The Dallas area claims more restaurantsn—and much better barbecuen—per capita than New York City. Smoke-filled barbecue joints rub elbows with culinary neighbors from Vietnam, India, the Mediterranean and dozens of other ethnic and regional eateries in Richardson, Texas alone. Chili's and the Texas original, Dr. Pepper, call Dallas home. Keller's and Wingfield's serve one-of-a-kind meals to bikers and burger snobs alike.

Using pure cane sugar, John Hogan, a Dallas chemist, invented the first frozen margarita machine mix in 1971 for Mariano's Cantina. Dallas features several top steakhouses including Bob's Steak & Chop House, III Forks, the original U.S. location of Fogo de Chao and top barbecue pits like Baker's Ribs. Dallas hotels are also home to some great restaurants, including "The French Room" at The Adolphus Hotel and "Fearing's" at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas.