Where to Eat Barbecue in Dallas

This story was originally published in January 2022 and has been updated.

The Metroplex is too big for just one barbecue guide. Fort Worth already got its own, so this one is dedicated to Dallas and its many suburbs, which are packed with smoked-meat stops both old and new. We have our favorites, of course. Last year Texas Monthly released a list of the best new barbecue joints in Texas. In 2021 we published our top fifty barbecue joints list, along with fifty more worthy of honorable mentions, but our barbecue recommendations don’t stop there. You can get a great meal at any one of the joints below.

Before we get to the newer crop, here are some historical spots to visit. The Bryan family barbecue business began with the opening of Bryan’s Barbecue in 1910. Its legacy endures with the original Sonny Bryan’s Smokehouse on Inwood (1958), famous for brisket sandwiches and gigantic onion rings, and for being the only barbecue joint in Texas open 24/7. The original location of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit (1941) on the northeast corner of Central Expressway and Henderson Avenue is the oldest joint still operating in Dallas. The chain recently opened its 700th location. Hardeman’s BBQ (open since at least 1948) is still a favorite for ribs and banana pudding across its three locations. Mesquite BBQ has been a favorite in Mesquite (despite smoking with hickory) since 1959. Relative upstarts like Big Al’s Smokehouse BBQ (1974), Back Country BBQ (1975), and Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que (1976) are also stalwarts for good barbecue.

In the city of Dallas

Cattleack Barbeque (Top 10)
The quality hasn’t changed since founders Todd and Misty David sold the restaurant to a long-time employee. Cattleack still offers some of the best Texas barbecue in the state, and not they do it on Wednesdays too. Get there early for specials like pastrami beef ribs, or pork belly ribs, or pork steaks. You can always get excellent spareribs, brisket, and sausage, along with a whole hog sandwich with slaw and cracklins, just like it’s served in North Carolina. 13628 Gamma Rd, 972-805-0999

Douglas Bar and Grill
Smoked brisket and ribs share the dinner menu with Prime steaks at this upscale barbecue restaurant. Barbecue lunch hours have been scaled back to just Friday and Saturday, but the well-priced happy hour remains from 3–6 p.m. daily (closed Sunday). Smoky chopped brisket is stuffed into bacon-wrapped jalapeños for the popular Brisket Bullets. Other standouts include the smoked turkey club and the Wagyu cheeseburger, and every table should have a plate of the crispy, salty parmesan truffle fries. 6818 Snider Plaza, 214-205-5888

Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ
You can see the namesake Ferris wheel rising up from behind the building as you drive up. The standards are all represented here, but things get really interesting with starters like brisket-loaded queso, smoked-sausage corn dogs, and smoked chicken wings. Elotes, hand-battered okra, and BBQ mac & cheese are just a few of the sides that are anything but boring. On Mondays they offer a $25 all-you-can-eat barbecue plate. 1950 Market Center Blvd, 214-741-4141

Heim Barbecue (Honorable Mention)
The Heims ushered Fort Worth into the modern barbecue movement with their tender brisket, colossal beef ribs, and famous bacon burnt ends. In 2020, they brought their barbecue to a new Dallas location, just across the street from Love Field Airport. Outside of the barbecue standards, try the loaded potato skins and the throughly satisfying Heimburger with bacon-burnt-end jam. 3130 W. Mockingbird Ln, 469-397-4346

Lockhart Smokehouse (Honorable Mention)
No, this restaurant hasn’t been around as long as Kreuz Market in Lockhart, but if you want the closest thing in Dallas to visiting the official barbecue capital of Texas, this is the place. The sausage at all locations (Arlington, Plano, and Oak Cliff’s Bishop Arts District) is shipped from Kreuz Market, and pairs best with spareribs and sliced brisket served on butcher paper. 400 W. Davis, 214-944-5521

Loro
Pitmaster Aaron Franklin and chef Tyson Cole teamed up on this Asian smokehouse. The original is in Austin, but the Dallas-area is home to two locations, one of which is in Addison. The well-smoked meats run the spectrum from brisket to salmon, and all are served with unique sauce-and-herb combinations. Baby back ribs are available Sundays and Mondays only, but the excellent smoked bavette steak is always on the menu. 1812 N. Haskell Ave, 214-833-4983; 14999 Montfort Dr, 214-894-5676

