Great Tortillas at D J's Express Taco

D J's Express Taco . 16601 Addison Rd # 102, Addison, TX 75001 . (972) 733-1887


I can tell D J's Express Taco either makes their tortillas in-house or buys them locally from a Mexican kitchen. Either way, the lunch plates are worth the splurge. The meat is not as seasoned as I'd like, but still has a good flavour to it. Most plates are between $6-$8, which makes it reasonable for a weekly meal, but definitely not the everyday taquiera kind. The beans and rice that came with the meal were standard-good. The salsa was more watery and tasted like a great citrusy summer salsa. Overall, tax and tip set me back $7.50 for 2 soft tacos, beans and rice.

Take it Away Norma!

Norma's Cafe . 17721 N. Dallas Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75287 . (972) 380-8646

What's better than eating a greasy diner breakfast? Eating a greasy diner lunch of course! I haven't eaten at the original Norma's in OakCliff, but sucked myself into a heaping lunch at their North Dallas location since I was in the area. Exactly what I expected from a diner-- cool black/white photos of Dallas hang on the walls, waitresses that are older than mom and won't ever address you without the word "honey," diner seats upholstered in the Texas flag. Since this branch is fairly new it had nice concrete floors and was pretty darn clean overall. As we settled in, the waitress brought out a basket with one hot buttered roll and a delicious cornbread muffin. Mark ordered sweet ice tea, Chicken Fried Chicken with turnip and corn, and I got the classic hamburger with fries. The meals arrived and my burger had a double patty (double excitement!). The burger was excellent. The fries tasted a bit Ore-Ida(ish), but still quite good. Mark's chicken fried chicken was super. The batter was well flavoured, thick and crispy. And the chicken inside was cooked, not over-cooked. I can't comment on the veggies as I didn't try them. All in all, we left with a total of $20.00 less in the wallet, and an inch more on the waist. But hey, everyone needs a treat now and then.

Tamales El Salvadorean Style

La Salvadorena, McKinney . 1103 S Mcdonald St, McKinney . (972) 542-1506

I got my first taste of El Salvadorean food in this cozy, homey kitchenette type of joint. I hesitate to call it "restaurant" because, well, it didn't feel like one. It really did feel like what could be your friend's mom's kitchen. Let me just say I love the lime colour on the exterior of the building. Mark ordered some tamales and papusas for us. Tamales are basically steamed burritos and are eaten as a breakfast meal or anytime meal. This particular one was wrapped in a banana leaf. The tamale batter itself is primarily corn. As I poked and broke into the tamale, I saw the chicken mixture which was steaming hot. There was something intriguing and intimate about this... the act of breaking into the tamale to uncover the steaming treasure. I enjoyed this. After tasting it, it felt like I was eating a comfort food because of the warm, semi-soft texture. But, being Indian and enjoying strong flavoured foods, I felt my tamale lacked punch and flavour. I know it was authentic, and probably a damn good tamale, but I don't know if it's something I would crave later. In short, I could probably make it through life without tamales. Now the boy who brought me there, is a different story :-) Then came the papusa which is a stuffed bread of sorts. It looked like the equivalent of the South Indian dish "uttapam." The papusa was interesting in terms of texture. But again, left me wanting more flavour. I would be interested in ordering the same items at a different El Salvadorean eatery.

An Indian Affair

Iravat, Plano . 240 Legacy Dr., Plano . (972) 517-8200

Before I entered Iravat, I was pissed at their audacity to use anything besides the usual "Taj" or "Curry House" as a name. Mainly because, being Indian, I had no freakin' idea what Iravat meant. However, upon entering, I became nostalgic from the aroma. The ambience was bistro-like but with more of a dinner flair. The tomato-based chutney was a great start as a condiment for the papads. I wasn't too find of the mind or tamarind chutneys.
We ordered four main dishes- ginger chicken, butter chicken, lamb vindaloo and malai kofta. Naan and rice came with the dishes. Each dish arrived on a chula (little tabletop cooker). After being served enormous portions in most restaurants, the tiny kadai on a tiny chula tickled me. But the food was well portioned nevertheless.
The malai kofta was without doubt my favourite. It had the right amount of crunch and texture, leaving no question of the rich nuts that go into cooking it. The butter chicken and lamb vindaloo were too whitewashed for my taste. The ginger chicken was a good addition, but I wasn't there to eat Indian-Chinese.
It's quite unusual for me to be one of the last two people eating; nevertheless, that is a clear indication I was pleased. The bill was split four ways- $15 including tax and tip for each. Slightly on the steeper side for the overall quality of food. So, best Indian meal out there? No. A decent first introduction to Indian food for your white friends? Yes.
Oh, and Iravat is the name of a mythological character from the Mahabharata (thanks Google).