A great Mexican restaurant in Dallas isn’t just about tacos and margaritas—it’s about finding that spot that feels like home. You know, the place where they don’t blink when you order queso as an appetizer, main, and dessert. From a family-run taqueria in Oak Cliff serving life-changing carnitas to an upscale spot in Uptown with mole that’ll make you weep, these are the Mexican kitchens that truly deliver.
E Bar Tex-Mex
$$ | (214) 824-3227 | WEBSITE
E Bar Tex-Mex, unsurprisingly in Dallas, falls firmly into the ‘fun party spot’ category. See: the TouchTunes® jukebox, lively Friday crowds, and vibrant atmosphere that gets the energy pumping. Thanks to their kitchen’s dedication, it’s also serving some of Dallas’s best Tex-Mex. The dishes pair generous, lunch-sized portions with tender, juicy meats and balanced flavors. Our favourite is the spicy, flavorful bean soup with cilantro lime rice on the side.
Mi Cocina
$ | (972) 239-6426 | WEBSITE
Mi Cocina is a standout Dallas destination that specialises in vibrant Mexican fare and generous plates of queso. It’s got a lively, welcoming dining room that seems to run on fresh ingredients, attentive service, and the potential for things to get deliciously messy, while the location next to a skating rink adds to the cool, energetic ambiance. You’ll want to order the fajitas.
A sizzling platter of perfectly grilled meat with rice and beans rarely goes down badly, and the tres leches cake—moist and well-balanced in sweetness—is the ideal finish.
La Familiar Restaurant
$ | (972) 348-8103 | WEBSITE
La Familiar Restaurant is that cozy spot you’d miss if you weren’t looking, tucked away like a secret in a parking lot corner, and being a welcoming host seems to come naturally here. Meals unfold at their own pace where you’ll (happily) be guided through recommendations and plates of chicharrones, until you realize you’ve lingered far longer than intended.
The Mexico City-style food suits the regulars returning here: flavorful, generous portions of crowd-pleasers like the taco plate, and a nopales sopes with spicy salsa more vibrant than the atmosphere suggests. You’ll find yourself rolling out with a sweet bread selection in hand, already planning your next visit for that amazing Pozole.
El Carlos Elegante
$$$ | (214) 277-1800 | WEBSITE
El Carlos Elegante is as close as you can get to being a fine dining restaurant while still being authentically Mexican. It’s in a Dallas neighborhood that feels more Oaxaca than Texas. Inside, you’ll find dim lighting and an elegant bar area that we cannot picture being anything but sophisticated. Dishes are a touch elevated with a big focus on Mexican ingredients, like duck confit, chicken al pastor, and plenty of fresh ceviche.
Rafa’s Cafe Mexicano
$ | (214) 357-2080 | WEBSITE
Rafa’s Cafe Mexicano is from a lineage of excellent Tex-Mex restaurants, the kind that have been serving Dallas for generations. Rafa’s on its unassuming corner is somewhere that feels like it’s been making Mayan dishes with corn tortillas, pechuga a la parrilla with cheese and veggies, and other flavorful Mexican options forever. It manages to make lots of effort seem effortless, and its chips and salsa are up there with the finest in Dallas.
Mariano’s Hacienda Ranch
$$ | (214) 691-3888 | WEBSITE
Mariano’s Hacienda Ranch is a fixture in Dallas, and it serves the best generous-portion, Tex-Mex dishes in the city. On the evenings when the lively atmosphere is in full swing, the dimly lit, bright open space makes for a perfectly welcoming room in which to enjoy an excessive amount of Mexican food. The hand-made tortillas, cooked fresh in front of you, somehow cradle juicy, smoky fajitas and a perfect distribution of flavorful fillings in the ‘Pancho Villa’ platter.
Uno Mas Tex Mex
$$ | (214) 800-4572 | WEBSITE
Stepping onto the patio at Uno Mas Tex Mex, you’re met with the perfect Dallas evening scene: servers like Jason and Val weaving between tables with frosty margaritas, groups of friends diving into steaming bowls of El Traffico starter, and charro tacos finding their perfect spicy companion in those famous puffy tacos.
At this lively spot near the Giant eyeball, it’s all about convivial fun—tables filled with work colleagues and couples tucked away in corners, splitting orders and sharing recommendations while the friendly, sometimes loud atmosphere hums around them.
UnaVida
$$ | WEBSITE
Some restaurants become part of your regular rotation, like a favorite song you keep coming back to. UnaVida is one of those. It’s a Dallas mainstay that’s perfect for brunch, lunch, and lifting your spirits. The food is Mexican, satisfying fare. Chicken tortilla soup, stacked enchiladas, carnitas tacos, and the like. It’s food you could attempt at home but rarely bother with, and it’s never as good as this. The melon margarita remains a standout, while the salsa continues to be a crowd-pleaser.
For those wanting plant-based options, UnaVida offers more than most spots around, with heart cakes, taco bowls, and several salads. The Costa quesadillas with lime shrimp are unexpected but delightful, served with pickled onions, pico, and guacamole. The barbacoa tacos are juicy and full of flavor, especially with the orange habanero salsa. Excellent service, a pleasant ambiance, and a welcoming patio round out the experience. Drinks are also top-notch, making it a well-rounded destination.
El Fenix
$ | (214) 363-5279 | WEBSITE
El Fenix is a welcoming Tex Mex spot that dishes out some seriously delicious Mexican food. From the generous lunch specials to the fresh guacamole and chips, this Dallas restaurant feels like your go-to local joint, only it serves things like chicken enchiladas and beef fajitas. Once you’re sufficiently satisfied, sip on a margarita and reminisce over how good that chicken tortilla soup was.
Wild Salsa
$$ | (214) 741-9453 | WEBSITE
Ah, Wild Salsa. That aroma of spices in the air. That beautifully decorated, trendy dining room. This Mexican restaurant in Dallas serves amazing food, from braised lamb shank to delicious shrimp tacos, but it still very much feels like a relaxed spot where no one’s going to judge enjoying house margaritas. The menu offers plenty of gluten-free options but whatever they’ve got going on during wild hour specials, you know you’re in good hands.
