12 January 16 - 22, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Del Campo 901 Long Prairie Road, Flower Mound; 10724 N. Beach St., Fort Worth Savory empanadas at the Argentinian restau- rant Del Campo are just $4.75 each, so you can get two for just under $10. Or buy one sa- vory and get a dessert pastry like the Ba- nutella for just $3.25. It’s stuffed with banana, Nutella, chocolate sauce and powdered sugar. Del’s Charcoal Burgers 110 S. McKinney St., Richardson Del’s Charcoal Burgers, opened in 1957, is a revered local landmark 1957, celebrated for its homemade root beers, charcoal-grilled burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. The family-owned establishment offers an ar- ray of options, the priciest being the double meat and cheeseburger for $7.60. Hot dogs are capped at $6.45, and sandwiches are priced at a reasonable $6.25 each. Firexbox 9918 Plano Road At Firexbox in Lake Highlands, a glimpse through the drive-thru delivery window re- veals a skilled chef meticulously crafting your sushi behind the counter. This sushi extends far beyond the ordinary California rolls, showcasing a level of quality surpass- ing typical grocery store fare, all at a fraction of the cost. With most rolls priced at $7.29 and sushi a la carte at $5.55 per order, the value is undeniable. While the drive-thru experience may require a bit more patience, rest assured that the made-to-order aspect results in a tasty culinary experience. Fuel City 801 S. Riverfront Blvd. Fuel City is well known for its street tacos (about $12 for four) and the massive burri- tos, which will set you back just about nine bucks. We’re partial to the pastor and barba- coa. However, there are a lot of gas station tacos that will fill you up for less than $10. Jimmy’s Food Store 4901 Bryan St. Veteran Italian specialty shop Jimmy’s Food Store serves some of the best Italian prepared foods, sausages, baked goods and imported cheese and pasta in the city. You’d be remiss if you didn’t indulge in a sandwich from the takeout menu. Try a hearty deli sub, like the Italian sub loaded with mortadella, capicola, sopressata, pepperoni and provolone cheese for $5.99 for a half and $12.99 for a full. Or try the Cuban sandwich with roast pork, ham, Swiss, pickles and mojo sauce for $7.99. Keller’s Drive-In East Dallas and Harry Hines Blvd. Keller’s Drive-In, a Dallas classic since the ’60s, offers a nostalgic dining experience. Stay in your car as the friendly waitstaff takes your order and delivers it to you. Don’t miss the signature poppy seed bun burger, onion rings and a chocolate milkshake, all for under $12. Despite its popularity, Keller’s has main- tained affordable prices after 70 years in busi- ness, with burgers starting at $3.85. Plus, they now accept credit cards. So, enjoy the retro vibe and keep some extra napkins handy to avoid any mess on your steering wheel. Tacos La Banqueta Various Locations Tacos La Banqueta has tacos starting at $2 for corn and $2.25 for flour. Options include thin grilled beef, pork and pineapple, pork sau- sage, pork meat, cow head, beefsteak, small intestines, cow tongue, chicken or cheese. All tacos are served with onions and cilantro. Taqueria La Ventana Various Locations Take advantage of $2.50 tacos, $8.50 burri- tos and dips and chips at $5 or less at Taque- ria La Ventana. La Victoria 1605 N. Haskell Ave. Start your day off at La Victoria with a mas- sive breakfast burrito with sausage, eggs, po- tatoes and more, starting at $4. Mama’s Daughters’ Diner Various Locations Complaints about rising food prices persist, but breakfast at Mama’s Daughters’ Diner remains an affordable delight. Indulge in biscuits and gravy for just over $4, a fried egg sandwich for under $6 and a short stack of pancakes for less than $7. At lunch, the ro- tating meat-and-three options offer a di- verse daily selection for just under $12. Alternatively, opt for a budget-friendly feast with two chicken-fried steaks priced at $15 or less, perfect for sharing. Note that prices and options vary by location, so check the menu before heading out for a delicious and wallet-friendly meal. The Peak Inn 132 N. Peak St. The Peak Inn is one of our favorite dive bars slash neighborhood haunts. Get an or- der of cheesesteak eggrolls for $8.25 or a bowl of house-made red chili (with ched- dar cheese) for $9.99. The one-third-pound burgers here are phenomenal and only $10.99, and they come with house-made fries. Prince Lebanese Grill 502 W. Randol Mill Road, Arlington When you’re gearing up for a Dallas Cow- boys or Texas Rangers game, make a pit stop at Prince Lebanese Grill. This family-owned gem offers beef shawarma sandwiches, gy- ros and falafel, all priced at $8 or less. For a complete meal under $10, save room for baklava, just $1.25. Tacos Y Mas Various Locations Tacos Y Mas has Mexican street tacos for $2.49 or a signature taco for $3.99. For street tacos, you can choose between steak, chicken, pastor, carnitas, barbacoa, bistec, lengua and tripa. Signature taco choices in- clude grilled steak, shredded chicken, chicken or steak fajita, marinated pork, slow-cooked beef brisket and birria. What the Pho 221 W. Parker Road, Plano One of the best dinner deals we’ve seen is at What the Pho, where you can snag two bánh mì sandwiches for $8.99. Yes: two sand- wiches for under $9. Indulge in popular choices like beef and pork or explore one of the other 11 options available, all served with cilantro, jalapeño, cucumber, carrots and daikon. Planning for a potluck but prefer not to cook? Consider a party tray: $40 for 50 chicken dumplings or $50 for 100 pork or vegetable egg rolls. ▼ OPENINGS UNWELCOME TRIBUTE TO A CEDAR SPRINGS FAVE A NEW BUT DIFFERENT PANDA’S TO OPEN ON CEDAR SPRINGS. BY ALEX GONZALEZ D allas Voice reported in late Decem- ber that a restaurant called Panda’s Cafe is set to open on Cedar Springs Road, between LGBTQ+ club Station 4 and JR’s Bar & Grill. This space was occupied by Twisted Trick for six months before it closed late last year. Before then, the space housed a family-owned spot called Panda’s Restaurant & Bar, which was open from the ’70s until closing in 2020. After the news broke of the new Panda’s Cafe, namely by way of an animation of a panda bear in the building’s window, Phoebe Nguyen, the granddaughter of the original owners of Panda’s Restaurant & Bar, took to social media to express her dis- appointment (in some now-deleted com- ments) that the new concept parodies the legacy of her family restaurant. While she expressed gratitude for the support of the local LGBTQ+ community, Nguyen said her family was not informed about the new restaurant by Caven Enter- prises, the hospitality group behind it. Nguyen said that her family had been priced out after the COVID-19 pandemic due to a rent increase. She declined to speak to the Dallas Observer. A representative with Caven denied Lauren Drewes Daniels The muffuletta at Jimmy’s Food Store is an affordable hidden gem. Alex Gonzalez The only clue we have for the new Panda’s Cafe is a panda bear with tea, boba and take- out boxes. City of Ate from p11
