9 tex mex rooms in Dallas we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Dallas | Tex Mex across every city.
Tex-Mex was effectively codified in Dallas, and the city's oldest rooms still serve it. El Fenix on McKinney Ave, founded in 1918, is credited with formalizing the enchilada-and-chili-gravy combination plate, while Herrera's Cafe has held the same Oak Cliff spot on West Illinois Avenue since 1949. Mia's Tex-Mex in Uptown, open since 1981, gave the city its brisket taco, and Mariano's Hacienda Ranch is where Mariano Martinez invented the frozen margarita machine in 1971.
Mia's Tex-Mex ★ 4.3
uptown · 4334 Lemmon Ave, Dallas, TX 75219
Operating since 1981, Mia's serves the brisket tacos that became a Dallas archetype. Located in Uptown. Open mon-sat 11am-9:30pm, sun 11am-9pm.
El Fenix ★ 4.0
uptown · 1601 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75202
Founded 1918 by Mike Martinez, El Fenix is the oldest Tex-Mex chain in the US, credited with formalising the enchilada-chili-gravy combination plate Dallas.
Herrera's Cafe ★ 4.2
oak-cliff · 2853 W Illinois Ave, Dallas, TX 75233
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.
Mia's Tex-Mex ★ 4.3
uptown · 4334 Lemmon Ave, Dallas, TX 75219
A family-owned Lemmon Avenue institution since 1981 whose brisket taco created a Dallas archetype. Located in Uptown. Kitchen leans tex-mex.
El Fenix ★ 4.0
uptown · 1601 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75202
Founded 1918 by Mike Martinez, this is the restaurant most historians credit with formalising the Tex-Mex combination plate in Dallas. Located in Uptown.
Herrera's Cafe ★ 4.2
oak-cliff · 2853 W Illinois Ave, Dallas, TX 75233
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.
Mariano's Hacienda Ranch ★ 3.8
lakewood · 6300 Skillman St, Dallas, TX 75231
Mariano Martinez invented the frozen margarita machine on May 11, 1971 at his original East Dallas restaurant. Located in Lakewood. Priced at $$.
Herrera's Cafe ★ 4.2
oak-cliff · 2853 W Illinois Ave, Dallas, TX 75233
Tex-Mex institution since 1949 with a lunch special under $12 that includes enchiladas, rice, beans, and a drink. The best-value sit-down Tex-Mex in Dallas.
Mia's Tex-Mex ★ 4.4
uptown · 4334 Lemmon Ave, Dallas, TX 75219
The brisket taco at Mia's costs around $6 individually, making it an affordable way to experience Dallas's most definitive Tex-Mex taco. Located in Uptown.