11 February 19 - 25, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Aging Tastefully These are some of the oldest restaurants in Dallas, dating back to 1918, proving that good service and timeless dishes never go out of style. BY AAREN PRODY W hat does it take to be- come a longstanding restaurant in a city known for its churn- and-burn tendencies? Reputation, history and location are all im- portant factors, but not for all of them. “We get the wisdom from the generation above us,” David Campisi, the fourth-gener- ation owner of Campisi’s, told the Observer. “My uncle and aunt utilize what we call ‘true hospitality,’ taking care of our guests first. That’s been kind of our key. We’re not trying to be anybody. We are who we are. We’re a red sauce joint that serves unbeliev- able food and knows most of our guests who dine in with us.” Often, original owners pass the torch, and quality drops, but Campisi’s has returned to chopping, peeling, and cooking everything. “What we’ve done at Campisi’s is that we’ve gone back to small-batch cooking at all of our locations,” David says. “Every location is done with more of a culinary component so that we’re making sure that we’re preserving our original recipes and high-quality food.” Over the last century, Campisi’s and these other longtime Dallas institutions have re- mained steadfast in their approach to dining out in the city. These are the oldest restaurants in Dallas that have passed the torch for generations, but still serve up the real deal. El Fenix (1918) 1601 McKinney Ave. El Fenix is the oldest restaurant in Dallas, having served its signature Tex-Mex since 1918. The original restaurant that owner Miguel “Mike” Martinez opened is long gone, so the location at 1601 McKinney Ave. near downtown Dallas is now referred to as the flagship. Over time, the restaurant menu evolved to help define what we consider modern Tex-Mex today, and there couldn’t be a more fitting dining room to order cheese enchiladas in Dallas. Campisi’s Egyptian Restaurant (1950) 5610 E. Mockingbird Lane There are nine Campisi’s restaurants in Dal- las, but none as well known as the one on Mockingbird Lane, which opened in 1950 (though they had opened a pizza shop at an- other location in 1946). Carlo “Papa” and Antonia Campisi had taken over the former “Egyptian Lounge” space, and with tight funds, kept much of the old decor up and did what they could to turn it into a place for au- thentic Italian cuisine. Inside is a throwback to a different time. The dark ambiance and deep red booths feel like a good place for se- crets: Jack Ruby even had a booth. But you’ll have to go visit for more on that story. Dunston’s Steakhouse (1955) 8526 Harry Hines Blvd. The owner of Dunston’s Steakhouse, Gene Dunston, might be the best thing on social media. He opines about the old days in short videos with the panache of a 20-something influencer. Sure, he might be a slightly vin- tage model, but he’s got more soul. The orig- inal name of this spot was the Wheel-In Drive-In, but he rebranded it Dunston’s Steakhouse after installing a mesquite grill, the heart of the space. You can get a 10-ounce rib-eye for about 30 bucks. Dairy-Ette (1956) 9785 Ferguson Road You don’t get diner vibes like this anymore. Dairy-Ette has served retro-style hamburg- ers, fries and housemade root beer since 1956. The outside is about as hole-in-the- wall as you can get, but trust the curiously placed sign, you’re in the right place. Vin- tage red and white leather booths, wood- paneled walls and the bar-style seating facing the kitchen look as though they’ve been pulled right out of Pulp Fiction. Some things never change, even after nearing 70 years of nostalgic classics. Norma’s Cafe (1956) 1123 W Davis St. In 2026, Norma’s Cafe will celebrate 70 years of serving Southern comfort food in Dallas. This go-to for hearty plates opened its first location in Oak Cliff and has ex- panded to seven locations across the Dallas area. Find yourself in any of them, and the motto is the same: “Eat Dessert First.” Nor- ma’s serves breakfast all day, and the popu- lar mile-high pies are half-price after 7 p.m. Kuby’s Sausage House (1961) 6601 Snider Plaza The history of Kuby’s Sausage House dates to the 18th century, when Friedrich Kuby opened a neighborhood meat market in Kai- serslautern, Germany. His passion for fine meats lived through two centuries, and his direct descendant, Karl Kuby, immigrated to the United States and opened his own spe- cialty meat market in Dallas in 1961. It serves as a restaurant and European market under one roof. The house chicken salad and horseradish pickles are staples from the market, but you have to dine in for the Reu- ben and sausage plates. Best of all, the prices are nostalgic. Keller’s Drive-In (1965) 6537 E. Northwest Highway We recently wrote about how a burger from Keller’s is one of the best bites in Dallas that’s under $10. Jack Keller opened his first burger stand around 1950, but the retro- style drive-in on Northwest Highway opened in 1965. Since that time, only the prices have changed (but just barely). Every- thing on the menu is $6 or less, which means you can get a stacked burger, shake | CITY OF ATE | t Dish Courtesy Local Favorites Restaurant/El Fenix Above: El Fenix is the oldest restaurant in Dallas, around since 1918. Left: Dairy-ette is a classic diner straight out of 1956. Lauren Drewes Daniels >> p12
