Fort Worth has a good number of restaurants for you to enjoy when you visit. Use this post to see recommendations for restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, and dessert.
In preparing for my Fort Worth trip, I was thankful for the number of restaurants on my list. Sometimes you don’t want to be overwhelmed with choices when you have limited time in a place. With my manageable list, we knocked out our preferred places one-by-one. Many of the restaurants are located downtown, on Magnolia Avenue, or near the Museum District. Fort Worth’s restaurants got the memo that their city’s nickname is Cowtown. There are plenty of meat-heavy restaurants here, especially a lot of barbecue.
Here are my recommendations for casual and fancy restaurants, dessert, bars, breweries, and distilleries in Fort Worth.
Casual Fort Worth Restaurants for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Heim Barbecue
Listed on Texas Monthly’s Top 50 Barbecue Joints in Texas, Heim Barbecue went from a food trailer to a brick-and-mortar in 2017. That means their capacity has increased, and for me, it meant strolling in at 3:30 pm on a Saturday and they still had all the options of meat available. I may not have had to wait in a long line before they opened at 11 am, but I still enjoyed some brisket, pork ribs, and their famous bacon burnt ends. I hope your experience is just as speedy!
Righteous Foods
I picked out this restaurant because it seemed less meat-centric but lo and behold, I ended up ordering the burger and it was what I didn’t know I wanted. We also enjoyed the coconut ceviche and some drinking vinegars.
Swiss Pastry Shop
I came here for the famous black forest cake, so maybe this restaurant should be in the dessert section of this post! We came early and barely missed lunch, so we didn’t get to try their popular wagyu beef burger, but their breakfast options were on point. I was expecting chocolate cake instead of crispy meringue in between the cream layers, so the black forest cake wasn’t my favorite, but they do have a variety of cakes and pies you can try!
Woodshed Smokehouse
We couldn’t visit Fort Worth and not dine at a restaurant by Chef Tim Love. I picked Woodshed Smokehouse because we’ve got a Lonesome Dove location in Austin. This restaurant is more casual, and for us, it was a hit. We were there for Sunday brunch, and the fried pastrami sandwich was really good and so was their brisket poutine. The apple jalapeno empanada was a little too spicy for me.
Riscky’s Steakhouse
A classic Fort Worth restaurant in the stockyards district, this restaurant is known for its calf fries and ribs.
T&P Tavern
This former train station is now a restaurant serving bar food and featuring lots of beer taps. Dogs are welcome on their huge, covered patio.
Fort Worth Food Park
If food trucks are more your style, Fort Worth Food Park is the place for you!
Brewed
We tried to go here for brunch but didn’t make it there before the rush. This place is known for their chicken and waffles.
Spiral Diner and Bakery
Fort Worth’s only vegan restaurant is Spiral Diner and Bakery. If you’re wondering how vegan and comfort food go together, here’s your place.
McKinley’s Fine Bakery and Cafe
I had originally noted McKinley’s for their pastries, but they have a strong, casual menu of “regular” food too. Think sandwiches, salads, and grain bowls.
The Original
It’s a toss-up between here or Joe T Garcia’s for Mexican food. Since 1926, The Original has been a neighborhood favorite. The Roosevelt Special is the recommended dish.
Joe T Garcia’s
This Mexican restaurant has been around since 1935 and is still a popular place to dine. Have your cash ready since they do not take credit cards.
Shinjuku Station
There’s a lack of variety on this restaurant list, don’t you think? So consider this izakaya for some good Japanese small plates.
Little Red Wasp
Little Red Wasp is the casual sister restaurant of Grace, a fancier restaurant.
Fancier Fort Worth Restaurants for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Clay Pigeon
We came here for the grilled bone marrow! Maybe it was because we had already eaten a lot of meat during the day, but the watermelon salad ended up being our favorite dish of the night.
Ellerbe Fine Foods
Southern-style food focused on local ingredients and elegant cuisine, Ellerbe Fine Foods is a white tablecloth restaurant.
Lonesome Dove
If you to try some interesting meats in a fancier setting, check out Chef Tim Love’s restaurant Lonesome Dove. (There’s also a location in Austin.)
Grace
If you’re looking for white tablecloths, Grace will deliver with fine wine and prime steaks.
Fort Worth Dessert
Dessert gets its own section, of course, and you’ve got plenty of options in Fort Worth.
Dough Boy Donuts
Dough Boy Donuts started as a food truck and now has a shiny, new brick-and-mortar! These donuts are more doughy than usual, and my eyes were immediately drawn to the one topped with Fruity Pebbles. The s’mores donut was really good too!
Stir Crazy Baked Goods
I try to find a cupcake everywhere I visit, and Stir Crazy Baked Goods had a great strawberry one! Plus, the bakery is very cute with lots of room to work, chat, and read.
Melt Ice Creams
Texas is hot, so a stop for ice cream was necessary! We got a two-scoop cup with chocolate and vanilla. They have good, plain flavors, though next time I would try one of their seasonal flavors that have swirls of other flavors mixed in.
Muggle Shakes
The freakshake has arrived in Fort Worth. This frozen yogurt shop is known for their crazy and decadent milkshakes, so if you want a sugar rush, this is the place to go.
rise n°3
This popular souffle restaurant also has locations in Dallas and Houston.
Lumi Snow
If you love Taiwanese shaved snow, you’ll find it here at Lumi Snow.
Fort Worth Drinks
Near the stockyard and Billy Bob’s, here are a few honky-tonk watering holes that also have live music:
For classic and craft cocktails, visit:
If you’re looking for a drink that is greener, visit Juice Junkies.
Fort Worth Breweries
Fort Worth’s Ale Trail is perfect for beer lovers. The city has a strong number of craft breweries you can visit to taste beer straight from the source.
- Collective Brewing Co
- Cowtown Brewing Co
- Fort Brewery
- HopFusion Ale Works
- Martin House Brewing Company
- Panther Island Brewing
- Rahr & Sons Brewing
- Wild Acre Brewing Co
Want to try a bunch of beers from different breweries? Visit World of Beers or T&P Tavern.
Fort Worth Distilleries
Fort Worth also has a number of distilleries for those who prefer liquor to beer.
- Acre Distilling and Coffee Co
- Black Eyed Distilling Co
- Firestone and Robertson Distilling Co at Whiskey Ranch
- Trinity River Distillery
There you have it! I hope this list helps you plan some good eating while you’re in Fort Worth.
Do you have any food or drink recommendations for Fort Worth? Share below!
P.S. Check out this post for recommendations of things to do in Fort Worth!
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