Pete Freedman
There's More to Oak Cliff Than The New, Trendy Spots.
There's a lot of love in the air for what's going on in Oak Cliff these days. A lot.
It's to be expected. Hell, the happenings in the restaurant world of this small area of Dallas could easily be compared to those of a large city. In this neighborhood alone, there's Smoke, Bolsa, Campo, Hattie's, Tillman's Roadhouse and, of course, the just-opened and long-awaited Chicken Scratch. And this is just to name a few. There are many others held in just as great esteem.
But — and there is always a “but” — let's talk about the old-school Oak Cliff for a second.
This neighborhood is hardly all about these new businesses. There are plenty of others in this neck of the woods. Spots that existed long before it was cool to ride your fixed gear down into the neighborhood and grab a PBR, and long before your little group of friends got giddy about saying “Let's go to Oak Cliff this weekend!”
There's a strong sense of community in Oak Cliff. Always has been. And that's why the revitalization here has been so welcomed. People here stuck by their homes, their schools and their businesses as the neighborhood became one of the more violent, less desired areas of Dallas. And they were rewarded when the neighborhood turned into the gem that it is into today.
So let's pay a little respect to these older Oak Cliff institutions — the ones that aren't just riding this new wave of success, the ones that have been around for some 25 or more years, the ones that stuck through the bad times and the ones that deserve your hard-earned cash in the good times.
CharcoBroiler
413 W. Jefferson Blvd.
The motto at CharcoBroiler? “Quality steaks at budget prices.” Tough to argue with that. And it's even tougher to argue with a place that appreciates the importance of steak dish sides; CharcoBroiler, which features a delightfully tacky cow statue on it roof, proudly proclaims itself as having the best baked potatoes in town. They've been serving Oak Cliff since 1963.
Norma's Cafe
1123 W. Davis St.
Norma's is a must for all things diner food-related, but they definitely make some of the best pies in town. And they've been serving them up in Oak Cliff since 1956.
El Ranchito
610 W. Jefferson Blvd.
El Ranchito offers your typical Tex-Mex fare, but adds a special norteno twist to its recipes, separating itself from massive Dallas pack. They've been serving Oak Cliff since 1983.
Tachito's
3210 W. Illinois Ave.
This much is just a fact: You will not find a better guacamole burrito anywhere in North Texas than the one offered at Tachito's. There's a reason they've been open since 1978.
Aunt Stelle's Sno Cones
2002 W. Clarendon Dr.
Lining up for a sno cone at Aunt Stelle's is as traditional a Dallas summer routine as there is. Just remember: The place closes at 9 p.m. each night, and if you're not in line by the time that time strikes, you won't be served. And, yes, that rule's been in effect since 1962.
Wingfield's Breakfast & Burgers
2615 S. Beckley Ave.
The debate about the best burger om town can go on for days without any progress made, but we're gonna stand pat here: If Wingfield's doesn't have the best and tastiest burger in town, they certainly have the messiest. And they have since 1953.
