40 cheap eats places in Dallas, editor-picked. The best low-budget spots in Dallas: the places editors actually return to. All Dallas food.
40 places
Order One-pound brisket; pork spare ribs; jalapeno cheddar sausage link
The BBQ queue that defines Deep Ellum's food culture. Pecan Lodge's brisket, ribs, and sausage links draw lines before noon every day they are open.
Order Brisket (fatty end); pork ribs; house-made jalapeño sausage
Michelin Bib Gourmand pitmaster operation open only Thursday and Friday plus the first Saturday each month, producing what many critics consider the best.
Order Half-pound brisket by weight; one jalapeño cheddar link; free bread and pickles
Dallas's most celebrated BBQ pit is genuinely affordable: a half-pound brisket with a side costs under $20 and represents some of the best smoked meat.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Taste the bold flavors of Texas in Dallas’ Deep Ellum. Enjoy BBQ brisket, Texas chili, biscuits, pie, and more while exploring the city’s street art, music culture, an...
Guided tour · 2.5 hours
Discover the flavors, creativity, and culture of Deep Ellum on a guided food tour. Enjoy a full meal through tastings, explore vibrant street art, and visit historic B...
Viator · 3 to 4 h
Off the beaten path Explore two of the city’s most historic neighborhoods, now including the Bishop Arts District, a lively enclave known for its rich history, thrivin...
Order Concha; seasonal empanada; laminated pan dulce croissant
James Beard Outstanding Bakery finalist 2024, from self-taught baker Maricsa Trejo. La Casita weaves Mexican baking traditions into European pastry technique.
Order Duck carnitas taco; octopus taco; heirloom corn blue tortilla short rib
Deep Ellum's top taco destination. Regino Rojas nixtamalizes heirloom corn for house-made tortillas and serves Purepecha fillings: octopus, duck, short rib.
Order Almond croissant; pain au chocolat; jambon et fromage baguette sandwich
Dallas's best French artisan bakery, founded in 2004, turning out some of the finest almond croissants, pain au chocolat, and sourdough in the state.
Order Country sourdough loaf; focaccia; croissant (when available)
Family-run cottage bakery in Oak Cliff using slow fermentation and locally sourced grain from Barton Springs Mill. Kitchen leans sourdough and pastry bakery.
Order Peach cobbler with ice cream; banana pudding; lard biscuit with butter
Deep Ellum BBQ institution producing scratch-made banana pudding, peach cobbler, and lard biscuits alongside the brisket. Booking recommended.
Order The seasonal pie of the month. The Drunken Nut on the permanent menu.
A specialty pie shop in a 1930s Victorian bungalow in Bishop Arts, with handmade pies that change seasonally. Kitchen leans American desserts and pie.
Order French macaron box (seasonal flavors); elaborately decorated cookies; gluten-free lemon tart
Award-winning French patisserie from Chef Tida Pichakron, celebrated for scratch-made French macarons, elaborately decorated cookies, and gluten-free options.
A sample of Dallas hotels from our booking partner, who list 673 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
Dallas Love Field Inn
When you stay at Dallas Love Field Inn in Dallas, you'll be in the business district, within a 5-minute dri...
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Trinity Suites Downtown Dallas
With a stay at Trinity Suites Downtown Dallas in Dallas (Cedar Crest), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of...
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Siegel Select Dallas
Located in Dallas, Siegel Select Dallas is in the business district, within a 10-minute drive of Richland C...
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Studio 6 Dallas, TX
Located in Dallas (Northwest Dallas), Studio 6 Dallas, TX is within a 5-minute drive of MoneyGram Soccer Pa...
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Abode Dallas - The Cedars/Downtown
Located in Dallas (Cedars), Abode Dallas - The Cedars/Downtown is within a 15-minute walk of Dallas Heritag...
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Sonesta Simply Suites Dallas Galleria
With a stay at Sonesta Simply Suites Dallas Galleria in Dallas (Far North Dallas), you'll be within a 5-min...
