3 ms·

In Dallas area, I find you have to go south to find anything close to authentic. Like Herrera's in Oak Cliff (which is now even getting chained up). Dallas is v

In Dallas area, I find you have to go south to find anything close to authentic. Like Herrera's in Oak Cliff (which is now even getting chained up). Dallas is very economically segregated and south is where the these rent issues are less present and dense mexican communities have formed.

kodablah 9y ago
While mostly true, we have to be careful with words like "authentic". Tex-mex has variations in every area, even among metropolitan areas (same deal w/ Fort Worth, except many "authentic" ones are in North Fort Worth). For example, I consider a chimichanga to be quintessential tex-mex even though it's probably not Texan or Mexican and not "traditional" or "authentic". Some tex-mex places may laugh at you for asking while others will serve it proudly.
- conductr 9y ago
  Good point. Authentic to me - but I do think the greasy food of cinder block buildings are a good sign of authenticity (in Texas). And you just don't see that at all in most of the north of I30 Dallas. I'm not too familiar with Ft Worth, except Joe T's (IMO: authentic but poor execution on the food, great patio & margaritas). I'm not a purist, I agree with you on the chimichanga.
bfuller 9y ago
There's also plenty of places in east Dallas. I'm finding you have a lot of criticisms about Dallas that are more about you not knowing your way around here than the actual food scene.
- conductr 9y ago
  It's not that. I wasn't trying to list every pocket of the city that does have good tex mex. The problem is, it doesn't permeate through the city or into the burbs which is my criticism. The fact you counter my isolated example, with another isolated example, proves this point. Most people of middle-upper+ class in Dallas do not seek out this tex mex in those neighborhoods, which means their view of tex mex is shaped mostly by a few large chains.

kodablah 9y ago

While mostly true, we have to be careful with words like "authentic". Tex-mex has variations in every area, even among metropolitan areas (same deal w/ Fort Worth, except many "authentic" ones are in North Fort Worth). For example, I consider a chimichanga to be quintessential tex-mex even though it's probably not Texan or Mexican and not "traditional" or "authentic". Some tex-mex places may laugh at you for asking while others will serve it proudly.

conductr 9y ago
Good point. Authentic to me - but I do think the greasy food of cinder block buildings are a good sign of authenticity (in Texas). And you just don't see that at all in most of the north of I30 Dallas. I'm not too familiar with Ft Worth, except Joe T's (IMO: authentic but poor execution on the food, great patio & margaritas). I'm not a purist, I agree with you on the chimichanga.

bfuller 9y ago

There's also plenty of places in east Dallas. I'm finding you have a lot of criticisms about Dallas that are more about you not knowing your way around here than the actual food scene.

conductr 9y ago
It's not that. I wasn't trying to list every pocket of the city that does have good tex mex. The problem is, it doesn't permeate through the city or into the burbs which is my criticism. The fact you counter my isolated example, with another isolated example, proves this point. Most people of middle-upper+ class in Dallas do not seek out this tex mex in those neighborhoods, which means their view of tex mex is shaped mostly by a few large chains.