This Family-Run Texas Italian Deli Is the Closest Thing to Italy You’ll Find in Dallas

Watching foam churn against the hull, one hand pressed to the recipes tucked carefully in his bag, Italian immigrant Vincenzo squints at a little island up ahead. Ellis Island. If my time-machine didn’t happen to be broken at this particular moment, I’d go back and place my hand over Vincenzo’s on the cold railing.

“Jimmy,” I’d say, using the nickname they’d give him at Ellis Island. “This store, one day. Yours.”

Let’s flip ahead, past the first chapter, and follow a grocer’s story all the way to Jimmy’s Food Store in Dallas, Texas.

Red-green-and-white-striped awnings, rounded in loops like upside-down waves. That’s the very first thing that strikes me about Jimmy’s, present-day.

There’s a cheeriness to the brand: red square tiles in neat rows along the roof, “Fine Italian Imports & Deli” in white letters on a green-and-red sign above the door, “Italian Sausage” in a large artistic font on the outside windows, and behind the counter, the same bushy eyebrows and long, sharp noses of the DiCarlos.

Texas’ wide plains and open ranches are a far cry from the saltwater spray of New York. But, the name stuck: Jimmy’s.

Wait … a grocery store business?!

Quite a ways from the Big Apple, no one can ever take away Texas road trips of vast, cotton-dotted fields racing past my window or a sunset in the Hill Country with the scent of my hiking boots as I set them out for the next day.

Core Texas memories are irreplaceable.

But that doesn’t mean a Texan can’t be transported, transformed — even converted into a devoted fan — by an Italian grocery store that brings Italy straight to you.

That’s what Jimmy’s can do for you, too. That is, if you let it.

“That’s great. But what is it, exactly? What do they have?” you push.

Sure! Jimmy’s Food Store is an Italian grocery store on the east side of Dallas, as you’re on your way to northeast Dallas and the arboretum.

Their taglines say it best. The sandwich and deli counter carries the promise: ‘Your Taste of Italy in Dallas!

And the real gem is in the second tagline, “Fine Italian Food & Wine.”

You see, this isn’t your typical deli. It’s an entire grocery store, with food, wine, packaged goods, and more sourced straight from Italy, thanks to the DiCarlo family.

If you’re already reaching for your reusable bags, hunting for your keys, and rounding up kids from wherever a ponytail last disappeared — pause a moment and plan your trip first.

Jimmy’s does have parking outside their store and deli, but it’s closely packed. Cars are at diagonals up near the store, right next to each other.

Parking is right off the street — two lanes, but narrow — so make sure the coast is clear before pulling in.

If low-light parking isn’t your strong suit, aim for earlier in the day when the spot lines are easy to see.

No parking across the street is allowed for shopping at Jimmy’s. I’d pick a time that the store isn’t as busy and hope for a parking spot along either side of the store.

One perk of having parking so close to the building, though, is not having to walk that long distance from an entrance/exit back to your car on the far side of a parking lot. It’s easy, fast, and convenient to walk out the front door and put groceries in your car.

Plus, the red-green-and-white color scheme of the bright awnings above the doors carry over onto the parking barriers on one side of the building. They’re painted red, green, and white!

It’s a nice touch, on brand, and a positive way to start your grocery store trip, rather than simply an errand to knock off the to-do list or Notes app.

Wondering whether they accept food stamps? Jimmy’s notes that, yes, they do accept SNAP/EBT. If that’s at top of your cares, put your mind at ease.

When can you go by? Well, the sandwich and deli counter is open 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.

While an early morning breakfast run isn’t available, you can still pop by on your lunch break or after work, or choose a Saturday that you have free.

“I want to go by for groceries!” you say.

Of course! The grocery store’s hours differ slightly from the counter’s hours.

Jimmy’s grocery store is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.

That gives you an extra hour in the morning and a half hour in the evening to go by and pick up all your essentials, wants and wishes, and gifts and goodies.

Want to plan around busy times? Jimmy’s busiest day is Saturday, followed by Friday.

Early morning is your best bet for getting a parking space, having plenty of elbow room in the grocery store’s aisles, and moving up in line for a sandwich or deli order.

If you or your kids or family members work best in sensory-sensitive or -friendly environments, those morning hours are a safe haven from the crowds, noise, bustle, and so on. 

Busy times each day tend to be around noon and into the afternoon. If you’ve only got one time window, allow extra time for traffic, parking, long lines, and other shoppers in the aisles.

Sitting areas are limited, since it’s mainly a take-out place. Stock your car with napkins, for a meal on the go, or take it home for a tasty lunch.

