On a budget at the Stock Show? Here are some local wallet-friendly restaurants
If you are attending Dickies Arena for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, here’s where you can eat for cheap around town.
Between travel to Fort Worth, accommodations and FWSSR tickets, coming to the rodeo can get expensive. The least you can do is pinch pennies when it comes to your meals.
There are plenty of options for those who don’t want to fine dine at the Clay Pigeon. However, you also don’t need to stoop to the price point of McDonald’s.
Instead, there are options like a greasy smashburger, sourdough lunch sandwich or slice of pizza with salad — all for under a $20 bill.
Here’s where to eat on a budget during the Stock Show and Rodeo in Fort Worth.
Breakfast on a budget in Fort Worth
Ascension, TCU area
- University Park Village, 1751 River Run Suite #151, Fort Worth.
- Distance from Dickies: 1.9 miles, about a five-minute drive.
- $10 to $20 per person.
- Coffee, tea, breakfast, brunch and sandwiches along the Trinity River.
- Star-T recommendation: Cali breakfast burrito with salted caramel mocha latte.
- Open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Match Point Coffee–Tacos Y Rocky, Camp Bowie/West 7th area
- 3618 W. 7th St. B, Fort Worth.
- Distance from Dickies: One mile, about a five-minute drive.
- $10 to $20 per person.
- Coffee, tea, Tacos Y Rocky breakfast tacos and pastries.
- Star-T recommendation: bacon or potato breakfast taco (make sure to get salsa!) with any of their seasonal drink offerings.
- Open weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cafecito, Magnolia neighborhood
- 401 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth.
- Distance from Dickies: 3.5 miles, about a 12-minute drive.
- $10 to $20 per person.
- Breakfast tacos, sandwich, plate, chilaquiles, lunch tacos, flautas, enchiladas, tortas. Tacos have pink corn tortillas.
- Star-T recommendation: pan dulce breakfast and potato and chorizo breakfast tacos.
- Open weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and weekends 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dan’s Bagels, TCU/Forest Park area
- 2430 Forest Park Blvd., Fort Worth.
- Distance from Dickies: 3.2 miles, about an eight-minute drive.
- $10 to $20 per person.
- Sourdough bagels and bagel sandwiches. Hot coffee and tea.
- Star-T recommendation: BEC (bacon, egg and cheese) on a jalapeno cheddar bagel.
- Open daily from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cheap lunch options in Fort Worth
Picchi Pacchi Pizzeria, downtown
- 411 W. 7th St. #105, Fort Worth
- Distance from Dickies: 3.5 miles, about an eight-minute drive.
- $10 to $20 per person.
- New York pizza by the slice, salads, sandwiches.
- Star-T recommendation: lunch special, which is a slice of pizza and salad for $15.99.
- Open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekends from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Coco Shrimp, Main Street/Southside
- 318 Bryan Ave., Fort Worth.
- Distance from Dickies: Four miles, about an 11-minute drive.
- $10 to $20 per person.
- Coconut shrimp and rice bowls. Coconut shrimp tacos.
- Star-T recommendation: Sweet and spicy coconut shrimp. Sampler allows you to try three flavors. Kids’ meals or tacos are good for not being too hungry.
- Open Monday to Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Sundays.
Gustos, Magnolia area
- 1229 7th Ave., Fort Worth.
- Distance from Dickies: 2.5 miles, about a 10-minute drive.
- $10 to $20 per person.
- Smashburgers, fried chicken, jalapeno poppers and tots. Choose between one to three burger patties. Turn any burger into a slider.
- Star-T recommendation: Sweet heat burger — jalapenos, bacon, cheddar, salsa, pickles.
- Open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight.
Maestro Tacos, West 7th district
- 3011 Bledsoe St., Fort Worth.
- Distance from Dickies: 1.2 miles, about a five-minute drive.
- $10 to $20 per person.
- Birria tacos, street tacos, gordita, burritos, quesadillas and margaritas.
- Star-T recommendation: Birria quesadilla or al pastor street tacos. All salsas are very good.
- Open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Inexpensive dinner options in Fort Worth
Blue Sushi, West 7th District
- 3131 W. 7th St., Fort Worth.
- Distance from Dickies: 1.3 miles, about a five-minute drive.
- $10 to $20 per person.
- Sushi, vegan sushi, bento boxes. Happy hour all day on Sundays — all appetizers and most of their rolls, see full happy hour menu here.
- Star-T recommendation: shishito peppers, spicy edamame and tuna crispy rice to start. Green eggs and hama is a delicious yellowtail roll.
- Open Sunday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m.
NADC Burger, downtown
- 604 Main St #100, Fort Worth.
- Distance from Dickies: 3.5 miles, about an eight-minute drive.
- $10 to $20 per person.
- Only two things on the menu: double wagyu smash burger with cheese, pickles, grilled onions and the special sauce served with a side of beef tallow french fries. Happy hour on weekdays for burger and fry combo for $18 from 3 to 5 p.m. and after-hour happy hours from 9 p.m. to midnight.
- Star-T recommendation: no need to go beast mode on the fries — keep them simple with ketchup.
- Open 11 a.m. to midnight daily.
Pie Tap, Magnolia area
- 1301 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth.
- Distance from Dickies: 2.8 miles, about a 10-minute drive.
- $10 to $20 per person.
- Sourdough pizzas, sandwiches, salads and pastas. Gluten-free options. Happy hour weekdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with $8-$10, 10-inch pizzas.
- Star-T recommendation: start with bread puffs and whipped ricotta or arancini. Salami pie is delicious especially with a side of hot honey.
- Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
HG Sply Co., TCU area
- 1621 River Run #176, Fort Worth
- Distance from Dickies: Two miles, about a seven-minute drive.
- $10 to $20 per person.
- Salads, bowls, sandwiches, burgers and tacos. Allergy and dietary restriction friendly. Appetizers and cocktails are half off during weekday happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m.
- Star-T recommendation: vegan queso (even if you’re not vegan, it’s darn good) and cochinita nachos are great starters. Roasted turkey club or farmhouse chicken sandwich will do the job for a meal.
- Open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Ella Gonzales
Fort Worth Star-Telegram