What are the must try places in Dallas for people visiting Texas for the first time?

Question

My family and I will be visiting Dallas, Texas for the first time next week. Would appreciate all your suggestions for restaurants that we have to try. Things we need to consider are: we will be with 3 children ages 6 - 12 years old, and we would prefer the really, really good hole-in-the-wall joints.

Thanks in advance!

Karen

Answer

I'd put BBQ and Tex-Mex high on your list. They're both foods that you can't really get in LA, and they're kid-friendly, too. For Tex-Mex, I'd recommend Matt's Rancho Martinez; with the weather as pleasant as (I'm told) it is, their outdoor patio should be especially pleasant. Another very good bet is Mia's. If those are too far afield, Luna de Noche is pretty good in a pinch.

Unfortunately, there's no stellar Texas BBQ in Dallas. But you can get very good ribs, and pretty decent brisket, at Baker's Ribs. There's one on Greenville right near the Central Market, which, though not a restaurant, is a worthwhile food destination.

Brother's Chicken or Bubba's would be good bets for some fried chicken - the chicken livers at Brother's are tremendous (you squeeze the jalapeno on the liver, and wrap it in a little greasy white bread...). Or if you have the time and inclination you could try to find your way out to Babe's for fried chicken, chicken fried steak, and fried catfish.

Lunch at Vern's is worth the trip, especially if you like banana pudding.

Answer

i recommend some crawfish because that is tough to find elsewhere in the country. i always get it from big easy up in plano but the dallas observer recommends aw-shucks on greenvile. maybe somebody else has more up to date recommendations.

Answer

I've lived in Dallas for 20+ years and have a 6.5 year old, so I feel qualified to answer this:

SNUFFER'S. Great hamburgers, salads and they are known for their Cheese Fries. A good lunch place with several locations. www.snuffers.com 

I agree that Dallas is one of the best cities in the world for Tex-Mex. Problem is, I live in Park Cities (Central Dallas) and not North Dallas, so I don't really know any hole-in-the-wall places up North.

Good luck and have a great trip!

Answer

Mia's!!! Try the brisket tacos...unreal!
Sonny Bryan's bbq.

Answer

A great Tex Mex hole-in-the-wall up north in Plano is Aparicio's. I liked it better when it was housed in the shack, but I guess the new "fancy" digs are OK.

Jorg's, in Plano as well. Fantastic German food, fantastic atmosphere, just yummy all the way around.

Samui - Delicious Thai in Allen. 

Asian Mint - Fantastic Thai Fusion at Forest and 75.

Luna de Noche is fantastic Tex-Mex and has several options up north.

Country Burger in East Plano has one of the better thin-pattied, griddle burgers around. D-lish.

Braums - Great, local ice cream store/hamburger shop chain based in Oklahoma (I believe). The kids will absolutely love it - try the Limeade!

There's tons of other stuff, but apparently people at this office expect me to work. If something else really good strikes my fancy, I'll post again.

Answer

Can't help you with the "hole in the wall" part, but you should try Blue Mesa for either their lunch buffet on Wednesdays, or their brunch buffet on the weekend...Lots of great food that any age would love......

Answer

I pretty much concur with Ratatosk. I've lived in North Dallas for 16 years and have eaten at too many places to remember. Here's some recomendations:

BBQ - Baker's Ribs (on Greenville Ave . . . about a 15-20 minute drive from North Dallas) - order the pork ribs and the brisket. It's a dive but it's without a doubt the best BBQ ribs in the city. It's perfectly fine for kids, open seating, free ice soft serve ice cream etc.

Tex-Mex - Mia's is WAY better than Matt's. Granted Matt's has a nice patio, but it's REALLY far South (in Lakewood - about a 40 minute drive from North Dallas) and frankly, the food is average. Mia's is in a really old house and their food (especially the brisket taco's - order extra gravy) is unmatched (though Avila's is pretty good too). Mia's is located in uptown, about a 20 minute drive down the Tollway (off at Wycliff).

Steak - Can't really do it with little kids. Go to Bob's at the Shops at Legacy . . . if you can get a baby sitter.

Breakfast/Brunch - Original Pancake House . . . granted, it's a chain based out of Chicago, but they don't have them in California and their breakfasts are the city's best (and very kid friendly). They have locations all over the city including Plano (75 and Parker-ish area) and a new location near Frisco (Granite Park location - not sure if it's open yet).

Babe's and Bubba's are both great for fried chicken. The Babe's location (in Garland) is really kid friendly.

Tons of other great places that are "must try" in Dallas (i.e. Lola, Nick and Sam's, Sushi Sake etc) - but most aren't kid friendly.

Hope all of that helps - and welcome to Dallas!

Answer

Thank you for all your input everyone. We will try to visit some of these places. One thing I know for sure--I will never come back home to LA hungry!

Thanks again.