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Frontdesk - Oakwood Residence Apts Uptown Dallas
With a stay at Frontdesk Oakwood Residence Apts Uptown Dallas, you'll be centrally located in Dallas, just...
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Courtyard by Marriott Dallas Northwest
Located in Dallas (Northwest Dallas), Courtyard by Marriott Dallas Northwest is within a 5-minute drive of ...
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Riverside Inn Dallas
With a stay at Riverside Inn Dallas in Dallas, you'll be within a 15-minute drive of Cross Creek Golf Cours...
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Downtown Suites Dallas
A stay at Downtown Suites Dallas places you in the heart of Dallas, within a 5-minute drive of Old Deep Ell...
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Abode Dallas - Downtown/Convention Center
A stay at Abode Dallas - Downtown/Convention Center places you in the heart of Dallas, steps from Dallas Ci...
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Drury Plaza Hotel Dallas Richardson
Located in Plano, Drury Plaza Hotel Dallas Richardson is in the business district, within a 5-minute drive ...
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Also compare: Holidu in Dallas from USD 73/night · LateRooms in Dallas from 43/night · Expedia in Dallas
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Order Champurrado cacao drink; breakfast huarache; mezcal espresso martini at night
Oak Cliff's most original cafe, rooted in pre-Hispanic Mexican culture. Kitchen leans pre-hispanic cafe, agave bar. At 334 W Jefferson Blvd.
Order Blue corn butterscotch pancakes; house-baked sourdough toast
Bishop Arts farm-to-table restaurant that doubles as one of Dallas's best weekend brunch cafes, famous for the blue corn butterscotch pancakes with salted.
Order Caramelized cauliflower taco; pork shoulder with salsa verde; egg and potato
Lake Highlands cult destination for chef-driven breakfast tacos without the Deep Ellum crowds. Open tue-sat 7:30am-9pm. Booking recommended.
Order Brisket taco; chile relleno; house margarita
Uptown Tex-Mex institution famous for brisket tacos, a dish that has become a civic touchstone. Order the brisket taco; chile relleno; house margarita.
Order Texas-size beef rib (weekend only); brisket by the pound; jalapeno sausage link
Bishop Arts outpost of the Central Texas-style BBQ family, serving beef ribs, brisket, and hand-crafted sausage links straight off the pit on butcher paper.
Order Half-pound brisket; jalapeño sausage link; pinto beans
The most accessible of Dallas's top BBQ spots, open seven days a week unlike Pecan Lodge or Cattleack. Open mon-thu 11am-9pm, fri-sat 11am-10pm, sun 11am-9pm.
Order Coconut tres leches cake; cinnamon roll; seasonal quiche slice
East Dallas fine-dining pastry chef Maria Becerra's neighborhood bakery, opened 2022, offering coconut tres leches cakes, cinnamon rolls, quiche.
Order Light-roast pour-over; lab-brewed espresso tasting flight
Expo Park micro-roaster and coffee lab roasting with precision in small batches, offering tasting sessions and some of the most technically precise espresso.
Order Horchata cold brew; tamarind espresso; pan dulce of the day
Pleasant Grove debut cafe from owner Brittany Guereca, serving one of the most inventive menus of lattes and coffee drinks in the region, all deeply.
Order Adobada tacos; barbacoa de res; nopales with egg
Oak Cliff counter serving Mexico City-style street tacos with housemade tortillas and traditional guisados. At 813 W Davis St. Booking recommended.
Order Brisket plate with two sides; jalapeño cheddar sausage; homemade peach tea
Design District BBQ spot with brisket plates under $17 that receive consistently high praise. Kitchen leans texas bbq. Open wed-sun 11am-3pm or sold out.
Order Cheese enchiladas with chili gravy. The combination plate is the reason regulars drive across the city.
An Oak Cliff Tex-Mex hole-in-the-wall on W Illinois Avenue, serving loyal customers since 1949. Open mon-thu 8am-10pm, fri-sat 8am-11pm, sun 8am-10pm.
