Jose

This upscale Mexican restaurant, conveniently located near some of Dallas’ wealthiest neighborhoods, serves two menus. The first, which it debuted in 2017, is a canny setlist of fancied-up Tex-Mex favorites, such as $17 seafood enchiladas. The menu-within-a-menu is the work of a chef hired in late 2018, Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman, who brings her own distinctive and creative perspective on Mexican cuisine. Focus on the Quiñones fare by ordering her “tacos de tacha,” a daily taco special made with tortillas that have been flavored by the addition of hot peppers, black beans, mole spices or some other twist. Look out for seasonal aguachiles, too, and, if you’re lucky, some sensational carnitas. Quiñones’ mole sauce is an evolving one; new batches are mixed in with the old to help flavors age and grow more complex.

Top pick: Aguachiles, ceviches and taco specials are now available for ordering online, as are bulk items like enchiladas by the dozen or Quiñones’ excellent carnitas by the pound.

The downside: The cocktails tend toward the sweet side, and if you’d prefer a straight pour of tequila or mezcal, the list here isn’t one of the city’s best (which are at Las Almas Rotas and Ruins).

Fun fact: During the pandemic, Quiñones (a coronavirus survivor) and her team served thousands of tacos to first responders and medical professionals.