Where To Find The Best Tex-Mex In Dallas, Texas

They really aren’t lying when they say everything is bigger in Texas.

Real estate, hair and personalities tend to be larger than life. Thank goodness this rule continues to apply when it comes to the beloved cuisine of Dallas: Tex-Mex, a Texan and Mexican food fusion.

Oversized goblets of frozen margaritas, platters of steaming fajitas and bowls of yellow queso are some other key trademarks of a good Tex-Mex restaurant. There seems to be a Tex-Mex joint on every corner, so let this serve as your guide to the best in Dallas’s best neighbourhoods.

1. Mi Cocina

Mi Cocina is a hot Dallas social scene on a Friday night. There are several different locations, but we recommend the Highland Park Village one for it’s recently renovated glitz and rooftop. Fluidly accommodating family dinners, girls nights out and date nights, this Tex Mex restaurant offers all of the basics: good queso, good margaritas and a festive, yet refined, Mexican atmosphere. In fact, the margaritas (particularly the infamous Mambo Taxi) are maybe a little too good, which might have to do with the rumour that Mi Cocina won’t serve anyone more than two.

Must try: Sunset enchiladas, tacos “de brisket" and the famous Mambo Taxi sangria-swirl margarita

Ambiance: a Dallas hot spot, accessible yet refined, always popping

Neighborhood: Highland Park. AKA the Beverly Hills of Dallas. Sip your marg surrounded by the storefronts of Prada and Gucci and, during the holiday season, tunnels of twinkling trees intricately wrapped with Christmas lights.

Address: 77 Highland Park Village, Dallas, Texas 75205 (multiple alternate locations)

Mi Cocina is a hot Dallas social scene on a Friday night

2. Chuy’s

What with the long happy hours, “Big as Yo’ Face" burritos and abundance of Elvis statues, this colorful restaurant could potentially be accused of being a bit tacky, but could never be questioned as a fun spot with delicious, bona fide Tex Mex food. Chuy’s follows the age-old Texas rule: everything is bigger. Portion sizes are generous to say the least. Great for a late night run as Chuy’s has late night closing hours.

Must try: Stacked chicken enchiladas, crispy tacos and tortilla soup

Ambiance: Family-friendly, colorful, nonfussy

Neighborhood: Knox-Henderson

Address: 4544 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75205 (multiple alternate locations)

3. Vidorra

Vidorra is the cool new kid on the block with its bustling rooftop, sleek design and extensive tequila menu. While it has all the Tex Mex essentials, such as sour cream enchiladas and nachos, there are a few standout menu items that speak to a more modern, American taste. For example, the fried avocado tacos or watermelon salad.

Don’t be afraid to swing by in the morning as Vidorra uniquely manages to combine Dallas’ two favorite dining categories: brunch and Tex Mex. Swap your French toast for a churro toast or start your day with a “Rise + Shine" quesadilla filled with scrambled eggs.

Must try: Sour cream chicken enchiladas, smoked brisket tamales, queso blanco (served in a 204 degree molcajete stone bowl)

Ambiance: Modern and chic

Neighborhood: Deep Ellum. The life of the Dallas party and best place to go for nightlife. There’s plenty of bars with character, a bumping piano bar and an underground speakeasy.

Address: 2642 Main St, Dallas, TX 75226

Vidorra is the cool new kid on the block

4. Veracruz

Inspired by the coastal Meixican region of Veracruz, this restaurant leans a bit more to the traditional Mexican side, but it still has enough cheese, cumin and sour cream going on to classify as a great Tex Mex spot. The seafood is a definitive highlight of Veracruz, so make sure to dish up on shrimp, scallop and snapper dishes.

The people watching outside of the restaurant in Dallas’ Bishop Arts district is almost as fun to behold as the artistic design inside the restaurant. In bold strokes of deep purple and lime green, the ambience is somehow both energetic and relaxed.

Must try: Arracheritas fajitas, shrimp and scallop catemaco, house margarita meltdown

Ambiance: Artistic and coastal

Neighborhood: Bishop Arts District. This neighborhood is a breath of fresh air for those who’d like a step away from the grit and glamour of the city center. Housed around the area’s old-timey main street on North Bishop Avenue, the area is a haven for good food of all categories, alongside small niche shops.

Address: 408 N. Bishop Arts #107, Dallas, TX 75208 (one alternate location available)

Veracruz leans a bit more on the traditional Mexican side

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5. José

Colorful and masterfully presented, Jose’s Tex Mex is an upscale level of culinary creativity. Unexpectedly elevated ingredients, like brussel sprouts and duck, are sprinkled throughout the menu creating an accelerated level of fusion between classic Mexican and developing Texan tastes. The bright vibe of the restaurant doesn’t stop at the food. The space itself is beautifully designed with clean lines and heaps of natural light. The outdoor patio is a spacious, lovely place to chat and sip a marg on a mild day.

Must try: Park Cities enchiladas, pescado ala veracruzana, horchata panna cotta

Ambiance: Upscale and immaculate

Neighborhood: University Park. Highland Park’s sister neighborhood and home of Southern Methodist University (SMU). Mostly consisting of homes and upscale eateries.

Address: 4931 Lovers Lane, Dallas, TX 75209

Jose’s Tex Mex is an upscale level of culinary creativity (Photo: NBarrett photography)

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Where to find the best Tex-Mex in Dallas

They really aren’t lying when they say everything is bigger in Texas.

1. Mi Cocina

2. Chuy’s

3. Vidorra

4. Veracruz

5. José

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