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.
The meal is classic, comforting: roasted turkey (sometimes swapped for chicken if needed), cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and giblet gravy. The spread also includes rolls, salad, fruit — and of course, pumpkin pie for dessert. The tradition goes all the way back to 1988 when the owner, Ed Murph, and his wife Pam first launched the free Thanksgiving dinner as a way to give back to their Oak Cliff community…