Big Guy's Chicken and Rice (Late Night) is a street-food stop in Deep Ellum, Dallas.
Editorially verified May 25, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Must order: Mixed chicken and lamb rice bowl with white sauce; lamb gyro wrap
Tip: Most reliable 2am-4am food in Deep Ellum. Cash and card accepted. Saturday midnight queues start fast.
Address: 2614 Elm St, Ste 130, Dallas, TX 75226
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: One-pound brisket; pork spare ribs; jalapeno cheddar sausage link
Tip: Arrive by 10:45am to join the queue before noon. Wed-Fri wait times are shorter than Sat-Sun. The sold-out time varies but assumes 1:30pm on busy Saturdays.
Tex-Mex institution since 1949, known for handmade enchiladas, chile con queso, and street-style tacos. Open mon-thu 8am-10pm, fri-sat 8am-11pm, sun 8am-10pm.
Order: Red enchiladas with chili gravy; chile con queso; street tacos with house salsa
Tip: One of Dallas's oldest continuously operating Tex-Mex counters. The lunch special is the best value in the neighborhood.
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: One-pound brisket; pork spare ribs; jalapeno cheddar sausage link
Tip: Arrive by 10:45am to join the queue before noon. Wed-Fri wait times are shorter than Sat-Sun. The sold-out time varies but assumes 1:30pm on busy Saturdays.
South Dallas and North Dallas multi-location trompo taqueria where al pastor tacos start at $2.30. Located in Oak Cliff. Open daily 8am-10pm.
Order: Al pastor de trompo taco (3 tacos for under $7); pastor with pineapple
Tip: Locations across South Dallas and Northeast Dallas. The trompo is best after noon when the spit has been spinning for hours and the outer crust caramelizes.
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: Brisket taco; chile relleno; house margarita
Tip: The brisket taco is the most-ordered dish. Queue outside most evenings; reservations only accepted for parties of 8+.
Plano halal Mediterranean grill serving shawarma wraps, falafel bowls, and garlic chicken plates with scratch-made sauces and Zabihah-verified meat sourcing.
Order: Chicken shawarma wrap; falafel plate with garlic sauce; mixed meat plate
Tip: Zabihah-verified halal certification on-site. The garlic sauce is made from scratch daily; order extra. Good for group halal dining in North Dallas suburbs.
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: Texas-size beef rib (weekend only); brisket by the pound; jalapeno sausage link
Tip: The beef rib is a weekend-only item and sells out by 2pm. Pit window service is the most authentic Texas BBQ experience.
