After a night of running up a bar tab at one of Dallas's finest dives, you may be tempted to have your Uber driver swing by the Whataburger drive-thru window — but seriously, don't do that to yourself. There are plenty of bars in Dallas offering not only cheap drinks, but also reasonably tasty food. Here are 10 dive bars you can count on to help pad your stomach.
The burgers and wings at Lee Harvey's get a lot of love, but truthfully the best accompaniment to one of their icy cold canned beers or whiskey drinks is an order of the gigantic onion rings -- battered and fried to crispy perfection.
The burger at Adair's tastes like it was grilled in someone's backyard, in the best way possible -- a thick, juicy patty that's just greasy enough plopped on a standard-issue fluffy bun with American cheese. The fries served along with it are a strange anomaly -- there's no fryer in the kitchen, so instead they cook them on the flat top -- but their uniqueness is kind of endearing.
The burger at Lakewood Landing is the stuff of legends (as are the much-trumpeted midnight corn dogs), but the real sleeper hit of the menu is the breaded and fried pork tenderloin sandwich -- a Midwestern classic that's not often seen around these parts.
Fabulously dark and divey, Dallas institution Louie's draws loyal crowds nightly for the thin and crispy pizza. The Caesar salad is also a must, but be forewarned: it's massive, so bring a few friends. (And don't forget to bring cash or Amex.)
Nachos are about as basic as bar food comes, but not all nachos are created equally. The guys in the kitchen at this Commerce Street staple take great care in ensuring that just about every chip is covered with creamy refried beans, melty cheese, pickled jalapenos, and marinated grilled steak or chicken (we recommend the combo option).
The pizza at this East Dallas hangout is frankly some of the best in the city, and can go head-to-head with many pizzerias. The thin, crackery crust makes an excellent base for all sorts of different topping combinations, including oddities like the Dalton (buffalo chicken, blue cheese, celery). Yes, celery on a pizza.
This divey sports bar has been serving SMU crowds for over four decades. Pitchers of beer are dangerously cheap, so it's probably wise that they also have a full menu of food. The patty melt (called a "penny melt" here) is a great way to soak up too much booze, with melty Swiss, sweet grilled onions, and a juicy burger patty on buttery toasted rye. Gild the lily with a side of cheese fries.
This Oak Cliff watering hole is about as divey as dives get, so you might be surprised to find some really good pizza. Rectangular pies have a thin-but-puffy, crispy crust, and the veggie toppings all taste super-fresh -- you can even get fresh basil on your pie.
After a few too many Old Fashioneds, you may very well need some food -- thankfully, the kitchen's open till 1 a.m. nightly. The menu is simple and homey, with paninis and some oddities like toast squares with cream cheese and jalapeno jelly; sort of like something your mom would make, if your mom was a super-awesome bartender with a killer jukebox.
This Lakewood dive with a slightly retro vibe is popular for its pizzas — which are surprisingly good, especially after throwing back three or four martinis. Topping options range from the expected (Canadian bacon and pineapple) to the fancy (sundried tomato, spinach, feta, basil). Tater tots loaded up with cheese, onions, bacon, and jalapenos are another excellent way to soak up the booze. Frequent specials like wonton soup and spring rolls, too.
The burgers and wings at Lee Harvey's get a lot of love, but truthfully the best accompaniment to one of their icy cold canned beers or whiskey drinks is an order of the gigantic onion rings -- battered and fried to crispy perfection.
The burger at Adair's tastes like it was grilled in someone's backyard, in the best way possible -- a thick, juicy patty that's just greasy enough plopped on a standard-issue fluffy bun with American cheese. The fries served along with it are a strange anomaly -- there's no fryer in the kitchen, so instead they cook them on the flat top -- but their uniqueness is kind of endearing.
The burger at Lakewood Landing is the stuff of legends (as are the much-trumpeted midnight corn dogs), but the real sleeper hit of the menu is the breaded and fried pork tenderloin sandwich -- a Midwestern classic that's not often seen around these parts.
Fabulously dark and divey, Dallas institution Louie's draws loyal crowds nightly for the thin and crispy pizza. The Caesar salad is also a must, but be forewarned: it's massive, so bring a few friends. (And don't forget to bring cash or Amex.)
Nachos are about as basic as bar food comes, but not all nachos are created equally. The guys in the kitchen at this Commerce Street staple take great care in ensuring that just about every chip is covered with creamy refried beans, melty cheese, pickled jalapenos, and marinated grilled steak or chicken (we recommend the combo option).
The pizza at this East Dallas hangout is frankly some of the best in the city, and can go head-to-head with many pizzerias. The thin, crackery crust makes an excellent base for all sorts of different topping combinations, including oddities like the Dalton (buffalo chicken, blue cheese, celery). Yes, celery on a pizza.
This divey sports bar has been serving SMU crowds for over four decades. Pitchers of beer are dangerously cheap, so it's probably wise that they also have a full menu of food. The patty melt (called a "penny melt" here) is a great way to soak up too much booze, with melty Swiss, sweet grilled onions, and a juicy burger patty on buttery toasted rye. Gild the lily with a side of cheese fries.
This Oak Cliff watering hole is about as divey as dives get, so you might be surprised to find some really good pizza. Rectangular pies have a thin-but-puffy, crispy crust, and the veggie toppings all taste super-fresh -- you can even get fresh basil on your pie.
After a few too many Old Fashioneds, you may very well need some food -- thankfully, the kitchen's open till 1 a.m. nightly. The menu is simple and homey, with paninis and some oddities like toast squares with cream cheese and jalapeno jelly; sort of like something your mom would make, if your mom was a super-awesome bartender with a killer jukebox.
This Lakewood dive with a slightly retro vibe is popular for its pizzas — which are surprisingly good, especially after throwing back three or four martinis. Topping options range from the expected (Canadian bacon and pineapple) to the fancy (sundried tomato, spinach, feta, basil). Tater tots loaded up with cheese, onions, bacon, and jalapenos are another excellent way to soak up the booze. Frequent specials like wonton soup and spring rolls, too.
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61976419/Loro_Bo_Ssam_Special_05.13.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71356982/042523_RevolverTacoLounge_KathyTran_IMG_9424.14.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60680241/101mediafeb2023dakotas__17_of_59_.41.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42559648/Msivin_Louies1.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62161005/leeharveysOFF.0.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61081449/DoubleDs_1122_0001.13.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55918203/081722_Apothecary_KathyTran_IMG_0806__1_.20.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62161007/adairs.0.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62161009/lakewoodlanding.0.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63121068/goodfriend_burger_bar.6.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62161011/louies.0.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62161013/upload.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59406683/Protillos_3Hotdogs_Overhead__1_.14.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61886575/111521_ElectricShuffle_DE_KathyTran_1166.7.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62161015/upload.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62161017/upload.0.0.png)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62161019/upload.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62161021/upload.0.0.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62161023/cosmosxmasFB.0.0.0.jpg)