Somebody Help This Poor Boy: Chili in Dallas

Posted on October 25th, 2011 10:32am by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Chili, Go Rangers!

It’s time for our yearly chili roundup. Here is a plea from a Rangers-loving Disher, the best kind!

Hi Nancy, hope this finds you doing well this morning (hey, the Rangers are up 3-2…how could you be anything but fine?). Cold weather is imminent!  Would like to know your (or your readers) recommendations for who’s got the best chili in Dallas. I’ve waited about 8 months to be able to even ask this question. Many thanks in advance.

I won’t answer his question about being fine until my statement is approved by my therapist. In the meantime, tell him where to find some. GO RANGERS!

22 comments

  1. Chapman Chile Kitchen…. oh wait… your own stove?

    @ 10:45 am on October 25, 2011

  2. Goodfriend Beer Garden

    Maple and Motor Burgers and Beer

    DarnellErwinFletcher’s Kitchen

    @ 10:52 am on October 25, 2011

  3. Katy Trail Ice House

    @ 10:54 am on October 25, 2011

  4. There is literally no good chili in Dallas (or Grapevine if anyone wants to throw that name out there).

    Your own stove is the only place to go. I’d start with a recipe from one of the CASI winners: http://www.chili.org/recipes.html

    Figure out what you like and adapt from there.

    I used to like Strong’s, but that place is gone. I think you can get the same bowl at Red’s Patio Grill in Plano…

    @ 11:15 am on October 25, 2011

  5. @DarnellEF: Oh, how I do miss CCK [sniff/pout].

    @ 11:29 am on October 25, 2011

  6. My house, Friday night.

    @ 11:39 am on October 25, 2011

  7. @bc: Have you “literally” (grrr) tried every bowl of chili in Dallas? There’s some decent stuff out there. The venison chili on Tillman’s Frito Pie is pretty damn fine. And way preferable to rounding up the nearly (not literally) 20 ingredients listed in the current Terlingua champ’s recipe!

    @ 11:40 am on October 25, 2011

  8. Smoke’s veggie chili is pretty darn good. I know. Veggie chili seems so wrong. But it’s tasty.

    @ 12:13 pm on October 25, 2011

  9. Hillstone serves a great chili on Saturdays! Yum…topped with white onion, cheddar and chips for dipping on the side! One of my favs!!!

    @ 12:17 pm on October 25, 2011

  10. HP Pharmacy

    @ 12:22 pm on October 25, 2011

  11. Gotta throw in one more for the DIY’ers. Seriously, making your own chili is fun, a good value, nigh impossible to screw up and the results will be better than anything you find in a restaurant. Pair it with some of that Jiffy cornbread (you know the one), and an ice cold Shiner and you’re golden. You should already have the Shiner, of course, because it WILL be an ingredient in your chili.

    Failing all that, I’ve always loved Steak and Shake’s chili. Cheap too.

    @ 12:31 pm on October 25, 2011

  12. the venison chili at Tillman’s is completely substandard. maybe even just plain bad.

    @ 1:25 pm on October 25, 2011

  13. bc’s right. Ain’t no good chili here. I predict Chili is going to be the new short ribs/meatballs/gourmet burger/mac and cheese trend restaurants will embrace and you’ll see it on every menu.

    @ 1:47 pm on October 25, 2011

  14. I agree with Gipson, except for the Steak and Shake comment. Shiner is definitely a must for the chili, and the Jiffy cornbread is a quick and easy companion for that bowl of goodness. I usually add black-eyed peas on the side too… that combo makes the hubby a happy man. Oh, that and the homemade chili smell permeating the house.
    It’s something that Scentsy cannot reproduce.

    @ 1:58 pm on October 25, 2011

  15. @LJT: Since the early 20th century, literally has been widely used as an intensifier meaning “in effect, virtually,” a sense that contradicts the earlier meaning “actually, without exaggeration.” The use is often criticized; nevertheless, it appears in all but the most carefully edited writing.

    And since we’re talking about eating chili at Steak and Shake, I suppose this conversation doesn’t have to qualify as “carefully edited writing.”

    And that’s literally “pretty damn fine” by me.

    @ 2:15 pm on October 25, 2011

  16. @DGirl: I wanted to do a chili parlour in Dallas, but the wife is convinced that no one would eat chili when it’s 100+ degrees outside. And “gazpacho parlour” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

    @ 2:18 pm on October 25, 2011

  17. @bc – let’s do a pop up chili parlor together! You and me!

    @ 3:26 pm on October 25, 2011

  18. Tolbert’s in Grapevine is still some of the best!

    @ 11:17 pm on October 25, 2011

  19. AllGood Cafe has some of the most authentic Texas Chili in the area… no beans, nothin’ fancy … just good ground chuck, some on-ion, a mess of chile powders and some long slow lovin’ … try it, you’ll love it.

    @ 10:06 am on October 26, 2011

  20. [...] and someone wanted to know about chili.  M&M has you covered.  Chili bacon cheese burger? Yes, please.  Finest I’ve ever had.  [...]

    @ 10:22 am on October 26, 2011

  21. Second Tolbert’s. They were some of the founders of the Terlingua Chili Cook-off.

    @ 4:45 pm on October 26, 2011

  22. If you find yourself in the West End, either Hoffbrau or YO Ranch will serve you up a very fine bowl of chili.

    @ 4:59 pm on October 26, 2011