Oak’d BBQ (Honorable Mention)
A familiar carving block greets you just inside the door, but at Oak’d, that’s where the similarity to other barbecue joints stops. The sandwiches are over the top—the Governor features brisket, candied bacon, and fried onions. A huge variety of sides are available, from roasted cauliflower to some of the best fries in town, and the impressive lineup of desserts includes pies, cakes, and cookies. A second location opened in Addison in 2023. 5500 Greenville Ave, Suite 1300, 214-833-4983; 4525 Belt Line Rd, 214-242-8671

One90 Smoked Meats
Consider this tiny, counter-service storefront a triple threat: high-quality barbecue, smoked cheeses and chilled barbecue for reheating, and peerless sandwiches all under one roof. We especially enjoy the sandwiches, which range from a classic ham & Swiss and a BLT, both made house-cured and smoked meats, to the more refined smoked beef tenderloin sandwich. 10240 E. Northwest Hwy, 214-346-3287

Pecan Lodge (Honorable Mention)
Barbecue joints that ground and stuffed their own sausage were a rarity when Pecan Lodge opened in 2010, but co-founder Justin Fourton led the charge with his own beef links, which still have a starring role on the menu. The buttery beef ribs could make an argument for being the real star, but then again, so could the brisket-stuffed sweet potato called the Hot Mess. 2702 Main, 214-748-8900

Sammy’s Bar-B-Q
A popular lunch destination in Uptown, Sammy’s opened before the neighborhood was even called Uptown. Come for the smoked brisket, either sliced on a plate, or chopped on a bun and covered with some of the best barbecue sauce around. Get a scoop of their famous potato casserole or the fresh cuts fries and hand battered onion rings. All the homemade desserts are great, but we’re partial to the pecan pie. 2126 Leonard, 214-880-9064

Slow Bone (Top 50)
You can fawn over the smoky brisket, juicy ribs, or the best fried chicken in town any day of the week, but the daily specials at Slow Bone are truly worth an extra trip. The smoked and grilled pork chop can be had on Sundays and Mondays, and the stuffed baked potato on Tuesdays is just an excuse to eat buttery mashed potatoes topped with chopped barbecue. The chili mac side, another delicious item, is a hearty combination of brisket chili and creamy mac and cheese. 2234 Irving Blvd, 214-377-7727

Smokey Joe’s BBQ (Top 50)
Kris Manning is the second-generation owner of this South Dallas gas station turned barbecue joint. He replaced the old brick pit with steel offset smokers and began smoking some of the city’s best brisket. The hefty spareribs are smoked over hickory like they’ve always been. Also try the house-made sausages and a wide variety of family-recipe sides like greens, yams, and chicken tetrazzini on the weekends. 6403 S. R. L. Thornton Fwy, 214-371-8081

Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que
Brothers Juan and Brent Reaves carry on their late father’s barbecue legacy at this Dallas institution. When they’re not smoking vast quantities of turkey legs for the State Fair of Texas, the crew at Smokey John’s dishes up some of the best ribs and fried catfish in town (ask for the “Steve White plate” and get them both), an array of soul food sides, and daily specials like meatloaf on Mondays and turkey with dressing on Fridays. 1820 W. Mockingbird Ln, 214-352-2752

Terry Black’s Barbecue (Top 50)
It’s hard enough to serve consistently great barbecue a few times a week. The fact that Terry Black’s does it in three locations (the others are in Austin and Lockhart) for lunch and dinner seven days a week is remarkable. The beef rib is king here, but the brisket won’t leave you disappointed either. The house-made sausages and smoked turkey are also standouts. 3025 Main, 469-399-0081

Farther afield

4T’s Bar-B-Q, in Forney
Head east of town for this little joint just off U.S. 80 run by Mike and Cyndi Thomas. The sliced brisket is great, but it’s hard to ignore the many ways you can get it on a bun: the brisket cheesesteak, the brisket grilled cheese, or the Schmitty, with sliced brisket, pepper jack cheese, jalapeños, and grilled onions. 205 W. Broad, 972-552-3363

