For those residing in the vibrant East Dallas area, a trip to Jimmy’s Food Store isn’t just a chore—it’s a weekly pilgrimage for culinary enthusiasts. Located at the corner of Bryan and Fitzhugh, this beloved neighborhood gem has been delighting locals since 1966, thanks to the vision of founder James DiCarlo. Synonymous with authentic flavors, Jimmy’s Food Store is renowned for serving up some of the most exquisite Italian sausage and meatballs in Dallas. Interestingly, these signature specialties were once exclusive holiday treats until 1997. Before its reign as the city’s premier Italian deli, Jimmy’s catered to the diverse immigrant community of East Dallas, offering essential ingredients from Laos, Cambodia, Mexico, and Cuba. It wasn’t until the DiCarlo brothers decided to dedicate their offerings exclusively to Italian delicacies in 1997 that Jimmy’s truly transformed into the Italian food haven Dallas knows and loves today.
Mike DiCarlo, pictured on the right, along with his brother Paul, practically grew up in Jimmy’s Food Store. Their journey with the store began after their father transitioned from a larger supermarket in South Dallas in 1966. “He envisioned Jimmy’s Food Store as his venture into semi-retirement,” Mike DiCarlo recounts. “I was just 13, a seventh grader at St. Thomas, when I first stepped into the store. My initial reaction to my dad was, ‘Why on earth did you buy this place?’ It seemed so much smaller compared to his previous supermarket.” This initial impression, however, was just the beginning of a lifelong commitment to Jimmy’s Food Store and the Dallas community.
The secret behind Jimmy’s Food Store’s transformation into a culinary landmark lies in an Italian sausage recipe passed down from DiCarlo’s paternal grandfather. “In Italian families,” DiCarlo fondly explains, “it’s a given that everyone’s mother makes the ultimate sauce, and every father holds the key to the best sausage recipe. Your childhood flavors are always the benchmark.” Today, this very sausage is a staple in nearly two dozen of Dallas’s top restaurants. Jimmy’s Food Store proudly produces at least 2,500 pounds of these flavorful, spicy sausages each week, a testament to their enduring popularity and quality.
The meticulous process of crafting Jimmy’s Food Store’s regionally acclaimed Italian sausage is surprisingly straightforward, yet demanding in its daily execution. “Creating a single batch of sausage takes about 45 minutes, but it’s a continuous operation throughout the day,” DiCarlo shares. “We start the sausage-making process at 8 AM and continue until 8 PM, six days a week. This involves cutting the pork butts, blending in our signature mix of ingredients, grinding the mixture, and then filling it into casings.” This dedication to fresh, daily production is a hallmark of Jimmy’s Food Store’s commitment to quality.
While Mike DiCarlo remains tight-lipped about the precise blend of spices that makes his Italian sausage so irresistible, he does offer insights into the store’s equally famous meatballs. The meatball recipe originates from his grandmother, Rosa, and for many years, his mother, Marie DiCarlo, personally hand-rolled each meatball served at Jimmy’s Food Store. According to Mike, the subtle addition of parsley and garlic powder is what elevates these meatballs above the rest. It’s these family recipes and traditions that are at the heart of Jimmy’s Food Store’s charm and success.
Despite being surrounded by Italian culinary delights daily, DiCarlo humorously describes himself as “a Texas Italian.” “I don’t speak Italian, I’m not a soccer fan, and I certainly don’t dress fancy,” he jokes. “Growing up, prosciutto and capicola were foreign concepts to me, and salami? I thought it came exclusively from Hormel. We only indulged in meatballs or sausage during holidays, because honestly, you can get tired of it after being around it all day. After a day at Jimmy’s Food Store, I often crave Chinese food or something completely different.” This down-to-earth perspective adds to the authentic, unpretentious atmosphere of Jimmy’s Food Store.
For those of us not immersed in Italian gastronomy day in and day out, Jimmy’s Food Store offers an exceptional array of sandwiches, crafted from their impressive selection of cured meats and sausages. While not traditionally Italian, their Cuban sandwich has become a beloved customer favorite. “We put our own Jimmy’s Food Store twist on it by using porchetta instead of traditional Cuban pork,” DiCarlo explains. “We also incorporate a hot sauce from Trinidad called Calypso and a classic mojo marinade. It’s a blend of Miami zest with Jimmy’s Food Store’s unique character.” This fusion of flavors perfectly encapsulates the spirit of innovation within tradition that defines Jimmy’s Food Store.
— Amy McCarthy
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Visit Jimmy’s Food Store: 4901 Bryan Street, Dallas, TX 75206 | (214) 823-6180 | Jimmy’s Food Store Website
