The Dallas Morning News is searching North Texas for the most authentic Mexican cuisine.
Many of the genuine flavors of Mexico found in Dallas-Fort Worth can be attributed to people who have migrated to the region and cook food laden in generations-long traditions, cooking methods and secret ingredients.
The News is focusing on the most representative dishes from nine regions in Mexico as part of its coverage called D-FW Sabores. Whether found in restaurants, at food stands or even in a family kitchen, some D-FW Sabores dishes are known worldwide, some are fueled by ritual and history, and some are simply delicious.
Hungry? Here’s where to find authentic Mexican food in Dallas-Fort Worth:
Cabrito
Cabrito — typically a dish that you either love or hate — has its roots in Monterrey, Mexico’s second largest metropolitan area. Cabrito is, at its most basic level, young goat that has only fed on milk. It can be prepared in a variety of ways, including asado (charcoal-broiled), al ataúd (roasted in a closed container outdoors), al horno (oven-roasted), and guisado (stewed). Read more about cabrito here.
- Tacos Lalo, catering service, specialty in cabrito al ataud. facebook.com/lalo.montemayor.39.
- Don Artemio, Coahuila-style charcoal grilled cabrito. 3268 W 7th St, Fort Worth. donartemio.us.
- Cabritos Los Cavazos, 10240 N Walton Walker Blvd, Dallas. cabritosloscavazos.com.
- El Ranchito, specialty oven-roasted cabrito. 610 Jefferson Blvd, Dallas. elranchito-dallas.com.
- Nuevo Leon Mex-Mex, oven-roasted cabrito. 12895 Josey Ln #100, Farmers Branch. nuevoleonmexmex.com.
Chicharrón
Chicharrón is much more than pork rinds and pork crackling in Mexican cuisine, and no other region takes it more seriously than Monterrey. Mexicans adopted the Spaniards’ proclivity for chicharrón when the latter first brought Iberian pigs over from Europe. It’s flourished ever since, and now it’s found a home in North Texas, too.
- Los Primos Tacos & More, 5012 Sharp St B, in Dallas. losprimostacostx.com.
- Carniceria La Ramitos, 904 Melbourne Rd, in Hurst. carnicerialaramitos.com
Fish tacos
Authentic Baja-style fish tacos are a little trickier to find in the Dallas area, but many believe that could change as more and more Californians, craving Mexican food similar to what they can find at home, continue to move to the area. The Taco Stand, a restaurant founded in La Jolla, California, opened on McKinney Avenue near Dallas’ West Village neighborhood earlier this year. There, diners can find Baja-style fish tacos, with crispy battered fish cabbage, pico de gallo and chipotle creamy dressing in a corn tortilla. The restaurant also does a regional take on the carne asada taco, with a heaping scoop of guacamole on top.
- The Taco Stand, 3227 McKinney Ave, #100, in Dallas. letstaco.com.
Seafood cocktails, aguachiles and ceviche — Tijuana-style
Fresh and zingy seafood inspired by the flavors of Mexico’s Baja of California might be closer than you think. Mariscos El Chicharo serves classic seafood cocktails, aguachiles and ceviche out of a food truck. The business comes from Jesus “El Chicharo” Rojas, who moved to Dallas in 2022 and built the concept based on family recipes and know-how. Find Rojas’ dishes packed with shrimp, octopus, crab and fish.
- Mariscos El Chicharo’s next location can be found on Instagram. instagram.com/mariscos.el.chicharo.
Trompo tacos
Trompo is a spiced pork dish, cooked by roasting vertically on a spit. It was inspired by shawarma and named after a children’s toy similar to a spinning top. It varies regionally in Mexico. For instance, trompo in Mexico City can be found in its signature al pastor tacos. But in Monterrey, trompo is more heavily spiced and involves a careful balance of garlic with chiles. Read more about the Monterrey-style trompo tacos and their origin in North Texas in this story.
- El Reyno, Elotes y Taqueria, 705 Melbourne Rd, Hurst. tiktok.com/@eloteselreyno.
- Taco Rey (Polkmart), several locations in Dallas, Grand Prairie, Arlington and Irving. Taco Rey (Polkmart).
- Taqueria Taxco, several locations in D-FW. ttaxco.com.
- Bachman Tacos and Grill, 3311 W Northwest Hwy, Dallas. bachmantacosandgrill.com.
- Taqueria La Cotorra, 3031 S First St, Garland. facebook.com/carnitaslacotorra.taqueria.
