Taco review: Mattito’s in Dallas

Mattito's brisket is melt-in-your-mouth with a side of chili sauce that just won’t quit.

Photo by Kristin Draves

Tacos? Check. Awesome chili sauce? Check. Margarita? Triple Check.

When I went out the last week for dinner and drinks, I expected to be heading over to Mexico City: The Gourmet Taco. When it turned out they aren’t yet selling refreshing adult beverages (a necessary component of “dinner and drinks”), I thought Torchy’s would be a great option — surely they would sell margaritas or at least beer. Wrong. Which is how I ended up at Mattito’s in North Dallas, across the street from a hospital that once unceremoniously robbed me of my appendix (I’m still considering a lawsuit to get it back). Yes, you heard me right, I wanted to keep my appendix, leave it in a jar and display it on my coffee table indefinitely as the world’s best conversation piece. Almost 10 years ago and I’m still not over it. Anyway.

Honestly, going to Mattito’s, I didn’t even plan on doing a review (hence the fact that I only took one picture). I’ve just never thought, man, people need to know about these tacos here, they are missing out. Until last week … when I had the brisket tacos ... and quite possibly the best evening of customer service in my life. So people, I am telling you – it’s time to go to Mattito’s.

Here is what you need to know about the tacos at M’s:

1. They only offer three variates, the Carbon (with a side of spicy black beans), Brisket, and Pescado (fish). Each plate comes with two or three tacos and a side of rice and beans.

2. None of the three options are “cheap.” They range from 11.99 to 13.99 a plate, which is indeed (for the taco heads with calculators) just under $4 a taco, and I’m pretty positive those of you that like to skip the sides won’t be able to talk them into an a la carte taco plate. So don’t try. Because I already did. I’m cheap.

3. Forget about the carbon and pescado, just get the brisket. And no, I don’t care that you’re a pescatarian masquerading as a vegetarian masquerading as a bra burning liberal, just eat the meat. Forget about that time you read “The Jungle” or that afternoon you spent watching whatever the hell that documentary about poor cows or chickens or whatever was, you are wasting time not eating Mattito’s brisket. It was truly amazing. Shall I continue? Okay.

I’m talking about melt-in-your-mouth with a side of chili sauce that just won’t quit. In other countries this dish might just be against the law, it’s that sinful (and yes, our interns are checking into it). To top it off, our waiter was fabulous. He brought out sides of cilantro, onions and lime (thank goodness, because I am so tired of this lemon craze lately), all because that’s how he likes his tacos and he thought I might enjoy it. Well yeah, in fact I do. Thanks, Enrique (that’s the awesome waiter’s name, if you were wondering). He did other stuff too, but that was definitely the cutest.

I’ve never thought to hit up Mattito’s for tacos before, mostly because I’m usually satisfied with The Bob and a margarita (or two), but I’m glad I finally did.

By the way, we don’t have interns, yet, but if you have a 20-year old college kid you’d like us to whip into shape, feel free to shoot us an email. We can teach them how make international calls about culinary capital crimes while brewing a mean pot of coffee, all with a smile.