I love small, family owned restaurants. You do too. The quaint dining rooms and original menus make for lasting memories while affordable prices make it possible to return again and again. Here are some of the best mom and pop restaurants in Dallas. See Also: - The Nine Best Tex-Mex Restaurants In Dallas - Los Torres Taqueria Has Got Your Goat
Los Torres Taquería (pictured above) This small family owned taqueria serves up some amazing goat in Oak Cliff. The corn tortillas are hand-made to order and a salsa bar gives you plenty of ways to adorn your meal with acid, heat and pungency. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a member of the Torres family is always there to greet you. It's like eating in your your favorite aunt's living room. Provided your aunt is from Sinaloa, Mexico.
Avilas Restaurant drama may have divided the family, but the first location from the Avilas maintains all of its charm. Brisket-stuffed chili rellenos are one of the most popular dishes served here, but it's hard to go wrong. Don't sleep on the sour cream enchiladas either. Oh, and watch out for the salsa. It will light you up.
Joyce and Gigi's Grilled meat is king at the East Dallas South American restaurant with Bolivian leanings, and I've yet to talk to a person who didn't love their time in this dining room. If you go, the space is busiest in the late evenings (after 8 p.m.), which is something you don't want to avoid. Joyce and Gigi's is at its most magical when it's filled with happy patrons.
See Also: - More Best of than you can shake a stick at -- a big stick.
Sakhuu Kyla's not a father but he did take good care of Kidd's Kids. This small Thai restaurant in East Dallas serves up affordable, compelling cooking in a sleek and modern dining room, and you can tell the place is run by a tight-knit family. Oh, and they're BYOB so your Uncle Frankie can bring his flask.
Louie's Have you met Louie? He's behind the bar most nights at this Henderson Avenue pizzeria. You can't miss him. He's the one who sounds like a grown up Grover (provided Muppets could drink whiskey, smoke cigarettes and gargle razor blades) and has an uncanny ability to talk about anything. Try him. GMO's, Uzbek culture, antique cash registers -- the guy's a walking Wikipedia. He also makes simple no bullshit martinis that get the job done.
Mesa JUST LOOK AT THESE TWO. It doesn't get any cuter. The Reyes family behind Mesa in Oak Cliff cook from the heart, and it shows. Make sure to try the duck mole and the enmoladas. Be sure to sip their spicy signature margarita too. Oh heck, you can try about anything on the menu and walk away happy. There's a reason why called this restaurant Dallas' Best Mom and Pop last year -- consistently good food.
