Recommendations for Tex-Mex and margaritas around downtown?
Posted by I_reddit_like_this@reddit | askdfw | View on Reddit | 24 comments
My wife and I are Americans living in Yucatan, Mexico, and will be visiting Dallas in a few weeks. Yucatan cuisine is quite different, and I’m really missing some good US style Mexican / Tex-Mex food. Does anybody have any recommendations around the downtown area? We won't have a car so need suggestions within walking distance. Preferably somewhere that also makes a great margarita with fresh squeezed limes
jcmacon@reddit
In downtown Dallas there are tunnels under the buildings that connect a lot of places together. I haven't been down there in 10 years, but there was a place called Zalat or Zagat that was a more traditional Southern Mexican cuisine. It had these amazing fried plantains. There was also a place that half of it served traditional Mexican and the other half served traditional Mediterranean, I loved their chimichangas and their puffy tacos. I can't remember the name of that one but they are right next to one of the main entrances.
You can find all kinds of things down inside the tunnels and most of it is amazing and was very economical at the time.
I_reddit_like_this@reddit (OP)
Underground tunnels seem pretty cool and worth exploring - what was their purpose?
Dick_Lazer@reddit
The tunnels were designed by the same guy that designed the underground in Montreal, which was much more successful. It was a way to walk from building to building in downtown Dallas while escaping the harsh elements (super hot in the summer, ice freezes in the winter). In the 1980s they were at their prime, with pretty much a whole mall down there (lots of restaurants, book stores, etc.)
IgnoredSphinx@reddit
Most of them have been closed as the city wanted downtown to look like it had more life and people and activity. They are still down there, although not as widespread and less down there to see. They were cool back in the 90s though, especially the heat of the summer.
jcmacon@reddit
In the 80s, downtown Dallas was a cesspool of crime. Even during the day if you were walking around during the day there was a chance you'd get mugged. So Dallas built these tunnels to allow businesses to connect to each other and allow a safer space for bistros and quick serve restaurants to serve down town Dallas employees.
In the 90s, there was a huge crackdown on crime and the streets were much, much safer so the tunnels weren't absolutely required to be safe, but the restaurants and gift shops stayed and they donated pretty good business down there because they are protected from weather and connect so much of downtown. You can get off at the rail stop at Harwood go into one building and walk a mile to another building and pop up to your office.
Street_Celery2745@reddit
Javier’s is king
Pale-Succotash441@reddit
Cuates Kitchen
cindy6507@reddit
For a second I thought we were talking about downtown dfw again
SubXeroz@reddit
If you end up near Deep Ellum, you can't do amy better than Pepe and Mito's
I_reddit_like_this@reddit (OP)
On my list!
beardlesswonder@reddit
EBar. Las Palmas great too, but can't see shit inside
BudgetScience2000@reddit
Taco City x Chef Tastebudz for excellent quesabirria tacos (check the hours first) and margaritas at Ye Olde Scarlet Pumpernickel Tavern.
A couple people mentioned Ojedas, which isn't downtown but you can get there easily on the 001 bus. Their double refried beans are amazing (secret: lard and lots of it).
Dick_Lazer@reddit
Salsa Limon is pretty legit if you don't mind a more casual restaurant. Some of my favorite tacos in Dallas.
kitkat214281@reddit
Their granjero El Capitan taco is one of my favorite things to eat ever.
NYerInTex@reddit
Las Palmas hand down.
It’s a little “elevated” but still Tex Mex. Arguably best fajitas in Dallas (quality of the meats is a bit above, you get stale quality for the steak and somehow the chicken is almost always tender and not dry - the carnitas for the trifecta is the way to go!), great down the fairway Tex Mex combos, some other dishes like a really good milanesa.
They share ownership with Bowen House (behind Las Palmas almost across the street) which has some of the better cocktail in DFW so their margs and drinks are excellent and perhaps the best cocktails for a Tex Mex place is you want to try a Paloma or something as well.
Located in Uptown so walkable from downtown or a super short uber. You can grab the trolley for part / most of the trip depending where you are which is fun anyway.
And if you make reservations at Bowen for after Tex Mex drinks that’s an amazing Dallas 1-2 punch. Can stumble back to downtown from there!
Ubergeek2001@reddit
Mi Cocina is my preferred
JiveTurducken72@reddit
Ojeda's. Classic, no frills. Just good tex-mex and strong margaritas.
Cobalt_Rebel@reddit
Wild Salsa has great food and the margs are decent. Uno Mas has mid food, but their basic marg is strong and tasty. Either of these would work depending on whether the food or beverage is more important, and both are in downtown proper.
salvadordaliparton69@reddit
surprised no one has mentioned Uno Más, right by the eyeball.
salvadordaliparton69@reddit
also, El Fenix is right at the edge of downtown, and classic Tex Mex. Won’t win any Michelin stars but will scratch that yellow cheese itch, and has been there since the stone age
Few-Abalone4804@reddit
Not that either of these are my FAVORITE (but both still very good)… Marianos is where frozen margaritas were invented in 1971. El Fenix (although like a chain, but still good) is considered the “originator of Tex-Mex cuisine” in 1918
Dick_Lazer@reddit
Mariano's is great but a bit of a drive from downtown. I definitely wouldn't walk there.
StagDT93@reddit
Ojedas is a BIT far away, of you don't have a car. But cheap Uber would get you there and great tex mex. Avilas across the street has begget margs tho.
Turbulent_Union5213@reddit
Las Palmas is great, especially for happy hour! It’s across the highway in Uptown, but definitely walkable.