Where to find the absolute best margaritas in Dallas – Fort Worth
In honor of National Margarita Day, we help Texans find top-shelf options across DFW. From award-winning classics to innovative concoctions, dive into the best margaritas in Dallas.
Jean Baker
February 19, 2024
In the heart of Dallas, margaritas are the drink of choice. Whether you prefer the lively atmosphere of Gloria’s Latin Cuisine or the innovative blends at El Bolero Cocina Mexicana, Dallas has a diverse and vibrant margarita scene that will captivate your senses. Here’s where to indulge.
Las Palmas Tex-Mex
2708 Routh St, Dallas, Texas 75201
Located at the heart of Uptown Dallas, Las Palmas Tex-Mex offers a relaxed atmosphere and delicious cocktails. The LP Spicy Margarita, a blend of blanco tequila, jalapeno, dry curacao, lime, and agave, provides a tantalizing kick that perfectly complements the restaurant’s flavorful cuisine. Whether you are unwinding on the patio or socializing at the bar, Las Palmas guarantees a memorable dining experience filled with warmth, hospitality, and some of the best margs in the Uptown neighborhood.
Gloria’s Latin Cuisine
Multiple locations
This beloved micro-chain restaurant has locations across Texas, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. And while Gloria’s is known for its lively atmosphere and delicious complimentary black bean dip, it’s the strong margaritas that put this place on the map. The award-winning margarita, made with 100% Agave Monte Alban Reposado Tequila and Gran Gala Orange Liqueur, is a stand-out choice that delivers a refreshing burst of flavors with every sip. If you’re in the mood for something a bit fruitier, try the mango or strawberry margaritas for a playful surge of sweetness.
Mi Cocina
Multiple locations
Mi Cocina, founded in Dallas in 1991, is an essential destination for Tex-Mex dining in DFW. When talking about the best margaritas in Dallas, it would be unfair not to mention the Mambo Taxi. This frozen margarita is blended with Sauza Silver tequila, lime juice, and house-made sangria with pinot noir, brandy, and fruit juice. However, be warned that you should not drink more than two. (Trust us.)
E Bar Tex-Mex
1901 N Haskell Ave, Dallas, TX 75204
E Bar Tex-Mex is known for its comfortable neighborhood vibe and delicious margaritas. The top-shelf margarita, made with reposado tequila, Grand Marnier, and house-made sweet and sour, is a definite crowd-pleaser. We also recommend the Mexican martini made with tequila, fresh lime juice, Grand Marnier, and olives (for garnish). While the margaritas are excellent on their own, they can be used to wash down a wide range of delicious Tex-Mex dishes.
Mariano’s Hacienda Ranch
Multiple locations
No discussion of margaritas in Dallas can be considered complete without mentioning Mariano’s Hacienda Ranch. This beloved institution is known for pioneering the frozen margarita machine in 1971. (True story that the frozen margarita was invented in Dallas!) The Original Frozen is a classic and a must-try, but those seeking something with more kick should opt for The Mariano, made with Don Julio reposado, fresh lime, and Cointreau.
El Bolero Cocina Mexicana
1201 Oak Lawn Ave #160, Dallas, TX 75207
Embark on a journey of flavor and flair at El Bolero Cocina Mexicana, located in the Design District. This restaurant is known for its inventive margaritas that cater to every palate. You can try the bold Oilman Margarita, which features activated charcoal and a gold salt rim, or go for something a bit sweeter, like the cotton candy or red dragon fruit margaritas. Bonus: House margaritas are $8 on Mondays.
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Nearby Cortland Locations
Nearby Cortland Locations
8 of the tastiest healthy options for dining out in Phoenix
Guilt-free dining doesn’t have to mean flavor-free.
It’s not easy to find health-conscious options when eating out. Greasy burgers, fried foods, and salads heaped with fatty meat and soaked with high-fat, calorie-dense dressing are everywhere.
But it can be done if you know where to look. When you want something that tastes good and is good for you, check out these eight metro Phoenix eateries.
AZ Pho and Grill
3 locations: Chandler and Gilbert
If you’re craving Asian food, skip the deep-fried, sugar-drenched orange chicken in favor of a plate of vermicelli, which is low in saturated fat, high in fiber, and a good alternative for people with gluten sensitivity. It comes with lettuce, bean sprouts, mint, carrot-daikon pickles, green onion, crushed peanuts, fish sauce, and grilled meat (get the shrimp). They also have incredible chicken-broth and veggie-broth pho; get it loaded with fresh, crisp veggies—bok choy, Napa cabbage, broccoli, carrots, and snow peas—and toss in the mint, bean sprouts, and jalapeño peppers for a vitamin wallop.
