Here in Dallas, you can find a Tex-Mex restaurant on almost every block. The prevalent cuisine is a favorite for many Texans. But the number of Tex-Mex restaurants can make it hard to find a place that stands out. Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican Kitchen, with its trendy location and delicious food, leaves a memorable impression.
Cyclone Anaya, a Mexican professional wrestler, started his restaurant in Houston. His son opened the first Dallas location last year, and the closest one to campus is on Oak Lawn Ave. The atmosphere is buzzy and boozy as Cyclone Anaya’s stops taking reservations after eight p.m. Large crowds of singletons and groups of friends gather at the bar and drink 21 oz. margaritas – priced at $14 – while they wait for a table.
Despite the seemingly long wait, time passes fast thanks to the upbeat music. The best part about Tex-Mex is that as soon as you’re seated, you are greeted with a plate of hot, crispy chips and a bowl of salsa. At Cyclone Anaya’s, the chips are crispy, oily, greasy and utterly delicious. The red salsa has an unexpected bite – great for those who love chilies and spice but too much for anyone who isn’t used to it.
The menu offers an array of salads, enchiladas, traditional Tex-Mex plates and fajitas. The fajitas al carbon come with either steak or chicken, shredded cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream, and rice and beans. The steak is cooked perfectly, tender and medium rare; however, it’s brought out on a plate instead of a sizzling bed of onions and peppers. The lack of fajita veggies and a portion considerably smaller than what you can get at other Mexican restaurants – about six small strips of meat and three tortillas – make the dish seem a little overpriced at $18, even though it is still very tasty.
The enchiladas are a little more playful than your typical Mexican fare. For example, the Enchiladas Florentine come with jumbo lump crabmeat, spinach and Mexican cheese, topped with chardonnay cream sauce and roasted pine nuts. The enchiladas del mar are especially delicious – red corn tortillas stuffed with grilled shrimp, poblano peppers and cheese, topped with chardonnay cream sauce, avocados, tomato and pine nuts. The enchiladas are all served with Mexican rice and beans.
As delicious as they might be, the oodles of cheese and creamy sauce make for a rich meal that borders on a little too heavy. Don’t let that deter you from at least sampling the food. Share a plate with a friend and try one of the six salads on the menu. Salads include grilled salmon, seared tuna and Mexican chopped salad with applewood bacon.
The menu doesn’t have a lot of vegetarian options, but you can always ask for a dish without meat. The enchiladas Suizas, normally served with chicken, sour cream, white Mexican cheese and “rajas con crema” taste just as good without the chicken.
Cyclone Anaya’s is certainly not the cheapest Tex-Mex joint you’ll find around the area, but the $15 enchiladas do come with a trendy vibe and friendly, attentive waiters. If you want to try the extensive margarita list, come at happy hour, Mondays through Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m., when that 21 oz. drink is nearly half-priced at eight dollars. The restaurant also offers a Sunday brunch.
Cyclone Anaya’s is located at 3211 Oak Lawn Ave. For more information visit cycloneanaya.com or call 214-420-0030.
