The 8 Meatiest Destinations in Dallas

Dallas is known for a lot of things: its cowboys, its Buyers Club, and of course, its meat.

The Big D is a city that loves to smoke, cook, and grill a home-on-the-range of carnivorous cuisine. And on a recent trip to the city, Out Traveler had the opportunity to taste-test the best.

Here is a sampling of the burgers, steaks, sausages, and more that Dallas has to offer, with a few attractions to check out on the side. Looking to stay up to date with our adventures? Make sure to follow us on Instagram @OutTraveler.

1. Lockhart Smokehouse

The town of Lockhart is known as the "Barbecue Capital of Texas," a taste now available in the Bishop Arts District of Dallas. At Lockhart Smokehouse, one can order a cut of beef brisket, pork chops, ribs, chicken, or sausages right at the counter. 

 

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And the meat, which is prepared in the on-site smoker, will be sliced to your needs. A full bar and Texas kitsch decor may offer reasons to linger during digestion, and feel free to marvel at the meat preparation, which is in full view. (more info)

 

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ON THE SIDE: The Artisan's Collective, pictured below, is one of many fine galleries and shops in the Bishop Arts District. Walk around and explore.

 

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2. Lucky's Cafe For over 30 years, the local establishment now known as Lucky's Cafe has been dishing up top-notch diner food in a retro-chic setting.

 

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Situated in the heart of the trendy Oak Lawn neighborhood, Lucky's Cafe serves classics like meatloaf, omelets, corned beef hash (below), and chicken-fried steak, which have been created with ingredients from local farms.

 

 

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However, the eatery is also the site of one of the city's most significant, if overlooked, AIDS memorials. Its walls, known locally as The Wall, are covered with names and messages memorializing victims of the epidemic, which were inscribed in the 1980s and recently restored. Come for the food, but stay to appreciate this piece of LGBT history. (more info)

 

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ON THE SIDE: The Goss-Michael Foundation, created by singer George Michael and his former partner Kenny Goss, features stunning works by British artists in its gallery of permanent and temporary exhibits.

 

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3. Taqueria La Ventana, 4. Mesomaya, 5. El Fenix Fans of Mexican and Tex-Mex will not want to miss Taqueria La Ventana, El Fenix, and Mesomaya, a trio of adjacent restaurants in downtown Dallas that offer excellent options with a variety of experiences. Naturally, taco lovers will appreciate Taqueria La Ventana, which offers street tacos in corn tortillas with fillings such as steak, pork, chicken, carnitas, shrimp, fish, and vegetables, with tempting sides like queso and cheap margaritas, which can all be enjoyed in an outdoor setting.  

 

 

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Hankering for a more white-cloth experience? The affiliated Mesomaya, which serves Mexican and Mayan cuisine, also serves tacos, albeit for a more sophisticated palate, along with fine meats like bistek oaxaca, carne asada, and a bone-in pork chop (pictured below) as well as a full brunch menu on weekends.

 

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El Fenix is a long-standing chain restaurant with a fun, hacienda-style ambiance. It has an extensive menu of Tex-Mex favorites like tacos, tamales, fajitas, quesadillas, and even "American" options like cheeseburgers. Its dessert options, such as the strawberry and whipped cream-topped sopapilla pictured below, are a delicious way to end an evening.  

 

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ON THE SIDE: Don't miss the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge on the Trinity River, which offers unparalleled views of the Dallas skyline.

 

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6. Stampede 66 by Stephan Pyles Chef Stephan Pyles is something of a legend in Texas. A native of the state, he is credited as one of the founders of Southwestern cuisine, and has brought this flavor to over a dozen restaurants throughout his career.            

 

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One of his most popular Dallas venues, Stampede 66, is pure Texas in both food and decor. An entire wall, in fact, is stamped with the names of real-life towns that sound straight out of Westerns, like Stampede, Burning Bush, Gasoline, and Spunky Flat.  

 

 

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Feast your eyes on the pork rinds, either as an appetizer or in the composition of an encased pig sculpture, as well as meaty entrees like bacon-wrapped meat loaf, barbecued brisket, ribs, pork chops, and honey-fried chicken.    

 

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If you feel overwhelmed, take heed of the words from Robb Walsh, whose quotation is one of many that flash across one of the restaurant's walls: "I didn't drive eleven hours across the state of Texas to watch my cholesterol." (more info)

ON THE SIDE: The wet deck of the W Dallas, open to guests and for special events, offers spectacular views of the city as well as swimming, snacks, and cocktails.

 

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7. Henry's Majestic A staple of the Dallas brunch scene is Henry's Majestic, a rustic bar and restaurant that features quirks like a mimosa bar situated underneath a mounted moose's head.    

 

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Go with a group and gorge on shared plates like bacon-topped avocado toast, chicken and waffles, pigs in a pastry puff, and a selection of cured meats, or go for hearty main courses like steak and eggs, a pork belly bowl, beer-braised corned beef hash, a pork benedict, a waffle topped with jalapeño bacon, or biscuits with sausage gravy.    

 

 

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The dinner menu also offers options like marrow bones, maple bourbon meatballs, Texas "pho" with brisket, and a New York strip. So whenever you find yourself at Henry's doorstep, meaty marvels await. (more info) ON THE SIDE: The Reunion Tower is a must-visit destination for Dallas tourists, as it offers views of the city from hundreds of feet in the air, which are accompanied by interactive resources. Take a photo with your group, and enjoy a sunset meal at Wolfgang Punk's on-site restaurant of Asian-inspired cuisine, Five Sixty.  

 

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8. Dish Cedar Springs Looking for upscale dining? Look no further than Dish Cedar Springs, a swanky restaurant in the heart of Dallas's gayborhood. Carnivores will love the bourbon-glazed pork chop, the beef tenderloin (pictured below), the boneless beef short ribs, and its range of steaks like the three-peppercorn crusted rib eye, filet mignon, and steak frites.    

 

 

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The sides are also sumptuous, particularly the jalapeño mac and cheese, baby portobello mushrooms, charred okra, and starters like the lamb meatballs and the truffle deviled eggs with applewood-smoked bacon. But make sure to leave room for the banana split. (more info)      

 

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ON THE SIDE: The bars! Readers of Out Traveler voted Oak Lawn the number 1 best gayborhood in 2014. So boot up and enjoy country line dancing at the Round Up Saloon, Woody's, JR's, and perhaps the meatiest new location in Dallas: Tallywackers, a male version of Hooters that opened this year.

 

 

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