Fort Worth pit masters serve BBQ so good that Michelin recommends their restaurant
Ernest Morales loved the show BBQ Pitmasters, so he and Chris Magallanes traveled to Burleson for a competition.
It was their first time competing together. They ended the trip by winning the Grand Champion title. The taste of victory was enough to get the duo hooked, and they started their current business, Panther City BBQ.
The competition money wasn’t great. They both continued their full-time jobs at an audio and visual company, but the winnings were enough to replenish all the groceries they were buying. If ever there was extra money, it went towards new barbecue tools and equipment.
“So that’s how the whole thing started,” says Magallanes, “As far as just cooking frequently and then going into later 2014 and 2015, we started cooking for friends and family that would ask us: ‘Hey, can you cook a few briskets for an event or whatever?’”
The food got so popular that Magallanes’ wife said they needed more space to serve everyone. So, Morales bought a food truck.
It wasn’t until 2018 that they got a permanent gig at their new brick-and-mortar location on 201 E Hattie St.
In 2019, a Texas Monthly food reporter visited them and gave a generous review. That recognition launched the business into having lines out the door.
Just five years later, Panther City BBQ is a recommended restaurant in the Texas Michelin Guide.
Why Panther City BBQ earned a Michelin Guide recommendation
Texas barbecue and Tex-Mex were two new additions to a Michelin Guide that people had never seen in the guide before. Texas’ Michelin Guide has a total of four barbecue restaurants awarded with a star.
Goldee’s Barbecue in Fort Worth was also awarded a bib garamond, which is “restaurants that offer the best value for money,” according to Michelin.
Both Panther City BBQ and Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez in Fort Worth were awarded as Michelin-recommended restaurants.
Morales and Magallanes call their BBQ “Southside BBQ,” based on Morales growing up with the south end Fort Worth food scene.
“You can find stands all over the South Side,” says Magallanes, “You can find your Texas Trinity, which is brisket, ribs and sausage. You can find tacos, burritos, quesadillas, or corn in the cup.”
Their menu highlights the same: the Texas trinity of brisket, jalapeno cheddar sausage, and pork ribs, but also Magellanes’ favorite, crispy cheese street tacos.
A key factor to their menu is also the more affordable options. Barbecue can get pricey these days, and Panther City BBQ wants to make sure they have a price range for everyone.
Higher-priced items like prime brisket ($18, a half pound) or barbecue plates ($55-102) offer the highest quality meat for a higher price. But also they have options like a $9 smash burger or $12 for three flacos tacos.
Sides include spicy mac and cheese, collard greens and elote corn to name a few, ranging in price from small for $5, medium for $7 and large for $12.
Desserts include banana cream pie, cheesecake pudding and bread pudding for $5-6 a cup.
Weekends get busy for Panther City BBQ, but they also offer beef ribs in addition to pork on Saturdays and Sundays.
The line may be long, but they make it pretty close to closing time before running out of food. Due to popular demand for a 24-hour cooking time, if you want brisket, your best shot is as early as possible.
How Panther City BBQ makes its in-demand eats
Panther City BBQ pit masters begin seasoning brisket 24 hours before it hits the smoker. Shifts start at 2 a.m., when the briskets and pork butts smoke low and slow with post oak wood for 12 to 14 hours. After cooking, they rest in warmers for an additional 12 to 14 hours.
“I think the most rewarding thing is seeing the people duplicate some of our videos across the world, not just Texas, not just us, but across the world,” says Magallanes, “People inbox us on social media and say, Hey guys, I love this dish, and we love to recreate it with your blessing. And I say, here’s the recipe!”
Magallanes and Morales travel all around the U.S., Europe, and Australia to teach others their BBQ style.
They attribute others in the industry, like Todd David of Cattleack Barbecue in Farmer’s Branch, to their success. And other Tex-Mex names like Valentina’s, which used to be in Austin, towards their success and inspiration.
About Panther City BBQ
Panther City BBQ is located at 201 E Hattie St. It is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The restaurant has a counter where customers order and then wait for their food at a table inside or on their back patio.
“No reservation needed. Just come hang out in our backyard,” Magallanes says to those who haven’t tried their famous Michelin-recommended BBQ.