North TX BBQ Joint(s)

Never heard of this place before, stopped by Tender Smokehouse in Frisco for lunch yeasterday. They have a sandwich called "El Jefe"...damn it was good. Menu is simple and their prices are fair.

Tender Smokehouse

The TM top 50 should be coming out soon, I know they recently finished up their food tour.

May try this joint out. Hutchins in McKinney has disappointed me after they just opened back up after the fire. You can NOT buy single or two meat plates anymore. Everything is by the weight. Very inconvenient if you are trying to eat on the run. Rant over

Hutchins in Frisco has been consistently good. Best brisket that I have had.

I will have to try it in Aubrey. El Jefe looks good.

Looks like a messy one, also the non description on the specialties is annoying, I bet if I were to hit up the website it would give me details. But who has time for that when I am clicking refresh on this constantly...

Looks like there's way too much going on in that sandwich. Best BBQ I've had in DFW is Pecan Lodge and Heim. Nobody else is close (I haven't tried Cattleack yet). My son and I recently ventured down to Lexington just to try Snow's. It was very good, but we both think Pecan Lodge and Heim are better. But, the best I've ever had is Franklin's, followed by Kreuz.

You’re not a noticer

The lines have been super long last few months, Alwasy out the door during lunch or dinner, Wasn't that way a few years ago

Franklin's and Terry Blacks in Lockhart is the best IMO.

Both of those are great.

Coopers in LLano is great.

Driving 3-4 hours for a BBQ lunch is not optimal from DFW.

Anyone been to Goldees in Kennedale? Only open Fri-Sun. Meat Church was there last weekend. The pictures he posted looked awesome.

I've heard it's the bomb.

Buzz has a sort of friend with a bbq joint somewhere.

That's on my short list of places to try in the Metroplex. Looks awesome with the exception that if I'm going to drive almost 40 miles one way for lunch, I'd like to be able to sit down inside the restaurant to eat (I read that it's takeout only).

He knows somebody who knows somebody who knows the owner, He says they are pretty tight via the THF

The "best" is always subjective for sure.

Personally, Railhead is my favorite in Fort Worth. notable others are Hickory stick, off the bone and Cousins.

I haven't been there in years, but it used to be really good. I keep saying i need to go back and try it again, but haven't yet.

I also haven't tried Heim, is there a specific location that's the one to go to, or are they all consistant with each other?

Risky s Bar B Q Sundance square !

I didn’t care for Heim in Dallas, by Love Field.

I haven't been to his restaurant, but I bought his bbq sauce at Buccees to try it. It's horrible.

Tender is fantastic. Personally, I prefer the original location which is in Celina

We've had this many posts on a BBQ thread and no mention of 407...come on fellas, do better

Hutchins was the best I had in DFW. Nothing was close. Never tried 407.

I wasn't sure what the intended point of the thread was, so I just simply commented on already mentioned restaurants instead of adding my own. But +1 for 407, that's my #1 so far. It's about 45 minutes away from me, and I drive past countless other BBQ joints to get to it, but I'll still pick 407 anytime I want BBQ.

Hurtado's in Arlington is now #1 for me.

It's good, but a long way away.

Highly recommend 407 BBQ for some amazing food. The owner is a standup guy as well.

I agree. It was worth waiting in line for.

407 is very very good, and it is conveniently located next to the gun range I shoot at

Railhead is always great. And they give Vets a nice discount.

I like 407. Tell them you are from THF and you get 10% off.

It has been a while since I was there, but assume it is still in effect.

Y’all need to get out more

DFW area I like Hutchins and Smoke Sessions. Louis Muller in Taylor is my favorite.

I need to make it to 407 based on the feedback.

I tried Derek Allen’s in Fort Worth two weeks ago and won’t be going back. Wasn’t horrible BBQ, but the meat was pretty much flavorless and unremarkable.

