Styrofoam

Wu-Tang Clan, Empire of the Sun and More to Play Breakaway Music Festival in Dallas

There's a new music festival coming to Dallas. Well, Frisco, technically: It wil held at FC Dallas Stadium. But there are plenty of reasons to make the trip for the inaugural Breakaway Music Festival. The lineup, which hasn't been finalized, includes Empire of the Sun, Wu-Tang Clan, Big Gigantic, Ju ... More >>

An Interesting Taco At Pupuseria La Pasadita

You haven't lived until you've hung out in East Dallas, outside a bustling convenience store, and watched a photographer plate pupusas up on porcelain before shooting them with a camera on a tripod. Lori Bandi went through a lot of work to make these pupusas look pretty for this week's Dish column. ... More >>

Shea Serrano's Rap Coloring Book To Become Real Book You Can Buy

Shea Serrano, whose name you may have seen in our sister papers L.A. Weekly and Houston Press, has been responsible for some of this year's finest music writing. This piece, in which he chronicles the night he chaperoned a middle school dance, may be the high point, mainly for this passage: 1:08: O ... More >>

A BBQ Snob Finds Bliss on a Bun at Kenny's Wood Fired Burger

We don't respect much here at the Dallas Observer, but when it comes to Texas barbecue, there's one guy whose word is holy writ: BBQ Snob Daniel Vaughn, whose Full Custom Gospel BBQ blog is the go-to guide for sniffing out the best smoked meat in the state. So for Burger Week on City of Ate, who bet ... More >>

Sonic Will Have Corn Dogs For 50 Cents on Halloween

I do it. You do it. We all utter a short string of colorful words when we miss Happy Hour at Sonic. And it's always at 4:08 in the afternoon when all you've had to drink that day is bottle of room-temperature water and maybe some questionable orange juice. It's not supposed to taste carbonated, just ... More >>

Two Ways To Find Value At Mughlai, One Of Dallas' Best Indian Restaurants

I can't figure out why Indian food isn't more popular. Of all the cuisines to enjoy, it has the most character, most complexity and most diversity. A southern Indian curry flavored with coconut and heat is nothing like the rich meat stews from North India, and dishes from East India incorporate uniq ... More >>

Tips For The Best Burgers You'll Ever Grill At Home

Summer is gone, and standing beside a hot grill no longer feels like an act of torture. That means it's time to fire up the charcoal, and one of the easiest way to coax the most flavor out of your kettle grill is by cooking top-notch burgers. Skip the preformed pucks the grocery stores try and sell ... More >>

In Photos: The Elotes of Dallas

Elotes en vaso is a simple and delicious Mexican snack that can be found all throughout Dallas. Elotes en vaso, or more commonly just referred to as "elotes" is a savory combination of corn, butter, mayo, crema mexicana, Cotija cheese (sometimes Parmesan), salt, hot sauce, lime and sometimes lemon p ... More >>

Plastic Bag Bans and Mandatory Recycling: A Glimpse into Dallas' Trash Future

Best case scenario: The world's largest retailer builds a spaceship that allows humanity to flee a trash-choked planet and spend several centuries growing ever fatter and lazier on an interstellar cruise, unwitting captives to a self-aware computer, until an oddly adorable trash-compacting robot uns ... More >>

La Banqueta's Suadero Tacos Boast Brisket Bacon Bits

See also: *The Cheap Bastard's take on La Banqueta (and butt crack). Out front of La Banqueta three panhandlers sat in the sun. One asked me for change, while another cleaned his fingernails with the corner of a scratch-off lottery card. The third sat silently and gazed out towards Bryan Street. In ... More >>

My Childhood Hatred of Beets Robbed Me of My Dream To Play Professional Baseball

When I was in elementary school our menu was extremely one-dimensional, relying on a handful of staples rotated throughout the week in a failed attempt to keep things fresh. We did not eat well. Fish sticks were prominent, and I remember watching in disgust as some of the other kids at my table slat ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes, No. 96: Elotes: Everywhere

To prepare for this fall's Best of Dallas® 2012 issue, we're counting down (in no particular order) our 100 Favorite Dishes. If there's a dish you think we need to try, leave it in the comments, or email me. I'm not going to spend a second trying to point out Dallas' best Elotes rendition; the ... More >>

