Mexican Taqueria$$lake-highlandsTue-Sat 07:30-21:00
A Lake Highlands chef-driven taqueria that starts serving at 7:30am and closes by 9pm. Order the breakfast tacos; slow-braised fillings that change weekly.
Order: Breakfast tacos; slow-braised fillings that change weekly.
Tip: Weekday morning is the quietest window.
Tex-mex$oak-cliffMon-Thu 08:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 08:00-23:00, Sun 08:00-22:00
An Oak Cliff Tex-Mex hold-out in the same W Illinois Avenue spot since 1949. The enchiladas here are as honest as Tex-Mex gets: chili gravy, fresh tortillas.
Order: Cheese enchiladas. Combination plate. Chips and queso on arrival.
Tip: Cash-friendly neighbourhood spot. Closed Sunday-Tuesday. The combination plate feeds two people if you order chips to start.
American All-day$$bishop-artsMon-Sat 07:00-22:00, Sun 07:00-21:00
Bishop Arts' original all-day cafe: the chicken and waffles draw queues every weekend, the coffee programme is more serious than the casual room suggests.
Order: Chicken and waffles. The mimosa flight. Coffee is worth ordering here.
Tip: Brunch runs 7am-4pm daily. Arrive by 9am on weekends or queue for the chicken and waffles.
Creative Tacos$$deep-ellumMon-Thu 11:00-00:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-04:00, Sun 11:00-00:00
The Deep Ellum anchor of the late-night Dallas taco scene, with a rotating weekly special and a 4am Friday and Saturday closing time that makes it essential.
Order: Weekly rotating taco. Nashville hot chicken. The WTF taco.
Tip: The weekly taco changes every Tuesday. The Nashville hot is always available. Find the lightest queue at 11pm midweek.
Mexican Street Tacos$deep-ellumMon-Sun 09:00-23:00
The $1.50 street taco counter that makes every best-cheap-eats list in Dallas. Suadero, al pastor, counter service, and plastic trays. Located in Deep Ellum.
Order: Suadero tacos at $1.50 each. Al pastor off the spit.
Tip: Order ten minimum per person. The salsas are the differentiator; try all three.
American Diner$deep-ellumMon-Tue 07:00-14:00, Wed-Sun open 24 hours
The 24-hour Deep Ellum diner open Wednesday through Sunday, where musicians, bartenders, and everyone else converge for breakfasts at 3am without requiring.
Order: French toast. Full breakfast plate. Egg sandwich at any hour.
Tip: Wednesday morning is the quietest. Weekend nights between midnight and 2am are the liveliest. Both are valid reasons to come.