Texas Restaurants

yankeefan

Over the years you have helped me find some good BBQ when I get the chance to travel.  Well, I hit the mother-load this time.  Austin Texas for 4 days and Dallas for 3 end of June.  I know some places in Austin and Lockhart such as Blacks BBQ, Smitty's, Kreuz Market, Franklin BBQ, La Barbecue and Pecan Loge in Dallas.  But there must be another 20 or so that are so good  other than these usual I read about and see on TV?  Looking mostly for smoked meats like beef ribs and brisket, some sausage.  But would love to try a true BBQed steak one night.  Oh, and I gotta try In and Out burger.  Yes, I look to have triple bypass when I get home!

Thanks,
Howard

Wolfpack

In and out in Texas- asking for trouble

Seem to be pretty partial to Whataburger in that part of the country

but either way you are in for some great bbq and Tex-mex

Hotch

You need to find a Whataburger not an In and Out!

TEXASBGE2018

There is a place called cattleacks bbq here in dallas that is rated number 3 behind franklins. It’s only open thursday, Friday and the 1st Saturday of the month. Gotta get there about 9am to get a decent spot and they don’t open till 10:30am. The number one bbq in Texas is Snows in Lexington near austin. As far as Tex-mex there are tons of different places. In Austin chuys is always decent. In Dallas well really it’s in ft worth but for ambiance go to joe t garcias. Also yes whataburger is king here. Be sure to get the spicy ketchup. 

TEXASBGE2018

Also if you want a bbqed steak you can go to coopers in Llano or there is also one in ft worth. They sell a smoked ribeye that is freaking amazing. Also for Tex-mex up here in dallas go to La Hacienda Ranch and get the steak fajitas and be prepared to go into a food coma. They also invented the frozen margarita machine 

KennyCJR

Check out the Truck Yard. It’s a cool spot with different food trucks rotating in and out.  They post what’s going and the trucks that’ll be there here —> https://truckyarddallas.com/

Photo Egg

Hey, don't forget the Tex Mex. You can get BBQ anywhere

Killit_and_Grillit

Hotch said:

You need to find a Whataburger not an In and Out!

I yelled this at my iPhone as I read this post. 

Stay out of communist In and Out. 

Whataburger. Jalapeño spicy ketchup changed my culinary and bedroom life. #noregrets

The rest of the lineup is solid. 

Hotch

I’d go to https://www.valentinastexmexbbq.com/ if I was in Austin. For breakfast and lunch! Get the Real Deal Holyfield for breakfast and brisket tacos for lunch. 

caliking

Hotch said:

I’d go to https://www.valentinastexmexbbq.com/ if I was in Austin. For breakfast and lunch! Get the Real Deal Holyfield for breakfast and brisket tacos for lunch. 

This. 

The tortillas made from scratch are reason enough to go. 

Killit_and_Grillit

caliking said:

Hotch said:

I’d go to https://www.valentinastexmexbbq.com/ if I was in Austin. For breakfast and lunch! Get the Real Deal Holyfield for breakfast and brisket tacos for lunch. 

This. 

The tortillas made from scratch are reason enough to go. 

Yeah Valentina’s is magical. 

SonVolt

I've always enjoyed Hard 8 in Dallas, even though it's a chain I think. Went to a French bistro called "The Grape" on a recent trip that was kinda charming.  Also enjoyed "The Knife" steakhouse in downtown Dallas. 

Mickey

100% do what @Hotch and @caliking said! VI and I was there Thursday and (IMO) the very best BBQ in the city. Absolutely the best beef ribs. I set there and ate a 2 lb beef rib for lunch Thursday. 

Hotch

Hard 8 is just ok and over priced. They have a weird tasting BBQ sauce I don't care for.
Some of the Best Q is at Hutchins BBQ in McKinney. A Texas Monthly Top Q for a while. 

Hotch

And if you like Tex Mex Joe T. Garcia’s in Fort Worth is a great place to go.

yankeefan

Wolfpack said:

In and out in Texas- asking for trouble

Seem to be pretty partial to Whataburger in that part of the country

but either way you are in for some great bbq and Tex-mex

Wow, forgot all about Tex Mex, that should be a good relief from BBQ.  Thanks for the suggestion.

yankeefan

Killit_and_Grillit said:

Hotch said:

You need to find a Whataburger not an In and Out!

I yelled this at my iPhone as I read this post. 

Stay out of communist In and Out. 

Whataburger. Jalapeño spicy ketchup changed my culinary and bedroom life. #noregrets

The rest of the lineup is solid. 

Oh, didn't know that.  It's like Pat's and Geno's Cheesesteak war here in Philly.

yankeefan

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.  I look forward to spending a week in a state I have wanted to do a BBQ foodie tour for quite a long, long time.  

