoot for the little hole in the wall places, if you can hardly understand what the waiter/waitresses are saying that's a good sign. A run down building that just says "Taqueria" or something similar offers some promise, or if you're daring enough try ordering something from one of the food trucks or stands on the side of the road.

The Naive Gringo will get Moctezuma's Revenge !!

[The Last Rebel]

My rule of thumb for mexican food is the nicer the restaurant is the less authentic and delicious. Shoot for the little hole in the wall places, if you can hardly understand what the waiter/waitresses are saying that's a good sign. A run down building that just says "Taqueria" or something similar offers some promise, or if you're daring enough try ordering something from one of the food trucks or stands on the side of the road.
Hmm, there are some pretty run down Taco Bells around here and I can rarely understand the guy taking my order. Ergo, Taco Bell is good?

[XKnight]

For real Mexican food you'll need to come down a little closer to the border.

[Bluedawg]

Immigrants couldn't get exactly what they used back home and had to improvise, creating new dishes with what was available. This is much in the way that Italian immigrants created many of the dishes we over here consider Italian, but are unknown (or very different) in their "native" country.


Yeah .. understand that .. so in reality one might say that the only truely authentic Mexican food I've had was on my 7th grade trip to Monterrey, MX and a later trip to Tijuana. But would someone from Mexico City consider the food in Monterrey, MX to be as authentic as Mexico City's food?

And I understand the Italian reference ... I would call most of the "Italian" food available in the states "American Italian" ... not really Italian, just close to it ... similar situation in Germany


The biggest difference between Italian food in the US and Mexican food in Texas ... as well as New Mexico, Arizona, California ... and maybe even Colorado, Nevada, and Utah is that many of the "Mexicans" in these states didn't immigrate ... the borders moved on them ...

Many of their "Mexican" recipes were developed locally then handed down and still have a strong influence on those state's modern versions of Mexican food.

Finding an authentic Mexican place in Texas is not the same as trying to find an "authentic" Mexican restaurant in Maryland.

Texas .. and AZ, NM, and CA have some claim to say that their Mexi food style is an authentic style of Mexican food.

So to say that Tex Mex is not authentic is almost like saying that Chihuahua or Sonoran style Mexican is not authentic because it's not the same as you find in Mexico City. Of course I refer to the good Tex Mex that can be had in Texas and not the crappy commercialized stuff that give's Tex Mex a bad name.



Just my rambling thoughts .... I can see Mexican mountain peaks from my house and wish the border areas were a little safer so that I could cross over and do some sight seeing, shopping, and certainly some eating. The
"Mexican" food around here can be hit or miss ... disappointing since I could drive to Mexico in about 30 minutes.

:bonk

[dohootowl]

OMFG you poor unenlightened souls! A three page thread and no one has mentioned Matt's Rancho Martinez? Holy smokes - you people need to get out more :D

http://www.mattstexmex.com/

Matt's is ****ing amazing. It's our favorite but... we haven't tried them all :)

To be honest, living in the far north burbs, we don't get down to Dallas as much as we used to. Always heard good things about Matt's. Is it related to Matt's El Rancho in Austin? I've been to that one and it rocks, fo sho!