B4 Barbeque and Boba, in Mabank
You’ll find this barbecue counter inside the Mabank Feed store. Expect bold flavors, from the sweet and smoky pork ribs to the Meat Candy, which are pork belly burnt ends glazed in peach jam and topped with crumbled shortbread cookies. The smoked brisket is impeccable, but the house-made brisket pastrami is also worth your attention. As the name suggests, B4 also offers boba tea, which might make it the only Texas barbecue joint that does. 1100 N. Third, 903-910-5272

Cruz BBQ Company, in Maypearl
There aren’t many restaurant options in tiny Maypearl, but that doesn’t mean owners Paul and Barbara Cruz cut any corners. Their smoker, which uses charcoal rather than wood, provides a distinct flavor to the brisket, which is smoky with a stout bark. The glazed ribs are tender and sweet, but the stars of the menu are the house-made sausages and the birria tacos. 220 N. Main, 214-903-2816

Earnest B’s BBQ, in Frisco
Earnest and Cicely Morgan made the move from their counter inside a car dealership to a brick-and-mortar near Toyota Stadium. They hail from Mississippi, and they brought some of those Southern specialties, like a pulled pork–and–slaw sandwich and Mississippi mud cake for dessert. Fried catfish, including the unique treat of whole fried catfish, is available on Fridays and Saturdays only. 6065 Sports Village Rd, 214-308-9147

Hutchins BBQ, in Frisco and McKinney (Top 50)
The Texas Twinkie, which is Hutchins’s version of a jalapeño popper (stuffed with brisket, of course) is so famous that it’s been copied across the state. The joint’s consistent quality—serving lunch and dinner every day of the week—is harder to replicate. Try the glazed pork ribs, brisket burnt ends, or smoked chicken finished on the grill with sweet barbecue sauce. 9225 Preston Rd, Frisco, 972-377-2046; 1301 N. Tennessee, McKinney, 972-548-2629

Hill City Chop House, in Tolar
Opening a barbecue joint in a tiny town like Tolar can be a challenge, but Dustin Martin is making it work. Brisket and ribs are the obvious draws, but the smash burger made from brisket trim is a sleeper hit. Try a side of the excellent borracho beans or the creamy shells and cheese. The smoked berry dump cake for dessert gets some of its barbecue infusion from smoked bread crumbs. 8718 W. U.S. 377, 254-834-4224

Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery, in Garland
From the daily specials to brunch, this might be the most fun menu in Garland, and we haven’t even gotten to the beer. Choose from over a dozen brews on tap to pair with barbecue nachos, the brisket sandwich, or the MacRib sandwich, which has pulled rib meat and mac and cheese. 509 W. State, 972-272-2400

Local Yocal BBQ and Grill, in McKinney
You can get all the barbecue you want during lunch, but we suggest waiting until dinner service to try the nicely priced sampler platter. It makes a great appetizer for a large table, and then you’ll get to enjoy excellent steaks from locally raised cattle or the smoked chicken-fried steak. 350 E. Louisiana, 469-225-0800

Meshack’s Bar-Be-Que, in Garland (Honorable Mention)
Travis and Donna Mayes have built the quintessential barbecue shack on the east side of Garland. They cook with pecan wood in an old brick smoker built into the wall of the kitchen. The Mayeses crank out excellent ribs and juicy sausage. The chopped brisket sandwich is mammoth, and the smoky meat is a perfect pairing with the family-recipe barbecue sauce. 240 E. Avenue B, 214-227-4748

North Texas Smoke, in Decatur
You’ll see the sign for the Honda motorcycle and ATV store along the highway before you spot this food truck. A few picnic tables provide the only seating, but you’ll be happy you stopped after trying the juicy house-made sausages. Thick slices of brisket are tender and smoky, and the juicy turkey has plenty of peppery pop. Loaded baked potato salad, creamy mac and cheese, and broccoli salad are all standout sides. 2803 U.S. 287, 940-393-6776

The Original Roy Hutchins Barbeque, in Trophy Club
Roy Hutchins founded the original Hutchins Barbeque in McKinney decades ago, but he eventually decided to leave the restaurant and open his own place with his son Wes. If you don’t notice the “Roy” in the logo, you might think you’ve stepped into a Hutchins Barbeque because the menu is so similar. Thankfully, the great quality of the barbecue is familiar too. 3000 TX-114, 682-237-4100

