clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

10 Places to Sip Fancy Tea in Dallas

Have a Holly Jolly Holiday at These Dallas Pop-Up Bars

15 Essential Richardson Restaurants

More in Dallas See more maps
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

by Eater Staff Updated
View as Map
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
by Eater Staff Updated

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.

Read More
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

Copy Link

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.

5555 Preston Oaks Rd UNIT 5, Dallas, TX 75254
(972) 803-4750
(972) 803-4750

Also featured in:

Tolbert's Restaurant & Chili Parlor

Copy Link

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.

423 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051
(817) 421-4888
(817) 421-4888

Keller's Drive-In

Copy Link

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.

10554 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75220
(214) 357-3572
(214) 357-3572

Mariano's Hacienda Ranch

Copy Link

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.

6300 Skillman St, Dallas, TX 75231
(214) 691-3888
(214) 691-3888

Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse

Copy Link

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.

2202 Inwood Rd, Dallas, TX 75235
(214) 357-7120
(214) 357-7120

E Bar Tex-Mex

Copy Link

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.

1901 N Haskell Ave. #120, Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 824-3227
(214) 824-3227

Also featured in:

Fearing's Restaurant

Copy Link

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.

2121 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 922-4848
(214) 922-4848

Also featured in:

Klyde Warren Park

Copy Link

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.

2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy, Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 716-4500
(214) 716-4500

El Fenix

Copy Link

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.

1601 McKinney Ave Downtown #1, Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 747-1121
(214) 747-1121

Also featured in:

Pecan Lodge

Copy Link

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.

2702 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226
(214) 748-8900
(214) 748-8900

Also featured in:

Williams Fried Chicken

Copy Link

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.

4875 Sunnyvale St, Dallas, TX 75216
(214) 375-5055
(214) 375-5055

More in Maps

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Cris and John

5555 Preston Oaks Rd UNIT 5, Dallas, TX 75254

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.

5555 Preston Oaks Rd UNIT 5, Dallas, TX 75254
(972) 803-4750
(972) 803-4750

Tolbert's Restaurant & Chili Parlor

423 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051

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.

423 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051
(817) 421-4888
(817) 421-4888

Keller's Drive-In

10554 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75220

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.

10554 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75220
(214) 357-3572
(214) 357-3572

Mariano's Hacienda Ranch

6300 Skillman St, Dallas, TX 75231

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.

6300 Skillman St, Dallas, TX 75231
(214) 691-3888
(214) 691-3888

Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse

2202 Inwood Rd, Dallas, TX 75235

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.

2202 Inwood Rd, Dallas, TX 75235
(214) 357-7120
(214) 357-7120

E Bar Tex-Mex

1901 N Haskell Ave. #120, Dallas, TX 75204

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.

1901 N Haskell Ave. #120, Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 824-3227
(214) 824-3227

Fearing's Restaurant

2121 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75201

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.

2121 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 922-4848
(214) 922-4848

Klyde Warren Park

2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy, Dallas, TX 75201

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.

2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy, Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 716-4500
(214) 716-4500

El Fenix

1601 McKinney Ave Downtown #1, Dallas, TX 75202

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.

1601 McKinney Ave Downtown #1, Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 747-1121
(214) 747-1121

Pecan Lodge

2702 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226

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.

2702 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226
(214) 748-8900
(214) 748-8900

Williams Fried Chicken

4875 Sunnyvale St, Dallas, TX 75216

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.

4875 Sunnyvale St, Dallas, TX 75216
(214) 375-5055
(214) 375-5055

Related Maps