To prepare for this fall's Best of Dallas® 2014 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.
Unless you've been fasting for a day or so, you're going to want to bring a friend along for this one. You can finish an order alone, but kitfo on its own can be a little one dimensional, and it's way more fun to eat when it's surrounded by a mélange of lentils and vegetables. Be sure to request the veggie sampler when you order at Sheba's as well.
There's a good chance your waitress will ask you if you'd like your kitfo medium when you place your order, and you'll need to handle the question with care. Newcomers aren't asked about spice level but doneness, because apparently a few newcomers in the past have been horrified by a pile of glistening raw meat. Assure your waitress you are in the know. A kitfo served at any other doneness than raw isn't a kitfo at all.
The mixture of finely minced raw beef, butter and spices is good on its own, but it's even better if you do your best to assemble bite like this: grab a pincher of injeera and use it to isolate a portion of kitfo, making sure not to get over-zealous. Next press the bundle into the soft, crumbled cheese that shares the plate. It will take some dexterity, but try and grab a morsel from the simply dressed salad that's nearby to finish. It's dressed in an acidic vinaigrette that lends some balance to every bite.
You could spend an hour eating like this, if only because the other vegetables on the plate constantly keep things interesting. Wash it all down with a cold pitcher of beer while you're at it. You won't leave hungry.
No. 100: Pastrami Egg Rolls at Blind Butcher No. 99: Chicken-fried Steak at Tom's Burgers and Grill No. 98: Pasta with Uni Butter at Nonna No. 97: Camarón en Agua Chile at La Palapas No. 96: The Wings at Lakewood Landing No. 94: Chicken Kebab at Afrah No. 93: Trompo Tacos at Bachman Lake No. 92: Fish and Chips at 20 Feet No. 91: Canelés at Village Baking Co. No. 90: Banh Mi from La Me No. 88: The Burgers at Off-Site Kitchen No. 87: The White Album at Spoon No. 86: Ramen at Tei An No. 85: Tacos at Revolver Taco No. 84: Stuffed Chicken Wings at Sakhuu No. 83: Korean Fried Chicken at Bonchon No. 82: Grilled Branzino at Tei Tei Robata No. 81: The Toddfather at Cattleack Barbecue No. 80: The Biryanis at Chennai No. 79: Shish Tawook at Qariah No. 78: Arepes at Zaguan No. 77: Goat Momo at Everest Restaurant No. 76: Steak Tartar at Gemma No. 75: Escabeche at Joyce and Gigi's No. 74: Spicy Fish in Oil at Royal Sichuan No. 73: Pupusas at La Pasadita No. 72: The Kathi Roll at Simply Dosa No. 71: The Chicken Wings at Teppo No. 70: Cheesesteak at Truck Yard No. 69: Chicken and Waffles at Jonathon's No. 68: Birria Tacos at Los Torres Taqueria No. 67: Bulgogi Cheesesteak at Say Kimchi No. 66: Suadero Tacos at La Banqueta No. 65: Brian Luscher's Post Oak Red Hot No. 64: Banana Flower Salad at Mot Hai Ba No. 63: Cinco Leches Cake At Mesero Miguel No. 62: Cabrito a la Parilla at El Ranchito No. 61: Reuben at Kuby's No. 60: Plain Cheese Pizza Cooked Extra Crispy at Zoli's No. 59: Enmoladas at Mesa No. 58: Pig's Head at CBD Provisions No. 57: Rib "Sandwich" at Baby Back Shak No. 56: Beef Noodle Soup at Monkey King No. 55: The Nachos at Spiral Diner No. 54: Elotes, Everywhere No. 53: The Popeye At Green Grocer No. 52: The Cuban at International Bakery No. 51: Rush Patisserie's Croissant
