May 20, 2025 • 6 mins
What makes a Tex-Mex joint truly unforgettable—killer enchiladas, a giant bear statue, or a prank involving Guy Fieri’s hair dye?In this mouthwatering and side-splitting episode of The Ben and Skin Show, Ben Rogers, Jeff “Skin” Wade, Kevin “KT” Turner, and Krystina Ray—dive fork-first into the Dallas Observer’s list of the top 12 Tex-Mex restaurants in DFW. But this isn’t just a food segment—it’s a full-on Tex-Mex therapy session, complete with nostalgia, neighborhood pride, and a few spicy takes.From Ebar’s legendary sour cream chicken enchiladas to the late-night magic of El Ranchito, the crew breaks down each spot with personal stories, local flavor, and a few questionable pronunciations.
And Yes, there’s a Tex-Mex place with a giant bear inside. And yes, it’s tied to the invention of the frozen margarita.
And Yes, there’s a Tex-Mex place with a giant bear inside. And yes, it’s tied to the invention of the frozen margarita.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Bin and Skin Show ninety seven point one The Eagle.
Don't forget.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
We're going to be at the Chalk Tak Casino and
Resort on Friday doing the show from three to six.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Come join us up there. Now, let's get back to
kt and part two of The Dallas Observer's Best Tex
Mex Restaurants in Town. You know you got through four,
so it is eight to get to her. E Bar
text mes off hash School. Yes it's good. Yes, I've
always heard of e Bar, never been. It's packed all
the time. It's not a real big place, but yes,
it's packed all the time. It's worth it. They say.
(00:28):
The sour cream chicken Enchilada was on their one hundred
dishes in Dallas. Dude, that used to be my go to.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I've never been to this place, but that used to
be my absolute go to. Text Max Orders.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
It's a jam. It's so good. It's a jam. Wow.
Jefferson Boulevard. El Ranchito, that's right by me. I've never
had El Ranchito. I don't think we've been there yet.
Wait is it open? Twenty four to seven? Doesn't say?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Is it right down from the Kestler. I have been
to a text right down from the Kestler. I've been there,
and I did know the name of it because when
I was stumbling there. It's three in the morning after
a concert.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
But it's packed, it looks it looks awesome. The sign
looks real old school and it's packed all the time too.
I have been there. It's good. Also on Jefferson, there's
Gonzales Restaurant. Maybe you're talking about that one. There's a
lot of good options off Jefferson at three am. Yeah,
Herrera's oak Cliff hold On. We've definitely been to Herrera's. Yeah,
(01:27):
I know that.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
He was a great shortstop for the Rangers, Toby for
many years.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yeah, to Herre Toby had adam thirty combination plates there
in addition to apps and specials.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
That's there's no way they could rig that with thirty
different combinations.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Can people even read menus that are that big? Now,
that's not too much reading for people. It's a little
too much anxiety for me. I don't know like that
reads anymore. We all skim. It's it's like when they
hand you, oh God, what's on air? When they hand
you the menu at cheesecake factory, you feel like you
have to pay tuition. Uh yes, how much do I
(02:10):
owe you? Oh?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
My god?
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Do I get three credits for this? Or don't worry?
Baker Mayfield's outside and he'll take you in his suv
to knock off some of those funds. La comeda is
that kitchen? Is that the food? Food? Food?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Yeah, but it's law not l right, so it's the
feminine food.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
It's masculine fool.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Comedo El Food. I'm fluent, Miamo. It's been I mean,
speaking of speaking of.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Generic names, is the Boy still open? The Boy? El
Chico Chico? Way back in the day. I love going
to al Chico. All right, let's go to the Boy
and get some food. I love going to al Chico
and ordering some American chicken strips as a kid.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Maybe that's what the Dave Matthew song is about. Show
me the menu. They showed me the whole minen little Boy.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Show me the men a lot of little Boy. Well,
whatever gets you in the rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Am I right? Hell, You'll pool on anybody to get
in there. One of my favorites, uh Lost Palmas. This
is down on the Route Street. It's the same guy
that runs Mike's Gemini twin the Oh yes, yes, Lost
(03:25):
Palmas is dope.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Dude gets Okay, So Mike's Gemini Disco Soul Party twin Lounge.
They have the hot dog roller. I wonder if this
spot has like a Taketo roller.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
It looks super nice inside. Is it two stories or no?
I don't think so, Yes it is. I didn't go
up there. I was. I was had to be a
patio guy because I did the reservations inside. Would you go?
Do you get Arnie Palma's to drink?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (03:53):
No, but I should? Which is half tea, half lemonade?
