Most restaurants don’t make it to ten years. Norma’s Cafe opened in Oak Cliff in 1956 and has been at it ever since. That original location has never moved. The biscuits and gravy are still on the menu. The Mile-High Pies still require you to plan around them. On Wednesday, June 24, Norma’s turns 70 and all five traditional locations are marking it the way the restaurant always has — by feeding people and keeping the price where it belongs.
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Norma’s Café in Oak Cliff, Dallas, has quietly carried a beautiful Thanksgiving tradition for more than 30 years: on Thanksgiving Day, they open their doors from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to serve a free holiday meal to anyone who comes. The restaurant is located at 1123 W. Davis Street, and every year volunteers, staff, and community supporters prepare thousands of home‑cooked meals. In past years, the tally has reached over 8,000 free dinners, feeding individuals, families, people from shelters, and houses of worship alike.
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Chicken fried steak holds a sacred place in the Texas dining canon. It’s a dish that straddles the line between working-class necessity and Sunday supper indulgence—breaded beef, fried like chicken, drowned in gravy, and typically served with enough starch to anchor a boat. In Dallas, two long-loved restaurants take this dish seriously: Norma’s Café, a bastion of down-home tradition, and AllGood Café, a Deep Ellum diner with a little more swagger and a lot more nuance. I ordered both. I ate both. I took a nap. Then I made a decision.
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Dallas’ comfort food icon, Norma’s Cafe, is keeping with decades of tradition by giving back to those in need this holiday season through its Gather & Give program. With each guest purchase of a Holiday Family Dinner for 6-8 people, Norma’s will donate six meals to the North Texas Food Bank from now until Dec. 23.
The Holiday Family Meal goes on pre-sale Sept. 25, with full dinners for 6-8 people starting at a family affordable price of $115.00. The holiday dinner includes a choice of the following: (1) whole smoked turkey, (1 pan) of smoked sliced or oven-roasted turkey breast, (1) spiral cut glazed ham, (1) prime oven roast with au jus and horseradish, with (2) quarts of cornbread dressing, (2) quarts of mashed potatoes, (2) quarts of green beans, and (1) quart of giblet gravy. Also included are the cranberry sauce, a dozen rolls, and Norma’s classic 10-inch pumpkin pie. Specialty items are also available for additional purchase including green bean casserole, bacon mac-n-cheese, broccoli rice casserole and much more.
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On Wednesday, June 26, the iconic Dallas diner Norma’s will celebrate 68 years since its original location opened. To commemorate the occasion, the diner is rolling back prices to the 1950s: Customers can enjoy a plate of chicken-fried steak or a slice of birthday cake for just $1.85 each ($2 with tax).
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Eating dessert first has always been Norma’s Cafe‘s motto, but on National Pie Day, it’s their mission. Get ready for this tasty unofficial holiday on Tuesday, Jan. 23, Pie Day.
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In June of 1956, Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” topped the charts, “The King and I,” starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr was out in theaters and R.L. Thornton was mayor of Dallas. And Norma’s Cafe opened its doors in Oak Cliff, selling chicken fried steak dinners with all the fixings for less than $2.
The now-iconic dining institution with five area locations celebrates its 65th anniversary on June 23 with prices inspired by the past on three of its famous Blue Plate Specials. Dine-in guests can order Chicken Fried Steak, Chicken and Dressing, or Meatloaf, including mashed potatoes and green beans, for just $1.79, while supplies last.
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By Alex Gonzalez photo by Katy Anderson
While we’re still feeling the effects of the pandemic, there is never a shortage of chicken fried steak in Texas. Times may be tough, but we still find comfort in this comfort food.
A chicken fried steak is a cut of tenderized that is battered and fried, crafted in a way to appear similar to a piece of fried chicken. It is a southern staple with a rich history in Texas. October 26th is Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day, and this year marks the sixth anniversary of the event.
Continue readingFiled under Alex Gonzalez, Steven Doyle
