Of all the Dallas neighborhoods, perhaps none has as rich a cultural history as Deep Ellum. During the Jazz Age, many of the greatest blues artists—including Robert Johnson, who, legend has it, became a guitar genius after selling his soul to the Devil—played the Deep Ellum club circuit. In his song “Take a Whiff on Me”, Lead Belly sang about Deep Ellum, “Walked up Ellum and I come down Main, tryin’ to bum a nickel just to buy cocaine.”
Through the decades, another song, Deep Ellum Blues, was performed by everyone from the Grateful Dead to Jerry Lee Lewis to Les Paul: “When you’re down on Deep Ellum, put your money in your shoe…”.
You may no longer need to “put your money in your shoe,” but this neighborhood has preserved its character, and today is home not only to a slew of live music venues, but to some of Dallas’s top restaurants and bars. Deep Ellum offers everything from steakhouses and barbecue to Lebanese cuisine and gastropub fare. Some restaurants offer live music, and others offer award-winning tacos, the crispiest fried chicken, and renowned cocktail programs.
This guide to Deep Ellum dining includes something for everyone.
Brick & Bones
A treasure buried in Deep Ellum, this Mexican cocktail bar and fried chicken joint is cute and kitschy with its exposed brick walls and chicken figurines. Any of the crispy fried chicken dishes make for tasty snacks to pair with the spicy, tequila-based “Slow Poke Rodriguez”. Grab a 10-piece bucket with a side of habanero bacon mac ‘n’ cheese to share among friends. 2713 Elm St., Dallas, deepellum.bricknbones.com/
LOCAL
Having more-than-survived nearly 30 years so far in Deep Ellum, this chef-owned unassuming spot was one of the first to truly use farm-to-table sensibilities in menu planning. Chef Tracy Miller’s tasting menu is always a recommended choice, but if $150 per person is a bit too steep, you can’t go wrong ordering from the exceptional a la carte menu. Just don’t skip dessert. If it’s too hard to pick one, there’s a sampler-style dessert option, along with curated dessert wines. 2936 Elm St., Dallas, localdallas.com
St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin
This lively restaurant and bar opened in the ‘90s and became nothing short of a Dallas institution. To call the menu eclectic is an understatement. Mains are split into five menus: Entrees, including fried catfish to chicken fried steak; House Specials like surf ‘n’ turf and fish tacos, build-your-own pizzas with toppings that include scallops and chicken breast; and Grill, which features mostly burgers, chicken sandwiches, and build-your-own pastas. In other words, there’s something for everyone. And the décor, from the deer trophies and marlins hanging from the ceiling to the walls crammed with kitsch, matches the menu. 2730 Commerce St., Dallas, stpetesdancingmarlin.com
Pecan Lodge
If there’s one facet of Dallas’s food scene marked by fierce competition, it’s barbecue. Pecan Lodge is widely considered among the best barbecue spots in all of Texas. Known for tender, juicy brisket with a crispy bark, this restaurant started as a stall in the Dallas Farmers’ Market in 2010 before going brick-and-mortar in 2013. Even after all these years, throngs of locals and tourists fill the wooden tables, drinking beers and tucking into sausage, turkey, and mac ‘n’ cheese sprinkled with bits of bacon. 2702 Main St., Dallas, pecanlodge.com
Zatar Lebanese Tapas & Bar
This cozy spot is the perfect place to taste modern-Lebanese cuisine, sip cocktails, and smoke a hookah on the patio. Grab a few friends and order the sampler to try all of the homemade dips (hummus, baba ghanoush, and labneh) with warm pita. Mezze, shwarmas, kebabs, and gyros satisfy every craving, and the Middle Eastern desserts, like warm Baklava with vanilla ice cream, keep the regulars coming back. 2825 Commerce St., Dallas, zatardallas.com
Culpepper Cattle Company
Located in the historic Continental Gin Building, Culpepper fuses a steakhouse with a Tex-Mex restaurant, offering a menu that includes everything from chicken fried lobster to enchiladas. Dinner kicks off with hot tortillas and a side of butter, and while the steaks steal the show, the firecracker shrimp appetizer is a don’t-miss. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays bring live music; Fridays bring $10 fajitas; and Sundays bring brunch with build-your-own bloody Mary and mimosa stations. 3309 Elm St. Ste. 100, Dallas, culpeppercattleco.com
The Free Man Cajun Cafe & Lounge
For a night out that feels like a mini trip to New Orleans, catch a blues show and enjoy some Cajun food at this live music venue and restaurant. The Free Man hosts musicians every night of the week on two stages and the menu offers gumbos, deep-fried alligator tails, blackened catfish, and crawfish etouffee. A list of selections from New Orleans’s Abita brewery (not just the Purple Haze gracing every beer list in town) is another nod to the Big Easy. 2626-2630 Commerce St., Dallas, freemandallas.com
Terry Black’s Barbecue
After some family drama back in Lockhart, one side of the Black family (aka Central Texas barbecue royalty) opened up Terry Black’s in Austin in 2014, and then Dallas’ lucky outpost in Deep Ellum in late 2019. The beef rib is the stuff of legend and could easily feed two or more hungry folks. The chopped brisket is decadent, the sliced Texas turkey crave-worthy, and the sides are far better than the typical barbecue joint. Don’t leave without a frozen Black’s Margarita, the secret recipe you’ll never know. 3025 Main St., Dallas, terryblacksbbq.com/dallas
Armoury D.E.
Surrounded by industrial-style furniture, distressed floors, and moody lighting, Hungarian comfort food meets live musicians and a deep cocktail menu at Armoury D.E. Start with a cup of the homemade goulash before digging into the spicy No Reggie sandwich made with chicken thigh and Hungarian Swiss on toasted sourdough. After dinner, try the Ritual of Busó, a cocktail that combines Hungarian poppy-seed liqueur, vermouth, Milanese coffee liqueur, and cold brew. 2714 Elm St., Dallas, armouryde.com
Revolver Taco Lounge and Purépecha
These sister establishments, as well as their owner and chef, Regino Rojas, constantly rake in the accolades, including multiple nods from the James Beard Foundation. Revolver is a counter service taco joint, while Purépecha, centering the cuisine of Michoacan and named for the Indigenous people from that state, is the upscale back room where diners can indulge themselves in a seven-course tasting menu. That menu is ever-changing, but think handmade heirloom-corn tortillas, rich moles, and every protein from seabass to rabbit. 2646 Elm St., Dallas, revolvertacolounge.com/gastro-cantina-deep-ellum
Big Guys Chicken & Rice
Perfect for late-night munchies after Deep Ellum bar-hopping, halal-certified fast-casual Middle Eastern spot Big Guys offers gyros and heaping rice bowls with a variety of meats and homemade sauces. The concept is an homage to the halal carts of New York City, and the beef-and-lamb shwarma will hurtle you to those Midtown Manhattan streets. Save room for the Nutella paratha. 2614 Elm St., Ste. 130, Dallas, bigguyschickenandrice.com
Nori Handroll Bar
Uni sashimi bite at Nori Handroll Bar | Photo via Nori Handroll Bar
Since 2018, Nori has been offering Dallasites some of the best Japanese handrolls in the area. Whether you opt for one of their pre-set temaki meals or order a la carte, Nori’s simple menu of super fresh ingredients will have you coming back for more again and again. If you’re feeling daring, opt for the chef’s omakase and see where the night takes you. Just don’t skip out on some yuzu basque cheesecake for dessert. 2814 Elm St., Dallas, norihandrollbar.com
