It may be hard to believe if you spend too much time in Dallas, but there are actually cities in this world that never go to sleep. Individual people may get a few winks here and there, but at any given hour the streets are breathing. You can get egg rolls at 4 a.m. as easily as you can get a steak at dinner time, and not to turn the screws too much further you can have it all delivered, too.
Not so in Dallas, the city that sleeps and then some. Try to get a bite to eat after a show downtown and you can find yourself relegated to hot dogs and Twinkies. It's only recently that a few restaurants began to lure us away from our local corner store, and not just with steam table tacos, but with real food. Here are six spots that will sate your late-night hunger with food that tastes good at any hour of the day.
Velvet Taco (pictured above) Say what you want about those gringo tacos, Velvet Taco is the undisputed king of late-night dining in Dallas. Drive by on a Saturday as the bars let out at 2:30 a.m., and the lines for those hand-made tortillas are immense. Don't let them deter you. You could cool out and come back after the crowds die down. This taqueria stays open till 4 a.m.
Gemma Gemma's a newcomer but it's definitely no slouch, staying open till 1 a.m. Wednesday-Sunday with a shortened version of its regular dinner menu. Those in the know order the industry special sight unseen. It could be a beautiful chicken Milanese topped with arugula, or maybe a steak au poivre. Don't let the "industry" description on the menu deter you, anyone's welcome to order the special. Just tell 'em you bus tables at Jake's down the street.
El Come Taco El Come Taco is another newcomer. That's why we're making this list, everything is changing. This taqueria is the answer for those who don't want gringo tacos at Velvet Taco, and know that Fuel City is disgusting. El Come is open till 2 a.m. And as a bonus they serve some of the best tacos in the city.
Dalat Right next to El Come Taco, Dalat serves steaming bowls of pho to sleepy drunks. Dalat is open every day till 2 a.m., so your Monday night party can go out as strong as your Friday night party. Plus there are egg rolls inside of spring rolls on the menu. Who knew?
Nova If you lived close enough to Nova to walk, you'd probably spend a good deal of time there. Actually most of the people you find on the barstools are from the neighborhood or close to it. Pizza is the go-to order after the kitchen slows down. Nova is open only till midnight, but when you're in Oak Cliff, this is the spot to go.
Sundown You've just finished watching the latest act at the Granada, and there was so much weed in the air pink rabbits dance in the periphery of your tunnel vision. You can't walk, but you can shuffle, which is all you'll need to get to Sundown next door. Open till 1 a.m. the casual menu will help cure what ails you and leave you better prepared for the battle tomorrow morning has in store.
