Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
From BBQ to Brunch: Dallas Food Finds
56
items Map
Sections
6
Fuel Up: Smart Bites for Active Days
BBQ & Smokehouse Musts
The Brunch Bunch
Casual Bites & Comfort Food
Tex-Mex & Tacos
Sweets & Treats
Fuel Up: Smart Bites for Active Days
Origin Kitchen + Bar focuses on Paleo, Keto, and Whole30-friendly options, making it a fantastic choice if you're motivated by clean eating and high-quality ingredients. Their dishes are thoughtfully crafted, delicious, and designed to make you feel ...
Origin
Company Cafe is known for its commitment to gluten-free options (their chicken and waffles are famous!) and sourcing from local farms when possible. The atmosphere is often lively and welcoming. It’s a motivating spot because it offers comforting foo...
Company Cafe & Bar
Look for local spots that specialize in fresh-pressed juices, acai bowls, and superfood smoothies. These places are perfect when you need a quick, refreshing, and nutrient-dense pick-me-up. Grabbing a vibrant smoothie or bowl can be a mini-ritual tha...
Squeeze the bag - BIAB Brewing
While on the pricier side, Uchi offers an exceptional contemporary Japanese dining experience. For a motivational 'treat' after a big accomplishment or for an inspiring business dinner, the creativity, quality, and serene ambiance can be incredibly r...
Uchi Dallas
This place is truly special and incredibly motivating because of its mission. Bonton Farms is an urban farm working to restore health, create jobs, and ignite hope in a historically underserved community. Grabbing a coffee or a delicious, fresh meal ...
Bonton Farms
When I need a quick, healthy, and super customizable meal that keeps me going, CAVA is a fantastic choice. You can build your own bowls or pitas with fresh Mediterranean ingredients like grilled chicken or falafel, lots of veggies, and flavorful dres...
CAVA
Sometimes, motivation comes from simple comforts and a no-fuss environment where you can just relax or focus. Original Market Diner offers that classic American diner experience with hearty, reliable food. It can be a great spot for an early breakfas...
Original Market Diner
When you've hit a big goal or just need an exceptionally delicious reward, Cane Rosso delivers authentic Neapolitan-style pizza. Their commitment to quality ingredients and traditional methods makes it a truly satisfying treat. Indulging in something...
Cane Rosso
If you're looking to celebrate a team win or share a fun, over-the-top experience, Serious Pizza is the spot. Their enormous, New York-style pies are perfect for groups and the lively, unpretentious atmosphere in Deep Ellum adds to the celebratory fe...
Serious Pizza
Why I Recommend It: "Pie Tap offers delicious wood-fired pizzas with a focus on house-made dough and quality toppings. You can often find options with interesting flavor combinations, and their salads are great too if you want to balance things out. ...
Pie Tap
When you're on the go in Dallas and need a quick, customizable, and often healthier fast-food option, Subway can be a real lifesaver. The ability to load up your sandwich with plenty of fresh veggies and choose leaner proteins helps you make a more m...
Subway
When you need a consistently quick, friendly, and often more thoughtful fast-food experience in Dallas, Chick-fil-A is a reliable choice. They offer several lighter options like grilled chicken nuggets, market salads, and fruit cups, making it easier...
Chick-fil-A
Why I Recommend It: When I'm looking for a quick, customizable, and satisfying meal in Dallas that can align with my health and fitness goals, Chipotle is a solid go-to. I love that I can build my own bowl or salad exactly how I want it – loading up ...
Chipotle
Dallas Farmers Market is a must-visit! It’s incredibly motivating to find fresh, seasonal produce directly from local farmers, inspiring healthier meals. Plus, you’re supporting Dallas artisans and businesses while enjoying a vibrant community atmosp...
Dallas Farmers Market
When you need a reliable coffee fix fast, Starbucks offers consistent quality and grab-and-go convenience all over Dallas. Perfect for your essential caffeine boost.
Starbucks
For a taste of a real South Dallas neighborhood pizzeria, I recommend Blackjack Pizza. They serve up satisfying, fresh-made pizza (and often great burgers!) with good value, all with an authentic local feel.
Blackjack Pizza
I recommend STEAKS&CAKES for their legendary Texas Cheesesteaks, amazing wings, and delicious funnel cakes – they truly live up to their claim of having some of the best in Dallas! It's a genuine South Dallas original."
