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From burgers and tacos to boozy daiquiris and fried chicken, find some of the city’s best fare without ever getting out of the car
There’s no denying the convenience of a good old-fashioned drive-thru. It’s true that most of the city’s drive-thru restaurants are highly mediocre chains, but there are also a number of locally born favorites that serve top-notch eats that don’t even require getting out the car.
From 1950s burger joints to boozy frozen daiquiris to fried chicken and tacos, these 11 essential Dallas drive-thrus serve budget-friendly eats and keep service quick without skimping on quality.
Read MoreThis taqueria chain has locations all over Dallas, and the outpost on Harry Hines serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner right out of the drive-thru window. Feast on sopes or nachos, or keep it simple with a two-taco plate (served with rice and beans) that’s a real bargain at less than $7.
Technically a drive-in and not a drive-thru, Keller’s has been serving up one of Dallas’s most beloved burgers since 1950. Pull up, flash your headlights, and prepare to experience burger bliss on a poppyseed bun. Definitely don’t forget to add a side of super-crunchy tots.
Since a Hawaiian vacation is out of the cards for now, head to The Colony for a plate of Hawaiian barbecue that will almost make it feel like you’re in the Aloha State. Pick a protein — maybe kalua pork or chicken Katsu, then pair with steamed rice, macaroni salad, and steamed veggies for a real “plate lunch” experience in Texas.
Not all great drive-thrus serve food, and Daiquiris to Go is proof. Swing through for a boozy slush in flavors like “Dirty Kinfolk” (strawberry and peach) and “Royal Fuck” (sweet and sour with cranberry) and definitely wait to drink until after safely making it home.
A longstanding South Dallas favorite, head to Rudy’s for a no-frills fried chicken experience. Order breasts, wings, thighs, or any combo of the above, and pair with dirty rice, corn fritters and a side of “Rudy sauce.”
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A Highland Park institution, it’s almost shocking how home-cooked the food at Bubba’s Cooks Country seems. Head through the drive-thru for crispy fried chicken, comforting sides like creamed potatoes, ambrosia fruit salad, and candied yams, and those ridiculously good yeast rolls.
It’s not technically a local Dallas chain, but Texas-born Hat Creek Burger Company slings a solid menu through its drive-thru window. Burger’s in the name, but consider the crispy fried chicken sandwich, or a Cobb salad loaded with blue cheese and bacon, then wash it all down with a super-thick milkshake.
A beloved burger spot with generations of fans in Dallas, Burger House is an obvious drive-thru destination. Even the restaurant’s seasoning salt, shaken onto crispy fries, has a cult following.
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This location of local coffee roastery White Rock Coffee serves muffins, smoothies, hot oatmeal, and of course, coffee, all from a drive thru. The cafe just rolled out its fall lunch menu, featuring pumpkin hummus, a harvest chicken wrap with quinoa, and a roasted harvest vegetable salad.
With options like banana pudding, cinnamon chip, and dairy-free raspberry buttercream, choosing a flavor at this Richardson creamery is truly the most difficult part. Order a scoop (or three) in a cup or waffle cone, and grab a pint for the road to eat in one sitting later at home.
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An East Dallas drive-in staple since 1956, Dairy-Ette is the kind of old-school burger joint that nostalgic dreams were made of. Pull up, flash the headlights, and order a cheeseburger “all the way” and a large cup of Dairy-Ette’s homemade root beer.
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This taqueria chain has locations all over Dallas, and the outpost on Harry Hines serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner right out of the drive-thru window. Feast on sopes or nachos, or keep it simple with a two-taco plate (served with rice and beans) that’s a real bargain at less than $7.
Technically a drive-in and not a drive-thru, Keller’s has been serving up one of Dallas’s most beloved burgers since 1950. Pull up, flash your headlights, and prepare to experience burger bliss on a poppyseed bun. Definitely don’t forget to add a side of super-crunchy tots.
Since a Hawaiian vacation is out of the cards for now, head to The Colony for a plate of Hawaiian barbecue that will almost make it feel like you’re in the Aloha State. Pick a protein — maybe kalua pork or chicken Katsu, then pair with steamed rice, macaroni salad, and steamed veggies for a real “plate lunch” experience in Texas.
Not all great drive-thrus serve food, and Daiquiris to Go is proof. Swing through for a boozy slush in flavors like “Dirty Kinfolk” (strawberry and peach) and “Royal Fuck” (sweet and sour with cranberry) and definitely wait to drink until after safely making it home.
A longstanding South Dallas favorite, head to Rudy’s for a no-frills fried chicken experience. Order breasts, wings, thighs, or any combo of the above, and pair with dirty rice, corn fritters and a side of “Rudy sauce.”
A Highland Park institution, it’s almost shocking how home-cooked the food at Bubba’s Cooks Country seems. Head through the drive-thru for crispy fried chicken, comforting sides like creamed potatoes, ambrosia fruit salad, and candied yams, and those ridiculously good yeast rolls.
It’s not technically a local Dallas chain, but Texas-born Hat Creek Burger Company slings a solid menu through its drive-thru window. Burger’s in the name, but consider the crispy fried chicken sandwich, or a Cobb salad loaded with blue cheese and bacon, then wash it all down with a super-thick milkshake.
A beloved burger spot with generations of fans in Dallas, Burger House is an obvious drive-thru destination. Even the restaurant’s seasoning salt, shaken onto crispy fries, has a cult following.
This location of local coffee roastery White Rock Coffee serves muffins, smoothies, hot oatmeal, and of course, coffee, all from a drive thru. The cafe just rolled out its fall lunch menu, featuring pumpkin hummus, a harvest chicken wrap with quinoa, and a roasted harvest vegetable salad.
With options like banana pudding, cinnamon chip, and dairy-free raspberry buttercream, choosing a flavor at this Richardson creamery is truly the most difficult part. Order a scoop (or three) in a cup or waffle cone, and grab a pint for the road to eat in one sitting later at home.
An East Dallas drive-in staple since 1956, Dairy-Ette is the kind of old-school burger joint that nostalgic dreams were made of. Pull up, flash the headlights, and order a cheeseburger “all the way” and a large cup of Dairy-Ette’s homemade root beer.
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