Chip's Old Fashioned Hamburger in Dallas Has It Right

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Some eateries just know how to do food right. When it comes to American food, Chip's Old Fashioned Hamburger in Dallas has it right and then some. On first look, you might pass up the old building that sits on a old street called Lover's Lane in Dallas. Mainly because its overshadowed by the Dallas Tollway's looming overpass. To do this, if your in the mood for American food in the way of hamburgers, french fries and the best shoe-string onion rings this Texas boy has had in a long time, would be a food crime. Of course, if you know where to look and did your homework, (I'll help with that) you'd know that Chip's has been a Dallas favorite since 1981. That's how I found my way to Chip's  for the first time, on one very hot summer afternoon in late June a year ago. As summer is on our doorstep once again and American food is appropriate especially during the summer, I'd be doing no wrong by making it an excuse to Chip's. 

To be totally honest, I was not convinced that I'd like this place as much as I did, when I walked in the door. It's like a place you might think needs updating but hey you know that people always say don't judge a book by its cover. I'm really glad that I've learned that worldly piece of advice or I would of missed out some extraordinary old fashioned American food.

To start with it's an order at the counter system which is always more than ok with me because in this economy it's always nice to save a little money on not having to give a tip. On having saved that bit of money by paying at the counter, I proceeded to take my seat at one of many picnic patterned vinyl covered tables of my choice...hey they fit this place perfectly. Then after a brief wait, I received the goods back at the counter when they called my name.

The big piece of fried chicken in this sandwich was better than most places can do.

The goods in this case was not a hamburger as you might presume since it's a hamburger joint in name....no not this time, I was in the mood for a American food favorite of mine, a good old fried chicken sandwich. The rest is history, because one bite had me saying nothing because it was so good. The reason, well simply, it was wonderfully fried, big and juicy piece of chicken in between two very tasty poppy seed buns, with all the trimmings of mayo, lettuce, and tomato. Needless to say, it put a lot of chicken sandwiches that have met my stomach to shame! I would certainly rank it up their in the best 5 chicken sandwiches that I've had the pleasure of tasting in my life. That's saying a lot because I've eaten a lot of them.

These shoe-string onion rings are what dreams are made of.  Eat slowly, I know it's hard but these have to be savoured first.

Hold on, I'm not done yet because this eatery got 2 of 2 right. The second of my favorites being shoe-string onion rings! I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to have some here because onion rings in the shoe-string kind are not always on the menu at some American food eateries. Believe it or not they can be a little hard to find especially if you're a fan and desire them over traditional onion rings. Alas, I don't think I have to tell you how I thought of Chip's onion rings because after all, I did say they got it right. However, I'd go a step further, and say I'd come back just for those! Oh yeah, that and the chicken sandwich, then maybe next time after that I'd go for the burger because the odds are they can do that right too! How can they not? At a place that impressed with this much on my first visit. Impossible! If you're in Dallas, find a way there by all means, a good start would be the website: Chip's Old Fashioned Hamburger

Legendary Sonny Bryan's BBQ in Dallas, TX, The Original!

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You might of seen this coming from a mile away but it had to be done. This Texas blog wouldn't be complete without a post (and more in the future) about Good Ol' Fashion Texas BBQ. Furthermore, Livin Tejas didn't just go to any BBQ joint, no sir ma'am, we went to visit the legendary and nationally known original location for Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse BBQ (it didn't make it onto to Rachel Ray's show for nothing) in none other than Dallas, Texas. As you can see from the sign, this BBQ has been around longer than your Aunt Sally Mae, and mine too. Words can't describe how old this place is, you might not be able to tell from this picture but this original Sonny Bryan's is basically a shack! Don't let the shack door hit you on the way out though because the mystique of this place is just as refined as the BBQ.

As we just mentioned, the old fashioned nature of this place, goes right along with the BBQ. If you sit inside, expect to sit your keaster in a desk. Yes, you heard right, no fancy table tops can be found at this famous landmark of BBQ. Many of a famous persons have done just that, unfortunately not while we were there, or guaranteed we'd got a shot for ya. However, a story was told to me by a family member that they witnessed Cowboy's owner Jerry Jones eating some BBQ here not too long ago. Livin Tejas is based in Tejas so as the Tejas people say, yee haw, stick it to em Cowboy's. That's a different post though. Getting back to this one, if you ever find yourself at this Sonny Bryan's look around because  plenty of pictures of famous people especially famous Texans can be found hanging on the wall. Just might be what you fancy. Livin Tejas fancies the BBQ though so as a Texan might say, let's dig in....

Just looking at this, can make you want to go out of  your way to experience  Sonny Bryan's BBQ. 

 Words can't describe, how wonderful tasting, Sonny Bryan's BBQ is. There are also surprisingly, many great meats and sides to choose from considering this is an original location. Livin Tejas went for what we thought we'd be the most popular items on the menu to give you a show of them.

First up, came the sliced brisket sandwich, because if you eat BBQ in Texas you're going to want to go there. The brisket is fall off the bone quality, although if you know BBQ then you know that there is no bone in brisket, just all flavor. Fall off the bone is still a good way to describe good BBQ though and Sonny Bryan's brisket lives up to that. Now, go ahead and be generous with the sauce because you won't find sauce of this caliber at many BBQ stops. As you can see, we did just that. 

One of the biggest tips I can give you is to try the onion rings and speaking of big, they are probably without a doubt some of the biggest you can find anywhere. Sometimes good things don't always come big, but Livin Tejas would take a trip to Sonny Bryan's just for their onion rings, they are that good! It may come as another surprise but they aren't that greasy for being as huge as they are and they're breaded and fried to perfection. When you bite into them, you can truly taste the juiciness of the onion, so delicious. Let's see what else is for lunch....

This rib plate is literally overflowing with goodness

We might of just died and gone to BBQ heaven, lookie at those ribs. Makes you want to say yummy. It's safe to say that these here ribs are stick to your ribs quality. It's hard to put into words how delicious these ribs were but I'd recommend, if it's your first time going to Sonny Bryan's, to try out the sandwiches.

You might ask, how were the beans and coleslaw? They get high marks in the Livin Tejas book of BBQ. The coleslaw complimented the brisket perfectly and beans were delicious because they were spicy and not run of the mill pinto beans.

Livin Tejas can't end a story of famous BBQ from Texas without telling you, well a story of not only the food but of the friendliness of a employee of this locale. It's like he knew we were coming and wanted us to feel at home because he opened the door for us and greeted us upon arrival. Might not sound like much but he was genuine. Unfortunately, we didn't catch his name but he is the type of guy that exemplifies Texas friendlessness and hospitality. Whoever, you were that struck up a conversation with us, you can eat BBQ with us anytime. For more information on how you can find yourself eating BBQ at this famous Dallas and nationally if not worldly known landmark, please visit Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse