Fort Worthians practically live off a diet of three meals: burgers, barbecue and Tex-Mex. After all, Fort Worth is the birthplace of Kincaid’s Hamburgers. It’s the place where decades-old institutions like Angelo’s and Railhead can live on, yet newbies like Heim Barbecue can enter the neighborhood and feel like it’s been around forever. And, lest we forget the one restaurant every newcomer gets directed to the moment they step onto Cowtown soil — Joe T. Garcia’s.
But that doesn't mean Fort Worth is averse to other cuisine. In fact, the city is crawling with so much variety, you may never find yourself in a chain restaurant again. Craving a down-home American breakfast? Ol' South Pancake House is your go-to. For upscale seafood, head to Waters downtown. Vegan? Hit up Spiral Diner on Magnolia Avenue.
The city has further upped its game with gourmet doughnuts (FunkyTown Donuts), hipster coffee shops (Craftwork Coffee Co.) and kolaches (Pearl Snap Kolaches). The bar scene is bumping too, whether you want to experience a Western saloon (White Elephant Saloon) or prefer an old-school speakeasy (Thompson's Bookstore).
So, if you want to eat and drink like a local, these are the staples to dig into.
angelo's
barbecue
More-than-60-year-old ‘cue joint where some celebrities have stopped by. 2533 White Settlement Road, 817.332.0357,
angelosbbq.com $$
bird cafe
American
Sophisticated downtown eatery with a view of Sundance Square.
155 E. Fourth St., 817.332.2473,
birdinthe.net $$
cattlemen's steak house
Steakhouse
Longstanding steakhouse in the Stockyards.
2458 N. Main St., 817.624.3945, cattlemenssteakhouse.com $$$
clay pigeon
American
Eclectic menu of chef-crafted dishes from steaks to seafood.
2731 White Settlement Road, 817.882.8065, claypigeonfd.com $$$
craftwork coffee co.
Coffee
Coffee shop up front, workspace at the back.
See website for locations, craftworkcoffeeco.com $
funkytown donuts
Doughnuts
Doughnut shop known for creative toppings like bacon and brisket. Downtown location serves beer.
1000 Eighth Ave., Ste. 101; 132 E. Fourth St., 817.862.9750;
funkytowndonuts.com $$
heim bbq & catering
Barbecue
Bacon burnt ends. Amazing. 1109 W. Magnolia Ave., 817.882.6970,
heimbbq.com $$
joe t. garcia's
Mexican
Classic Tex-Mex on an iconic outdoor patio.
2201 N. Commerce St., 817.626.4356,
joetgarcias.com $$
kincaid's hamburgers
Burgers
Old-school burger joint whose first location is on Camp Bowie Boulevard.
4901 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817.732.2881,
kincaidshamburgers.com $
los vaqueros
Mexican
Longstanding Tex-Mex eatery and hub for margaritas.
See website for locations, losvaqueros.com $$
melt ice creams
Dessert
Housemade ice cream in creative flavors.
1201 W. Magnolia Ave., Ste. 115, 817.886.8365,
melticecreams.com $
nonna tata
Italian
Fort Worth favorite for authentic Italian in a relaxed setting.
1400 W. Magnolia Ave., 817.332.0250,
nonnatata.com $$
ol' south pancake house
American
Homestyle breakfast institution known for pancakes and Dutch babies. Open 24 hours.
1509 S. University Drive, 817.336.0311,
olsouthpancake-
house.com $
paris coffee shop
American
No frills homestyle eatery. Popular for its pies.
704 W. Magnolia Ave., 817.335.2041,
pariscoffeeshop.net $
pearl snap kolaches
Bakery
Czech-inspired pastry shop also serving kolache burgers.
4006 White Settlement Road; 2743 S. Hulen St., 817.233.8899;
pskolaches.com $
press cafe
American
Al fresco dining spot with a patio that overlooks the Trinity Trails and river.
4801 Edwards Ranch Road, Ste. 105, 817.570.6002, presscafeftworth.com $$
proper
Bar
Quirky cocktail bar with a patio at the back.
409 W. Magnolia Ave., 817.984.1133,
propermagnolia.com $$
railhead smokehouse
Barbecue
Local staple for barbecue and cold beer.
2900 Montgomery St., 817.738.9808,
railheadsmoke-
house.com $$
spiral diner
Vegan
Quirky vegan cafe on Magnolia Avenue.
1314 W. Magnolia Ave., 817.332.8834,
spiraldiner.com $$
thompson's bookstore
Bar
1920s-style speakeasy serving signature and classic cocktails downtown.
900 Houston St., 817.882.8003,
thompsonsbook-
store.com $$
tommy's hamburgers
Burgers
Classic burger joint also known for catfish.
2455 Forest Park Blvd., 817.920.1776,
tommyshamburger-
grill.net $$
waters
Seafood
Celebrity chef Jon Bonnell's sophisticated seafood joint.
301 Main St., 817.984.1110, waterstexas.com $$$
white elephant saloon
Bar
Western-style saloon in the Stockyards. Supposedly haunted by legendary gunslinger Longhair Jim.
106 E. Exchange Ave., 817.624.8273,
whiteelephant-
saloon.com $$
Price Chart
$ - Entrees up to $10
$$ - Entrees $11-$30
$$$ - Entrees $31 or more
.jpg.jpe)
