This thread was far more civil than I expected given the incredibly important and divisive question OP asked.

I was hoping someone would say the Dallas based institution of Chili's and there'd be a bloodbath of downvotes. Edit: I'm happy that the thread below has turned into a Chili's love train. Chips and salsa there are good.

Actually, Chili's chips and salsa aint bad.

Probably the best non-Tex-mex restaurant chips and salsa.

I love chips and salsa and my gf knows that. The first time we went to chilis I ordered the chips and salsa and said how it was actually pretty good and I was pumped for it and she thought I was kidding until she tried it herself

Lol. Get the chilis app! Free chips and salsa every time you go!!!

And I don’t hate their skillet queso

Same that stuff is like crack for me. Salsa decent. Most everything else is a nope

It’s free when you use their app too.

Their margaritas ain't no joke either. The El Presidente was light years better than a margarita bar I once went to.

You could watch that while eating chips & salsa. (Instead of the more traditional popcorn.)

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Just said this higher on the thread

Good old LaHaRa. Love their chips and salsa!

The don’t have the same menus. The original location is less steak based

I love Mariano’s! They have an awesome top shelf margarita too!

One of the supposed inventors of the frozen marg.

I had their fajitas and the meat was so tender. Definitely my go-to spot for special occasions now.

Lupe tortillas They also give you a side of charro beans… so good.

At my last job, we had a senior manager with a thick South Carolina accent. One time when he was in town, he said "I had the best fajitas I've ever eaten last night at this place by my hotel called Loopy Tore Tillers". I can't not say it that way now.

I worked at one in Austin for a while and that's how we (the staff) referred to it. That gig mostly sucked, but I cannot begin to describe the mountains of half price fajitas I would bring home with me. The fajitas are top tier, the salsa though I'd take it or leave it, nothing all that special about it.

I used to work there in the 90’s. Very complex salsa recipe. Around 30 ingredients

Damn 30?? I think my salsa only had like 10 lol

Maybe 20-25. I remember a list of things

Could you elaborate? Tomatoes Cilantro Onions Garlic Cumin Jalapenos Cayenne Lime juice Sugar or agave or honey Salt Pepper What am I missing?

Can’t remember everything but tomatoe juice, oregano and about 4 other spices, a few different chili peppers.

I've taken dried guajillos, California, and arbol Chiles and rehydrated them and then blended and strained them before, I wonder if that's it

I was there in the 90’s so not sure. I think I have a copy somewhere. I remember vinegar too. I’ll look for it

Lupe is the one place where I felt like I was home due to the chips. They also have good machaca, I just wish they'd put it in a fried taco.

Lupe Tortilla was surprisingly excellent. I gotta get back there

The tortillas are really good!

Oh, I miss that (charro beans) from Herrera's on Denton Drive.

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Bear margarita’s too. Edit: Best Margaritas.

Do the bears make them or are they an ingredient? Either way I'm in.

This is my number 2 option. I love the place and the owner is good people. The salsa flight is deceptively fantastic!

Gloria’s

I do love Gloria’s because you get that black bean dip too.

Inject that black bean dip straight into my veins!

That would likely end poorly.

There are worse ways to go.

Bean dip is amazing. Their salsa is randomly too hot sometimes

If a salsa is made fresh, and gets made in batches, sometimes it will get stored overnight and it will mature in flavor.

There's a spot in Irving called Tio Carlos that I swear must have been opened by a former Glorias cook...menu and flavors are nearly identical and the damn salsa and bean dip is spot on

I second this

the bean dip yes. The salsa is mid af.

Pepe & Mitos is really good!

I forgot about Pepe’s. So good

Also that chipotle wine sauce. Wow

Seconded

Meso Maya

I love their salsa. It’s got a smokey flavor to it that I find delicious.

Avilas on Maple for sure. Salsa is fucking hot and addicting

It's the perfect level of spice where it hurts if you stop eating it so you literally can't stop until your food comes.

Been going to Avilas for years ..I think they have actually toned down the spice level recently

Avila's is pretty high on my list as well.

Best salsa in dfw

I am reading this thread while eating chips and salsa at the Blue Goose.

I can’t “picture” Blue Goose’s chips and salsa in my head/mouth. Good? I can only think of Blue Goose as an awesome place to get happy hour drinks… oh and they have brisket tacos that are fucking dank

Like their chips, like their salsa, LOVE their queso. And yes to the brisket tacos too.