Smoke Sessions Barbecue, in Royse City (Honorable Mention)
Formerly operating in a truck, this joint finally opened in a brick-and-mortar last year. The restaurant is now housed in one of the most handsome buildings in Texas barbecue, featuring a full bar and large patio. Come for the smoky ribs, tender brisket, and excellent house-made sausage. 307 State Hwy 66, 469-723-5092

Yearby’s Barbecue & Waterice, in Pilot Point
CJ and Sabrina Henley served halal barbecue from a food truck until their restaurant’s brick-and-mortar renovation was completed late last year. The beef-heavy menu includes house-made beef hot links stuffed into sheep casings and smoked meat loaf. The sliced brisket is excellent, but on Saturdays, treat yourself to an impeccably smoked beef short rib. The icy, fruity treat of a Philadelphia-style waterice will be your final reward for the fifty-mile drive from Dallas. 209 S. Washington, 469-894-7034

Open Mondays

Getting the week started with barbecue can be a challenge with so many joints closed, but there are a few great options in the Dallas area open on Mondays. From the Top 50, you’ll find Hutchins BBQ, Slow Bone, and Terry Black’s open. Lockhart Smokehouse, Oak’d BBQ, and Pecan Lodge are Monday options from our honorable mentions list. As for our other favorites, you can visit Back Country BBQ, Big Al’s Smokehouse BBQ, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Douglas Bar & Grill, Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ, Hardeman’s BBQ, Mesquite BBQ, and Sonny Bryan’s Smokehouse, the last of which is open 24/7 at the original Inwood location.

Breakfast

A full breakfast menu is available at the Tender Smokehouse locations in Aubrey and Frisco, while the Celina location offers breakfast tacos and toaster sandwiches. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit locations offer breakfast sliders, tacos, and burritos. Oak’d BBQ serves a full breakfast menu every Saturday and Sunday, and breakfast tacos Monday through Friday. Wait until Sunday and you can enjoy the creative brunch menu at Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery, which includes chicken and waffles, burnt-end gravy and biscuits, and country poutine.

Deep-fried entrees

Dallas is home to the State Fair of Texas, which boasts all manner of deep-fried concoctions. It might have influenced some local barbecue joints to think outside the pit. From the Top 50, Slow Bone is famous for its fried chicken, and the fried catfish at Hutchins BBQ isn’t famous enough. The smoked-sausage corn dogs at Heim Barbecue are golden and fluffy, and at Ferris Wheelers they’re small enough for an appetizer. Ferris Wheelers goes even further with a fried version of its smoked turkey sandwich. Pecan Lodge’s fried chicken is reason enough to visit, as is the fried catfish at Smokey John’s. On Mondays, Oak’d BBQ pounds out Wagyu tenderloin for the chicken-fried steak special. There’s just a hint of smoke flavor on the chicken-fried steak at Local Yocal, available for lunch and dinner. 

Live music

Check the websites and social media accounts of Pecan Lodge and Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ for their live music schedules. Both host live bands on their patios. Local Yocal BBQ and Grill has an indoor stage for live acts. 

Wet your whistle

Sometimes you’d like something stronger than iced tea or Dr Pepper with your barbecue, and these joints can help. Cocktails, wine, and craft beer can all be had at Douglas Bar & Grill, Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ, Local Yocal BBQ and Grill, Lockhart Smokehouse, Loro, Oak’d BBQ, Smoke Sessions Barbecue, and Terry Black’s Barbecue, which serves a signature black margarita made with a mystery ingredient. Local draft beer and wine are at the bar at Pecan Lodge and Tender Smokehouse. Slow Bone offers craft beer on draft and by the bottle. 

Open late

Barbecue is associated more with lunch than dinner, mainly because so many joints sell what meat they can smoke as quickly as possible. That means many of the best spots will be sold out by early or midafternoon, but there are still plenty that are open late—or at least late for barbecue. Back Country BBQ is open until 8 p.m. every day except for Sunday, when it closes at 7 p.m. Big Al’s is open until 8 p.m. most days of the week. Hardeman’s BBQ is open until 8 p.m. or later most days, and Lockhart Smokehouse is open until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Loro is open until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Oak’d BBQ is open until 9 p.m. daily. One90 Smoked Meats is open until 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Pecan Lodge is open until 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Smokey Joe’s is open until 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Terry Black’s Barbecue is open until 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. All three locations of Tender Smokehouse are open until 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.