(From June 2011) Famous for its burgers, Alicia’s also does better than most with Tex-Mex. Building blocks like chiles, beans, and tomatoes get seasoned to perfection and turn the chalupas, tacos, and enchiladas into seriously good eats. Check out Jonny’s Omelet, which is actually a huge egg crepe enveloping a scrumptious pile of cheese, peppers, and tomatoes.

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(From November 2011)

Open for 30-odd years, this Deep Ellum institution, with its long brick-walled room and probably original pressed tin ceiling, has piled up the accolades. And after wolfing down chicken-fried chicken strips (absolutely nothing like chicken nuggets) with homemade cream gravy, we understand why that dish is a local favorite. And friends swear that the namesake Angry Dog, a grilled beef kosher dog piled high with chili, cheddar, and grilled onions, is pretty close to heaven. Bar. 

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(From November 2011)

If you’re looking for an authentic small-town good time, this is the spot. Families, old-timers, and hipsters line up at the counter for memorable burgers with hand-cut fries and coconut pie crowned with four inches of meringue. Stroll back to the bowling club and watch bowling pins being reset by hand while you wait for your food. Ritual and good, plain victuals served all day without irony. Beer & wine coolers. 

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(From December 2010) Formerly a spot for Cuban food, this small, square room has become a densely populated, noisy place with the feel of a neighborhood tavern. Burgers are the focal point here, with just a few salads and appetizers on the menu. We ordered a quarter-pounder and a side of fresh-cut sweet potato fries, which filled us up to a button-busting point. Our young companion gobbled up a corny dog, which also came with sweet potato fries and, best of all, a free ice cream cone. For dessert, there are adult shakes and build-your-own sundaes. Bar.

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(From June 2011)

Burger lovers here make tracks for gourmet creations featuring pa-paya, beets, fried duck eggs—even a Shipley doughnut. We went mainstream with our burgers, choosing a bacon-guacamole-cheddar-and-arugula and a mushroom-Swiss-and-dijonnaise, both so juicy the yummy buns got pretty soggy. Crispy fries sprinkled with coarse salt were exceptional, and our teen diner went berserk for the old-school soda fountain with Dublin Dr Pepper and NuGrape. But what’s with the Soup Nazi guy at the front? Seriously. BYOB.

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(From March 2011) Burger artistry is the objective here—the Yodelin’ Toad, with savory sautéed mushrooms and velvety Swiss cheese, and the Greek burger, with roasted garlic, black olives, and feta cheese, are two of our favorites. All burgers come with your choice of bun (we like the jalapeño version) and side dish (we think the onion rings beat the fries and tater tots). The cherry pie is homemade and served plain or à la mode.

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(From March 2011) This popular North Texas chain now has an outpost in the heart of South Texas. A must-try is La Monumental, but make sure you’ve brought your appetite. This burger lives up to its name, with two grilled beef patties, lots of gooey cheese, ham, a crispy tostada, refried beans, lettuce, onion, tomato, and avocado served with spicy mayonnaise and topped with a jalapeño (there’s is a “junior” version, if you’re feeling wimpy). And like any good burger joint Burguesa offers fountain drinks (made in-house with pure cane syrup) and creamy milkshakes (charmingly topped with a small doughnut).

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(From January 2011) This errantly named burger joint should be called the Burger-N-Bakery, as it’s as famous for its sugary baked goods as for its juicy, hand-made burgers. We veered off the traditional path and splurged on the hand-breaded chicken-fried steak, with the requisite cream gravy and baked potato, while our dining companion exhibited somewhat healthier behavior, choosing several trips to the generously appointed salad bar. The desserts were too tempting to pass up, and we found ourselves quite pleased with the lemon tart and the strawberry pie. Beer & wine.

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(From June 2011)

Sitting on the veranda overlooking the beach, we can almost imagine we're in Co-zumel. But then there’s the food: burgers, hot dogs, and even some German fare. Our crew went for the Michael Burger (a juicy classic with all the trimmings) and the tur-key version of the Jamaica Beach Burger, li-vened up with pineapple and jalapeños, as well as the Jägerschnitzel, a pork cutlet dressed in a mushroom wine sauce. The onion rings were a wonder of crisp and soft, and the red cabbage took us back to Berlin. Beer & wine.

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(From May 2011) This veteran cafe east of Sleeping Lion Mountain is a Tex-Mex stalwart, even as nearby restaurants defect to trendier New Mexico–style cuisine. It has nothing fancy, just well-executed enchiladas, tacos, and a few non-Mex offerings like catfish and burgers. The rellenos and the chicken fajitas remain our favorites, but we like the chalupas for a lighter meal. Especially flavorful salsa, guacamole, and chile con queso play supporting roles. Half the town shows up exactly at noon for the lunch buffet, so be warned.

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