SonVolt

I went to Dallas recently for work and fully expected cowboy hats, WWF size belt buckles and tumbleweeds. I was surprised what I saw was mostly Indian immigrants, cookie-cutter tract housing and miles of industrial/business parks. Maybe Dallas doesn't best represent the Texas as told on TV. 

Raceredi

My wife and I just spent a few days in Austin last week. Good times. Louie Mueller in Taylor is well worth the drive. 

TEXASBGE2018

SonVolt said:

I went to Dallas recently for work and fully expected cowboy hats, WWF size belt buckles and tumbleweeds. I was surprised what I saw was mostly Indian immigrants, cookie-cutter tract housing and miles of industrial/business parks. Maybe Dallas doesn't best represent the Texas as told on TV. 

It hasn’t been that way since the 1800s. We also don’t all ride horses to work. But in certain parts you will see the cowboy hats and belt buckles.. don’t worry we make fun of them too.

SonVolt

TEXASBGE2018 said:

SonVolt said:

I went to Dallas recently for work and fully expected cowboy hats, WWF size belt buckles and tumbleweeds. I was surprised what I saw was mostly Indian immigrants, cookie-cutter tract housing and miles of industrial/business parks. Maybe Dallas doesn't best represent the Texas as told on TV. 

It hasn’t been that way since the 1800s. We also don’t all ride horses to work. 

Sad! 

TEXASBGE2018

SonVolt said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

SonVolt said:

I went to Dallas recently for work and fully expected cowboy hats, WWF size belt buckles and tumbleweeds. I was surprised what I saw was mostly Indian immigrants, cookie-cutter tract housing and miles of industrial/business parks. Maybe Dallas doesn't best represent the Texas as told on TV. 

It hasn’t been that way since the 1800s. We also don’t all ride horses to work. 

Sad! 

Its also funny that the TV Show Dallas was filmed at Southfork Ranch here. Its still there but its surrounded by those Tract homes you speak of on every side. Just this little 100 acre piece of property with tract homes all around.

SonVolt

When I say Dallas it was actually the Irving area... not sure if Dallas proper is the same way I described. 

jdkeithbge

Dammit @TEXASBGE2018, you dun spilt the beans on our horseless carriage secrets!  Sheriff gon' take yer belt buckle fer sure now, son.

jdkeithbge

SonVolt said:

I went to Dallas recently for work and fully expected cowboy hats, WWF size belt buckles and tumbleweeds. I was surprised what I saw was mostly Indian immigrants, cookie-cutter tract housing and miles of industrial/business parks. Maybe Dallas doesn't best represent the Texas as told on TV. 

@SonVolt you gotta head on over to Fort Worth for the tumbleweeds and cowboy hats.  Also some very nice tract homes.

TEXASBGE2018

jdkeithbge said:

Dammit @TEXASBGE2018, you dun spilt the beans on our horseless carriage secrets!  Sheriff gon' take yer belt buckle fer sure now, son.

Just gotta make it clear to everyone. We have people come from overseas daily at my job here and honestly some of them think everyone lives on a ranch and owns a horse. I have to explain to them that I live in a regular house and drive a Toyota. Their eyes get as big a saucers.

SonVolt

Speaking of Dallas... what's your thoughts on Hard 8? Good? Bad? Gimmick? I loved it... but that was my first experience with Texas-style BBQ in Texas. 

TEXASBGE2018

SonVolt said:

Speaking of Dallas... what's your thoughts on Hard 8? Good? Bad? Gimmick? I loved it... but that was my first experience with Texas-style BBQ in Texas. 

Hard 8 is ehh. Sometimes good sometimes not. If you are in this area next time try to make it to Cattleack BBQ in Addison. Its rated #3 in the state behind Franklin BBQ which in my opinion is BBQ Mecca. Also there is a place in Ft. Worth called Heim BBQ. The Bacon Burnt ends are awesome. You can try Pecan Lodge also but its kinda past its prime.

jdkeithbge

I think @Hotch is correct, Hard 8 is overrated and overpriced.  For your money there is better BBQ in DFW.  I believe the original Hard 8 is out in Stephenville, which is basically where I grew up, about 2.5 hrs southwest of DFW.

Edit: I'll second @TEXASBGE2018 on Heim BBQ in Fort Worth, it is excellent.  I've also been to Cattleack and it was very good, though there was quite a line for a while.  I get their weekly emails and it seems the lines have died down a bit the past few months.

jdkeithbge

SonVolt said:

When I say Dallas it was actually the Irving area... not sure if Dallas proper is the same way I described. 

Irving does have a large Indian population, so that may have skewed your experience.  However if you're looking for good Indian food and/or markets, it's the place to go.