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Mr. Mesero, home of some seriously tasty queso.
Mr. Mesero, home of some seriously tasty queso.
Photo: Mr. Mesero/Facebook

10 Places to Eat Queso, the Unofficial State Food of Texas

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Mr. Mesero, home of some seriously tasty queso.
| Photo: Mr. Mesero/Facebook

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.


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Alligator Cafe

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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.

Maracas Cocina Mexicana

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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.

Matt's Rancho Martinez

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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.

Mexican Sugar

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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.)

Mr Mesero

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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

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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.

Pepe's & Mito's Mexican Cafe

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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.

Soleo Mexican Kitchen

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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.

Taco Joint

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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.

Torchy's Tacos

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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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Alligator Cafe

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.

Maracas Cocina Mexicana

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.

Matt's Rancho Martinez

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.

Mexican Sugar

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.)

Mr Mesero

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

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.

Pepe's & Mito's Mexican Cafe

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.

Soleo Mexican Kitchen

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.

Taco Joint

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.

Torchy's Tacos

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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