And what else? That's it is? It can't be just
those what nice Lost pomis? Everyone should go rank Mariano's
Hacienda ranch. Yep? Is that the one that's got the
huge bear? Oh? Well, I don't that is a hat
Siendo ranch. But what was the first part. I don't
(04:13):
think that's Mario Mariano's had. That must be a different
one without a bear. Yeah. This one's on Skillman opening
nineteen seventy one on Greenville Avenue. Yeah, that's that's different.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
John.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
It's this the guy who may invented the frozen margarita machine.
Oh it is this is Mariano uh, Mariano Martinez. Really
I thought it wasn't that a brinker thing, that wasn't
a chili thing. Didn't they invent the margarita? No, I
know a guy from Dallas did. They just perfected it? Okay, Okay,
that's There's just been a big cock fight about that
over the year. Yeah, it does have a giant bear
(04:45):
on the inside. KT, Okay, that is it? Then it is? Yeah,
I never won, that's one. I always have just called
it la Hacienda ranch. I think that was racist for
KT to call it a cockfight. Yeah, no, they have.
Each one has their Maybe maybe you're right, Yeah, Pepez
and Mito's. I've heard a lot about this. This is
off elm Street. Never been deep Elum, very good guy.
(05:08):
Fiery actually went and made this one of his stops,
got his hair dye everywhere, went back there, told them
their food was great, ate it, then moved on to
his next spot. He never criticized any of these places,
snorted a line of pepsid and then off Lemon Avenue, MIA's,
tex mex Okay, of course, obviously, Jerry and Jimmy the photo.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I'm I'm pretty sure that that's the same family that
started Mikosina. I think me Cosina is a split off
of that family. But if I'm wrong, I'm wrong.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
I just always thought that was the case.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I just I'm realizing I live so far away, so
far away from everything. None of those places are within
an hour off. Just now, every single one of them
is south of six thirty five. Is that the whole list?
Speaker 1 (05:50):
That's it? Okay?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
And there's three that I would think need to be
on there. One is and I don't know if it's
Vessino or Vaccino. It's right over by Burger Schmerger, probably Casino. Yeah,
it's a good little neighborhood text mex Spot. It's really
really good. I've been there a couple of times. I
love Bandidos and Snyder Plaza. Oh yeah, I think it's great.
And man, it's a partial family friend. But it's a
(06:14):
Dallas institution. And Dallas Observer once said it's the best
hangover taco in town. Tupanambas. Yeah, twopis tacos good, Tupie's rules.
Shout out to Panambas.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
All Right, there you have it. There's the Food News
double dose. Before we get out here in the last
thirty minutes of the show, Don't Go Anywhere. We got
an update on the prison break, and then we turn
up the benin skin wayback machine and we listen to
some sports infernos. We're gonna keep you smiling on your
drive home. Don't Go Anywhere. The Ben and Skin can
Ben and Skin Show continues next
Bin and Skin Show ninety seven point one The Eagle.
Don't forget.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
We're going to be at the Chalk Tak Casino and
Resort on Friday doing the show from three to six.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Come join us up there. Now, let's get back to
kt and part two of The Dallas Observer's Best Tex
Mex Restaurants in Town. You know you got through four,
so it is eight to get to her. E Bar
text mes off hash School. Yes it's good. Yes, I've
always heard of e Bar, never been. It's packed all
the time. It's not a real big place, but yes,
it's packed all the time. It's worth it. They say.
(00:28):
The sour cream chicken Enchilada was on their one hundred
dishes in Dallas. Dude, that used to be my go to.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I've never been to this place, but that used to
be my absolute go to. Text Max Orders.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
It's a jam. It's so good. It's a jam. Wow.
Jefferson Boulevard. El Ranchito, that's right by me. I've never
had El Ranchito. I don't think we've been there yet.
Wait is it open? Twenty four to seven? Doesn't say?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Is it right down from the Kestler. I have been
to a text right down from the Kestler. I've been there,
and I did know the name of it because when
I was stumbling there. It's three in the morning after
a concert.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
But it's packed, it looks it looks awesome. The sign
looks real old school and it's packed all the time too.
I have been there. It's good. Also on Jefferson, there's
Gonzales Restaurant. Maybe you're talking about that one. There's a
lot of good options off Jefferson at three am. Yeah,
Herrera's oak Cliff hold On. We've definitely been to Herrera's. Yeah,
(01:27):
I know that.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
He was a great shortstop for the Rangers, Toby for
many years.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yeah, to Herre Toby had adam thirty combination plates there
in addition to apps and specials.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
That's there's no way they could rig that with thirty
different combinations.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Can people even read menus that are that big? Now,
that's not too much reading for people. It's a little
too much anxiety for me. I don't know like that
reads anymore. We all skim. It's it's like when they
hand you, oh God, what's on air? When they hand
you the menu at cheesecake factory, you feel like you
have to pay tuition. Uh yes, how much do I
(02:10):
owe you? Oh?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
My god?