Southside Steaks & Cakes
Classic Italian-American Comfort Food: They're famous for their thin-crust pizzas (often rectangular cut) and classic red-sauce Italian-American dishes like lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, and veal marsala. It’s the kind of comforting, familiar foo...
Campisi's Restaurants | Best Pizza & Italian | Dallas | Ft Worth
If you’re into BBQ, this place is a total legend. Their brisket? So good it’s worth standing in line for.
Pecan Lodge | Deep Ellum | Texas
Classic Texas BBQ done right. Their sausage is a personal fave, seriously tasty.
Lockhart Smokehouse: Dallas' Best BBQ
Burgers with a bit of crazy fun. Try the wild toppings and don’t skip the fries.
Twisted Root Burger Company - Restaurant in TX
Old-school spot for German sausages that hit the spot when you want something hearty.
Kuby's Sausage House
Meso Maya
Fresh Mexican food and margaritas that’ll make your day better — perfect combo.
MesoMaya
Chill breakfast spot with Southern comfort food that feels like a hug in a plate.
Ellens: HOME
Outdoor vibes, good music, and solid American food. Great for hanging out with friends
The Rustic
Hey, if you love doughnuts like me then this place is your jam. Perfect for breakfast or a sweet treat.
rise | Soufflé Restaurant
Trendy Italian with killer pasta and a relaxed vibe — good spot for date night or friends.
Sassetta | The Joule Dallas Hotel
I always keep these on hand. They’re super creamy and packed with protein — perfect for a quick snack when I’m on the go
Vanilla — Chobani® Greek Yogurt
Tried a bunch of protein bars, and these are my fave. No weird ingredients and they actually taste good, which is rare!
Shop All Protein Bars - RXBAR
love munching on these almonds when I need a little crunchy pick-me-up. They give me just enough energy without feeling heavy.
Blue Diamond Almonds
Bananas are my go-to natural energy boost. Easy to grab and always hits the spot.
Marketside Fresh Organic Bananas, Bunch - Walmart.com
These snack packs saved me so many times when I wanted something fresh but filling. Plus, the hummus is delicious with crackers.
Sabra - Walmart
BBQ & Smokehouse Musts
You have to start with a legend, right? Pecan Lodge in Deep Ellum is famous for a reason. Be prepared for a line, but the brisket is incredibly moist, the ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender, and the 'Hot Mess' (a sweet potato stuffed with brisket) is ...
Pecan Lodge
Another powerhouse from a famous BBQ family, Terry Black's (also in Deep Ellum) is fantastic. What I love here is that the line often moves a bit faster than Pecan Lodge, and the quality is just as incredible. Their sausage is a standout, and the bee...
Terry Black's Barbecue
Ask any Dallas BBQ aficionado for their top spots, and Cattleack will almost always be on the list. It’s famous for its incredibly high-quality meats, especially the brisket and house-made sausage. They have limited hours (usually just Thursday/Frida...
Cattleack Barbeque
Located in the Bishop Arts District, Lockhart brings the authentic Central Texas BBQ experience to Dallas—no forks, no sauce (unless you ask!). You order your meat by the pound on butcher paper. Their Kreuz Market sausage is legendary, and the casual...
Lockhart Smokehouse BBQ
This place feels like one of those “if you know, you know” spots — but the secret’s kinda out now. The ribs are fall-off-the-bone good, smoky without being overwhelming, and perfectly seasoned. And don’t even get me started on the sausage… it’s juicy...
Hutchins BBQ
The Brunch Bunch
Bread Winners is a Dallas brunch institution! It has a charming, almost New Orleans-style courtyard feel at its Uptown location. They have a huge menu of delicious brunch classics, but the real star is their bakery case. You have to try a slice of th...
Bread Winners Cafe & Bakery
If you're looking for an amazing chicken and waffles, Jonathan's is the place to go. It's a super popular, cozy spot in Oak Cliff that gets packed for brunch, and for good reason. The vibe is relaxed and friendly, and the food is just pure, delicious...
Jonathon's Diner
Located in the heart of the Bishop Arts District, Oddfellows is a go-to for a fantastic brunch. It has a great, bustling atmosphere and a beautiful patio. Their Buffalo Mac & Cheese is legendary, and they have amazing coffee and classic brunch co...