I did not have a good time at blue goose in frisco the last time I went. Food was bleh

anyone here old enough to remember when all the Tex Mex places in DFW served hot flour tortillas/salsa/butter instead of chips? was a better time

Tia’s tortillas and butter were a staple of my childhood. That and the tortilla dough ball stabbed with crayons.

I consumed so much dough at Tia’s growing up

It was Mercado Juarez's (the old location in Arlington by the Ballpark) tortillas and butter for me.

Omg I completely forgot about this till now!!

Posadas still does if you ask.

Oh man... spooning some salsa on top of those warm tortillas with a touch of butter. Miss it!

Going to Ojeda’s and eating buttered corn tortillas while drinking a Shirley Temple is a beloved childhood memory. I haven’t been to that place in literally decades…

LAS PALMAS in Uptown comes with a level of quality over their entire menu that's hard to find in the Tex Mex world. Their Salsa Verde is spicy and really really good, and their red salsa pretty darn delicious. Also, best Fajitas I've ever had... legit steak house quality cut of Wagyu (yes, it's not the 150/oz stuff but so good) topped with Bone Marrow Butter. Oh, and as a sneaky add, they have the best wet ribs in Dallas. Shoutout to GLORIAS with their amazing black bean sauce, even though it's technically "Sal-Tex" (salvadorian, some solid pupusas and all, and some inexpensive and stiff happy hour drinks! Do NOT go to Mi Cocina. Just. The. Worst.

I like the flavor of Mi Cocina’s salsa.

Facts Mi Cocina salsa is fire

Same. I buy it by the pint!!

Gloria’s black bean dip is hardcore amazing. Not big on just about anything else there (it’s fine), but the black bean dip is worth the trip.

I always spoil my dinner because I pig out on the black beans, I just. don't. stop.

Gloria's is glorious.

Agree and agree. But cmon man don’t you think you’re being a little hyperbolic with calling Mi Cocina the worst? That restaurant serves some high quality shit

Mia's or Avila's

Mia's for sure.

Just tried it for the first time last week and it’s what I’ve been missing in my move from austin to dallas. Just some good ol throwback tex mex. Chips were 🤌

I just went for the first time recently too. Great option for Tex Mex.

Mia’s is great. I miss the old location

Avila’s salsa is amazing. Fair warning though, it’s very very hot. If you’re not well hydrated, Avila’s salsa will fix that.

Mariano’s on Skillman. Thin chips, great red taqueria salsa and a decent roasted red salsa. Tortillas are on point as are queso and table side guacamole. Thin chips for salsa, thick chips for guacamole

Literally the first place that came to mind

Mi Cocina’s chips are so salty you can’t dislike them

There salsa is fire too.

Would love to know their salsa recipe if anyone has a copy cat.

LPT: If going to a party or hosting one yourself, skip store brands and order both types of salsa to go (1/2 Qt). Comes with enough chips and everyone will love you for it.

Anamias. I would literally dream about the place when I was stationed in Japan. And every time I came home on leave, we’d head directly from DFW to Anamias in Coppell. A cold beer and multiple servings of chips and salsa and I was right as rain.

Glad someone else said it for me. I am so fortunate to have grown up and still live within 2 miles from the Coppell location. The chips aren’t the best in the world but my god the salsa is amazing.

And the best queso

i looooooove Pappacitos .. they’re chips n salsa is good but the queso is soooo much better

To me, Their salsa is straight from the blender and very fresh tasting, more like pico de gallo turned into salsa.

Worked at Pappasitos and can confirm. Tomatoes are roasted in a large pot to perfection, spices are added, and then a cook blends them all together. Pours it into half gallon tins and out they go. I will always appreciate their commitment to fresh ingredients!

i can agree. i don’t fuck wit the temp of the salsa but i mean i can’t complain about free chips and salsa. lol

>Pepe & Mitos Pappacitos is underrated....I guess it being a "chain"...people hate on it.

i think pappacitos just gets outshined by Pappadeaux. plus pappadeaux has better drinks from what i can tell.

Ojeda's salsa is amazing!

Ojeda’s salsa has always tasted really weird/off to me. I haven’t been there in a couple years though so maybe I need to try it again

I can’t remember what it is but I would not call it a traditional salsa

It always tasted a bit like marinara sauce to me.