Order Daily Indian vegetarian buffet: fresh dals, sabzis, house-made chutneys, rice.
Dallas's longest-running vegetarian restaurant, set inside a Hare Krishna temple in East Dallas. Located in Lakewood. Kitchen leans indian vegetarian.
Order Country sourdough loaf; levain sandwich with house-made mustard
Dallas's longest-running craft bakery since 1992, known for daily-baked sourdough loaves, baguettes, and lunch sandwiches. Located in Uptown.
Order Pain au chocolat; country sourdough loaf; ham and brie baguette
Knox St outpost of Dallas's long-favored French artisan bakery chain, with the longest weekday hours of all five locations. Located in Knox Henderson.
Order Kolache with fruit filling; quiche lorraine; almond croissant
Woman-owned boutique bakery in the Lakewood neighbourhood run by chef Kelly Ball, turning out handmade kolaches, quiches, croissants. Open daily 7am-4pm.
Order Ethiopia single-origin flat white; seasonal cold brew
San Antonio-born specialty roaster with a growing Texas presence, known for meticulous sourcing and light-roast clarity. Located in Deep Ellum.
Order Single-origin espresso; house cold brew concentrate
East Dallas micro-roaster operating inside Goodfriend Package, roasting single-origin beans on-site and pulling handcrafted espresso drinks.
Order Almond croissant; jambon et fromage sandwich; cortado
Bishop Arts outpost of Dallas's best French artisan bakery, offering almond croissants, pain au chocolat, and jambon et fromage sandwiches alongside quality.
Order Grilled cheese at lunch; pan-roasted seasonal vegetable plate at dinner
Downtown neighborhood bistro from husband-and-wife chefs Jennie Kelley and Brandon Moore, doing New American lunch and dinner in the Santander building.
Order Bistek taco; chorizo with egg; carne asada
True Oak Cliff staple serving authentic Mexico-style street tacos, open every day with consistently praised bistek and chorizo. Open daily 7am-10pm.
Order Vegan pho; lemongrass tofu banh mi; spring rolls
All-vegan Vietnamese inside Hong Kong supermarket where pho, banh mi, and com tam plates rarely top $12. Open mon 10am-7pm, tue closed, wed-sun 10am-7pm.
Order Suadero or al pastor tacos at $1.50 each. Order ten and do not share.
Dallas street taco at its baseline best: $1.50 per taco, suadero and al pastor off the spit, counter service, and plastic trays. Located in Deep Ellum.
Order Tres leches cake; Guatemalan pan dulce assortment; tamales con atole
Richardson Latin American bakery and breakfast restaurant serving Guatemalan pan dulce, tres leches cake, tamales, and hot chocolate alongside a full.
Order Daily sourdough loaf; seasonal grain sandwich; morning scone
The most accessible Empire Baking outpost for Uptown visitors, sitting on McKinney Ave's restaurant row. Kitchen leans artisan bread bakery.
Order Almond croissant; banana nut muffin; fresh-baked batard loaf
Oak Lawn Village Baking outpost serving the same award-winning French breads and pastries to the gym-going, brunch-hungry Oak Lawn crowd from 7am daily.
Order Rotating guest roaster V60; oat milk cortado
Design District multi-roaster cafe serving rotating beans from Cat and Cloud, Little Wolf, Mae, and Hydrangea in a clean-lined space popular with designers.
Order Thin Mint Latte; lavender bee pollen cold brew
Mission-driven Uptown cafe that employs and mentors foster youth, serving specialty drinks like the Thin Mint Latte (cacao, mint, espresso, milk) alongside.
Order Cinnamon French toast; pancakes; pastrami omelet; Greek-style gyro lunch plate
A Lower Greenville breakfast institution since 1972, family-owned by the Spyropoulos family for more than fifty years. At 1733 Greenville Ave.
Order Morning: avocado toast and cortado. Evening: house cocktail with local spirits
Bishop Arts all-day cafe that transitions from excellent morning coffee and avocado toasts to an evening cocktail bar, with a shaded patio and the kind.
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