North-American Food and Cooking

Are There Different Kinds of Mexican Food?

At El Padrino, Meatless Monday Means Meatless Tortas, and That, Oddly Enough, is a Good Thing

After last week's vegan pho fiasco, I wasn't too jazzed about another meatless meal, but reading Scott's V-Spot review inspired me, and I was encouraged to seek out tasty vegetarian options once again. El Padrino means "godfather", and that awesome name was enough to get me to stop here rather than ... More >>

The Great Dallas Brisket Taco Hunt

Five brisket tacos at five places in five hours: It's more meat -- and more fun -- than it seems.

Meatless Monday Is Harder Than I Thought

Ed. note: Along with our booze correspondent, food critic Scott Reitz is trying his mouth at going meatless on Mondays. They'll occasionally relay their experiences. So far Scott sucks at it. It sounded soooooooo easy. Drop meat on Mondays -- it'll help save the world and shit. And it's only one da ... More >>

Despite Recent Closings, Cuquita's is Holding On by Serving Simple Food

Cuquita's doesn't look like much from the outside. Just another strip mall Mexican place, right? I paid the restaurant a visit the other day on the recommendation of a friend. I wanted an excuse to eat outside the loop, and Cuquita's, on Josey Lane in Farmer's Branch, promised traditional garb and ... More >>

Avila's Off-Menu Shrimp Tacos: An Appreciation

Catherine Downes​On Thursday afternoon, a blackboard out front of Avila's Mexican Restaurant boasted -- in bright pink and blue chalk -- an enchilada lunch special. After being seated, and having chips and salsa thrust at me, I nearly ordered the enchiladas, but was swayed when I noticed anoth ... More >>

El Pambazo Brings the Goods, Leaving You Muy Lleno

​ Each week, Justin Bitner goes hunting for DFW's most interesting sandwiches. Have a sandwich suggestion? Leave it in the comments and he'll check it out. Venue: Tortas La Hechizera Sandwich: El Pambazo ($5.69) Bread: Bolillo well-soaked in scarlet enchilada sauce Toppings: Chorizo, fried ... More >>

Meso Maya's Hands of God

Behold, the truly hand-made tortilla.

Raul's Corral: Tex-Mex and Giant Animal Statues. What More Do You Need to Know?

​Each week, the Cheap Bastard goes looking for a new place to eat a meal for less than nine million dollars. This week, she haunts Raul's Corral, 200 Corinth St., 214-428-4500. Her mind wasn't blown by the food, but it was kind of nicely felt up. Times I wondered if I'd seen this place in a m ... More >>

The Phones Are Open and Dallas' Tamale Purveyors Are Ready For Your Order

Flickr​Don't be the pinche gringo who jacks up your Christmas Eve celebration. It's tamale ordering time, and while some places make a few extra bazillion to sell to all the assholes who don't call ahead, others are more than willing to send you home tamale-less if you don't pick up the phone. ... More >>

La Victoria: Man With 4 out of 32 Teeth Agrees -- It's "Yeeeeeees"

Alice Laussade​Each week, the Cheap Bastard goes looking for a new place to eat a meal for less than nine million dollars. This week, she finds the man of her dreams at La Victoria, 1605 N Haskell Ave., 214-827-0101. Dinosaur toy guarding the barbed wire fence count: 1 Times I've driven past ... More >>

Fried Chicken and Enchiladas: It's What We Do, According to Food and Wine and Serious Eats

Delicious fried chicken as submitted by Bubba's Cooks Country​Dallas' food has gotten attention from all corners of the internet recently. Food and Wine put together a slideshow that compiles the country's 30 best renditions of fried chicken. Local favorite Bubba's Cooks Country is listed amon ... More >>

Chef Nico Sanchez Interview, Part 2: On Getting Back to Basics with Authentic Mexican Food

Chef Nico Sanchez of Meso Maya​Yesterday Chef Nico Sanchez of Meso Maya told City of Ate a bit about his background. In part two of our interview, we learn his thoughts on the Dallas food scene, particularly Tex-Mex, and the simple art of actually Mexican Mexican food. What are your three fa ... More >>

