Dallas-based publicist Jeffrey Yarbrough invented Chicken Fried Steak Day. No, really. He pushed the Texas Legislature to pass a resolution declaring Oct. 26 Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day in 2011, when Norma’s Cafe was his client. Brilliant, and thank you, Mr. Yarbrough.
In honor of the day, we’ve compiled a short list of some of the great CFS in our neighborhood.
Norma’s Cafe
The cradle of Chicken Fried Steak Day, Norma’s Cafe has been celebrating since 2010. This year, the restaurant is offering a bus tour of restaurants all over the Dallas area, with proceeds benefiting the North Texas Food Bank. At Norma’s, you can have CFS for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Tillman’s Roadhouse
This is the ultimate upscale take on a lowbrow classic. The chicken-fried at Tillman’s is made with beef tenderloin medallions and comes topped with smoked poblano gravy and sides of buttery whipped potatoes and bacon green beans. They’re closed Mondays, but there’s no law that says you can’t celebrate early.
What a deal: A big chicken fried steak with Hatch green-chile gravy, mashed potatoes and green beans for $12. Plus, their “MexiCAN Monday” specials include $3 Mexican canned beer.
Charco Broiler
Charco Broiler is one of the most charming restaurants in Oak Cliff. The old-school cafeteria-style steakhouse has a great chicken fried steak sandwich, served on Texas toast.
Pink Magnolia
We haven’t been yet, but of course chef Blythe Beck has chicken fried steak on the menu of her new Oak Cliff restaurant. It’s a chicken-fried ribeye served with creamed corn, mustard greens and bacon redeye gravy.
