So work is sending me to the Arlington / Dallas Area of Texas in 2 weeks. Any good recommendations as to a good BBQ place? Work is reimbursing for meals, but I still don't want to break my bank lol
Staying at a Hotel on I20 in Arlington if that helps with the choices.
Arlington is closer to Ft Worth than Dallas and Ft Worth should be a better BBQ city than Dallas as Ft Worth is "Cowtown", has the Stockyards, etc.
With that said, I haven't eaten a whole lot of BBQ in Ft Worth but I can say that Coopers BBQ is really good with good brisket. Also it shares a parking lot with Billy Bob's Texas, which is a blast if you can attend a Friday or Sat evening there to check out the indoor bull riding and watch a live music show. Also if you are single, it is bursting with nice beautiful women who love to dance (2-step) so lots of pros to eating BBQ at Coopers and then going across the street to Billy Bob's lol.
I haven't eaten at the following two places but hear they are fantastic from people who do eat there in Ft Worth. They are: Railhead BBQ and Risky's.
Finally MY RECOMMENDATION.... if you are driving in a rental car to/from the DFW Airport then I would URGE you to drive the "short" distance form DFW airport over to "The Hard Eight BBQ" over in the small town of Coppell, TX.
This place is a hell of an experience and amazing BBQ!!!
Unfortunately, I find their brisket to be lacking as they scrap off all the outside fat and bark and crust before serving it, what the hell!!!!
Don't let that fool you though. Get the Jalapeno Sausage (or regular if u don't want the spice), the Chicken Brush Poppers (smoked chicken chunk wrapped onion a slice of jalapeno with no heat, and bacon then smoked, avoid the shrimp ones they can be dry), smoked Turkey Breast, and ask for a small slice of the whole smoked Sirloin hunk of meat.
When asked what bread you want tell them you want the Jalapeno Bread, it's not spicy at all and is this amazing kinda fluffy homemade sweet tasting bun/roll that is freaking phenomenal!
Their normal BBQ sauce is freaking amazing (not the cider one) and you get all the free beans you want as a side so don't grab too many sides. The beans are made with bacon or sausage, onion, jalapeno, fresh black pepper, and are pinto beans. They are not spicy and later in the day have built even greater flavor.
Finally, finally.... It's not BBQ but DEFINITELY go eat at "Babe's Chicken Dinner House" in Arlington!!!!!!
Do not deviate from this...
order the regular fried chicken!!!! Not the strips, not the chicken fried steak, not the smoked chicken... the fried chicken!
This fried chicken is NOT fast food fried chicken.
This is what fried chicken used to be before it became a fast food item.
EVERYTHING here is made from scratch. You get unlimited fresh made family style sides and biscuits. If you love bread/biscuits they will be heaven for you. You get butter, local honey, and sorghum to put on the biscuits and again they are unlimited.
The mashed potatoes are sooooo freaking amazing, I think they mix in cream cheese with them.
I cannot speak highly enough about this place and finding actual REAL fried chicken the way it used to be before fast food was a thing.
If you make it over to the Dallas side of the the DFW metroplex let me know but honestly you are in area that is closer to more and better BBQ joints than on the Dallas side of things.
Post any questions you have about food or what you may want to check out. The DFW area is AMAZING for food of all kinds (from steaks to Mediterianian to Indian to traditional Mexican). I would also suggest making an effor to get some good Tex-Mex and also hitting up a nice place called Papadeux's for some cajun and even creole style food.
I hope all this info helps :)
