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Few taquerías in Dallas have the cult status of El Si Hay. The tiny white-and-green stand on Beckley Avenue has long been a Bishop Arts rite of passage, drawing weekend crowds for its cash-only tacos and ice-cold Jarritos. From the outside, it looks exactly like you want a street-side taco shack to look: hand-painted menu on the wall, a metal counter for stand-and-eat sessions, and the scent of grilled meat drifting onto the sidewalk.
On a recent visit I sampled two of the staples — the fajita (beef skirt) and bistec (beef steak) tacos. At $2.75 apiece, they’re still a value in today’s taco economy. The tortillas were warm and doubled up in classic street-taco style, but they lacked the pillowy freshness or light char that separates a good taco from a great one. The meats, while serviceable, didn’t quite sing: the fajita offered a faint smokiness but no real punch, and the bistec had a one-note chew rather than the beefy depth I was hoping for. Standard cilantro and onion toppings kept things clean, but a vibrant salsa might have helped lift the flavors (extra hot sauce runs 75¢).
There’s no denying El Si Hay’s appeal. The stand is charming, the menu straightforward, and for many locals it’s a nostalgic taste of Oak Cliff. But with Dallas’ taco scene evolving, from trompo specialists to boutique nixtamal tortillas, expectations have risen. Compared with newer competitors, El Si Hay feels more like a dependable neighborhood stop than a destination worthy of a special trip.
Bottom line: If you’re nearby and craving a quick, inexpensive taco with old-school vibes, El Si Hay still delivers. But if you’re coming from “miles and miles” away expecting a revelatory experience, you may leave thinking, as I did, that the legend slightly outshines the reality.
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5) solid and honest, but not quite the transcendent taco stand its reputation suggests.