16 February 22 - 28, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents ▼ FIRST LOOK GETTIN’ DIRTY UTAH-BASED COOKIE SPOT DIRTY DOUGH PROVES IT’S WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE COUNTS. BY ANISHA HOLLA “I t’s what’s on the inside that counts” is the slogan of Utah-based cookie chain Dirty Dough, which planted its first roots in North Texas last October. The chain was developed in the summer of 2022 in an Arizona college dorm by accidental en- trepreneur Bennett Maxwell, who’s respon- sible for the chain’s notoriously stuffed cookies. These tasty treats come baked “dirty,” with things like gooey dough, cara- mels and even a second cookie baked inside. Since its humble origins, the cookie fran- chise has expanded throughout the country. Despite the almost jarringly high-calorie count, the chain’s nationwide fans and cult- like following are certainly a testament: it’s what’s on the inside — not the nutrition label — that counts. A sharp contrast to the cookies, Dirty Dough’s menu is simple and unfussy. There are six standard cookies on the menu with two seasonal flavors rotating every Friday. Cookies can also be ordered blended into a Dirty shake or layered with a Dirty scoop of ice cream. Either way, there’s no doubt: you can taste the gooey, the chunky and the un- deniable dirtiness of it all. The classic chocolate chip is a good start- ing place, although even this cookie shop staple is glamorized on the menu here. A crispy outer shell breaks into a center of but- tery raw dough, striking an ethereal balance between that crisp cookie texture that crumbles in the mouth and a doughier cen- ter that reminds us of sneaking a spoon or two straight from a bowl. Fancier options include the brookie, a chocolate brownie coating stuffed with a chocolate chip cookie with a melted caramel center. Or the Raspberry Toaster Tart, a classic sugar cookie filled with a core of raspberry jam and topped with icing. Both options bring an almost instant pang of childhood nostalgia. The Cookies N Creme is stuffed with Oreo, and the Reverse Cookie is an in- triguing but suitable name for a fudgy chocolate cookie that comes wrapped in- side a peanut butter cookie topped with peanut butter cups. Experimentation is further encouraged by Dirty Dough’s weekly offerings, which come in varieties like the Kitchen Sink cookie studded with toffee, pretzel and but- terscotch chips, or the Hubby Chubby, a chocolate cookie filled with a gooey peanut butter-chocolate-fudge mixture. The cookies certainly live up to the name. The fun part is splitting them open to reveal a messy center of half-baked dough or gooey fillings. Our only criticism is that the joint is to-go only, which means biting into a warm, stuffed cookie will have to wait for the car ride back home. Just make sure to grab a couple of napkins on the way out. It doesn’t get much dirtier than this. Dirty Dough, 4621 W. Park Blvd., Plano. Monday – Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Thursday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sun- day, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. ▼ BURGERS DO THE MESS AROUND HERBY’S CRAFTS A DELICIOUSLY MESSY BURGER IN OAK CLIFF. BY THERESSA VELAZQUEZ F or just one dollar, you can choose three songs from an old-school juke- box, by artists like The Smiths, Out- kast, Prince and Selena, the queen of Tejano music, while you nibble on Oak Cliff’s most hyped smash burger. The music is curated by Herby’s Burgers’ co-owner Will Rhoten, better known as DJ Sober, a popular local DJ. The other half of the team here is Jake Saenez, who helms the kitchen. Don’t expect to find healthy options here. Come ready to dig into messy burgers, cheesy fries, hotdogs or the newest menu item, a gooey grilled cheese. “We’ve had an overwhelming number of positive responses,” Rhoten says. “It makes me feel great … contributing to memories from the dance floor to the diner booths brings an equal amount of joy.” Rhoten has good taste in music and greasy American food, as well as a knack for cool ‘60s-inspired décor. The burger joint is clean and trendy, with its white and aqua blue-checkered floor, pops of neon yellow and cool music-themed portraits on the wood-paneled walls, like a signed pho- tograph from Erykah Badu. We started with the OG Smash ($11.50): pickles, American cheese, lots of thinly sliced sautéed onions and a thin beef patty smashed into an odd shape, all topped with Herby’s secret sauce. For one more dollar, we added jalapeños, and for $1.50, crispy bacon. The buns strug- gled to contain all the greasy food. There are more upgrades available, like another patty or fried egg. We were eager to try the cheese tots, but unfortunately, they were sold out when we visited. So, we had cheesy fries instead ($7), which were generously seasoned and smothered in nacho cheese and topped with Herby’s secret sauce, which is mostly sweet with just a hint of paprika. Next, we had to try Jake Saenz’s Famous Grilled Cheese ($4), as it’s already been anointed. Saenz keeps it pretty straightfor- ward; apparently, his secret is to butter both sides of nice fluffy bread. And we have to agree. The bread is in- deed simple but fluffy and soft, perfectly pressed against the white and yellow Ameri- can cheese. Herby’s now also has gluten-free options and is currently fine-tuning a vegan burger option. If you want to try the burgers, we recom- mend dropping by during a special event, such as Art Talk and Doodles with artist SM Sanz on Feb. 22, or Mochi’s Memorial, a dog- friendly event on Feb. 25. “I want to utilize my space to host events where like-minded people can come to- gether, create, learn, hang and make new friends, and network in a space that feels like home,” Rhoten says. Follow Herby’s on Instagram for updated hours and events. Herby’s Burgers, 2109 S. Edgefield Ave. Wednesday – Saturday, 2–9 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Theresa Velazquez OG Smash, cheesy fries and grilled cheese at Herby’s Burgers in Oak Cliff. City of Ate from p15 Anisha Holla Dirty Dough is now open in Plano. SCAN HERE TO ENTER TO WIN TICKETS SCAN TO ENTER TO WIN TICKETS