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Do I get three credits for this? Or don't worry?
Baker Mayfield's outside and he'll take you in his suv
to knock off some of those funds. La comeda is
that kitchen? Is that the food? Food? Food?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Yeah, but it's law not l right, so it's the
feminine food.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
It's masculine fool.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Comedo El Food. I'm fluent, Miamo. It's been I mean,
speaking of speaking of.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Generic names, is the Boy still open? The Boy? El
Chico Chico? Way back in the day. I love going
to al Chico. All right, let's go to the Boy
and get some food. I love going to al Chico
and ordering some American chicken strips as a kid.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Maybe that's what the Dave Matthew song is about. Show
me the menu. They showed me the whole minen little Boy.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Show me the men a lot of little Boy. Well,
whatever gets you in the rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Am I right? Hell, You'll pool on anybody to get
in there. One of my favorites, uh Lost Palmas. This
is down on the Route Street. It's the same guy
that runs Mike's Gemini twin the Oh yes, yes, Lost
(03:25):
Palmas is dope.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Dude gets Okay, So Mike's Gemini Disco Soul Party twin Lounge.
They have the hot dog roller. I wonder if this
spot has like a Taketo roller.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
It looks super nice inside. Is it two stories or no?
I don't think so, Yes it is. I didn't go
up there. I was. I was had to be a
patio guy because I did the reservations inside. Would you go?
Do you get Arnie Palma's to drink?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (03:53):
No, but I should? Which is half tea, half lemonade?
And what else? That's it is? It can't be just
those what nice Lost pomis? Everyone should go rank Mariano's
Hacienda ranch. Yep? Is that the one that's got the
huge bear? Oh? Well, I don't that is a hat
Siendo ranch. But what was the first part. I don't
(04:13):
think that's Mario Mariano's had. That must be a different
one without a bear. Yeah. This one's on Skillman opening
nineteen seventy one on Greenville Avenue. Yeah, that's that's different.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
John.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
It's this the guy who may invented the frozen margarita machine.
Oh it is this is Mariano uh, Mariano Martinez. Really
I thought it wasn't that a brinker thing, that wasn't
a chili thing. Didn't they invent the margarita? No, I
know a guy from Dallas did. They just perfected it? Okay, Okay,
that's There's just been a big cock fight about that
over the year. Yeah, it does have a giant bear
(04:45):
on the inside. KT, Okay, that is it? Then it is? Yeah,
I never won, that's one. I always have just called
it la Hacienda ranch. I think that was racist for
KT to call it a cockfight. Yeah, no, they have.
Each one has their Maybe maybe you're right, Yeah, Pepez
and Mito's. I've heard a lot about this. This is
off elm Street. Never been deep Elum, very good guy.
(05:08):
Fiery actually went and made this one of his stops,
got his hair dye everywhere, went back there, told them
their food was great, ate it, then moved on to
his next spot. He never criticized any of these places,
snorted a line of pepsid and then off Lemon Avenue, MIA's,
tex mex Okay, of course, obviously, Jerry and Jimmy the photo.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
I'm I'm pretty sure that that's the same family that
started Mikosina. I think me Cosina is a split off
of that family. But if I'm wrong, I'm wrong.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
I just always thought that was the case.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
I just I'm realizing I live so far away, so
far away from everything. None of those places are within
an hour off. Just now, every single one of them
is south of six thirty five. Is that the whole list?
Speaker 1 (05:50):
That's it? Okay?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
And there's three that I would think need to be
on there. One is and I don't know if it's
Vessino or Vaccino. It's right over by Burger Schmerger, probably Casino. Yeah,
it's a good little neighborhood text mex Spot. It's really
really good. I've been there a couple of times. I
love Bandidos and Snyder Plaza. Oh yeah, I think it's great.
And man, it's a partial family friend. But it's a
(06:14):
Dallas institution. And Dallas Observer once said it's the best
hangover taco in town. Tupanambas. Yeah, twopis tacos good, Tupie's rules.
Shout out to Panambas.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
All Right, there you have it. There's the Food News
double dose. Before we get out here in the last
thirty minutes of the show, Don't Go Anywhere. We got
an update on the prison break, and then we turn
up the benin skin wayback machine and we listen to
some sports infernos. We're gonna keep you smiling on your
drive home. Don't Go Anywhere. The Ben and Skin can
Ben and Skin Show continues next
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