Local pro tips and secrets to navigate dining out in Dallas-Fort Worth

While thousands of fans are in Dallas-Fort Worth for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, dining becomes a little more strategic.

Fans from all across the world are in Texas to watch their teams play in Arlington. And for a lot of tourists, the meals matter just as much as the matches.

And to accommodate, restaurants are preparing, too. Hurtado Barbecue put up multilingual signs for the global visitors. Soy Cowboy is offering more than their normal Asian-fusion menu with dishes like fish and chips or yager pork Schnitzel. Zavala’s Barbecue is open every day during the 30-day tournament to accommodate the influx of visitors.

For those who are out of town, here are a few dining secrets you should know when eating out in DFW.

What to know about Texas barbecue joints

Know before you go:

• Be prepared to wait in line.
• Barbecue is not a cheap meal. Anticipate spending some dough (it’s worth it!).
• The earlier, the better. Most places may run out of product before closing time. It’s best to go right at opening or a few minutes before to ensure you get the selection you want.

Pro tips:

• You order by the pound at most barbecue restaurants. For one person, a third to half pound is usually enough.
• A quintessential Texas experience is brisket, sausage and pork ribs (also known as the Texas Trinity).
• Sauce is served on the side for a reason. Try the meat without sauce first.

Our barbecue restaurant recommendations:

• Fort Worth: Panther City BBQ, Goldee’s, Angelo’s Bar-B-Q, Smoke A Holics Bbq, Dayne’s Craft Barbecue (about 15 minutes from downtown Fort Worth in Aledo)
• Arlington: Smoke’N Ash, Hurtado Barbecue

Embrace the Texas patio culture

Know before you go:

Though Texas is hot (and humid), many restaurants take on the “backyard patio” style. This is popular among locals for the casual and laid back atmosphere. And hey, it makes experiencing a frozen margarita all the better.

Pro tips:

Know that many Texas patios have misters or fans to provide some cooling relief.

Our patio restaurant recommendations:

• Fort Worth: Second Rodeo, Little Woodrow’s, Joe T. Garcia’s, Woodshed Smokehouse, HG SPLY CO., Birdie’s Social Club, Bearded Lady
• Arlington: Texas Live!, The Tipsy Oak
• Dallas: Katy Trail Ice House, Truck Yard, Birdie’s Eastside

Weekend dinner reservations are pretty much mandatory

Know before you go:

If you are trying to sit down somewhere without a reservation on a Friday or Saturday night, expect at least a 45-minute wait.

Pro-tips:

• It’s always worth a shot to call before and ask the wait time.
• Some restaurants also have the option to join a waitlist from their reservation apps.
• If you don’t have a reservation or don’t want to wait, go for a fast casual option.

Our fast-casual restaurant recommendations:

• Fort Worth: Coco Shrimp, Gusto’s, Kincaid’s Hamburgers, Carshon’s Deli, Buena Vida, Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez
• Arlington: Mary Sue’s Hot Chicken & Dough, Grease Monkey Burger Shop, Portillo’s

Don’t skimp out on dining in DFW suburbs

Know before you go:

• The best restaurants aren’t always in Fort Worth proper, Arlington proper or Dallas proper. In fact, some DFW suburbs boast some pretty impressive Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine.
• Trinity Metro and TEXRail provide transportation to and from/in and around Fort Worth.
• The DART provides transportation for Dallas proper and north Dallas suburbs.
• The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) connects downtown Fort Worth to downtown Dallas.
• The best bet for public transportation in Arlington is ride-share apps.

Pro tips:

• Grapevine’s historic Main Street takes visitors on a mini wine-tour of Texas grapes.
• Grand Prairie has the Asia Time Square, which is one of the largest Asian markets in Texas.
• Addison is known for over 200 restaurants within a 4.4-mile radius.
• Carrollton has the largest Korean population in Texas with a neighborhood called Koreatown that has restaurants with authentic Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, India and Vietnam cuisines.
• Roanoke is known as the “unique dining capital of Texas” with over 60 locally owned restaurant options.

Ella Gonzales

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.