In Texas, barbecue isn’t something you eat every now and then; it’s a way of life. We love barbecue that’s slowly smoked and doesn’t need to covered in sauce to be eaten. Sausage, brisket and ribs should have their own food pyramid. And we love to debate our favorite barbecue places.
Fort Worth is no longer the end of the line for cattle drives, but it still has great places to chow down on you barbecue favorites. So, here’s our top five barbecue places on the Fort Worth side of town.
Angelo’s
2533 White Settlement Rd
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Established in 1958, Angelo’s consistently ranks among the best barbecue places in the DFW Metroplex. The family recipe passed down from generations features hickory wood and special dry rubs to give it the perfect taste.
Don’t just take our word for it. Nearly 70 local, national and international celebrities have stopped by to try out the barbecue here. And as an added bonus, it’s located just northeast of the UNT Health Science campus, making it the near perfect choice for a meal during your stay. And if you like it enough, you can even have it shipped right to you.
Heim Barbecue & Catering
1109 W Magnolia Ave
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Heim doesn’t have the history or tradition of Angelo’s. Instead, owner Travis started Heim just in 2014 selling barbeque out of a food truck. And in 2016, Heim traded his food truck for a more traditional brick-and-mortar restaurant south of downtown.
But what they lack in history, they make up for in great food and a great atmosphere. Heim serves up all of the traditional barbecue — brisket, sausage and ribs — but you’ll definitely have to try their bacon burnt ends. Make sure you get there early to be able to get a taste of this great start up restaurant.
Riscky’s Barbecue
140 E Exchange Ave
Fort Worth, TX 76164
Located in the heart of the Fort Worth stockyards, Riscky’s Barbecue is so much more than a “tourist trap”. For over 75 years, they’ve been cooking up ribs, chicken and barbecue sandwiches in their famous “Riscky Dust” dry rub.
Riscky’s also has locations in other parts of Fort Worth, including Sundance Square, but the Stockyards location is hands down the best place to chow down on barbeque. Aside from being steps away from the cultural heart of Fort Worth, you’re just steps away from great shopping and entertainments inside the Stockyards complex. It’s dinner and an adventure.
Billy’s Oak Acres BBQ
1700 N Las Vegas Trail
Fort Worth, TX 76108
Billy’s Oak Acres doesn’t have the notoriety that Heim, Angelo’s or Riscky’s have, but that doesn’t mean they don’t cook mean barbecue. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. They serve the typical barbecue, plus they’ve added chicken fried steak, for a more country home feel, and even Tex-Mex. Also, be sure to try the banana pudding before hitting the road. It’s a great place to eat and relax.
Cousin’s BBQ
6262 McCart Ave
Fort Worth, TX 76133
Opened in 1983, Cousin’s is one of the few top barbecue places where sausage is the top item on the menu. Of course, they serve the other barbecue favorites, but their hand made German sausage helps them stand out in the sea of other barbecue places in the DFW area. Located outside of the I-820 loop around Fort Worth, Cousin’s is a bit of a drive, especially for those staying near the UNT Health Science Center, but you’ll find that the sausage here more than makes up for the extended drive.
Tickets are now on sale for this year’s WordCamp DFW held on Nov. 11-12. There are also plenty of opportunities to sponsor the event, speak at the event or help run it. We hope to see you there!