As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the cheap, but all are delicious to the extreme. Don't hesitate to share your own nominations in the comments. More of the dish's tasty details are after the jump.
No. 55 Carne Asada Plate at Taqueria El Fuego
The walls are painted festively at Taqueria El Fuego, as are the dozen or so wooden tables at this tiny Richardson establishment. The chairs are mismatched, and no chips and salsa are forthcoming as you enter. Nevertheless, El Fuego routinely shows up on the best taquerias in Dallas lists, and one of the reasons is the Carne Asada Plate. Paper-thin, yet wonderfully tender, the two huge slabs of steak are surrounded by lettuce, tomato slices, a smidgen of chunky guacamole, outstanding rice and beans and very good white corn tortillas. Add some salsa from the salsa bar (try the fiery orange version) and you'll be all set for one of the best Mexican lunches in the city. But do arrive early, Taqueria El Fuego is open only for breakfast and lunch, and the doors close at 4 p.m.
Taqueria El Fuego 1891 N. Plano Road Richardson 972-231-3456
No. 100: Oatmeal Pancakes at Legal Grounds No. 99: Shanghai Buns at Jeng Chi Dumpling House No. 98: Mashed Tater Parfait at Cowboy Chow No. 97: Chicken and Waffles at Victor Tango's No. 96: Colorado Lamb Osso Bucco at Hibiscus No. 95: Flatbread Pizza at Dish No. 94: First Chinese Barbecue in Richardson No. 93: Elotes at Fuel City No. 92: Summer Platter For Two at Big Shucks No. 91: Chicken Gizzards at Sushi Yama No. 90: Bob Armstrong Dip at Matt's Rancho Martinez No. 89: The Angry Dog at Angry Dog No. 88: Sliders at Dish No. 87: Spaghetti Bolognese at Urbano Café No. 86: Vietnamese Pork Panini at Lumi Empanada & Dumpling Kitchen No. 85: Cheese Fries at Snuffers No. 84: Tres Vasos at Samar No. 83: Quatro Leches at La Duni No. 82: Pad Pak at Bangkok City No. 81: Brisket Sandwich at Maple and Motor No. 80: Lunch Express at Dream Cafe No. 79: Apple Crisp at Salum No. 78: La Vaca Loca at Good 2 Go No. 77: Shrimp and Grits at Screen Door No. 76: Meatball Sub at Jimmy's No. 75: Baja Chicken at Mattito's No. 74: Fried Port Salut Cheese at The Porch No. 73: Lobster Roll at Rex's No. 72: Fried Green Beans at Local No. 71: Shaved Ice at May's Ice Cream No. 70: Shredded Pork Sandwich at Mojitos No. 69: Tom-Yum-Gai at Bangkok City No. 68: Paella at La Calle Doce No. 67: Bacon Cheeseburger at Wingfield's Breakfast and Burgers No. 66: Original Nachos at Fuzzy's Taco Shop No. 65: El Aragón at Tortas La Hechizera No. 64: The Cheeseburger at The Grape No. 63: Dungeness Crab Dip at Hibiscus No. 62: Sweetbreads Made Two Ways from Restaurant AVA No. 61 Asado De Puerco Rojo at Chitos No. 60: Basil Chicken at Genroku No. 59: Capricciosa Pizza at Il Cane Rosso Truck No. 58: Shrimp and Chicken Curry Clay Pot at Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant No. 57: The Grilled Cheese and Chili at Highland Park Pharmacy No. 56: Meatloaf Blue Plate Special At Norma's Cafe