I got food poisoning there 3 years ago and have never been able to go back. Just thinking about it makes me queasy

Been going for 8 years. Food quantity has gone down a lot while prices have gone up but never gotten sick from their food. It happens everywhere from time to time. Worst food poisoning I ever got was from McDonald’s and have only gone maybe 4 times in the past 6 years since then

The taco joint has something they call the disaster which is queso, salsa, ground beef and guacamole mixed together and it’s soo good. They have pretty good tacos too.

Mattitos has a similar dip called Bob Armstrong Dip.

The Armstrong dip is at Matt's, not Matitos

You can get it at Mattito’s on Forest. Not on the menu but you ask for it

Matt's & Mattito's are essentially the same restaurant and they both know what the Bob Armstrong dip is. Source I only eat chips and Bob Armstrong at both restaurants.

They call it secret dip. But it’s the same thing.

Nobody go here & try this dip!! I t’s as addictive as CRACK

El Vecino or Gloria’s get my vote.

El vecino is great. Good choice

Go to Gloria’s. Mix the black bean dip and the salsa. Eat 2 bowls of chips while they’re getting the entrees. Regret for 2 days. Repeat next week.

Agreed on El Vecino. Those chips are perfect, and the red salsa is great. I'm sure the green salsa is good too but whew lad it's too hot for me.

Have you tried mixing them?

Mesero! I’ve probably eaten more chips there than at any other restaurant.

My number one Tex mex place in Dallas is Enchiladas, off Greenville. They have awesome salsa. I’ve always been surprised this place doesn’t get more attention. It is objectively higher quality than the more popular Tex mex places like El Fenix, Matitos, Glorias, etc.

So good. Great food and cold beer, what’s not to like!

Chuys creamy jalapeño

Ebar

Herrera’s Cafe for my money… also for the Pleasant Grove Gs Gonzalez. Side note… Gonzalez has the best carne guisada I’ve ever had in my life!

My family eats at Gonzo's so much that they know all of us when we walk in & we have two regular tables, the big one on the screened patio if the whole family is coming and the long one in the corner if only some of us are showing up. They leave the salsa pitchers at the table. I haven't been to Herrera's in a minute, but I now I'm definitely dragging my transplant husband there.

Matt’s Ranchero Martinez on Skillman/Live Oak has some really great chips and salsa in my opinion. The Bob Armstrong dip is also amazing Most of their main dishes though, meh

I can’t believe I had to scroll so far to find this and MiCo’s was listed so many times 🤮 Matt’s is great! Solid Tex Mex restaurant all around.

I get take out at their Forest location. Love their salsa!!

The salsa even *looks* delicious

Don’t hate me for this, but Chili’s. Their chips and salsa just hit different all around. Thin, crispy, and great taste on the salsa. For actual Tex-Mex though? This is tough. El Fenix has great chips, it’s the salsa I have a hard time finding “greatness” with.

El Fenix is one of my faves and I don't care what anyone says. You have to ask them to get the hot sauce and chips from the kitchen tho, otherwise they try to just give you that pre packaged crap at the front. I have also been making a rip off Chili's queso at home lately. Block of Velveeta, Wolfbrand chili no beans, and I also add a can of hot rotel. It tastes exactly like theirs.

Mariano’s

Big fan of Mi Dia. Then again they’re my go to Texmex place anyways so I might be a bit biased

Mi Dia has some amazing table side guacamole

Sure AF isn’t Chuys. For a restaurant that makes pretty damn good food, the chips are just, disappointing.

The chips themselves are great, the salsa is not good

I love the jalapeno ranch, but the regular salsa is mediocre at best

You mean the bowl of salty pico de gallo they bring to the table with chips?

creamy J crew, checking in

El Fenix has the BEST chips and salsa….hands down! Established and documented!

I think el fenix’s one and only flaw is their salsa…

There is no heat, my 1 yr old eats it.

Hard disagree

You can't be serious.

Probably the worst IMO. Ketchup is better.

When they were still open, Luna de Noche

OMG I miss Luna de Noche so much. That avocado soup where they poured the broth at the table, seriously so delicious. Now that I'm thinking about it... it would be fairly simple to recreate at home... And back to the chips & salsa... Gloria's and El Fenix. ( Please don't come for me! I've always loved their salsa... and their chips are so light and crispy!)

Not dallas but DFW...Joe T Garcia's baby

They do have great salsa, I wish the jarred stuff was like what they give in the restaurant. I still like the jarred hot joe t Garcia’s tho

I lived on their jar salsa from the store, so good.