Typically if I want BBQ, I just cook it myself. I used to be big on Hard 8, but the last time I went there, it was just OK. Lockharts used to be really good, but I haven't been there in ages. Cattleack was good last time I ate there, but that was almost 10 years ago. Being a BBQ snob sucks. Never can find good BBQ.

I gotta say, I'm loving this. I brought up Tender before in the other section on dining in Texas, and everyone ignored it. It gets brought up here with a specific question in the OP, and most folks are ignoring it. I'd love to share the joy that my lips to colon experience but I'll certainly take a shorter line

I can find good smoked meats, for me its finding good sides. I am in the minority on traditional sides, baked beans are overrated and I prefer a non mayo based dressing on slaw. The potato salads I have tried are usually pretty bland. But in general majority of these places who have really good smoked meats have just ok sides.

Again this is just me and I am in the minority, with how much it costs to eat these days please toss some more seasonings on the side dishes.

I like them McRibs when they come out in next month

https://mcriblocator.com/

Garbage food...will make you fat for sure!

I hear ya! Like I said when it comes to BBQ everyone's opinion is subjective. Lot's of other good places to visit and try.

BTW...Hard 8 sucks and is way over priced.

I was at a function at Hard 8 in Frisco. It was horrible. Walking through the smoke area as you enter is stupid.

I do like their Stephenville location.

I eat about 4 every year they come out, and they are only out for about 40 days

Great bbq is simple to me, meat salt pepper and cook accordingly. I much prefer to make and eat my own bbq or a few folks i know over eating it out because I generally think bbq is overpriced for what you get.

Even at my favorite places to eat bbq i have had off days etc.

Am I the only one who completely discounts what someone has to say when they say "it was just ok"

I had the opportunity to try 407 several weeks ago and was very impressed with the brisket. I'm not a foodie but it was some of the best brisket I've had.

Heim is below average at best, and the parking is a nightmare if you go during peak hours.

Really surprised no one has mentioned Dayne's. Really good BBQ and sides

I honestly don't go to a BBQ place to eat the sides. I don't even put sauce on mine.

That would be like going to a burger place for the french fries.

The fries are equally important.

Personally I like the way you think

They may get more catering if they spelled their email address correctly.

IMO, Dickey's is the best. Especially their beans. A close second would be Red, Hot and Blue.

Went to Cattleack last week, very tasty.

Really Dickeys? WTF? Garbage BBQ.

Yep. Bottom of the barrel.

Perhaps the mods could install a sarcasm font because it is obviously lost on some of you.

I am going to try QuickTrip's bbq sandwich and I expect it will be better than Dicky's.

Use GREEN as the font color and most of us will get it.

You'll be correct on that one.

I had a smoked sausage sandwich from the Bucee's in Madisonville a couple of Christmases ago and it was actually pretty OK. Of course I was famished at the time so anything would have tasted good.

Aha! I did not know that. Thank you, sir.

This ^^^^

Man so many good BBQ joints in North Texas Now. Some great ones have already been mentioned, but my favorites that haven't haven't been mentioned are Dayne's in Fort Worth and Zavala's in Grand Prairie.

I have a small YouTube channel where I "review" bbq joints and I have a pretty big DFW playlist including a lot mentioned here. Bowers Barbecue

Goldees just opened in February of 2020, might be thinking of another joint. It's for sure a fantastic bbq joint. The owners are all in their early 20's, but know their stuff. Many have worked in joints like Franklin, Valentina's and Terry Blacks before starting their own place.

I made it to Goldees on Saturday. Got there about 11:45. Line was about 30-45 minutes. They were giving free beer to those waiting in line. Everyone there is super friendly. You can see the pits and them working while you're in line. They are happy to let you come in the pit area and show you the process and all the meat that is currently on the pit.

BBQ. Got brisket, ribs, turkey, sausage. It was fantastic. Super tender brisket and ribs with great flavor. I didn't try the turkey. Wife said it was awesome. They have 3 sausages. regular, jalapeno and cheese and spicy. I ordered the regular and jalapeno. The meat slicer guy have me a link of spicy at no extra charge to try out. All 3 were some of if not the best sausage I've had.