A First Look at Meso Maya, the Latest Addition to Dallas' Actually-Mexican-Mex Scene

Lauren Drewes DanielsCarne Asada at Meso Maya​Meso Maya, the new Mexican restaurant at Preston and Forrest, describes its food as an "adventure into the roots of regional Mexican food." Don't let that scare you off, though. No, the plates aren't covered in melted orange cheese, but I think we ... More >>

The Free Man Cajun Cafe Brings Cajun Food, with a Side of Jazz, to Deep Ellum

Lauren Drewes DanielsCranberry wheat bread pudding at The Free Man.​The other day I drove past The Free Man Cajun Cafe & Lounge in Deep Ellum, where Sol's Taco Lounge used to be at 2626 Commerce, and later Googled them to see what the buzz was. One reviewer wrote that they had the best bread ... More >>

Wild Salsa Helps Dallas Wean Itself Off Tex-Mex With, You Know, Mexican Mexican

​Oh Tex Mex, must you be such a gut bomb? The heavy cream sauces, beans laden with lard and cheese cheese cheese. I've eaten at a few local spots, and while the selection in Dallas is undoubtedly better than other cities, it's still Tex-Mex. It's still a little boring. I like the flavors. I ... More >>

Velvet Taco Is Open For Business, the Purity in Your Taco-Loving Heart Be Damned

Chicken and Texas burger tacos​The hours are somewhat mushy, but this weekend things should be in full swing at the new Velvet Taco (3012 North Henderson), and the "open really late" line stamped on their black and yellow sign will finally ring true. This ain't no Texas taco. The menu details ... More >>

Cool & Hot Tacos Brings the Fire and Ice

Delicious, trashy stand could be heaven, except that it let Alice in.

Taqueria La Tejanita at Flash Mart: Nothing Flashy, But Go

Delicious, trashy stand could be heaven, except that it let Alice in.

Free (FREE!) Food at Café Brazil Today

Cafe BrazilHuevos Rancheros​Do y'ever do something nice just for the sake of doing something nice? No? Well luckily, the good people at Lower Greenville's Café Brazil do, as today, they'll be treating any and all patrons to a FREE entrée from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. During that glorious nine-hour ... More >>

Chipotle Serves Up a Mean Impromptu Quesadilla

Chipotle's quesadilla.​Here at City of Ate we heard murmurs that, despite not having it on their menu, Chipotle can actually whip up a pretty darn good quesadilla, and we had to see and taste it for ourselves. We awkwardly asked for a quesadilla, and the staff happily obliged. The woman behi ... More >>

Five Tortillerias That Trump Tequila

​Today, we celebrate the victory of Mexican armed forces over the French. The event is usually honored with copious amounts of sour margaritas and bad Tex-Mex food. Take, for example, the Bob Armstrong Queso-eating contest at Mattito's Uptown. Not all must be sour day-glo beverages and paperw ... More >>

Alma: Great Mexican Food, but Give Us Tea for Texas.

​Today, we celebrate the victory of Mexican armed forces over the French. The event is usually honored with copious amounts of sour margaritas and bad Tex-Mex food. Take, for example, the Bob Armstrong Queso-eating contest at Mattito's Uptown. Not all must be sour day-glo beverages and paperw ... More >>

Komali Aims to Elevate Authentic Mexican Food. It Misses.

​Today, we celebrate the victory of Mexican armed forces over the French. The event is usually honored with copious amounts of sour margaritas and bad Tex-Mex food. Take, for example, the Bob Armstrong Queso-eating contest at Mattito's Uptown. Not all must be sour day-glo beverages and paperw ... More >>

La Paloma Taco-Taco: Can a Taco Joint Ever be Redundant? Sometimes.

​Today, we celebrate the victory of Mexican armed forces over the French. The event is usually honored with copious amounts of sour margaritas and bad Tex-Mex food. Take, for example, the Bob Armstrong Queso-eating contest at Mattito's Uptown. Not all must be sour day-glo beverages and paperw ... More >>

Best Enchiladas Ever: Tons of Choices- Most of Them Good- at Monica Greene's Latest.

