José

"There’s nothing like a welcoming patio and an ice-cold margarita in humid Dallas weather, and at José you get that with incredible Mexican food and a lot of Texan heart. (But to be clear—this ain’t Tex-Mex.) The design is modern and the food traditional, down to how the heirloom corn tortillas are made and nixtamalized in-house, and everything is intense in the best way. The pozole verde, with hominy, tomatillos, and serrano peppers, is a Sunday-at-home beauty—and spicy enough to clear the cobwebs from the mind—while the ceviches are lip-smackingly sour. And no order should go without the shrimp cocktail, piled with hunks of tomato, avocado, cilantro, and serrano peppers, and served with plenty of Saladitas." - Nick Rallo

"Fans of this soup already know about the carrot habanero soup at Jose on Lovers, and they wait all year for the seasonal special to emerge. The heat from the habaneros is mellowed by velvety coconut milk, while a pepita pesto adds texture." - Rachel Pinn

"There are few dining experiences in Dallas as beautiful as the one at Jose. The unique facade, the indoor-outdoor patio, and the light in the dining room paired with a rich color palette and traditional Mexican decor are all eye-catching. And the menu rivals the setting: Featuring Jalisco-style cuisine, diners can enjoy an array of tacos (the tacos de tacha on heirloom masa featured on Netflix’s Taco Chronicles, but the Baja-style mahi-mahi tacos and lion’s mane tinga are equally worth seeking out), seafood dishes, and enchiladas with an amply inventive cocktail menu." - Courtney E. Smith

"For a kick in the pants (er, the good kind), the ancient grains bowl at Jose is all that. It starts with a bed of farro and quinoa that gets topped with soft poached egg, arugula, marinated garbanzo beans, avocado, pickled peppers, tomatillo vinaigrette. We opted to add grilled shrimp, but the choices for a protein also include grilled chicken, steak, lump crab, and salmon." - Courtney E. Smith

"Celebrated for its dedication to authentic Mexican cuisine, honoring traditional flavors while inspiring with modern interpretations." - Courtney E. Smith