Dallas diners combine Texas portions with Southern cooking traditions.
These establishments have perfected their recipes through decades of serving oil executives, cowboys, and locals seeking authentic flavors.
These five diners offer distinctive combinations of hearty portions and Texas-style breakfast specialties, each with their own take on morning comfort food.
Wildcatter’s Morning
Operating since 1952, this diner specializes in oil field portions.
Their “Roughneck’s Breakfast” includes chicken fried steak, four eggs, and jalapeno gravy made fresh hourly.
The kitchen produces buttermilk biscuits throughout service.
Their signature “Texas Tea Special” features house-smoked brisket hash with poblano peppers.
The pancakes contain pecans from local groves and require two plates for serving.
Cotton Belt Cafe
Established in 1961, this spot focuses on railroad traditions.
Their “Engineer’s Plate” combines house-made chorizo, three eggs, and scratch-made tortillas.
The kitchen prepares four varieties of gravy daily.
Their famous “Stockyard Skillet” includes three meats and house-made chili sauce.
The cinnamon roll recipe dates to opening day and produces rolls that weigh one pound each.
Downtown Counter
Founded in 1957, this diner emphasizes business portions.
Their “Executive Special” features thick-cut pepper bacon, grits with red-eye gravy, and house-made cornbread.
The kitchen produces fresh salsas hourly.
Their signature “Big D Breakfast” includes three eggs, house-made sausage, and jalapeno corn cakes.
The morning biscuit service includes five varieties of honey butter.
Ranch House
Operating since 1954, this establishment serves authentic ranch recipes.
Their “Trail Boss Platter” includes chicken fried steak, eggs, and cream gravy from a century-old recipe.
The kitchen smokes its own ham using Texas post oak.
Their “Ranch Hand Hash” combines brisket, sweet potatoes, and poblano peppers.
The house-made preserves include jalapeno peach and Texas fig varieties.
Highland Morning
Established in 1963, this spot specializes in upscale comfort food.
Their “Oil Baron’s Breakfast” features prime rib hash, poached eggs, and chipotle hollandaise.
The kitchen produces fresh kolaches using recipes from Czech settlers.
Their “Preston Hollow Special” omelet contains three cheeses and house-roasted peppers.
The signature French toast uses house-baked brioche and Texas pecans.
Their coffee blend combines beans from three Dallas roasters.
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