Sides. Cheese grits, slaw, potato salad. Grits were great, potato salad was really good. Slaw was just ok.

They bake their own bread and it's damn good.

They also have beef ribs on Saturday's.

I give it an A+ and will be back.

Real nice, see grits is something you don't really ever see as a side option at a bbq place.

Good looking groceries there.

Their grits are really good. The only ones I have had that were better was Flore's before he left town. Damn they were good but then so was his Q

Good to know, thanks for letting me know. There used to be an old BBQ joint out that way that I've had before. I'll have to check into it to see if it's a different location or if Goldees is in the building of the old one. Either way, now that I know it's relatively new, there's even more reason to go check it out.

I am going to guess $45 for that tray.

Probably pretty close

Dayne's is my #1, and I've been to most of bbq places in DFW, getting harder to get in there before he's sold out.

Try RL Harris on 35 in Red Oak sometime.

I had a sliced brisket sandwich from there yesterday that was holy smoky.

I will give you three out of four Bob lol. Hickory Stick, Off The Bone, and Cousins are all excellent.

I personally think Railhead is overrated, every time I have had the brisket it has been dry and tough. The Railhead in Willow Park IMO is actually better than the one on Montgomery St, but someone needs to teach them how to cut brisket against the grain. We eat it all the time because my TCU grad wife loves it.

Hurtado's in Arlington, 407 in Argyle, and to be honest the Spring Creek BBQ on Cooper St in Arlington (I have been eating there almost weekly for almost 13 years and have never had a bad meal there) are my top three North Texas BBQ Joints. I have not tried Goldee's yet but it is supposed to be Da Bomb.

I used to go when he was in Waxahachie. Really good. He probably has the best pulled pork that I've had.

I'm not much of a brisket fan. For me its all about the ribs. I agree with spring creek, I love their ribs!

Agreed. Went to The Colony location once. That was enough for me

Pit Stop in Breckenridge has disappointed me more than once. Hard 8 in Stephenville was ok as was Natty Flat Smokehouse in Mineral Wells.

407 for me here in the metromess. They have never disappointed. If I’m in Lubbock visiting my son at Tech, Evie Mae’s gets my money. Both are outstanding.

Dang dude, you need to get out more. Dickeys?? It will suffice in a pinch but darn sure not going out of my way. Soft serve cone is the best thing they have going for them.

I get out plenty. Nope, hard pass. $1.50 hot dog from Costco is better than that chit!

Yep 407 is among the best.

Now I’m hungry. Think I’m going to meatsuanywhere..

407BBQ is the gold standard in NTX. In fact I'm going to grab a late lunch there today. Goldee's does look promising, but hard for me to drive past the best to try something else. I was in Lockhart a few weeks back and Black's isn't what it used to be. Pedestrian BBQ now IMO.

I knew there was something strange about you.

I'm an okie. we like pork.

Take a drive up to Muenster for some sausages this Christmas and stop in at Dieter Bros. in Lindsay. They are more of a bbq restaurant type if that makes sense. Good bbq and sides, onion rings are the bomb. They also do steaks, burgers, CFS and other stuff besides bbq.

6/10 on the ribs and 5/10 on cobbler

you need to come see me this weekend for ribs

It's not N Texas but City Meat Market in Giddings is pretty good.

Ol’ son!!!!!!!

I wish man!!! Daughter is fired up to kill a buck, or I’d be there and we could go hunt the coast!

407 has ruined me , I won’t even eat bbq anywhere else

I will admit I don’t get out much but would like to think I know good bbq. Zavalas in Grand Prairie is worth a try. Not an upscale location of thats a deal to anyone, and a bit unique. You can get a chopped beef taco with pico on the side called the Sloppy Juan. The meat is cooked wonderfully and their sausage is great