Fort Worth wears its Western heritage proudly: historic Stockyards, leather-boot shops, twice-daily cattle drives—and a dining scene that marries down-home hospitality with global ambitions.
From smoky pits to upscale bistros, Fort Worth feeds its community with a blend of cowboy comfort and urban creativity.
- Heim Barbecue
- What began as a small Southside pop-up has exploded into one of Texas’s most beloved barbecue destinations. Flagstone patios, picnic tables, and lines that wrap around the block set the scene for killer brisket, melt-in-your-mouth ribs, and jalapeño-cheddar sausages. Don’t miss the “Exotic Trio” featuring wild boar, elk, and ostrich; sides of kimchi coleslaw and house-made slaw add unexpected zing. Behind the counter, fourth-generation pitmaster Darren Heim treats everyone like old friends, high-fiving kids and guiding newbies through the sauce bar.
- Reata Restaurant
- Perched above the convention center, Reata is the polished gallery of Western cuisine—wedge salads with blue cheese, mesquite-grilled quail over goat-cheese grits, pecan-crusted camembert, and a legendary chicken-fried steak à la carte. The rooftop patio offers skyline views paired with signature Prickly Pear Margaritas. Each dish is an artful homage to cowboy campsites and cattle drives, transformed by classically trained chefs into truly elevated fare.
- Clay Pigeon Food & Drink
- Located in the Near Southside arts district, Clay Pigeon champions farm-to-table storytelling. Seasonal small plates—wild-mushroom toast, housemade ricotta ravioli, and line-caught Gulf shrimp—change weekly as local farms turn over. The bar’s craft-beer program draws on Texas brewers, and the wine list bristles with American and international finds. Art on concrete walls and Edison bulb fixtures keep the vibe simultaneously industrial and intimate.
- Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar
- A creative collaboration between Austin’s Uchi and Franklin Barbecue teams, Loro fuses Southeast Asian flavors with Texas smoke. Picture slow-smoked brisket banh mi, crispy pork belly with Thai chili glaze, green-papaya slaw, and wok-tossed veggies. The spacious dining room and sprawling outdoor patio hum with happy hour crowds sampling sticky-rice cocktails and mango basil margaritas.
- Lonesome Dove Western Bistro
- Chef Tim Love re-imagines cowboy cooking as haute cuisine: venison carpaccio, duck-fat fries, quail pot pie, and hearty game-meat tagines. Dinner here is a full-blown spectacle, with dishes arriving like showstoppers and service delivered with Texas panache. Candlelit banquettes, repurposed barn wood, and an outdoor firepit make Lonesome Dove the place for celebrations—proms, birthdays, or “just because.”
Get the All-American Travel Secrets!
Don't miss out on America's hidden gems!
