Gavin Cleaver
Audio By Carbonatix
Did you know that Southern Living has an editor solely dedicated to the ‘cue? Two years ago, Barbecue Editor Robert Moss dined at and ranked every spot on the publication’s list of the Top 50 BBQ Joints in the South.
Barbecue may have had a reputation for moving slow and sticking to old traditions, but in 2025, its expansiveness and knack for innovation is as fast-paced as ever. So, it was time that list got a fresh char.
Last week, Moss published The Top 50 BBQ Joints in the South, and five Dallas-Fort Worth spots made the list. As big as Southern Living is, you’d think there’d be an elaborate grading scale as to how each place is ranked, but it’s better:
“In the end, when it comes to picking the best barbecue, you have to go with your gut. […] When comparing one joint to the next, it comes down to this question: If I could eat right now at just one of these places, which would I choose? … How do you compare an old-school whole hog joint in the Carolinas with a creative, beef-centric new joint in Texas? At some point, you’ve got to just make the call and stand by it.” Moss writes.
Knowing this criteria, this is how the metro ranked:
No. 15. Panther City BBQ
Panther City BBQ was one of a few places in Fort Worth that proved that the city’s once sleepy barbecue scene has awakened. Moss applauded everything that comes off the five big Moberg smokers: spareribs finished with a peppery glaze, sliced brisket with smoked-infused bark, sausages laced with melted cheddar bits and plenty of head-tingling jalapeño. His favorite sides were the spicy vinegar slaw, tender borracho beans and the rich, gooey, smoked mac and cheese. He also made note of the weekend offering that draws anyone in: beef cheek barbacoa tacos on fresh tortillas, served with a spicy red sauce. 201 E Hattie St., Fort Worth
No. 37. Goldee’s Bar-B-Q
The facade at Goldee’s Bar-B-Q may be no-frills, but Moss learned what one of the longest barbecue lines in the state was all about. The owners honed their craft at some of Texas’ most acclaimed craft barbecue joints, and they all banded together to open Goldee’s in Fort Worth. Moss says every item on the very traditional menu is “top flight”, and noted the pork ribs, pepper-crusted brisket, peppery sausage links, potato salad, savory beans and gooey cheese grits. Most interesting was his note of the house-baked white bread that comes free with every order. “The perfect capper for a Texas-sized barbecue tray”, Moss says. 4645 Dick Price Road, Fort Worth
No. 40. Dayne’s Craft BBQ
West of Fort Worth is Dayne’s Craft BBQ, which opened at the end of 2023. Owners Dayne and Ashley Weaver spent several years posted up at Lola’s Trailer Park & Saloon in downtown Fort Worth before moving shop 20 miles out of the city to Aledo. Moss praised traditional offerings like the Trinity platter, which comes with ½ lb brisket, ½ lb ribs, a sausage link and two sides. The brisket bologna and “bacon brisket” were particularly noteworthy, as were the apple slaw and street corn dusted with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos powder. He claims that the Frito pie beans, with its melted cheese, crunchy corn chips, pickled jalapeños and squiggles of lime-infused crema, top any ol’ savory cowboy-style pintos.100 S Front St., Aledo
No. 43. Cattleack Barbeque
Many know that Cattleack Barbeque is no little secret anymore. It’s one of our Top 100 Restaurants, and it’s also on our list of the Best Barbecue in Dallas. It was a shoo-in for this roundup. Despite the tight dining window at this joint (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, plus the first Saturday each month), hungry diners make-do and line up for the Texas wagyu brisket, hefty beef or pork ribs, turkey and sausage all sliced fresh to order, plus burnt-end beans, Hatch chili mac and cheese and cheesy chipotle corn. 13628 Gamma Rd, Farmers Branch
No. 46. Hurtado Barbecue
Hurtado, another spot on our list of the Best BBQ in Dallas, is known for proudly merging the flavors of owner Brandon Hurtado’s Hispanic heritage with the Texas classics. He calls it “Mexicue.” Moss noted the slices of lusciously marbled brisket, pork ribs with smoke straight down to the bone, the Texas Twinkie (of course) and the birria tacos with the crispy fried tortillas and drinkable cup of spicy jus. We’d hope the official barbecue of the Texas Rangers would deliver, and they do, at all five locations: Arlington, Fort Worth, downtown Dallas, Mansfield and inside the Texas Rangers ballpark (Globe Life Field).
Fresh Air Bar-B-Que from Jackson, Georgia, came in at the No. 3 spot; Snow’s BBQ from Lexington, Texas, came in at No. 2 and City Limits Barbeque from West Columbia, South Carolina, came in at No. 1.
