Matthew Toback, the owner of Cowtown Dogs, has dedicated years to perfecting his chili dog recipe, which eventually culminated in a custom-made premium beef and pork frank made by Hummel Brothers, an almost-century-old butcher based in New Haven, Connecticut. This food truck gets reserved for a lot of private events, parties and such, but every Thursday you can find the orange box parked outside A-EZ Out Bail Bonds on Riverfront Boulevard, which in itself can make for interesting people watching as you eat in your car. Start with a plain hotdog with that custom frank on a brioche bun, then order one other with whatever fixings you like (we like the house-made chili and cheese). Get a container of the mac and cheese for dinner; it's a monster meal. Thursday never tasted so good.

Tracy Rathbun and Lynae Fearing's neighborhood seafood market is everything you could ask for. Fresh fish arrives daily, and whether it's oysters or poke from the raw bar, the delectable tempura fried lobster spoons or the shrimp and grits that speak fluent Cajun, there's likely something for all palates. Try the pecan-crusted halibut served on a bed of cheesy green chile grits. The seafood classics are served up in a dining room that gives off beach house casual vibes, with service that makes you feel like part of the family.

Step inside the new Casa Rosa and find a brilliant homage to the Highland Park original. A large skylight shines down to create a courtyard feel, and colorful art adorns the pink walls and matching cloth napkins on each table. Casa Rosa's menu offers all the Tex-Mex favorites with flavor and affordability. Fajitas were introduced to Dallas here, and they're still a classic. Order the beef: tenderloin strips cloaked in steam and surrounded by a bed of onions and peppers. Pile forkfuls into the house-made tortillas, and each bite will have you reveling in the brilliance of some of Dallas' most genuine Tex-Mex.

Is it 43 types of pies? Perhaps 43 homing pigeons circling in the dining room? No, it's the 43rd president of these humble United States. Café 43, part of the George W. Bush Presidential Library on the SMU campus, is open for lunch (11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) every day but Sunday. Here, a stately yet casual dining room complemented by impeccable service offers a menu inspired in part by 43 and former first lady Laura Bush. When the weather is agreeable, get a table on the patio overlooking a decent-enough patch of native Texas landscaping with wildflowers. It's downright lovely. Enjoy mimosas and a Southern Benedict made with pulled pork and an andouille gravy for brunch on Saturday. Or Mrs. Bush's favorite sandwich any other day. The chicken salad served with thick rustic bread is highly recommended too.

Since 1956 Norma's has kept the home fires burning, serving breakfast all day, along with Southern comfort food like chicken-fried steak, smothered pork chops and their trademarked Mile-High Pies. All five restaurants across North Texas have the proper kitschy American diner essentials, but one thing we love about Norma's is they're just good people. Every Thanksgiving at the original Oak Cliff location they offer free meals to those who might not otherwise be able to enjoy one. Here you'll get good cooking and good pie served by good people with a slogan of "eat dessert first."

Hat Creek Burger Company is a fast-casual restaurant out of Austin that offers fenced-in playgrounds for the kids and good food and booze for their adult keepers. The menu has gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and dairy-free options, and any of the burgers can be made as a salad. There's the requisite chicken nuggets on the menu and milkshakes that can make for good bribes. And wine. Did we mention that? So taking the kids out doesn't feel so much like punishment.

Yellow Rosa is a special place. The entrance to the Deep Ellum cantina has speakeasy vibes (look for a sign on the sidewalk). Once inside, it feels like an escape to a cantina in a Mexican town. Yellow Rosa has a seasonal cocktail menu, but our favorite drink isn't even on the menu: Ask for a frozen mango margarita, smooth and strong with a smear of Tajin covering half the glass. Yeah, we'll lick it before each sip. It's that good. Bonus feature at Yellow Rosa: Thursday's $5 margarita menu. The weekend brunch is lively and fun, and there's usually a mariachi band on Sundays.

This is a pancake worth getting out of bed early for. Snooze's pineapple upside down pancake is a signature piece. A fluffy buttermilk pancake is studded with ample chunks of caramelized pineapple, then covered with a house-made vanilla creme. It honestly channels tres leches energy. On top is a big dollop of mostly cinnamon butter. You can order real maple syrup for it if you need it (you don't, but you certainly won't get any side-eye from us about it). They were serving these pancakes in the VIP area of the Observer's Morning After Brunch event last year and a group of us parked nearby and made repeated trips to their stand; we didn't eat all the pancake samples that day, but we sure did try.

Want to grab drinks and a bite before the game? Of course you do. That's why you go. The pregame. Happiest Hour is within walking distance of the American Airlines Center, and it's surrounded by other restaurants and bars, plus it has a great rooftop view and lawn. Before games, it's a sea of jerseys. And despite how busy it can get, the service is always on point. And the food — from salads to a roasted half chicken — is good. For a wow factor, get the foot-long fried mozzarella logs for the table from the Team Happytizers menu. Five come in an order, so that's 5 feet of fried cheese according to AP math. Other group options include a nacho tower. Nach-O Tow-er clap, clap, clap-clap-clap!

Empanadas are a Latin favorite consisting of the perfect formula of dough plus filling. Depending on the country, empanadas can be sweet or savory. But just like it absolutely owns soccer, no other country does empanadas like Argentina. Empa Mundo is a mainstay in Irving that offers a mostly Argentine selection of baked empanadas, which come with the oil-and-herb godsend known as chimichurri. The restaurant's star is the traditional meat pie criolla, but no less impressive is the best vegetarian empanada in DFW: the humita empanada, a richly thick creamed corn stuffing perfectly complemented by the soft crunch of the tapa. The divey joint with walls plastered with international bills gives the place a true street-food feel.