History

The breakfast taco in Texas derives from the Tejano tradition of wrapping eggs and leftover proteins in a fresh flour tortilla for the morning meal. Dallas's version skews toward flour over corn and includes brisket as a distinctly Texan addition. Herrera's Cafe in Oak Cliff has served Tex-Mex breakfast tacos since 1949. The chef-driven iteration began with Resident Taqueria in the 2010s, which introduced house-pressed flour tortillas and slow-smoked brisket filling to the format.

Common allergens: Gluten, Eggs

Make it at home

Yield 6Hands-on 20 minTotal 20 minDifficulty Beginner

Ingredients

  • 6 small flour tortillas (8cm), warmed
  • 4 large eggs
  • 150g braised or smoked brisket, chopped
  • 100g diced potato, fried crispy
  • 2 tbsp lard or butter
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Fresh salsa verde or roja
  • Crumbled cotija or grated cheddar

Method

  1. Fry diced potato in oil until golden and crispy. Drain and season with salt.
  2. Warm brisket in a pan until just heated through.
  3. Scramble eggs in lard over low heat, stirring constantly, removing from heat while still slightly wet.
  4. Warm tortillas on a dry comal or griddle, 20 seconds per side.
  5. Build each taco: eggs, brisket, potato, a spoonful of salsa, and a pinch of cheese.
  6. Fold and eat immediately.

Tip from the editors. Low-and-slow scrambled eggs, still slightly wet when you pull them off heat, separate a great breakfast taco from a dry one. Brisket fat carries the seasoning.

Where to eat dallas breakfast taco

Dallas breakfast taco in Dallas

Resident Taqueria ★ 4.3

BrunchChef-driven breakfast taco brunch$$$12-$20lake-highlandsTue-Sat 07:30-21:00Walk-in

Resident Taqueria on East Northwest Highway is a chef-driven taqueria with the best breakfast taco execution in North Dallas: house-pressed flour tortillas.

Order: Brisket breakfast taco on fresh flour tortilla; smashed avocado with cotija

Tip: Opens at 7am daily, which makes it the best pre-10am option in North Dallas. The smashed avocado with cotija and the brisket taco are the essential order.

Herrera's Cafe ★ 4.2

BrunchOld-school Tex-Mex brunch$$$10-$18oak-cliffMon-Thu 08:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 08:00-23:00, Sun 08:00-22:00Walk-in

Herrera's Cafe on W Illinois Avenue has been serving Tex-Mex breakfast since 1949, making it the oldest continuous Tex-Mex brunch counter in Dallas.

Order: Breakfast tacos; huevos rancheros with house red salsa since 1949

Tip: Cash preferred, card accepted. Go early; the line builds from 9am on weekends.

Taqueria El Si Hay ★ 4.2

Taqueria$$oak-cliffDaily 07:00-22:00

Oak Cliff street taco institution where five tacos rarely cost more than $10, with bistek and chorizo fillings that regulars drive across the city to eat.

Order: Bistek taco; chorizo taco; carne asada; agua fresca

Tip: Cash preferred. Weekend mornings are the busiest time. Tacos run $2.50-3 each depending on filling.

Fito's Taco de Trompo ★ 4.2

Taqueria$$oak-cliffSun-Thu 10:00-24:00; Fri-Sat 10:00-01:00Until Approx 3am Fri-Sat; midnight weekdaysCash only

Fito's Taco de Trompo on Gaston Avenue is a late-night trompo taco stand where a rotating vertical spit of marinated pork produces $2.30 tacos until the meat.

Try: Trompo (spit-carved pork) tacos, $2.30 each

Tip: Cash only; ATM not nearby. Get there before 1am if you want the full trompo still going.

Revolver Taco Lounge ★ 4.6

Taqueria$$$deep-ellumTue-Sun 17:00-22:00, Mon closed

Deep Ellum's top taco destination. Regino Rojas nixtamalizes heirloom corn for house-made tortillas and serves Purepecha fillings: octopus, duck, short rib.

Order: Duck carnitas taco; octopus taco; heirloom corn blue tortilla short rib

Tip: Closed Monday. Counter-service format with limited seating. The new storefront on Elm St has outdoor seating; arrive by 5:30pm for the best availability.

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