Best Damn Barbecue in Dallas/Fort Worth

Photo Credit: SuperFantastic

Anytime a couple of folks from the metroplex get together and the conversation turns to food, you can bet that the subject of barbecue will come up. And it won’t be long until faces are flushed, voices are raised, and fists are shaking about where you can get the best BBQ around here. Here at Haute Living Dallas we don’t pretend to be the final authority on this Texas classic but we do know a thing or two about the stuff, having lived here just about forever. Here are our picks for the Best barbecue in DFW.  Don’t agree? Let us know in the comments what we’re missing.

Mike Anderson’s Barbecue

Photo Credit: Marye Audet

We’ve eaten at Mike Anderson’s a lot. No matter when you go there’s a line that snakes around the restaurant as people from all walks of life wait patiently for Mikes BBQ. Rumor has it that Mike and his team serve somewhere around 500 people in between 10:30 and 2:30 six days a week. The meat is tender and lean, falling apart with every smoky bite. There’s a sweet, smoky traditional barbecue sauce or, for those of us who are serious about our heat, an jalapeno spike barbecue sauce that will have you breathing fire in no time. There is lots to choose from but we unabashedly recommend the cheesy corn bake on the side.

Off the Bone Barbecue

Photo Credit: Off the Bone

Off the Bone is a tiny little place down on Lamar. It’s perfect if you’ve been shopping at Farmer’s Market and you’re starving. You can smell the smoky meat when you pull into the parking lot — and it smells good. The barbecue is tender and buttery, with a bit of fat on it. The meat is smoked over pecan wood and you can tell by the flavor that’s infused during that low and slow cooking time. We didn’t care for the slaw but the honey baked beans are on point.

Pecan Lodge Barbecue

Photo Credit: David Hale Smith

Anytime you are within 25 miles of Deep Ellum you’ll want to head for Pecan Lodge. They were located at the Farmer’s Market for a long time and it was dang difficult to get even a spatula to lick because they’d sell out within 15 or 20 minutes every day. Now that they are in bigger digs we hope that we won’t have to elbow old ladies out of the way just to get our barbecue fix. We are especially fond of the burnt ends because they have the most texture and smoky flavor. Apparently we aren’t the only ones because those things go fast. Mac and cheese is also highly recommended. It’s cheesy, creamy, and hello bacon!

North Main Barbecue

Photo Credit: Regan76

If you are looking for ribs don’t settle for anything but the “World’s Best Ribs” and you’ll find those at North Main Barbecue in Euless. Not only has this haute spot won a number of barbecue competitions, it has also been featured on Food Network’s Best Thing I Ever Ate — and that was for the barbecue. The ribs are way better than the brisket, Trust us. We have noticed that the food and service can be iffy and has been inconsistent of late. Still, the ribs are worth driving for and so far have always been amazing.

Sonny Bryan’s

Photo Credit: Mark

This is traditional, old-school barbecue. Sonny Bryan’s has been around Big D for decades — it opened on Inwood in 1958. Generations of Dallasites have eaten this barbecue and it’s still around because it’s good. Now, there are other locations but we, at Haute Living Dallas, are purists and the Inwood location is the one we prefer. Give us a heaping plate of sliced brisket drowning in barbecue sauce, a Shiner, and a fried pie and we’re happy. Tables could be cleaner but there’s no where else to really experience classic Dallas barbecue just like it’s been served for 57 years… or so.