Restaurant review: South Dallas Cafe

by Sylvia Subialdea of Hungry Texan

South Dallas Cafe claims the best peach cobbler in Dallas - I have no doubts to its greatness, judging by everything else I've had there.

Photo by Sylvia Subialdea

BBQ ribs at South Dallas Cafe

South Dallas Cafe has been on my radar for a few years since moving from East Dallas to Oak Cliff. I'd originally heard about it on the Willis Johnson show (Soul 73 radio) and soon made the trip down Hampton Road to 67 to give it a try.

In all my visits, South Dallas Cafe is never one to disappoint. Straight up southern soul food is featured on the daily menu, everything from smothered pork chops (a personal favorite), meatloaf, and turkey wings, to oxtails, chitterlings, catfish, and even enchiladas (which I have yet to try). There's also a delicious assortment of sides -- greens are in abundance every day of the week, along with macaroni and cheese, yams, and okra gumbo.

And then there's the cornbread. Hot. Water. Cornbread.

Correct me if I'm wrong but they're the only place in Dallas that serves it. I don't even know what the other bread option is; I always always get the cornbread. You should too.

I feel like I'm doing the desserts an injustice, but I have yet to try them. They always beckon, but then I look down at my tray and see the several pounds of food in front of me and swear I'll try one next time. South Dallas Cafe claims the best peach cobbler in Dallas -- I have no doubts to its greatness, judging by everything else I've had there.

Our most recent visit was for late lunch on Sunday. We arrived with the church crowd, which was a fun group, and even enjoyed a few Christmas carols sung by members of their choir. The line was long (did I mention it's cafeteria style?) but well worth the wait. The service was, as always, fast and friendly. I devoured some BBQ ribs, macaroni and cheese, greens, and okra, and my husband got a special fried smothered pork chop with macaroni and cheese, greens, and mashed potatoes. A delicious lunch was had and suffice it to say, we didn't need to eat dinner that night ... but we may have picked at our cold leftovers, they were that good.