East Dallas' Latest Buzz: Killer Joe Coffee + Food

Rapid development is happening all over Dallas, and recently, Old East Dallas got a buzzy new corner development off N. Fitzhugh and Columbia avenues, Killer Joe Coffee (in the same building as Pupusas To-Go).

Killer Joe Coffee was started by Christine Sweet and Christian Napolitano, who moved to Dallas in 2022 to land an entrepreneurial opportunity and to bring a little bit of New York with them.
The colorful mural outside Killer Joe was created by Dallas native Anthony Padilla, who emerged from the skating scene before making a name for himself in New York. On the right of the mural is a sign reading "Now Leaving New York," which is cut off by every Texan's favorite welcome sign back into the state.

The rest of the space is decorated with patchwork drawings of a cowboy boot, skeletons with cowboy hats and UFO abductions. The mural is a full-circle moment, both for the artist and new coffee shop owners.
Inside are a couple of seats soaking up all the natural light, and then a few tables lining the walls. They do delivery orders and walk-ins simultaneously. So even when it's busy, there was always a seat available.

The service here is a bit on the slower side, but not in a negligent kind of way. It is more like a 'it's a busy spot and only two people are making all the drinks and food' kind of way.

The menu has its roots in New York with a commitment to organic coffee beans, vitamin B3 shots and the use of rose water in certain drinks. There's even a scratch-made Spaghetti Western sandwich with spicy capicola, scrambled egg, roasted tomato, mozzarella, Calabrian pepper sauce and basil chimichurri on a toasted ciabatta roll.

All breakfast sandwiches are made in-house. They also offer lunch paninis and cold sandwiches with cross-cultural combinations like the K-Pop Cuban, made with applewood smoked ham, black olive pesto, kimchi pickles, wasabi mayo and provolone cheese.

While Killer Joe makes the sandwiches, they let Shug's handle the bagels. You can get a bagel (plain, everything or cinnamon raisin) and schmear (plain, scallion or vegan), or make it into a breakfast sandwich with your choice of protein and additions.
Fully prepared for the caffeine buzz, we grabbed two drinks and a bite to eat: Bulletproof drip coffee, an orange blossom matcha spritz and a steak and eggs breakfast sandwich to round off the morning.

Spritz-style coffee drinks are slowly making their way to menus around the city, but they're still uncommon, which is why we picked one up. If a La Croix was made right, this is what it would taste like. It's refreshing, slightly fruity with a little zing from the club soda.

The Bulletproof coffee is good enough to convert anyone to drinking straight black coffee. They make theirs with a double shot of aerated organic espresso, MCT oil and raw cacao powder. The blend is not acidic or bitter at all and goes down smoothly. We added a dollop of housemade vanilla whipped cream for half a buck. It was worth it, despite the drink pushing $8.

The steak and egg sandwich is made with love. Freshly toasted ciabatta is stuffed with all the goods: melted provolone, smoked onion jam, basil chimichurri, steak and scrambled egg.
Empire Baking Company in Inwood Village supplies the ciabattas for the sandwiches, Reeves Family Farm in Princeton brings in the fruits and vegetables and 4DWN brings the microgreens. Despite being newcomers, Killer Joe is already integrated into supporting other local businesses.

They've got a unique menu going, the coffee is great and they're luring in more regulars with the Shug's collab. No more waiting in that line for a bagel on a Saturday morning. You know a spot.

Killer Joe Coffee + Food, 108 N. Fitzhugh Ave. Monday – Thursday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. –5 p.m.; Saturday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.