Restore Your Meat-Pummeled Body with Ali Baba's Tabouleh

It's a bit tiresome to hear a critic gripe about all the food they're forced to eat. (There are worse ways to make a living.) After reviewing near back-to-back southern comfort restaurants, though, I felt pretty pummeled with fat and meat. I needed a break. While interviewing an Italian chef back i ... More >>

2 Chainz - Main Event Center - 4/6/12

2 Chainz Main Event Center Friday, April 6 Friday night, precipitous persona 2 Chainz arrived in a white stretch Hummer limousine, packed full of women and choice entourage at the Main Event Center. With a wingspan rivaling most NBA power forwards, 2 Chainz's menacing frame appeared not a moment to ... More >>

Mothafukkin' Pic Nic Pants: These Have to Be City of Ate's Official Pants

This is an important invention. It was hard not to assume this was some sort of early April Fools' prank, but visiting the Italian source proved it (thankfully) true. Besides being City of Ate's New Official Pant, we're just thrilled there's now a flap system that allows us to drop to the ground a ... More >>

My Block: The Neighborhood As a Mixtape

It came from inside the house. Or rather, from below: The very familiar sounds of someone learning to play bass. And not just that: Learning to play "Iron Man." Then, 15 minutes later, came another sound from across the hall: Pink Floyd's "Money" at full blast, as if to negate Black Sabbath. I turne ... 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 >>

Zaguan's Sandwich: Elevated Desk Fare For a Hurried Lunch

​I love eating lunch out. I like long, luxurious mid-day meals with wine and a course or three, with coffee for dessert. But who's got time for that? I admit, now that I eat for a living I indulge myself way more often than I used to, but deadlines are deadlines, and I often find myself eating ... More >>

At Ranch at Las Colinas, Hit the Petting Zoo, Then Eat the Cow

I will be your burger one day soon​I'm wary of promoting too many events, since they often suck. But this one caught my eye, especially if you have little ones who enjoy fancy dining and nothing on your docket. Kids ought to know that hamburgers don't come from from Styrofoam trays covered in ... More >>

Cousin's Wins the Red River BBQ Shootout, Has Slow-Cooked Bragging Rights Until Next Season

Main Street Garden hosted the inaugural TX/OU Red River BBQ Shootout on Friday night, and the BBQ carnage that ensued left folks young and old victim to great rib artistry. Amidst a backdrop of thick country music and a setting sun, Cousin's BBQ of Ft Worth squared off against Leo's BBQ of Oklahoma ... More >>

At Amruth and the Taj Chaat House, a Lesson in Learning From Ingredients

Lesson No. 1: Show up hungry.

Pho is for Lovers? We Thought it Was Good for a Cold.

Photo by Kristy YangPho is for Lovers bahn mi: Tasty pig, great bread.​Pho is for Lovers. I'm still on the fence about that name. Given the restaurant's location at Lovers Lane and Greenville Avenue, it's clever and cute. On the other hand, I normally associate pho with Vietnamese mothers, nas ... More >>

In-N-Out vs. Burger House. Or, Why Owning a Small Business Must Really Suck Sometimes.

​At the precise moment that I shot the above photo on Wednesday, a good 300 people were probably lined up at a fast-food burger chain up in Frisco. Maybe you heard about that? I'm guessing you did, judging from the Most Popular Stories widget at the top right of this page. It was shot at the ... More >>

At SMU's Living Village, Harvey Lacey Demos a House Built One Plastic Bag At A Time

Photos by Patrick MichelsInventor Harvey Lacey in front of a mud-covered house built with his Ubuntu Blox, bales of compacted plastic bags and Styrofoam..​Today marks the middle of SMU's Engineering & Humanity Week, where, as Robert already told you, students are field-testing some the latest ... More >>

Flash Mart's Tacos: Please Sir, Can I've Some More?

​I am left hungry, and I'm pissed off about it, not because the tacos at Flash Mart are regrettable examples of overcooked, drier than Death Valley meat wrapped in flaccid, oily white corn tortillas. It's the opposite. The tacos prepared and served inside the gas station at the corner of Abr ... More >>

B.B.Bop: Try a Korean Super Bowl

The Taco Trail Takes a Trip to Tampa

​In Tampa's historic Seminole Heights neighborhood, one of bungalows and art deco buildings and neighbors who know neighbors and care for each other, a white bus has stalled permanently. Owned by Rene Valenzuela, a Mexico native and veteran taquero, the Tampa Taco Bus offers Northern Mexican ... More >>

Bambu: This Friendly, Authentic Thai Spot Gets a Kiss on the Cheek.