Cafe Lalibela
Tempe
The heady aromas and flavors of Ethiopian cuisine come from a dizzying array of spices used to jazz up heaping platters of high-fiber vegan dishes like misir wat (red lentils), gomen (collard greens), azifah (brown lentils) and tikil gomen (carrots, cabbage, and potatoes), to name a few. Even better, the spongy injera bread used to scoop it all up is gluten-free and contains protein, magnesium, iron, and calcium.
Earth Plant Based Cuisine
Phoenix
Eating vegan doesn’t have to equal sacrifice. This hip Grand Avenue cafe will satisfy your less-than-healthy cravings with faux meat dishes like soy chorizo nachos, seasoned mushroom “carnitas” tacos, a pulled seitan BBQ sandwich, shredded “chicken” chimichanga with cotija cheese, and much more. It allows you to indulge in familiar flavors and textures sans globs of grease. If you’re feeling a little naughty, save room for a “milkshake.”
FnB
Scottsdale
James Beard Award-winning Chef Charleen Badman is a sorceress with local, fresh produce and other meat-free ingredients—she’s so savvy with them, her Instagram account is even @veggiebadman. She gussies up humble plates of broccoli, butternut squash, radishes, red beans, and on and on, adding nuts, relish, pesto, vinaigrette, fresh herbs, and more to tease out the best qualities of each ingredient. Yes, she makes a few superb-quality fish and meat dishes, but it’s easy to order a nutrient-packed, plant-based meal and feel more than satisfied. Wash it down with an Arizona wine; the list features many of the state’s top purveyors.
Green Corner
Chandler and Mesa
The Mediterranean diet is all the rage, and fast-casual Green Corner is one of the best places to try it. Its dishes are rich and hearty without leaving you weighed down, thanks to chef-owner Ebrahim Takkem’s Levantine cuisine, a culinary heritage found across Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. Nutrient-rich eggplant in the baba ghannoug, high-antioxidant stuffed grape leaves, and marinated lean chicken kababs are a few of the best options.
The Market by Jennifer’s
Phoenix
This fun, eclectic Arcadia gem is the place for elevated, clean comfort food. Some items have more of a health boost than others, such as the maple-mustard glazed tri-colored carrots or salmon (rich in omega-3) glazed with agave, chili, and garlic. Jennifer’s website proudly cross-promotes other local products she uses in her cooking, including fresh milk from Danzeisen Dairy, minimally processed flour from Hayden Flour Mills, and traditional O’odham crops from Ramona Farms.
Perfect Pear Bistro
2 Tempe locations
If you’re craving fresh greens, nuts, fruit, and other goodies but want to skip the goopy, high-calorie dressing, head to Perfect Pear Bistro. Its extensive list of entree salads offers a choice of baby spring mix or a house blend of baby kale, spinach, and arugula. Dressings are homemade vinaigrettes. You can’t get much better than the Perfect Pear Classic with pears, dried cranberries, mint, red onions, gorgonzola, and toasted hazelnuts tossed with cider vinaigrette. The menu bursts with other guilt-free options as well, including seasonal soups and quinoa bowls stuffed with vegetables of all stripes.
Source
Gilbert
Acclaimed Italian-born chef Claudio Urciuoli came to the Valley about two decades ago and has been stunning diners ever since, thanks to his insistence on honest food and impeccable sourcing. This casual yet chic showcase opened in Epicenter at Agritopia in late 2022. Airy, tangy artisan bread is the star of the show. It is made with organic flour and long fermentation so it doesn’t sit in your stomach like a rock. Wild smoked salmon, wild shrimp, farro bowls full of health benefits, and a knockout hummus—made with chickpeas imported from Campania, Italy—are other standouts, all at a level of quality that belies the everyday price points. Even better, a stellar selection of natural wine is easy on the wallet.
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Nearby Cortland Locations
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Stellar Black-owned businesses in Atlanta to shop, eat, and try in 2024
Support our city’s most distinctive Black-owned businesses this year.
Atlanta has always paved the way for showcasing and celebrating Black culture and achievement. We are fortunate to boast a plethora of Black-owned enterprises spanning various categories, including charming boutiques, standout restaurants, upscale spas, and lively entertainment venues. This Black History Month (or any time of year, really), be sure to support these distinctive Black-owned businesses that contribute to the vibrancy of our fabulous city.