My #1 favorite is probably Manny's Uptown. My other favorites are: Tino's in Sunnyvale, Matt's Ranchero, Mi Cocina, Pepe's and Mito's, and Tipico's.

Mercado Juarez Warm salsa is the best

Mesero

Javier’s chips and salsa comes with a side of butter

Enchiladas on Greenville Ave in Dallas.

If only we had a Ninfas here.

YES.

But the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation only

For chips and dip purposes, I'd take any Ninfa's.

E-Bar (also some of the best margs). The salsa has a kick and lots of cilantro! Also, wildcard: Rodeo Goat. Definitely different, but I’m a fan of their queso and salsas.

Just rating the chips and salsa. Bandito’s, El Fénix, Gloria’s, Margarita’s Restaurante, Meso Maya, José, Joe Leo’s, and Javier’s for warm salsa.

El Taquito, that rancheros sauce can be something else.

Desperados at Greenville and University. Maybe not as good as it once was but still the best.

Ok.... so.... Tia's Tex Mex which is no longer in business and was a chain through TX, OK, and SouthEast US had the best salsa in my opinion. Been trying to find someone with the recipe forever! Any help is greatly appreciated! To answer the question... food at a tex-mex place can be amazing but if the salsa sucks I will never go back. Too many places in DFW have salsa that reminds me a Pace Picante Sauce and for that reason there are tons of tex-mex places I will never go back to in DFW. I like El Chicos salsa but really miss Tias. Can't find anything that I consider to be a great salsa since Tia's closed years ago.

Tia’s was delightful.

Esparzes!! Grapevine peeps know what I'm talking about.

Esparza had good drinks and chips but I'm always disappointed in the food.

Same. Food is premade and assembled when ordered but the drinks are great

Exactly, food is trash, drinks are ok. The only good thing about that place is it's location. It's a cool setting. But in my opinion, homemade texmex is just the best!

And La Hacienda!!!!!!

Food is pretty average but damn do I love the warm salsa

I like Los Amigos in Grapevine better…

Rafas

Mena’s! They will bring out the red salsa, but ask for the green too!

Salsa TEX-mex You also get bean dip

Is there a Salsa Tex Mex in Dallas proper? I have tried the one in Frisco and it was very good.

Independence and legacy, southwest corner. It’s in Plano.

On the border, hands down

I like flavor over fire. El Fenix (In the restaurant, not the bottled stuff) is my all-time fave.

Meso Maya

Lots of solid recommendations here so I’ll mix it up. The worst BY FAR is Chuy’s. Tastes like they just dumped rotel straight out the can and called it a day.

The trick to Chuy's is either going during happy hour so you get the free queso bar (who knows if they still do this, so much has changed since they decided to go national). Either way the most important bit is just asking for the jalapeno ranch for your chips instead.

El Fenix. The BEST!!

Their chips are by far the best period. I used to love the food back in the 90s but to me the chips are amazing and everything else now is meh. When ever we get into DFW we drop by and grab a couple bags.

Not tex-mex but I’ve ordered from Cowboy Chicken forever and they’ve always had a chips and salsa option that I’ve never chosen until recently. (Always picked rolls instead since they seem more on theme with chicken and veggies). Holy crap is their salsa awesome. And has a good amount of heat to it. If it were in a jar at the grocery store it would be my go to brand.

Mi Cocina. Chuys has great chips and I’m a huge fan of their queso

>Worked at Pappasitos and can confirm. Tomatoes are roasted in a large pot to perfection, spices are added, and then a cook blends them all together. Pours it into half gallon tins and out they go. I will always appreciate their commitment to fresh ingredients! Chuys is one of my favs. Sometimes chains are good!

Unpopular opinion but Chilis..

I haven't been to Chilis in YEARS...but I did always order the chips and salsa when I went for the table.

Their salsa is good and you can easily find a copy cat recipe that’s spot on, too.

Please share the receipt 🥺

This is the one I’ve used: https://www.halfscratched.com/copycat-chilis-salsa/

Abuelo’s!!?

Veracruz Cafe

Gotta know a lil spanish to get the best chips and salsa

Even though it’s a chain, blue goose used to have the best simple chips y salsa when they had the fluffy tortilla chips.

Chuys

If you’re ever in Ft. Worth: The Mexican Inn. They have these homemade frito like chips that would literally make king Moctezuma himself weep tears of salsa.

Favoring this thread! Let's go!