Oddfellows
If you're looking for a slightly more upscale and very 'Instagrammable' brunch spot, The Henry is it. The decor is stunning, and the food is consistently delicious. It feels like a special occasion, even if it's just a normal Sunday. A great place to...
The Henry
This isn't your average Tex-Mex joint; Meso Maya offers more authentic, interior Mexican cuisine in a beautiful setting. Their brisket enchiladas are incredible, and the avocado margarita is famously good. It's a perfect spot for a date night or a mo...
Margarita's Mexican Restaurant
For a classic, no-frills, family-style Tex-Mex experience, Mia's is a Dallas institution. It feels like you're stepping into someone's home. They're famous for their brisket tacos and the free soft-serve ice cream you get at the end of your meal. It'...
Mia's Tex-Mex Restaurant
For a true taste of Dallas history, you have to go to the original El Fenix downtown. It's credited as one of the birthplaces of Tex-Mex cuisine, opening in 1918! The classic cheese enchiladas with chili con carne are iconic. It's a fun, nostalgic ex...
El Fenix
Mi Cocina is a Dallas staple known for its consistently great Tex-Mex and its famously potent margarita, the 'Mambo Taxi.' It has a more modern, upscale vibe than some other spots on this list, making it a great choice for a fun dinner with friends o...
Mi Cocina
This place strikes the perfect balance — it feels a little fancy, but you can still show up in sneakers and no one bats an eye. Their banana bread French toast is straight-up legendary. It’s thick, rich, and tastes like dessert disguised as breakfast...
Bread Winners Cafe & Bakery
Okay, yes — it’s technically Canadian, but it’s the Southern comfort food that steals the show. Think: crispy chicken and fluffy waffles, dripping in syrup and butter. The biscuits? Buttery clouds of goodness. It’s the kind of place where you leave s...
Maple Leaf Diner
This spot is a must if you like your burgers a little extra — in the best way. Think gourmet meets fun. Every burger has a creative name (The Chaca Oaxaca, anyone?), and the flavor combos are wild but somehow work perfectly. Goat cheese, fried onions...
Rodeo Goat
Casual Bites & Comfort Food
This place is pretty much a Dallas institution. Right in the heart of Deep Ellum, it’s the kind of joint where you go in hungry and leave with sauce on your hands — no regrets. The burgers are big, juicy, and messy (in the best way). Hot dogs? Massiv...
Angry Dog
If you’re bored of basic burgers, this place is your new favorite. Everything about it is fun — from the names on the menu to the wild toppings you won’t find anywhere else (hello, fried pickles and goat cheese). You can even try exotic meats if you’...
Twisted Root Burger Co.
Tex-Mex & Tacos
Not your average taco spot — Velvet Taco gets creative. Think outside-the-shell flavors like chicken tikka masala, Nashville hot chicken, and even fish & chips… in a taco. And weirdly, it works. Somehow it’s bold, fun, and still totally delicious...
Velvet Taco
This is more of a “tacos in your nice shoes” kind of place. Upscale but still laid-back, with beautiful patio vibes and margaritas that feel like a little vacation in a glass. Their queso? Creamy, spicy, addictive — you’ll be thinking about it the ne...
José
Tucked away and kind of unassuming, but whoa — this place is the real deal. Street-style tacos that come out fast, taste authentic, and hit every time. Whether you’re into lengua, al pastor, or carne asada, it’s all done right. It’s casual, cozy, and...
El Come Taco
Sweets & Treats
If you’re into pie (and really, who isn’t?), Emporium Pies is a total game-changer. Every flavor is like a little masterpiece, but you have to try the “Drunken Nut.” It’s got this perfect boozy, nutty vibe that’s honestly unforgettable. The crusts ar...
Emporium Pies
This isn’t your typical scoop shop. Jeni’s brings creative, unexpected flavors like Brambleberry Crisp and Brown Butter Almond Brittle that somehow taste as good as they sound. The ice cream is super creamy with real ingredients, so every bite feels ...
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Cake Bar is basically a Southern slice of heaven right in Trinity Groves. Their red velvet cake is the real deal — moist, rich, and packed with just the right amount of sweetness. The vibe is cozy, the portions generous, and every bite feels like a c...
Cake Bar