Boutiques
Often found at pop-ups on the Beltline near Ponce City Market, Kamawe sells all-gender (and totally unique) brass and copper jewelry. There’s a great selection of bold architectural pieces as well as many understated—but still eye-catching—options. Inspired by the founding husband and wife duo’s trips to Nairobi, Kenya, each piece is handmade by Kenyan artisans with skill and quality.
Souk Bohemian is located in Ponce City Market and features a unique aesthetic influenced by world travel and exploration. Started by two best friends, the store is full of moody yet minimal clothing and accessories, transportive coffee table books, and items focused on mindful living, self-care, and culture.
The Village Retail is essentially a store made up of stores. Also located in Ponce City Market, the bazaar-style shop is made up of dozens of brands that sell Black-owned clothing, beauty products, accessories, home decor, and health and wellness items. Think of it as a one-stop-shop for all of your Black-owned needs.
Restaurants
Embodying the best of Southern cuisine since 1947, Busy Bee Cafe has a beautiful story with dishes and flavors to match. Serving classic down-south delicacies like chicken and waffles, fried chicken, fried catfish, baked mac and cheese, collared greens, and more, this community-supporting Atlanta staple has never tasted more authentic.
Specializing in raw vegan cuisine, Tassili’s Raw Reality is best known for its hearty, healthy, colorful kale wraps. They also have raw vegan desserts, juices, and snacks. A staple in the West End, Tassili’s does an amazing job of convincing skeptics that raw vegan meals can be absolutely delicious.
Wellness
Take care of your body and mind at The Wellness Spot in East Point. The fitness and day spa offers Barre, Yoga, HIIT, and dance fitness classes to get active. For relaxation-seekers, they offer facials, massages, manicures, and pedicures for men and women (ask about their packages and private events!). Whether you’re popping in for a class or treating yourself to a beauty treatment, you’re sure to leave rejuvenated, relaxed, and refreshed.
Inspired by nostalgia and storytelling, Windy City Scents is a luxury candle and fragrance company. With scents like Bergamot + Matcha, Birch + Black Pepper, Persimmon + Lemongrass, and more—their hand-poured, natural candles and room sprays are the perfect way to set the tone in the home or give as a gift to share an elevated aromatic experience. Order online or stop by The Village Retail to check them out.
If you’re in the mood to move your body, ATL Kula in Atlantic Station is a Black-owned wellness studio featuring Yoga, Pilates, Barre, and Tai Chi classes. They focus on bringing awareness and respect to movement practices from all over the world for holistic health.
Coffee/Tea Shops
Established as a premium roaster among its peers, Portrait Coffee’s new location in the Historic West End honors the legacy of coffee and community. Not only is their coffee delicious, but the shop is a great place to hang out, chat with a friend, and get in tune with the neighborhood.
Just Add Honey, with locations along the Beltline in Old Fourth Ward and the historic Sweet Auburn Market, is a locally-owned tea shop that offers a home-like feel. Their unique loose-leaf tea blends are great to enjoy hot or iced in-store, brewed at home, or as a gift to a loved one.
Essentials
Sevananda: Natural Foods Market is a Black-owned cooperative grocery store located in Little Five Points. Like most grocery stores, it’s full of fresh produce and grocery items, although Sevananda has more of a holistic, healthy spin with an expanded section of vitamins, teas, and tinctures, plus bulk grains and dried herbs and fruit. They also have a hot bar and a to-go food section with yummy vegetarian and vegan options.
True Laundry is a locally-owned laundry detergent and fabric softener vendor based in Atlanta. It’s a great alternative to the big-box companies and offers products for sensitive skin. Order online or find their products in Sevananda.
Music and Entertainment
Little Five Points wouldn’t be the same without Moods Music and Bookshop. Full of records and CDs, the music shop and bookstore have nostalgic cultural tunes and collections to buy and cherish. The L5P staple is small but mighty and always feels like a warm hug as you walk in, ready to explore the record bins and shelves with locally-made gifts.
If you’re feeling grown-up and have sexy vibes, TEN ATL is the place to be. Located on Flat Shoals Ave in East Atlanta Village, this hotspot features local and traveling musicians and offers a full bar. The intimate lounge doesn’t have many seats, so be sure to reserve a spot, especially for Monday Night Jazz.
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