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 for the post-bar crowd.
Must 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.
Address: 2624 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75226
The $1.50 street taco counter that makes every best-cheap-eats list in Dallas. Suadero, al pastor, counter service, and plastic trays. No complexity beyond the quality of the meat and the freshness of the salsas.
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.
The 24-hour Deep Ellum diner open Wednesday through Sunday, where musicians, bartenders, and everyone else converge for breakfasts at 3am without requiring a reason.
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.
The $1.50 street taco counter that makes every best-cheap-eats list in Dallas. Suadero, al pastor, counter service, and plastic trays. No complexity beyond the quality of the meat and the freshness of the salsas.
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.
The 24-hour Deep Ellum diner open Wednesday through Sunday, where musicians, bartenders, and everyone else converge for breakfasts at 3am without requiring a reason.
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.
Mariano Martinez invented the frozen margarita machine on May 11, 1971 at his original East Dallas restaurant. The Skillman location carries that legacy forward with Tex-Mex combination plates and the signature frozen margarita.
Order: The frozen margarita, made from the tradition of the 1971 original machine invention. Combination plate with cheese enchiladas.
Tip: The history of the margarita machine is on the wall. The original machine is now in the Smithsonian, but the recipe continues here.
Chef Matt Balke's Bishop Arts New American, where weekend brunch draws the neighbourhood and dinner runs a more serious menu Wednesday through Sunday in the former Bolsa space.
Order: Blue corn pancakes at brunch. The Southern-inflected small plates at dinner.
Tip: The blue corn pancake mix is sold at H-E-B if you want to make them at home. Dinner is easier to book than brunch.
A Greenville Avenue halal counter open until 4am every night, inspired by New York street food. One of the best late-night options on the city's most active nightlife corridor.
Order: Shawarma plate. Halal rice bowl with beef and chicken.
Tip: Open every night until 4am. The crowds after midnight are lively; midweek evenings are calmer.
A fully halal Knox Street Lebanese institution that has anchored the Knox-Henderson dining corridor for years, serving mezze and grilled meats in a room that works for both quick lunch and long family dinners.
Order: Mezze spread with hummus and fattoush. Shawarma plate.
Tip: Order three cold mezze dishes to share before the mains; the overall meal works out to better value than ordering entrees alone.
