True Oak Cliff staple serving authentic Mexico-style street tacos, open every day with consistently praised bistek and chorizo. A no-frills taqueria that locals drive 20 minutes out of their way to visit.
Must order: Bistek taco; chorizo with egg; carne asada
Tip: Cash strongly preferred. Weekend mornings bring the neighborhood crowd. A covered outdoor seating area keeps service running even in summer heat.
Address: 2126 Fort Worth Ave, Dallas, TX 75208
Tex-Mex institution since 1949, known for handmade enchiladas, chile con queso, and street-style tacos. The most storied Mexican-American counter in Dallas, still run by the original family.
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. No reservations; queue outside on weekend evenings.
Deep Ellum creative taco concept from the Dallas-born chain, building globally inspired fillings like Nashville hot chicken, Thai shrimp, and falafel into fresh-pressed flour and corn tortillas.
Order: Nashville hot chicken taco; Thai shrimp taco; WTF (weekly taco feature)
Tip: The WTF (Weekly Taco Feature) changes every Monday and regularly draws crowds. Late-night open until 3am on Friday and Saturday, one of the best after-concert options in Deep Ellum.
Bright yellow Dallas food truck that has become one of the most recognized mobile taco operations in the city, bringing street-style corn tortilla tacos with house-made salsas to Greenville and surrounding neighborhoods.
Order: Carne asada taco; al pastor; fresh-made salsa verde trio
Tip: Check their Instagram for current truck location, which rotates. The Fitzhugh spot is their most consistent posting. Cash and card accepted.
Open-air Mexican bistro on Main Street Downtown with a courtyard setting and street-food-style menu of tacos, tortas, and Mexican street corn. One of Downtown's most approachable lunch spots year-round.
Order: Street tacos al pastor; elotes (Mexican street corn); birria torta
Tip: The courtyard fills on weekday lunch. The birria torta is the order if you are hungry. Friday evenings the courtyard gets lively with the after-work crowd.
New York-style halal rice bowl concept that fills the most important gap in Deep Ellum: 36-hour marinated chicken and lamb over rice until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays for the post-concert crowd.
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.
Tex-Mex institution since 1949, known for handmade enchiladas, chile con queso, and street-style tacos. The most storied Mexican-American counter in Dallas, still run by the original family.
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. No reservations; queue outside on weekend evenings.
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. The open-pit BBQ is some of the most lauded in Texas.
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.
