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Take a seat on the patio of the restaurant at Rosewood Mansion, which has one of the most storied food histories in Dallas.
Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

14 Illustrious Classic Dallas Restaurants

Where to feast on a little local history, from high- to lowbrow

by Eater Staff Updated
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Take a seat on the patio of the restaurant at Rosewood Mansion, which has one of the most storied food histories in Dallas.
| Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
by Eater Staff Updated
3 comments / new

Dallas is known as a trend-obsessed city, especially when it comes to dining, but plenty of local eateries have stood the test of time. This list includes the spiritual home of Southwestern cuisine, the city’s premiere Italian foods store, and our “most romantic” restaurant.”

These classic Dallas restaurants should be on the bucket lists of locals and visitors alike.

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Royal China

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A Preston Hollow staple since 1974, this spot is a must-visit for Chinese and Taiwanese dishes in North Dallas. Patrons can watch their noodles be made at the bar and eat some of the best soup dumplings in town. 

6025 Royal Ln, Ste 201, Dallas, TX 75230
(214) 361-1771
(214) 361-1771

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Cafe Pacific

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Swanky Cafe Pacific has been a Park Cities mainstay since 1980. This place is a power-lunch haven for seafood and steak loving members of the one percent. Just don't show up in shorts and flip-flops — there is a dress code, and it is enforced.

24 Highland Park Vlg, Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 526-1170
(214) 526-1170

Javier's

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Beloved Park Cities staple Javier’s opened in 1977 and continues to draw crowds nightly for its upscale take on Mexican food, fantastic service, and strong margaritas. Be sure to stop by the taxidermy-laden cigar room for a post-dinner drink.

4912 Cole Ave, Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 521-4211
(214) 521-4211

St. Martin’s Wine Bistro

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The building dates back to 1925 and once housed the very first air-conditioned bar in Dallas, though it didn't become St. Martin's until 1977. This cozy little French bar touts itself as being "the most romantic restaurant in Dallas," and given the grand piano, dimly-lit nooks, and the grand back room replete with ornate art and a fabulous chandelier, it's easy to see why.

3020 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 826-0940
(214) 826-0940

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Gold Rush Cafe

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Classic diner breakfasts await at this Lakewood staple, where folks have eaten since 1980. Founder Virgil Sanchez, Sr. died in 2017, but his family keeps the grill going. Be sure to try the John Wayne, a hangover-alleviating concoction of eggs, cheese, salsa, hash browns, bacon, and tortillas. 

1913 Skillman St, Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 823-6923
(214) 823-6923

Jimmy's Food Store

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East Dallas icon Jimmy’s first opened back in 1966 and has since evolved into the city’s most beloved Italian market and deli. Though famous for their giant made-to-order sandwiches, shoppers can also find plenty of imported Italian gems inside, from fresh pasta to exotic olive oils and regional Italian wines. And, of course, there’s always Jimmy’s famous Italian sausage.

4901 Bryan St., Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 823-6180
(214) 823-6180

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S & D Oyster Company

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The stately McKinney Avenue building that now houses S&D Oyster Company was originally built in the 1890's as a grocery; in 1976, Herb and Mary Kay Story turned it into a Louisiana-influenced seafood restaurant. People still flock here for po' boys and shrimp cocktails.

2701 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 880-0111
(214) 880-0111

El Fenix

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After it was founded in 1918, El Fenix moved to McKinney Avenue in 1925. Cheap, strong margaritas at happy hour and a very cool old building make visiting the original Downtown location a Dallas bucket list essential. 

1601 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 747-1121
(214) 747-1121

Also featured in:

Dakota's

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This steakhouse is as well-known for its subterranean garden and 20-foot-high water wall as it is for the food. It originally opened in 1984, serving steaks, wedge salads, crab cakes, and other power lunches. It closed in the early days of the pandemic but was resurrected and renovated by Dallasite Meredith McEneny.

