So, the following list is not traditional Mexican dishes or rather places where a basket of chips and a strong margarita is mandatory Act I, followed by plates of cheese melting into chile con carne with the reliable side hustles, rice and beans. Dallas has many such places, all offering a unique plate or two that help define their offerings.
Tipico's
3118 W. Northwest Highway We discovered Tipico's near Bachman Lake late last year after a reader tip. Here you can get a mix of authentic Mexican dishes (menudo, lengua and guisada) or big plates of Tex-Mex like taquitos and nachos. They run specials during the week; stop by on Mondays for a plate of beef enchiladas for just $7.95. The chips are made in-house as are the stellar salsas. Service is super fast and friendly. If you come during peak hours you may have to wait for a seat, but it's so worth it.Avila's Mexican Restaurant
4714 Maple Ave. Avila's has been a Tex-Mex stalwart in Dallas since 1986. Recipes are straight from the Avila family, who have roots in Texas and Monterrey. We're partial to the plates of enchiladas and chile rellenos but others praise the pozole. We're down to argue about any dish there anytime. Best argument ever. Service at this family-run spot is always friendly and quick. A lot of people run through Avila's on their way to (or from) Love Field to get their Tex-Mex fix.
Casa Navarro
11742 Marsh Lane We recently revisited Casa Navarro in North Dallas, reminiscing about the old days of North Town Mall and Judas Priest. Our first review of the spot was 30 years ago, and some things (thankfully) never change: we love it now as much as we did then. Here, you'll get a bowl of bean soup with chips and salsa. Then go for the $10 lunch specials served seven days a week and an abundance of dishes that fill up two pages on the menu and your soul (even that tiny dark part).Desperados Mexican Restaurant
4818 Greenville Ave. Desperados is known for its namesake tacos, two lightly fried tortillas loaded with Jack cheese and beef or chicken fajita and topped with pico de gallo and avocado. The resulting shell is puffy and fresh, layered and crispy. Go for those on a first visit for the essential Desperados experience. Then explore the rest of the menu, where you really can't go wrong. E Bar Tex-Mex
1901 N. Haskell Ave. Last year E Bar turned some heads after instituting a new policy that customers who reek of weed won't be served. The owner clarified to us the word "reek" is important. So, just roll the windows down to air out a bit on the way over. Because listen closely: the loaded queso here is so worth it. And years ago we included E Bar's sour cream chicken enchiladas on our top 100 dishes. Order boldly here. You can't go wrong. Just remember: no hotboxing right before walking in. El Ranchito
610 W. Jefferson Blvd. This place is a love letter to Tex-Mex. It’s filled with character and tells a story of a time when cantinas were the place to go, yet it somehow also carries a dark romantic feel. Adorned with old art and weird kitschy decor, El Ranchito knows it’s special but doesn’t take itself that seriously. For over 30 years, it has specialized in comida nortena, such as cabrito de horno and wonderful guisos, whole elotes garnished with Mexican crema, cotija cheese and chili powder. The drinks are simple, but do the trick. Go for the cabrito — it's some of the best in Dallas.Gonzalez Restaurant
367 W. Jefferson Blvd. Every food has a season, and for menudo, it's a clammy hangover. Gonzalez in Oak Cliff serves it up in spades. We recently revisited the restaurant that's been open since the Nixon administration and opined about the Tex-Mex necessities. But we also pointed out that you'd be remiss to skip over the specialties like pork chop ranchero and cabrito guisado. The tortillas are served hot and fresh. Eric Mayne wrote, "The beans, meat and grilled onions on top of those warm tortillas are a match made in heaven." We'll go to church for that. With a clammy hangover. Herrera's Oak Cliff
2853 W. Illinois Ave. There are more than 30 combination plates (in addition to apps and specials) on the menu at Herrera's Oak Cliff, and they all bump. Who has the bandwidth to absorb a seven-page menu? For the TL;DR crowd, go for the No. 1A, one cheese enchilada, one tamale, one beef taco and, hell yeah, there's a bean tostada along with rice and beans. The spin here is that you can't go wrong, especially when you wash it all down with a margarita.La Comida
1101 N. Beckley Ave.Brothers Ivan and Mario Urtecho opened their first restaurant in Addison in 2014 — it closed in 2019, and they reopened La Comida on Beckley Avenue in 2023. The restaurant is hard to miss, not only because of enchilada Wednesdays ($9.99 a plate), but also for the massive pink flamingo painted on the side. The food is fresh and hot, and the margaritas are strong. The Urtechos love their regulars, so go on. Be a regular. You look like you need an enchilada and a hug. 
Velvety magic from La Palmas.
Chris Wolfgang
