Ever wanted a gourmet meal but didn't want to drop a load of money? Check out the Chef's Gallery at the Art Institute of Dallas. This restaurant is a working classroom for students in the Art Institute's culinary program, so you get gourmet meals at half the price. The menu's are seasonal and put together by the program's instructors (in other words, no "gourmet" hot pockets) and the students spend time working each different part of a restaurant from the kitchen to the front end. They offer lunch Tuesday through Friday, dinner Wednesday through Friday and a limited menu in between lunch and dinner Wednesday through Friday. They don't even burn the cous cous.

Looking for authentic Mexican taqueria cuisine without the bars on the windows? Then Urban Taco is calling your name. They've brought Mexico City style tacos and tortas to two locations in Dallas, but snazzed up their taqueria with contemporary interiors and flavored margaritas for one "modern Mexican dining experience." The menu is chef-driven while keeping to tried and true Mexican favorites. Whether you're there for the tacos, empanadas, or just to pick up some fresh poblano-pepita pesto, it's all fresh food made daily. Some favorites to check out include their yucca fries, pozole tortilla soup, the mango-jicama slaw or anything in barbacoa.

Si Tapas in Downtown Dallas is one of those house-turned restaurant gems nestled in the State and Thomas neighborhood. In addition to cozy interiors, their patio seating is exactly that: tables on a quaint house patio. Enjoy Spanish favorites such at Tortilla Espanola (a spanish tortilla omelet), fried calamari, ham croquettes and a few exotics such as veal sweetbreads or baby eels in garlic sauce, all served up with a healthy helping of Spain's most celebrated condiment: aioli. Si Tapas' happy hour is one of the best kept secrets in town, featuring a $3 tapas menu and $12 pitchers of Sangria. Happy hour or not, Si Tapas is the perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon sipping sangria and noshing on Spanish treats.

Austin taco chain Torchy's Tacos has branched out to Big D with a location in North Dallas, bringing its famous tacos with it. Torchy's is a breath of fresh air, considering how few really good taco stands call DFW home. Torchy's takes gourmet ingredients, mixes them up in clever combinations and wraps it all in a tortilla. The Mr. Pink (Ahi tuna and chipotle sauce), the fried avocado (self explanatory), and the brush fire (Jamaican jerk chicken, with mango and grilled jalapenos) are a few favorites on the menu. Torchy's is also open for breakfast, with a special breakfast taco menu (though they will let you order off any menu whenever you want). Add to that four house-made special salsas to choose from and green chile queso that is dabomb.com. Warning: consumption of Torchy's Tacos tacos can lead to a condition often referred to as "taco coma."

Food trucks are starting to populate the streets of Dallas, and one of the first on the scene is Asian fusion truck Ssahm BBQ. Ssahm puts Korean favorites in Mexican clothing with Korean inspired tacos, burritos and quesadillas. Pick your Korean marinated meat (or tofu), pick your style (taco, burrito, or quesadilla), and they add caramelized Kimchee and fixin's. Also available are the ever popular Kimchee fries topped with cheese. The Ssahm truck may seem elusive at first, moving locations every day for lunch and dinner, however, they have a schedule posted on their website or you can follow them on Facebook for more specifics. Come get SSahm!