600 N Akard St, Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 740-4001
(214) 740-4001

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The Mansion Restaurant

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The Mansion was built in the 1920s and became a hotel in 1980, and the new owner decided it needed a restaurant. Giants of the Dallas culinary scene have headed up this kitchen, defining fine dining in the city ever since. That doesn’t mean the Mansion is just fancy — it’s also a great place to lunch on the patio or grab a drink and order from the bar menu for a uniquely Texas experience. 

2821 Turtle Creek Blvd, Dallas, TX 75219
(214) 443-4747
(214) 443-4747

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Kuby's Sausage House

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Though it’s Dallas location opened in 1961, sausage has been the family business for the Kubys dating back to 18th century Germany. This market and restaurant serves schnitzel, Rubens, wurst bites, and an array of traditional German fare for breakfast and lunch. Pickup some sausage or a charcuterie platter on the way out.

6601 Snider Plaza, Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 363-2231
(214) 363-2231

Also featured in:

Burger House

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Dallas loves burgers, and Burger House has the ringing endorsement of staying open since 1951. Visit the original location near SMU or two others on Mockingbird and Addison. It’s been making burgers the same way for decades — you don’t mess with a winning recipe. 

6913 Hillcrest Ave, Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 361-0370
(214) 361-0370

Also featured in:

The Old Warsaw

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This Uptown stalwart is all about old world glamour. It’s been around since 1948 but has been modernized over the years, with its latest significant renovation happening in the spring of 2016 as it opened in its current location on Maple Ave. Expect pricey prime filet mignon and Lobster Thermidor meals in a glamorous setting.

2512 Maple Ave, Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 528-0032
(214) 528-0032

The Zodiac

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Located inside the flagship Neiman Marcus in Downtown, this has been a hot spot for lunching since 1953 when Stanley Marcus decided his customers needed an upscale place to eat while shopping. Its also known for its afternoon tea service and its’ complimentary demitasse of chicken broth to start every meal. Diners also rave about the mandarin orange souffle, a longtime favorite on the menu.

1618 Main St Level Six, Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 573-5800
(214) 573-5800

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Royal China

6025 Royal Ln, Ste 201, Dallas, TX 75230

A Preston Hollow staple since 1974, this spot is a must-visit for Chinese and Taiwanese dishes in North Dallas. Patrons can watch their noodles be made at the bar and eat some of the best soup dumplings in town. 

6025 Royal Ln, Ste 201, Dallas, TX 75230
(214) 361-1771
(214) 361-1771

Cafe Pacific

24 Highland Park Vlg, Dallas, TX 75205

Swanky Cafe Pacific has been a Park Cities mainstay since 1980. This place is a power-lunch haven for seafood and steak loving members of the one percent. Just don't show up in shorts and flip-flops — there is a dress code, and it is enforced.

24 Highland Park Vlg, Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 526-1170
(214) 526-1170

Javier's

4912 Cole Ave, Dallas, TX 75205

Beloved Park Cities staple Javier’s opened in 1977 and continues to draw crowds nightly for its upscale take on Mexican food, fantastic service, and strong margaritas. Be sure to stop by the taxidermy-laden cigar room for a post-dinner drink.

4912 Cole Ave, Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 521-4211
(214) 521-4211

St. Martin’s Wine Bistro

3020 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206

The building dates back to 1925 and once housed the very first air-conditioned bar in Dallas, though it didn't become St. Martin's until 1977. This cozy little French bar touts itself as being "the most romantic restaurant in Dallas," and given the grand piano, dimly-lit nooks, and the grand back room replete with ornate art and a fabulous chandelier, it's easy to see why.

3020 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 826-0940
(214) 826-0940

Gold Rush Cafe

1913 Skillman St, Dallas, TX 75206

Classic diner breakfasts await at this Lakewood staple, where folks have eaten since 1980. Founder Virgil Sanchez, Sr. died in 2017, but his family keeps the grill going. Be sure to try the John Wayne, a hangover-alleviating concoction of eggs, cheese, salsa, hash browns, bacon, and tortillas. 

