The vibe at Vidorra can only be described as an MTV reality television show about a group of people who will never say no to a free shot, so lean in and order a tequila flight. Your table might start fighting over the spoon for the flaming fundido, but just make sure you’re the one that gets the last bite of the pollo su crema that’s topped with sour cream, ranchero sauce, and avocado salsa. Keep the party going at a bar down the street or one of the nearby music venues.

El Ranchito is at the top of the city’s Tex-Mex food pyramid. It’s the type of casual, down-to-earth spot that you can show up to in sweatpants and sandals, and yes, you will see a mariachi band play no matter what day you’re there. There are a ton of Tex-Mex options in Oak Cliff, but El Ranchito’s fajitas, mole, and pechuga are big highlights. Finish the meal with a serving of their flan while “La Negra” is sung in the background.

It’ll take a second for your eyes to adjust to Las Palmas’ dark dining room. Once they do, you’ll see you’re surrounded by bull horns, framed pictures of vaqueros, and giant Texas and Mexico flags hanging above. Get one of the combos like the sour cream enchilada and chile con carne, or the shrimp fajitas so you’re the center of attention when the sizzling plate is delivered to your table.

Rule number one at El Si Hay: bring cash. This spot stands out from its more high-end neighbors and has received lots of buzz for its Mexico City-inspired street tacos. You’ll find day laborers, lawyers, bartenders, artists, motorcyclists, and more at this red, white, and green outpost during the lunch rush, and often, a long line that snakes into the parking lot. Which brings us to rule number two: get in line early so you have plenty of time to finish your tacos in your car.

La Victoria in East Dallas opens up at 7am, which is great if you typically wake up at an hour most people reserve for getting to the airport. Drag a friend who needs a reason to get up early and order a classic breakfast burrito or something funkier, like the crunchy Dom’s Delight with bacon, eggs, guac, onion, and peanuts. Whichever you choose, grab a pork tamale for a snack later on. And if you’re not the type to get up before sunrise, you can pop by for lunch before they close at 2pm.

When your group of indecisive besties or coworkers can’t decide where to go for food and drinks, head to the outdoor patio at La Ventana. There’s plenty of space and big tables to get comfortable while drinking rounds of margaritas and micheladas. The menu has all the standard proteins and they serve breakfast all day, so even if the sun has set, go ahead and get the potato, egg, and cheese breakfast quesadilla.

Stop by Coco’s for a quick lunch after scoring the perfect vintage fleece at one of the shops on Bishop. This spot has fantastic mole, with just the right levels of rich and sweet with a kick of spiciness. Roll bits of the chicken mole into their homemade corn tortillas, which you can hold with one hand while the other grabs a flauta or glass of ranch water. Just make sure whatever leftovers you pack up don’t end up spilling on your shopping haul.

José, on the edge of Bluffview, is the spot for an upscale meal that goes hard on Jalisco-style dishes and seafood. The space is big and airy, so post up at one of the corner tables to count the ladies with big hair and designer purses as you enjoy an excellent smoky negroni a la Mexicana. Kick your meal off with the crab sopesitos, tiny bites that feel like the fancy version of the after school snacks you’d pop into your mouth while glued to the TV as a kid.

El Carlos Elegante is a Mexican-inspired restaurant from the same team behind Sister, The Charles, and Cafe Duro. The service is top-notch, and the atmosphere feels like a high-end Mexico City restaurant—there’s a brilliant mezcal menu, killer cocktails, and an in-house masa program that uses Indigenous techniques for all corn-based plates. Their specials change seasonally, but a recent stand out was the lengua-filled quesadilla with Oaxaca cheese and caramelized vegetables.

After catching an old horror film and enjoying the AC inside the Texas Theatre, meander over to Veracruz Cafe just a few blocks away. The menu is a mix of Aztec, Mayan, Mesoamerican, and Huasteco cuisine—both the Xalapa-style chile relleno and the blue corn enchiladas are solid bets, especially when paired with the cactus salad and a spicy piña cocktail. In addition to the Bishop Arts spot, they have locations in Cedar Hill and Midlothian.