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Growing up in the Dallas area, I ate plenty of Mexican snacks, like pan dulce, elote, paletas, fruit with chili, or chamoy candies. But as I’ve scoured town for the best Mexican treats in Dallas, I’ve discovered that the snacks that I grew up with have evolved. Horchata can now be made with matcha, a shot of espresso, or infused with a scoop of strawberries. A bag of Doritos might be loaded with corn, cream, and cheese.
With panaderías on every corner in Oak Cliff and fruterías just about everywhere in Dallas, there are plenty of places to try new Mexican food creations. Along with the classics, this list offers up vegan pan dulce, the tastiest café de olla, and milkshakes spun with Mexican-branded pastries. See our guides to the best tamales in Dallas and features on the DFW area’s Mexican food innovators for more.
Del Norte Bakery
Dallas may not be New York City, but we’ve got the Big Apple beat when it comes to pan dulce. Del Norte is a go-to spot for colorful conchas, fresh bolillos, cuernitos, armadillos, empanadas, and more.
Owner Lucy Pedigo and her team also create custom-ordered wedding and quinceañera cakes, cookies, and their specialty cupcake conchas. The tres leches is their best-selling cake, also available at Las Palmas Tex-Mex Restaurant.
- 5507 Lindsley Ave.
- (214) 821-0061
- Hours of operation: Mon.-Sat. 7am-6:30pm Sun. 7am-1pm
Vera’s Bakery
This red brick casita on Davis is the go-to pan dulce spot in the Bishop Arts District. Like Del Norte, Vera’s offers a creative assortment of conchas with splashes of color and customizable cakes.
Its shelves display about 45 different kinds of classic Mexican pastries, from yoyos, campechanas and casuelas to cocoles and guayabas. However, they’re most distinguished for their Mexican donuts. Friendly customer service and low prices sweeten the deal: most of their pastries are just $1.00.
- 932 W. Davis St.
- (214) 943-2167
- Hours of operation: Tues.-Sun. 6am-7pm Mon. Closed.
El Palote Panadería
North Texas’s first vegan Mexican restaurant, serving delicious vegan pastries and baked goods.
It’s rare to find a panadería that can make vegan bakes taste traditional. For almost seven years, El Palote has mastered the balance as North Texas’s first vegan Mexican restaurant. Apart from its vegan tacos, burritos and tortas, El Palote also turns out a pastel de zanahoria that’s not too heavy on the sugar, panes quesosos with a touch of potato, and mean vanilla bean conchas. This bakery is nestled inside a bright red building in The Grove, so it’s hard to miss. I recommend the “pan dulce” box that comes with 2 to 3 pastries at a set price.
- 2537 S. Buckner Blvd.
- (972)807-2673
- Hours of operation: Tue,-Sat. 11am-8pm Sun.-Mon. Closed.
Maroches Bakery
Known for their velvety flan, creamy cheesecake, and fresh conchas made daily.
Maroches has something special in their velvety flan custard and creamy cheesecake—or “cheese pie,” as they call it. Plus, they make fresh conchas daily. For your gatherings, you can order their cakes, custards and gelatinas in whole portions. There is no customer seating here, so you’ll have to take all your sweet goods home.
- 1227 W. Davis St.
- (214) 941-8344
- Hours of operation: Sun.-Sat. 12-7pm
Nena Postrería
A virtual bakery offering unique flavor combinations, frosted cakes with silky meringue buttercream, and homemade Marias cookies.
A local pastry chef runs this bakery—virtually. Her prices are on the higher end, but you won’t find these flavor combinations anywhere else. She frosts each of her cakes with a silky meringue buttercream. Her fresas con crema and tres leches cakes are topped with fresh fruits and herbs. Try the Marias cookies dusted with cinnamon and her own marzipan, coated with toasted almonds. You won’t regret the horchata fresa flan or the gansitos, which come with one of five different cream fillings. The postrería takes custom orders placed one month in advance. A great option for celebrating Mexican holidays (or any holiday!)
- 803 N. Carroll Ave.
- (469) 955-1263
- Hours of operation: Fri. 10am-5pm Sat.-Sun. 8am-11am Mon.-Thu. Closed
Xamán Café
A must-visit spot for Mexican-style coffees, teas, and delicious breakfast options.
If you love coffee as much as I do, then you’ll love the drink menu at Xamán Café. Xamán serves up Mexican-style coffees, such as a cajeta macchiato, an horchata combined with espresso, a mocha made with Oaxaca chocolate, and my favorite on the list—a café de olla infused with spice and piloncillo. If you’re not such a fan of coffee, I recommend the fruity and spicy canela hibiscus tea, their smooth horchata matcha, or the cacao.
