While sitting at Bolsa with some friends, I gazed across the street upon El Si Hay. I was intrigued. El Si Hay is a tiny taqueria that is a stone’s throw from Bishop Arts District. This taco gem is literally standing room only for two employees, one to take orders and the other to cook them up. Upon arriving you will see a long line as well as soda bottle caps covering the ground. There is very little parking available and no tables to sit at to eat. Downfall? No. People stand, sit on the curb, or pull down the tailgate to picnic. This is my kind of place. For me, it’s the entire experience. Tacos are served in two layered corn tortillas with cilantro, onions, and a lime. You can request flour tortillas, sides of salsa etc. In my opinion, the best street taco in Dallas is their Al Pastor. Perfect taste, not too spicy, and cheaper than Fuel City at a buck and change.
At night…it becomes more than just tacos when Jose brings his elotes cart to serve the masses. He sets up around 5:30pm and serves until he runs out of supplies. Elotes is a layered dish of roasted corn, a generous portion of butter, salt and pepper, sour cream, Mexican cheese, and a little chili sauce in a Styrofoam cup. My husband orders mine the same every time, “con un poco de chile”. Jose laughs, “Ahhh, para su esposa.” When I asked Jose the largest number of elotes he has sold in one evening, he answered in Spanish, “It just depends on how many people line up. On the weekends, it can be over a hundred.” This is how quickly he can crank one out.
Video credit: Rob Shearer
I am not kidding when I say that I dream about elotes, and wake up wanting them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At $2.50 each, I’d say it’s the best value in Dallas.
Taqueria El Si Hay
601 West Davis Street
Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 941-4042