If you’re a sociable creature, seize those busy moments as an opportune chance: to chat with fellow customers in line for a sandwich, ask the shopper next to you for recommendations on a product you’re thinking about, or get to know the DiCarlos behind the counter with a laugh and an eye twinkle or two.

From Italy to your kitchen

Now that we’ve crossed all our Texas “T”s and dotted all our indigo sky “i”s, let’s rev up our engines for a trip through Italy, grocery-store style.

Halt! I need to prep you, first.

What’ll you find in the aisles? And how do you find what you’re looking for?

To the second question, I’ll usher you over to these cheerful faces behind the counter, aproned dutifully with tiny green Jimmy’s logos in the corner. They’d be happy to take you through where an item came from, what pairs best, where they got it, and how to cook it or prepare it.

Those conversations are worth every mile of the drive.

Aspiring chef? Or celebrated cook to your kids? There’s an aisle dedicated to your passions, hobbies, and valiant learning efforts.

Here, you’ll discover many of the most iconic ingredients of Italian cooking, including balsamic vinegar, olives, peppers, cheese, pasta, and sauces. Try Jimmy’s exclusive olive oil, Borghese — it has a real kick. I suggest dipping bread in it.

Drum roll, please! Wish you had something new in the pantry? Or planning a dinner party and want to impress? Or to break the same-old, same-old of getting together with friends?

Jimmy’s is the stop for you!

One aisle features the store’s own Italian wine selection. As far as I can tell, it’s a point of pride for not only the current owners, but for generations all the way back in the family.

These wine bottles come from all 20 regions of Italy, including Tuscany and Piedmont, as well as lesser known towns you’ll want to add to your must-visit list.

Whip out your phone. Yes, that’s it. Have it ready to go at Jimmy’s, reading wine tags by scanning QR codes. Easy, and fast.

Or are you a Saturday wine taster? You’re in luck; you now have Saturday plans. Jimmy’s hosts wine tastings from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. A relaxing way to ease into the weekend!

The best part?! Jimmy’s says if they don’t have what you were looking for, they’ll do their very best to find it for you. Who says Italy can’t come to you?

Now we’ve arrived at my personal favorite aisle. Any guesses?

PASTA! Run your finger along the names of a huge variety of Italian pastas, tomatoes, and pizza and pasta sauces. Time to experiment!

Just need a quick grab? We have just the aisle for you, too.

Snatch up items like anchovies, capers, seasoning mixes, cookies, and Nutella^®.

Bonus! Jimmy’s also has frozen pizzas that are made in house. Make room in your freezer, before you go!

Of course, if you love to make sandwiches at home, the store has its own deli section. To get you a taste, Jimmy’s serves up their own house-made sausages in varying spicy levels.

The store also carries the essentials: steak, cheese, meatballs, and even caviar, for when you’re feeling indulgent.

“Hold up! I thought this place was a deli?” you blurt.

That’s right! Beyond serving customers as a grocery store, Jimmy’s has sandwiches and a deli from which you can order, pick up, and savor.

I’m convinced! Where do I go? Jimmy’s is located at:

4901 Bryan St, Dallas, TX 75206

Out of a long list of sandwiches on the menu, my go-to choice is the Turkey Sub. It’s a plain turkey-and-cheese option, but all sandwiches come with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, cherry peppers, and romano cheese, plus your choice of mayo, mustard, or vinaigrette.

Take-out menu:

For a foot-long of the Turkey Sub, it’s $9.99, or $5.99 for a half.

If you have a sweet tooth, order a plain or chocolate cannoli ($4), or by the dozen ($15), if you’re in a sharing mood.

Jimmy’s also has a few salads in the $10–11 range, a solid option if you want something lighter.

Whether you’re in an immediate, zoom-through-the-line-at-hyperspeed need for a tall, thick sandwich, or a meandering shopper in the aisles of a grocery store of Italian cooking, wines, and pastas, listen a moment for the whisper of Vincenzo as the door blows open to a customer.

What do you hear?

Is it a tremor of fear as an island rises from the water, and a new life waits, nameless, on the other side?

What I hear is a small, contented sigh and the rustle of recipes against each other.

In time, these sounds that seem so small echo into the larger sounds of handshakes to buy new buildings, aprons slipping on and off year after year, boarding calls for flights to Italy, laughs over a counter as orders stack up.

Flash-forward: Great-grandchildren shriek as they race, breathless, through forests of legs in the store, barely able to hear their Vincenzo’s chuckle, “Well done.”

Find Jimmy’s on Instagram and Facebook,visit their website at jimmysfoodstore.com, or pull up directions on Google Maps before you head out.