Although queso is not actually the official state food of Texas — that honor belongs to chili — it probably should be. The delicious, delightfully trashy cheesy goo is available just about everywhere, from lowly dive bars to significantly more upscale establishments, but not all quesos are created equally. Here's a roundup of ten standout versions of queso, from traditional to versions doctored up with everything from spicy chorizo to spinach and artichokes.
Did we miss your favorite queso? Feel free to yell at us in the comments or let us know via the tipline.
Two words: Crawfish. Queso. This is a real thing served at Alligator Cafe, and it is really, really good: Think your typical creamy cheese dip accented with blackening spice and chunks of tender crawfish.
We were sad to see Monica's Aca y Alla go, but luckily Maracas has pretty much the same food -- including the killer queso blanco. Thick, rich and accompanied by a seemingly never-ending basket of warm chips, this queso has spinach in it so you can almost convince yourself it's health food.
The famous Bob Armstrong dip isn't actually on the menu at Matt's, but you can and should order it. The queso is of the trashy bright orange Velveeta-ish variety, but that's part of its charm, especially when livened up with scoops of rich sour cream and guac and seasoned taco meat.
We're not sure what exactly the guayabera and fedora-clad kitchen guys at this new Shops at Legacy hot spot put in the white queso, but it's magically delicious and will have you scraping the bottom of the bowl with the freshly fried chips. (At only $6, it's not that terrible of an idea to order seconds.)
Mi Cocina founder Mico Rodriguez obviously knows a thing or two about queso. The version here is of the blanco variety, and it's doctored up with spinach and artichokes -- but the thing that really makes it stand out is the fact that the servers dole out your queso onto a plate of chips just for you. Queso, fancified. (Psst: The same queso is also available at newcomer Mesero Miguel.)
Meso Maya dresses their already-flavorful queso fundido (made with three white cheeses) up with strips of roasted poblanos, and either deliciously oily, spicy chorizo or spinach and mushrooms. It comes flanked by excellent housemade corn tortillas, but it wouldn't hurt to pair it with an order of the housemade chicharrones, either.
The classic queso at this Deep Ellum Tex-Mex staple is creamy, peppery and coats the always freshly fried chips just right, but if you're in the mood for some serious carb-loading you'd be wise to order a side of soft housemade tortillas to go with it as well.
Family-owned Soleo makes an excellent pitstop after escaping from the soul-sucking vortex that is North Park Center this time of year. The queso loaded up with tender barbacoa meat is pretty stellar for post-shopping refueling, particularly when paired with a Soleorita.
Humble little Taco Joint is one of the best places around to feed a hangover, thanks to indulgent menu items like "The Disaster," which is queso mixed with seasoned ground beef, guac and pico. (There's regular queso available too, but c'mon, now is not the time to be wussing out.) Accompanying chips are thin, crispy-fried perfection.
Sorry, Torchy's haters, but the queso here is really, really delicious -- although suspiciously orange in color, it contains green chiles for extra zing and it's garnished with creamy guac, crumbly queso fresco, cilantro and a little of the house diablo sauce.
Two words: Crawfish. Queso. This is a real thing served at Alligator Cafe, and it is really, really good: Think your typical creamy cheese dip accented with blackening spice and chunks of tender crawfish.
We were sad to see Monica's Aca y Alla go, but luckily Maracas has pretty much the same food -- including the killer queso blanco. Thick, rich and accompanied by a seemingly never-ending basket of warm chips, this queso has spinach in it so you can almost convince yourself it's health food.
The famous Bob Armstrong dip isn't actually on the menu at Matt's, but you can and should order it. The queso is of the trashy bright orange Velveeta-ish variety, but that's part of its charm, especially when livened up with scoops of rich sour cream and guac and seasoned taco meat.
We're not sure what exactly the guayabera and fedora-clad kitchen guys at this new Shops at Legacy hot spot put in the white queso, but it's magically delicious and will have you scraping the bottom of the bowl with the freshly fried chips. (At only $6, it's not that terrible of an idea to order seconds.)
Mi Cocina founder Mico Rodriguez obviously knows a thing or two about queso. The version here is of the blanco variety, and it's doctored up with spinach and artichokes -- but the thing that really makes it stand out is the fact that the servers dole out your queso onto a plate of chips just for you. Queso, fancified. (Psst: The same queso is also available at newcomer Mesero Miguel.)
Meso Maya dresses their already-flavorful queso fundido (made with three white cheeses) up with strips of roasted poblanos, and either deliciously oily, spicy chorizo or spinach and mushrooms. It comes flanked by excellent housemade corn tortillas, but it wouldn't hurt to pair it with an order of the housemade chicharrones, either.
The classic queso at this Deep Ellum Tex-Mex staple is creamy, peppery and coats the always freshly fried chips just right, but if you're in the mood for some serious carb-loading you'd be wise to order a side of soft housemade tortillas to go with it as well.
Family-owned Soleo makes an excellent pitstop after escaping from the soul-sucking vortex that is North Park Center this time of year. The queso loaded up with tender barbacoa meat is pretty stellar for post-shopping refueling, particularly when paired with a Soleorita.
Humble little Taco Joint is one of the best places around to feed a hangover, thanks to indulgent menu items like "The Disaster," which is queso mixed with seasoned ground beef, guac and pico. (There's regular queso available too, but c'mon, now is not the time to be wussing out.) Accompanying chips are thin, crispy-fried perfection.
Sorry, Torchy's haters, but the queso here is really, really delicious -- although suspiciously orange in color, it contains green chiles for extra zing and it's garnished with creamy guac, crumbly queso fresco, cilantro and a little of the house diablo sauce.
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