Dallas Texas Travel Guide: Must Eat & Drink Restaurants + More

It had been nearly a decade since my last trip to Dallas, and I was eager to see how the city had changed over the past 10 years. On my earlier visits, I remember leaving a bit underwhelmed, but this trip definitely changed my perspective.

As with all my travel guides, my goal isn’t just to share a list of “the best of the best” spots (locals are the real experts there), but to tell the story of the city from a visitor’s perspective. I focus on the classics that define Dallas, the experiences the city is known for, and the new places generating buzz.

Here are some of my favorites, but to see the complete list of every spot along with here I drank, where i stayed, plus tips & tricks, check out substack, link below, which also has a google map with everything listed out.

La Victoria- I needed a breakfast burrito while in Dallas, and this family run takeaway shop has been a staple of locals for years! Call ahead to order, it'll save you a ton of time, and then devour one of a number of burritos they serve on a 10 inch flour tortilla! I asked Ms. Victoria what to get, and she told me that a favorite of the cook’s was the Dons Delight which is eggs, guac, bacon, and fresh onions!

Loro- This Asian inspired BBQ Smokehouse comes from the teams behind two iconic Dallas restaurants, Uchi, and Franklins BBQ! I went for lunch and for the smoked shishito queso which I added pork belly too, and their lunch only oak smoked beef brisket sandwich that has a papaya salad, peanuts, chili aioli, and Thai herbs! And that comes with a side of their Texas sweet corn! You can find a few locations in Dallas, as well as Austin, and Houston!

Goldee’s Barbeque- There is incredible BBQ all over Dallas, but at the recommendation of some local chefs, they told me to venture out for a 45 min drive outside of Fort Worth, and check out Goldee’s Barbeque. In just a few years, they have turned a long abandoned BBQ spot into one of the best in Texas! GET THERE EARLY! They open at 11am, and when I arrived, there was already a giant line! We waited almost two hours, and thankfully we made it through the line just before they ran out of brisket! Its an adventure, and it was hot, but it was all worth it for what might be the best BBQ I’ve ever had! Obviously get all the meats, but don’t skip dessert either, the bread pudding and banana pudding were unreal!