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A spread of fair food, with two corn dogs, one with mustard, are in the center. Around them are a funnel cake with powdered sugar, onion rings, and deep fried Oreos.
You don’t have to wait until the State Fair to get your hands on a Fletcher’s corny dog.
Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs

11 Iconic Dallas Dishes Locals and Tourists Must Try

Essential eating for every Dallas resident and curious travelers

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You don’t have to wait until the State Fair to get your hands on a Fletcher’s corny dog.
| Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs

There are plenty of dishes that are associated with Dallas' culinary identity. But with the constant arrival of up-and-coming restaurants and the forward progress toward new cuisines, new dishes, and new chefs, it's easy to forget about some of the city's best old standbys.

Whether in search of the perfect bowl of Texas red or a taste of that famous Pecan Lodge brisket, these dishes are Dallas icons, required eating for every resident inside the city proper, in the 'burbs, and tourists alike.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Cris and John

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Everything at Cris and John’s is iconic on the ‘gram, but the biarra tacos and birra bao buns have become must-taste staples of DFW. Add a bowl of Angry Pho broth to dip ‘em in and watch those taste buds go up in flames — in the best way.

Tolbert's Restaurant & Chili Parlor

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Everybody knows that Texas chili is sans beans, and that’s just the way it is. But anyone who appreciates a good bowl of red needs to scoot their boots to Tolbert’s in Grapevine, where the chili conceived by Frank X. Tolbert in the ‘60s is still served. It is the defining word in Southwest chili, and it changed the chili game all over Texas and beyond.

Keller's Drive-In

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Keller's is one of the few remaining drive-ins in town, and it’s been serving up delicious, thin-pattied burgers on poppy seed-encrusted buns since 1965. Get a side of tots and a milkshake to go with it.

Mariano's Hacienda Ranch

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Is Dallas the original home of the frozen margarita? Maybe, and it’s certainly the official drink of the city. The story goes that first frozen marg machine was developed by Mariano’s Hacienda Ranch owner Mariano Martinez in the ‘70s, after being struck by inspiration while watching a Slurpee pour at a his local 7-11. Pop in for an original, plus some excellent Mexican food.

Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse

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The Bryan family started smoking meat in Dallas since 1910 — that’s well over a century ago. The original Inwood location of Sonny Bryan’s has been kicking since 1958, collecting a James Beard Award for barbecue and loads of fans along the way. Stopping in for a tray of whichever smoked meat sparks joy, plus the peach cobbler, is a Dallas must.

E Bar Tex-Mex

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Queso is a must in Dallas and the best spot to eat it is E Bar. While the plain is a 10 out of 10, go for the E Bar queso with ground beef, guacamole, and sour cream mixed in. It’s tough to say exactly what makes this queso hit different from the rest — it is smooth, cheesy, and all the things one wants queso to be.

Fearing's Restaurant

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Dean Fearing’s tortilla soup is such a noteworthy staple of his Southwestern cooking that it is served at not one but two restaurants in Dallas. Of course Fearing serves it himself at Fearing’s. A bowl can also be ordered, off menu, at the Restaurant at Rosewood Mansion, where Fearing notably led the kitchen from it’s opening.

Klyde Warren Park

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Fletcher’s Corny Dogs has a permanent food truck in Klyde Warren Park, so Texans no longer have to wait until the State Fair to get their mouths on one of the city’s most iconic bites. And no longer have to slog through the parking, crowds, and heat to enjoy it.

El Fenix

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El Fenix is a Dallas original and has long been known for the Wednesday enchilada plate. It doesn’t matter if it’s cheese, chicken, or beef, this iconic duo should be consumed at least once in the original location Downtown, in all it’s cheesy glory and preferably with a frozen marg.

Pecan Lodge

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Dallas has plenty of time-honored barbecue places, but none of them do gloriously smoky, succulent brisket like Pecan Lodge. Still capable of creating lengthy lines, the smoked meats at Pecan Lodge are an essential Dallas experience.

Williams Fried Chicken

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Since 1987, the original Williams Fried Chicken has been serving some of the best crispy fried chicken in Big D. Today, this Black-owned business headed by Hiawatha Williams has some 40 locations. Don’t just hit any old drive-thru when the hankering for a basket hits, especially when a locally owned and excellent option is all over.

Cris and John

Everything at Cris and John’s is iconic on the ‘gram, but the biarra tacos and birra bao buns have become must-taste staples of DFW. Add a bowl of Angry Pho broth to dip ‘em in and watch those taste buds go up in flames — in the best way.

Tolbert's Restaurant & Chili Parlor

Everybody knows that Texas chili is sans beans, and that’s just the way it is. But anyone who appreciates a good bowl of red needs to scoot their boots to Tolbert’s in Grapevine, where the chili conceived by Frank X. Tolbert in the ‘60s is still served. It is the defining word in Southwest chili, and it changed the chili game all over Texas and beyond.

Keller's Drive-In

Keller's is one of the few remaining drive-ins in town, and it’s been serving up delicious, thin-pattied burgers on poppy seed-encrusted buns since 1965. Get a side of tots and a milkshake to go with it.

Mariano's Hacienda Ranch

Is Dallas the original home of the frozen margarita? Maybe, and it’s certainly the official drink of the city. The story goes that first frozen marg machine was developed by Mariano’s Hacienda Ranch owner Mariano Martinez in the ‘70s, after being struck by inspiration while watching a Slurpee pour at a his local 7-11. Pop in for an original, plus some excellent Mexican food.

Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse

The Bryan family started smoking meat in Dallas since 1910 — that’s well over a century ago. The original Inwood location of Sonny Bryan’s has been kicking since 1958, collecting a James Beard Award for barbecue and loads of fans along the way. Stopping in for a tray of whichever smoked meat sparks joy, plus the peach cobbler, is a Dallas must.

E Bar Tex-Mex

Queso is a must in Dallas and the best spot to eat it is E Bar. While the plain is a 10 out of 10, go for the E Bar queso with ground beef, guacamole, and sour cream mixed in. It’s tough to say exactly what makes this queso hit different from the rest — it is smooth, cheesy, and all the things one wants queso to be.

Fearing's Restaurant

Dean Fearing’s tortilla soup is such a noteworthy staple of his Southwestern cooking that it is served at not one but two restaurants in Dallas. Of course Fearing serves it himself at Fearing’s. A bowl can also be ordered, off menu, at the Restaurant at Rosewood Mansion, where Fearing notably led the kitchen from it’s opening.

Klyde Warren Park

Fletcher’s Corny Dogs has a permanent food truck in Klyde Warren Park, so Texans no longer have to wait until the State Fair to get their mouths on one of the city’s most iconic bites. And no longer have to slog through the parking, crowds, and heat to enjoy it.

El Fenix

El Fenix is a Dallas original and has long been known for the Wednesday enchilada plate. It doesn’t matter if it’s cheese, chicken, or beef, this iconic duo should be consumed at least once in the original location Downtown, in all it’s cheesy glory and preferably with a frozen marg.

Pecan Lodge

Dallas has plenty of time-honored barbecue places, but none of them do gloriously smoky, succulent brisket like Pecan Lodge. Still capable of creating lengthy lines, the smoked meats at Pecan Lodge are an essential Dallas experience.

Williams Fried Chicken

Since 1987, the original Williams Fried Chicken has been serving some of the best crispy fried chicken in Big D. Today, this Black-owned business headed by Hiawatha Williams has some 40 locations. Don’t just hit any old drive-thru when the hankering for a basket hits, especially when a locally owned and excellent option is all over.

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