Wreath It Up

Top 5 and Bottom 5 School Cafeteria Lunches From The Good Ol' Days

​Kids are back in school, which means their summer diet of Flamin' Hot Cheetos and Mountain Dew is giving way to ... black bean burgers and hummus? What the what? In our day, school lunches were composed of compressed mystery meat, gubment cheese and sugar. We'd have laughed the lunch lady right ... More >>

Fuzzy's Taco Shop: Nachos with a Side of Double Entendre.

Black Forest Bakery and Black Forest Coffee: A Tale of Two Cups

Daniel Rodrigue​After an early pre-breakfast trip on Saturday to the behemoth that is Northwest Highway Half Price Books, Roasted couldn't resist walking across the street to Henk's European Deli & Black Forest Bakery. It was just after 9, and the tables in the quaint restaurant/bakery/deli an ... More >>

El Queso Mexican Grill: Delivering Fast-Casual Tex-Mex to Your Door--or should we say Lightning Fast?

Colleen Meesey​Delivery Quote Time: 10 Minutes Actual Delivery Time: 10 Minutes Delivering in less than 30 Minutes: 30 points Freshness of Food: 20 points Queso without Zip: Minus Five Points All Menu Items Less Than Seven Bucks: 20 Points Everything Clearly Labeled and Packaged: 10 Points T ... More >>

At Plano's Fish Shack, It's Not About The Location, The Presentation Or Even The Service--It's All About The Fish

Dude Food: Country Burger

Jesse HugheyYes, that spot on the tomato slice is mold. ​Country Burger401 S. Hampton Rd.214-330-4743Dude Factor: 3, or Buckethead, on a scale of 1 (Axl Rose) to 10 (Slash)Last night in choosing a place to eat, I decided to stick to my New Year's resolution. Fortunately, my resolution is to eat mo ... More >>

Back to Azle, Where the Nachos Grow Cold

​Maybe you saw Janet St. James's story last Thursday on WFAA-Channel 8, when she visited that Tarrant-Parker Counties bordertown known as Azle to find out what-the-what was up with that "Hispanics Keep Out" sign. The folks over at Guanabee followed up with a weekend item, including a video you'll ... More >>

How 'Bout Them Knockers: New Big Wong

Patrick Michels"Using the moon's gravity, we'll slingshot you back to rendezvous with the dumpling here."Each week in 'Knockers' we order from a different delivery restaurant, assessing their efficiency and keeping a running score.New Big Wong2121 Greenville Ave214-821-4198Promised delivery time: 3 ... More >>

How 'Bout Them Knockers: Texan Steak

Patrick MichelsHere's a hot cooking tip for summer! Don't put Styrofoam in the microwave. Use the grill instead...Texan Steak4817 Ross Avenue214-521-7999Promised delivery time: 45 minutesActual delivery time: 35 minutesNovelty of concept: 15No menu online, or discernible storefront on street: -20Hel ... More >>

Dude Food: Stoneleigh P

Stoneleigh P 2926 Maple Ave. 214-871-2346 The Stoneleigh P has been a historic watering hole for the dudes of Dallas since it opened in the 70s. And by ‘dudes,’ we mostly mean rich dudes, at least judging by the parking lot, where on any given day you’re likely to spot a Land Rover sidled ... More >>

One Man's Trash

Look what came out of the lake

Tacos y Mas

Styrofoam

Wednesday, November 16, at Gypsy Tea Room's "Tea Room"

Eclectic Boogaloo

At Tutto Eclectic Italian, the menu doesn't fail to seduce, but the food falls flat on delivery

Best Sporting-Goods Store

Academy Sports & Outdoors

Basic Instinct

Plus: Move Over, Swifties; Thanks A Lot, Pal

Best Place for General Tso to Chicken Out

China Express

Chinese Cookie Torture

Why don’t fortune cookies tell our fortunes anymore?

Buzz

How can we miss you...; And take Julio with you; Penny pinchers; Bad timing; Turnabout is fair play

Indian beatitude

Suprabhath is simple splendor

The corporate curator

Work got you down? Why not bring some art into your business?