The Texas experience

Let’s say your college roommate is coming from Minnesota. Or that exchange student your family hosted 20 years ago is visiting from Berlin. Applebee’s is not going to cut it. They want something authentic, something to write home about, something Texan. Texas-centric Tillman’s is always a good choice, whether your guests live on Mars or Marsh Lane. But here are a few other places to take out-oftown guests.

God bless LOCKHART SMOKEHOUSE They made it so we don’t have to drive all the way to the Hill Country for good barbecue. Explain to your guests that real Hill Country barbecue doesn’t have sauce. Also, there are no forks. You eat it with your hands. Even if they don’t love it, they won’t soon forget it. 400 W. Davis at Bishop, 214.944.5521, lockhartsmokehouse.com.

When it comes to tacos, Oak Cliff is like a mini San Antonio. Tacos are our unofficial official dish. For an authentic Texas experience, without getting on I-35 South, take your guests to a taquería. Start them out easy with the Mexico City-style tacos of EL TIZONCITO (3404 W. Illiniois at Westmoreland). And then move into more daring territory like CAFETERIA Y LONCHERÍA EL PADRINO (408 W. Jefferson at Bishop) or BOY’S TAQUERÍA (1913 S. Edgefield at Ferndale). For regular reviews of taco joints in the ’hood, check tacocliff.wordpress.com and tacosense.com.

AUNT STELLE’S is only open in the summertime now, and it’s only open a few days a week. It’s not going to be around forever because once owner Lee Albert decides to retire, that’s it. No more snow cones. Not from Aunt Stelle’s patented ice-shaving machine, anyway. Bring your guests to Aunt Stelle’s and ask them if they’ve ever had a better snow cone. If they say yes, they are not really your friends. 2002 W. Clarendon at Marlborough, 214.946.1431.

Tacos are not just for taquerías anymore. Gourmet taco shops like Austinbased Torchy’s are turning up all over Dallas, and it is a matter of time before these trendy tacos pop up in the ’hood. Here, we examine the difference between the authentic and the posh.

Posh

tomatoes garlic sauce feta cilantro lettuce in a tortilla with choices of: flour or corn, soft or crispy

Authentic

a squeeze of lime pico de gallo cilantro meat onions in two corn tortillas

Late-night dining

Does CESAR’S TACOS Y GORDITAS have the best tacos in Oak Cliff? Not even close. But they are open 24-7. Don’t order anything crazy here. Whole fried fish? Oh, honey, no. That’s like ordering clams casino at a truck stop. Just have the fajita or chicken tacos, wash them down with a Mexican coke, take two aspirin and call it a night. 2919 W. Davis at Ravinia, 214.330.5409.

Even though LA PAISANITA is right across the street from Cesar’s No. 1, it never seems to get as much attention. We don’t know why. La Paisanita has good, authentic tacos for $1.17 each, and they’re open all the time. 2930 W. Davis at Ravinia, 214.623.9658.

OAK CLIFF’S METRODINER is the last Metro Diner after the one near Baylor hospital closed this past spring. Of course, we still call it Pitt Grill. And late at night, we order cheeseburgers, pancakes or waffles with chocolate chips. And we play Hank Williams on the jukebox. 2316 W. Davis at Hampton, 214.946.0220.