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Tupinamba Café ~ Dallas, Texas


First visit: Dec 2017

Speaking of two-fer-99 cent tacos, how about Tupinamba Cafe? I didn't realize the fried taco had survived the modern restaurant industry. Anyone who has been to Kansas City and eaten at In-A-Tub knows the glories of a greasy fried taco. Sure there's Jack In the Box, but let's be honest here, that's just frozen food dropped in a vat of grease. I want fresh food dropped in a vat of grease!

Tupinamba Cafe has been around since 1947, and I remember them vividly (well not since 1947... but since the 70's I think?). Except I never ate there before! No time like the present, eh? We were with our long time friends The B's making a journey over to Dallas to grab some Italian sausage at Jimmy's (see Mr. Music's review from 5 years ago), still the best in DFW (along with Kuby's). Anyway Mr. B tells Mrs. RJG and I about these amazing fried tacos. And since Mr. B is a former resident of Kansas City, I'm paying attention!

And we all got a fried taco plate! Imaginative aren't we? It's just tacos and 'fixins - no rice or beans. But dang they were good! A bit pricey for what you get, but I'll pay it for the rare time we'll ever eat there. We were pretty buzzed by the time the tacos arrived, as the frozen margaritas packed a nice punch! Yes, they were excellent as well. Going backwards in time, the chips were divine. By themselves they tasted very good, but I loved the hot sauce! Reminded me some of Ojeda's/Esparza's, but even better! A nice kick too that did not compel me to ask for a hotter one. This was spicy enough thank you.

So we went once and who knows if we'll go back (we're very rarely in Dallas). But it was a heck of a lot of fun. And if you're craving fried tacos, by all means, come to Tupinamba Cafe for a Tupy Taco!

Apparently they've had 6 distinct locations since first opening in Oak Cliff. Their 3rd locale (from 1968 until 1985) was on Northwest Highway, and I suspect that's where I first saw them. Later they moved to LBJ and Midway and further on they took over the old Crystal's Pizza on Inwood in 1996 (oh my goodness, Crystal's was our old hangout in high school "after the football game" - we're going back to the early 80s here. Hadn't thought of that place in years). And now they're in a strip mall tucked away along Central Expressway, just southwest of Walnut Hill. It looks newish. Nice digs honestly. Jeez, all these locations is like a journey through my Dallas past.

12/27/17 (new entry)
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