Karen

Answer

I would concur that really good BBQ is scarce in Dallas and would holeheartedly agree on Angelo's in Ft. Worth. However, I highly recommend the original Sonny Bryan's on Inwood for lunch (open only for lunch). One should only order a chopped or sliced beef sandwich with onion rings. It's a dive, but for us locals, it's quitesental.

Answer

I'm a fan of Randy White's barbecue, located in Frisco on Preston Road. Their meats (especially the chopped beef) are excellent, but the sides are a little bit lacking. A mini-arcade and televisions make it a popular place for a family dinner.

Answer

I think you will probably have a slight disconnect between "hole-in-the-wall" and the northern part of Dallas. If you just mean close to LBJ (635), then going to Lakewood, etc. is pretty easy. If you mean the northern suburbs of Dallas such as far north Plano, Frisco, or Allen, that's a whole 'nother beast. 

Pappadeuax is actually a pretty decent suggestion for Cajun. They have an extensive menu so if you don't want Cajun, you can get a nice seafood dish. Their food is pretty good - not necessarily great, but I've never had a bad meal there. I'd recommend a drive though and send you to Dodie's on Lower Greenville for another dive experience with good food.

I love Matt's El Rancho Martinez in Lakewood for Mexican. You can also get one of the city's best chicken fried steaks there!

I would highly recommend Vern's Place near downtown for home cooking. The place looks like a total shack, but the food is amazing. It would definitely be an experience. I prefer Dickey's over Sonny Bryan's for BBQ (I know, it's heresy, but I grew up here and we always ate at Dickey's or Peggy's - before it became Peggy Sue's) and there are a number of outposts all over town.

I love Jake's for hamburgers. It has a drive-thru, but you can sit inside and the burgers are wonderful down to the grilled poppy seed buns. Get a Special and tots with cheese!

I agree with the recommendation to make a side trip to Ft. Worth. Angelo's is good for BBQ and Joe T Garcia's is definitely a Texas experience. Sit by the pool. They used to be a one room sort of shack and just kept adding on so the newer sections are nicer but the food is pretty much the same. You can have either the Mexican dinner or the fajitas - I'm not sure if there are any other items on the short menu. The menu is short and well executed and I take guests from out of town there regularly.

Answer

Definitely throw the kids in the car and head west. Ft. Worth will give you the feeling you have actually been to Texas where Dallas is just another big city with nothing "special" about it. Go to the Stockyards for sure. There are many dining options and all are good. You can park and walk to see the entire area. Take the kids inside Billy Bob's to ride the mechanical bull. Yes, its a bar but it is way more and you need to see it. Chef Tim Love has a great new place for burgers called The Love Shack. Risky's barbeque is in that area as well. It may not be Angelo's but when you have kids, some times convenience wins out. Do NOT go to Joe T. Garia's for Mexican though. Anything is better than there. All they have going is reputation that is way past its time. You defiitely need to eat Tex Mex, just don't do it at Joe T.'s or you will leave wondering what is so good about it. You will find the people on the street most helpful and will be glad to direct you to any place of interest. Please consider spending a day in Ft. Worth and forego whatever you had planned in Dallas!

Answer

Texas BBQ is pretty bad over all. Look for a Memphis style place if you're going to have BBQ. Red, Hot & Blue is a chain but they've ripped off two of the best BBQ places in Memphis. The ribs are incredible. Plus they are dry ribs instead of smothered in some kind of sauce.

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At the Dream Cafe, breakfast is my favorite. It's a fantastic exerience, lots of fun.

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Big Daddys Ship Store is the best hole in the wall. On Lake Grapevine, toys for the kids, outside on dock, feed the ducks byob and good food.

Answer

There's been some great suggestions, including the Nate's (and their bugs are cheap on Tuesday and they have a fun band) and Babes (served family style with giant bowls of home made veggies and giant juicy chicken). I will even suggest for pure kid entertainment (no food value what so ever) Medieval Times. 

Another great family deal is taking the Tarantula Train from Grapevine to the Stockyards in Fort Worth. When there, you will see numerous restaurants including Riscky's BBQ. See the link below for train info.

I also like to take visiting little ones down McKinney Avenue. They have restored the old trolley cars and have 2 running at all times, every 15 minutes. There are also numerous restaurants along the way, just pull the cord for a stop. While on the trolley visit West Village on Cole at the turn around of the trolley. there you will find the great paciugo gelato and a place for kid friendly burgers and shakes at Village Burger bar (and a nice beer for mom and dad) . There is also a stellar movie theater in the same complex, and lots of shopping in the quaint oasis.

You can also take the Dallas rail to the zoo. Catch the light rail downtown or on Mockingbird. Either location there is a Campisi's nearby for delightful Italian and pizza. the Mockingbird location is the original and I consider the best. Try their crab fingers for an appetizer and you MUST have a pizza.


These are a few different ideas. Hope you enjoy your visit and come back often!

www.tarantulatrain.com/
http://campisis.us/
http://www.dart.org/riding/dartrail.asp
http://www.mata.org/ <-- trolley
www.medievaltimes.com/

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What are the must try places in Dallas for people visiting Texas for the first time?

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