Pair a coffee with their hearty quinoa whole grain breakfast panqueques, or their chilaquiles.
- 334 Jefferson Blvd.
- (469) 687-0005
- Hours of operation: Tues.-Sat. 8am-12am Sun.-Mon. 8am-5pm
CocoAndré
An Oak Cliff-based chocolatier offering a wide range of truffles, vegan chocolate bars, and a café with horchatas and matchas.
I don’t usually associate chocolate with Mexican treats, but the truffles at this Oak Cliff-based chocolatier have changed my mind. Choose from about 30 seasonal flavors, like double fudge made from Chiapas cacao, tangy strawberry passionfruit, Mexican vanilla, and dulce de leche. If you try any of their bars, go for the feliz white chocolate with sprinkles or their s’mores bar with whole cashews. Both are vegan.
CocoAndre also operates as a café and horchatería serving iced Mexican hot chocolates, horchatas and matchas. Their shop is in a white casita with a yellow door that stands right next to the Bishop Arts District. Pick up a box of truffles in sizes from 4 to 25 pieces, ranging from $12-$75.
- 508 W. Seventh St.
- (214) 941-3030
- Hours of operation: Tues.-Fri. 10am-6pm Sat. 11am-7pm Sun. 12-5pm
Encanto Pops
A sibling-run shop offering creative and delicious Mexican popsicles in a variety of flavors.
I can’t skip paletas when I think about Mexican treats. Encanto Pops is a sibling-run shop in Oak Cliff. Their dairy and water-based paletas take the flavor possibilities of Mexican popsicles to new heights. Just taste their prickly passion fruit, lime or pico de gallo options, and you’ll be a convert. Top them off with chocolate drizzles or spicy chili candies.
Other creative flavors include choco krispis and zucaritas, made with Mexican cereals. Among their most beloved flavors are the Mexican chocolate, made with Abuelita, and the bright pink blueberry guava.
- 831 W. Davis St.
- (469) 899-7434
- Hours of operation: Tues.-Wed. 12-5pm Thurs.-Sun. 12-8pm Mon. Closed.
Piña Loca Frutería
A neighborhood grocery store dedicated to satisfying your snack cravings with a wide range of offerings.
Fruterías like Pina Loca are tiny neighborhood grocery stores dedicated to your snack cravings, from elote, ice cream, fruit and churros to cheese fries and nachos. Pina Loca even serves ceviche and carne asada fries that make for an indulgent but filling meal. The quality and portions are good for the price, and the staff is always amicable. The Gansito milkshake, horchata with strawberries, and cheese waffle fries are highly recommended.
- 2331 Lakeland Dr.
- (214)915-8929
- Hours of operation: Mon.-Fri. 11am-9pm Sat.-Sun. 10am-9pm
Elotes Fanny
Specializing in elotes with unique toppings, as well as frutería-style snacks and refreshing desserts.
You can easily find elote-in-a-cup at one of Dallas’ many street stands and fruterías, but Elotes Fanny stands out. Their elotes come in four different sizes, ranging from $3 and $11. They dust off their buttered corn on the cob with parmesan and chili powder. Specialty elotes are topped with Cheetos, Taki, or Doritos.
Despite the name, they don’t just sell corn. You’ll also find frutería-style snacks like fresas con crema, shaved ice, and fruit cocktails.
- 2739 W. Northwest Hwy..
- (214)994-5416
- Hours of operation: Mon.-Thurs. 10am-12am Fri.-Sat. 9am-2am Sun. 10am-2am
Locura Small Bites
An eatery offering small dishes with unique flavors, including pozole frito pies, shishito peppers, lemon-pepper wings, and roasted corn.
Locura’s small dishes are unlike anything you would find in a typical fruteria. Their pozole frito pies, shishito peppers, lemon-pepper wings, and freshly roasted corn have earned them a five-star rating. They also fry their corn and dress their fries in any of their elote flavors. You’ll find comfortable seating inside, as well as a drive-thru.
- 3766 Samuell Blvd.
- (214)414-4028
- Hours of operation: Thurs.-Sun. 4am-9pm Mon.-Wed. Closed
Whether you have a sweet tooth, or you’re in the mood for a filling savory snack, I’m sure you’ll find something here for you. Dallas’ best Mexican treats will not disappoint. Don’t forget to tip!
