There’s nothing as tasty as good ol’ home cooking. Southern style is even better — unless you’re counting calories, but who wants to when there is all that fried food goodness, homemade biscuits and cornbread, and cream gravy. And don’t forget about desserts, all made from scratch like grandma used to bake. When you crave comfort food that is big on portions and light on the bill, head to one of these mom and pop style diners:
1. Dixie House Café - Fort Worth
Beef tips, meatloaf, and chicken fried steaks are among the top recommendations here. It is open breakfast - dinner on weekdays and until mid-afternoons on weekends. Dixie House is located at 6200 East Lancaster Avenue.
2. Celebration Restaurant, Inwood/ Northwest - Dallas
Here, great southern cooking with seafood is a house specialty. A little known fact is that you can even order seconds, for free! Come on in daily for lunch with extended lunch and dinner hours on Sundays.
The restaurant is located at 4503 West Lovers Lane.
3. La Paisanita, Bishop Arts District - Dallas
Tacos al pastor served with grilled onions are a house favorite. The hot sauce here truly lives up to its name. Hours are typically 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Find it at 440 West Davis Street.
4. Norma's Café - Southwest Dallas
The food is good and plentiful, but be sure to save room for pie! Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The café is at 1123 West Davis Street (at North Winnetka Avenue).
5. Madea's Down Home Cooking, Everman area - Fort Worth
You can't get more down home than this place, with specialties like neck bones, greens, cabbage, and smothered pork chops. The peach cobbler here is said to be epic. Hours are 11:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M., daily except Mondays. Find the restaurant at 1019 W. Enon Avenue Suite D.
6. Stevie's Diner - North Fort Worth
Open daily for breakfast and lunch, customers rave about the huge portions, down-home cooking, and classic American ambiance. You can find Stevie's at 5500 North Tarrant Parkway, between Highway 377 and Park Vista Boulevard.
7. West Side Café - West Fort Worth
West Side backs it’s small town diner vibe with a menu to match. The biscuits are flaky, the scrambled eggs are fluffy, and you might even be called "hun" when the waitress asks to top off your coffee. Breakfast and lunch are served weekdays. Only breakfast and brunch is offered on Saturdays. The café is closed on Sundays. West Side Café: 7950 Camp Bowie West Boulevard (at Karen Street) in Fort Worth.
8. Montgomery Street Café, Arlington Heights - Fort Worth.
Breakfast and lunch are served weekdays. Only breakfast and brunch is offered on Saturdays. the café is closed on Sundays.
Great service, amazing hash browns, and affordable prices keep folks coming back. The diner is located at 2000 Montgomery Street (at Dexter Avenue).
9. River Oaks Café - Fort Worth
You've just got to try their breakfast tacos; they even have a healthy version! The café is open daily from 6:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. They can be found at 4837 River Oaks Boulevard.
10. Mama's Daughter's Diner - Dallas
Open for lunch daily and for dinner on Monday nights. Crowd favorites are the chicken and dumplings...and anything fried. The diner is at 2610 Royal Lane.
Which of these scratch-cooking spots have you visited, and which one is your favorite? Are there others that should be added to this list?
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