I’m anticipating my second child any day and already reminiscing my love affair with a drive-thru line while mothering a newborn. I don’t necessarily mean a loving relationship with french fries as much as a desire and need to stay in the car.
In an effort to not miss a meal after the birth, I compiled my favorite local stops in the Dallas area to get food through your car window.
1. White Rock Coffee – First things first. If you had a rough night, you need coffee right away in the morning. If you’ve had a rough day, you need an afternoon pick-me-up. Either way, this local coffee shop was voted “Best Coffeehouse in Dallas” by D Magazine Readers. Check out their drive-thrus in Lake Highlands or Lakewood. 10105 E Northwest Hwy and 4216 Abrams Rd
2. Rusty Taco – This little taco chain opened here in Dallas in 2010 and has since expanded across the metroplex. (Read our 2011 review right after it opened!) While not all of the shops have drive-thrus, note that the location in the hospital district on Harry Hines has car service for your breakfast and lunch taco needs. I recommend the “Rusty Taco” with achiote pork, pineapple, cilantro, and onion. And for our friends in The Colony, your location has a drive-thru, too. 5350 Harry Hines Blvd and 4900 Main St, The Colony
3. Keller’s Drive-In – I can’t write a whole post on drive-thrus without finding a burger joint. This drive-in stop offers nostalgia in the form of burgers, fries, and shakes. Just pull in, put your hazard lights on, and someone will come out to take your order. The prices are cheap and the food is good and greasy. Make sure to bring cash as cards aren’t accepted. 6537 E Northwest Hwy
4. Great American Hero – On Lemmon Avenue lives a bright yellow shack with a hot pink roof and inside are some of the best sub sandwiches in town. Great American Hero offers a drive-thru that can make any health nut happy with their fresh sandwich ingredients. You can also phone-in your order for “lightning fast service”, if you really want to limit the time your car is in idle. 4001 Lemmon Ave
5. Bubba’s Cooks Country – You may be familiar with the better known “Babe’s Chicken“. Bubba is Babe’s husband. Really. And this drive-thru diner in Highland Park offers all the chicken, biscuits, gravy, and hearty sides you need to feed your entire family. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 6617 Hillcrest
6. Start Restaurant – We’ve written about the drive-thru health haven before. I still love their attempt to revolutionize the fast-food industry and cater to families-on-the-go by creating healthier choices that you can enjoy without getting the littles out of the car. Be sure to check out their stuffed sweet potatoes (I dream about the one filled with chicken, spinach, and blue cheese). 4814 Greenville Ave
7. Great Outdoors Sub Shop – This local chain offers hearty breakfast, lunch, and dinner sandwiches ready to feed the heartiest of appetites. If you are ready to drop some of that baby weight, there is also a “Great Outdoor Healthy” menu filled with nutritional and Weight Watcher point information. Half of their eight metroplex sub shops have drive-thrus: 6918 Greenville Ave, 19129 Preston Rd, 242 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, 1751 W Eldorado Pkwy, McKinney
BONUS :: Chains Worth Mentioning
Panera Bread – I’m always on the search for quality and healthy food, whether fast or slow. I love Panera Bread’s combination of good food at a quick speed. To make things easier, some of the Panera Bread locations have drive-thrus! Here in town, the north Dallas location offers car service. 5325 Belt Line Rd.
Zoes Kitchen – We are big fans of Zoes at Dallas Moms Blog. Although they don’t have drive-thrus, did you know you can call an order ahead to any location and a staff member will bring your entire order curbside?
Chick Fil-A – I recently heard a little rumor: at some Chick Fil-A’s you can go through the drive-thru line and order your food along with the number of high-chairs needed. Then, simply go inside and sit down to a table ready with the food and chairs already set up. (Make sure to check your local spot because each restaurant has their own franchise owners with their own policies.)
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For those of you who are feeling limited in your ability to tackle errands, make sure to read about other Dallas conveniences we’ve previously spotted to make your life a little easier. And if staying out of the grocery store is appealing, did you know some Dallas stores deliver curbside or even to your front door?
What’s your favorite drive thru spot?
This is great! Thanks, girl!
The Chikfila in Flower Mound, lets adults order kid meals. Just say, “No toy,” and they know it’s for Mom and upsize the drink to a medium. I love those guys. They’re so accommodating!