There is a simple rule to follow when trying a restaurant you’ve never been to before: if it opened more than 40 years ago, you can be sure that the food is definitely worth trying. To confirm this rule, I visited nine of Dallas’ oldest restaurants and was not disappointed.
El Fenix
Officially considered the oldest restaurant in Dallas, El Fenix first opened its doors in 1918. Soon after, founder Miguel Martinez began experimenting with dishes, bringing Mexican flavor to what would soon become known as original Tex-Mex. Now, 103 years later, El Fenix has fed generations of Texans and continues to satisfy the appetites of everyone who walks through its doors. While every dish on the menu is delicious, you can’t go wrong with El Jefe. Three different enchiladas, a beef tamale, a crispy taco, rice, and beans—it’s the perfect example of what Tex-Mex is all about.
Campisi’s Egyptian Restaurant
While there are nine Campisi’s restaurants in the DFW Metroplex, there is only one Campisi’s Egyptian Restaurant. The Campisi family, credited with opening the first pizzeria in Texas, took over the vacant Egyptian Lounge building to open Campisi’s in 1950. The only problem was that they didn’t have enough money to buy a new sign, so they removed “Lounge” and added “Restaurant” and created Dallas’ premier restaurant, which served politicians, professional athletes, and even the infamous Jack Ruby. My personal favorite is the grilled chicken marsala, but you can’t go wrong with the classic lasagna either.
Kuby’s Sausage House
Kuby’s Sausage House dates back to 1728, when Friedrich Kuby opened a meat market in his small town of Kaiserslautern, Germany. Fortunately for us, his descendant, Karl Kuby, immigrated to the United States and brought his sausage-making expertise to Snider Plaza in Dallas. Opened in 1961, Kuby’s has since become the best place to enjoy traditional German-style sausages, where recipes, spice formulas, and techniques have been passed down from father to son for more than 10 generations. However, if you plan to dine at the restaurant, arrive early, as it is only open for breakfast and lunch. Ask for the Jager chicken schnitzel, and you will leave very satisfied.
Keller’s Drive-In
There is nothing more old-fashioned than Keller’s Drive-In on Northwest Highway. Founded in 1965, it is so old-fashioned that this year it started accepting credit and debit cards. They don’t even have a website, and that’s okay because they don’t really need one. Everything on the menu is so delicious that people come here from all over the world, despite the lack of an online or social media presence. And when you consider that all burgers cost less than $3, they’re affordable too! Do yourself a favor and order the No. 5 Special — double meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, special sauce, all on a poppy seed bun. I don’t know why the poppy seeds matter, but they do.
Gourmet Javier Mexicano
Where to start with Javier’s? Opened in 1977, this upscale Mexican restaurant is a maze of small, intimate dining rooms with servers so personal you’ll want to add them to your Christmas card list. The bartenders give master classes in cocktail making. And then there’s the food. While some may argue that the Barra de Navidad (jumbo shrimp fried in a special diablo sauce) is the reason Javier’s most loyal customers keep coming back, the real attraction is the Filete Durango, a tenderloin stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese and peppers.