​Today, we celebrate the victory of Mexican armed forces over the French. The event is usually honored with copious amounts of sour margaritas and bad Tex-Mex food. Take, for example, the Bob Armstrong Queso-eating contest at Mattito's Uptown. Not all must be sour day-glo beverages and paperw ... More >>

Mexicali Restaurant: Hey, Grandpa, What's for Supper?

​Today, we celebrate the victory of Mexican armed forces over the French. The event is usually honored with copious amounts of sour margaritas and bad Tex-Mex food. Take, for example, the Bob Armstrong Queso-eating contest at Mattito's Uptown. Not all must be sour day-glo beverages and paperw ... More >>

10 Cheap Party Spots for Fat Tuesday

​ You don't need an excuse to party tomorrow night because it's Fat Tuesday, the official holiday of fatty foods, booze and general debauchery. Restaurants and bars are offering some cheap food and drink deals, but unfortunately many of them are amping up their Fat Tuesday festivities with c ... More >>

New Vegan Enchilada Buzz at BEE

​Based on the constantly buzzing (ha!) parking lot, and the word of mouth (some call it buzz) about BEE: Best Enchiladas Ever, it's become clear that the Oak Cliff counter-service enchiladeria is a neighborhood and willing-commuter favorite. People dig the options, the service, the people behind i ... More >>

Cool & Hot is Sweet

Jose Ralat Maldanado​My 2-year-old son loves three things: cars; his teddy bear, Rupert; and tacos. So, after a morning spent at a local vintage and custom car show, tacos were in order, this time at Cool & Hot. The Oak Cliff taquería inhabits a converted gas station with an operational car w ... More >>

BEE (Best Enchiladas Ever) Lives Up to Its Name

Jose Ralat Maldanado​My 2-year-old son loves three things: cars; his teddy bear, Rupert; and tacos. So, after a morning spent at a local vintage and custom car show, tacos were in order, this time at Cool & Hot. The Oak Cliff taquería inhabits a converted gas station with an operational car w ... More >>

El Paisai: Worth The Drive-Thru

Jose Ralat Maldanado​My 2-year-old son loves three things: cars; his teddy bear, Rupert; and tacos. So, after a morning spent at a local vintage and custom car show, tacos were in order, this time at Cool & Hot. The Oak Cliff taquería inhabits a converted gas station with an operational car w ... More >>

Things You Probably Didn't Know About The Goodie Mob

Jose Ralat Maldanado​My 2-year-old son loves three things: cars; his teddy bear, Rupert; and tacos. So, after a morning spent at a local vintage and custom car show, tacos were in order, this time at Cool & Hot. The Oak Cliff taquería inhabits a converted gas station with an operational car w ... More >>

Gumbo Rune

DaZa offers a dash of Creole poetry

Chili-ing Out

Why can't they make Texas food outside Texas?

Zzzzz

Order the coffee black; you'll need it at the dull Z'Tejas Southwestern Grill

Born-again Baja

Baja California Grill transforms itself again

Taco Star

Taqueria Cañonita

Boonies kitsch

Theme-soaked La Hacienda Ranch is worth the drive to Frisco

Transcendent Tex-Mex

Casa Rosa defends its turf with an exceptional take on Dallas' favorite cuisine

Hot Dish

Casa Rosa defends its turf with an exceptional take on Dallas' favorite cuisine

Cajun quest

Good cuisine--even if it involves bathtubs of boiling oil-- never goes out of style

Taco of the town

Tupinamba deserves its spot in Tex-Metroplex history

Hot Dish

Tupinamba deserves its spot in Tex-Metroplex history

Tex-Mex time warp

Oak Cliff's Tejano hasn't changed its menu in 14 years, and they're proud of it

Los Vaqueros time machine

And who the hell is George Poston?

The boy next door

Javier's has been around so long, it's easy to overlook. Here's why you shouldn't

Glorioso

Dallas' favorite secret stakes a home north of the Trinity-- with wonderful results

Tex-Mex chauvinist

Only arrogant New Yorkers would confuse calamari and quesadillas; and, yes, Rafa's has the real thing

Comforts of old Mexico

Casa Navarro reincarnates one of Dallas' original Tex-Mex restaurants