1913 Skillman St, Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 823-6923
(214) 823-6923

Jimmy's Food Store

4901 Bryan St., Dallas, TX 75206

East Dallas icon Jimmy’s first opened back in 1966 and has since evolved into the city’s most beloved Italian market and deli. Though famous for their giant made-to-order sandwiches, shoppers can also find plenty of imported Italian gems inside, from fresh pasta to exotic olive oils and regional Italian wines. And, of course, there’s always Jimmy’s famous Italian sausage.

4901 Bryan St., Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 823-6180
(214) 823-6180

S & D Oyster Company

2701 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204

The stately McKinney Avenue building that now houses S&D Oyster Company was originally built in the 1890's as a grocery; in 1976, Herb and Mary Kay Story turned it into a Louisiana-influenced seafood restaurant. People still flock here for po' boys and shrimp cocktails.

2701 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 880-0111
(214) 880-0111

El Fenix

1601 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75202

After it was founded in 1918, El Fenix moved to McKinney Avenue in 1925. Cheap, strong margaritas at happy hour and a very cool old building make visiting the original Downtown location a Dallas bucket list essential. 

1601 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 747-1121
(214) 747-1121

Dakota's

600 N Akard St, Dallas, TX 75201

This steakhouse is as well-known for its subterranean garden and 20-foot-high water wall as it is for the food. It originally opened in 1984, serving steaks, wedge salads, crab cakes, and other power lunches. It closed in the early days of the pandemic but was resurrected and renovated by Dallasite Meredith McEneny.

600 N Akard St, Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 740-4001
(214) 740-4001

The Mansion Restaurant

2821 Turtle Creek Blvd, Dallas, TX 75219

The Mansion was built in the 1920s and became a hotel in 1980, and the new owner decided it needed a restaurant. Giants of the Dallas culinary scene have headed up this kitchen, defining fine dining in the city ever since. That doesn’t mean the Mansion is just fancy — it’s also a great place to lunch on the patio or grab a drink and order from the bar menu for a uniquely Texas experience. 

2821 Turtle Creek Blvd, Dallas, TX 75219
(214) 443-4747
(214) 443-4747

Kuby's Sausage House

6601 Snider Plaza, Dallas, TX 75205

Though it’s Dallas location opened in 1961, sausage has been the family business for the Kubys dating back to 18th century Germany. This market and restaurant serves schnitzel, Rubens, wurst bites, and an array of traditional German fare for breakfast and lunch. Pickup some sausage or a charcuterie platter on the way out.

6601 Snider Plaza, Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 363-2231
(214) 363-2231

Burger House

6913 Hillcrest Ave, Dallas, TX 75205

Dallas loves burgers, and Burger House has the ringing endorsement of staying open since 1951. Visit the original location near SMU or two others on Mockingbird and Addison. It’s been making burgers the same way for decades — you don’t mess with a winning recipe. 

6913 Hillcrest Ave, Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 361-0370
(214) 361-0370

The Old Warsaw

2512 Maple Ave, Dallas, TX 75201

This Uptown stalwart is all about old world glamour. It’s been around since 1948 but has been modernized over the years, with its latest significant renovation happening in the spring of 2016 as it opened in its current location on Maple Ave. Expect pricey prime filet mignon and Lobster Thermidor meals in a glamorous setting.

2512 Maple Ave, Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 528-0032
(214) 528-0032

The Zodiac

1618 Main St Level Six, Dallas, TX 75201

Located inside the flagship Neiman Marcus in Downtown, this has been a hot spot for lunching since 1953 when Stanley Marcus decided his customers needed an upscale place to eat while shopping. Its also known for its afternoon tea service and its’ complimentary demitasse of chicken broth to start every meal. Diners also rave about the mandarin orange souffle, a longtime favorite on the menu.

1618 Main St Level Six, Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 573-5800
(214) 573-5800

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