Best Restaurants Near AT&T Stadium in Arlington

If you're in town for the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium, or any of the many other events in Arlington, here's a guide to where to find some local flavor. Arlington has lauded barbecue, stellar burgers, pizza and elegant options, if that's your angle.

Mariano's Hacienda

2614 Majesty Drive

Just a couple of miles east of AT&T Stadium, Mariano's is a local legend. Mario Hernandez was the first person to put tequila in a Slurpee machine. Yes, the inventor of the frozen margarita machines as we know them. Technically that happened at a Dallas restaurant, but this Arlington outpost has those same 'let's-put-tequila-in-the-Slurpee-machine' vibes. Here you can get big plates of traditional Tex-Mex every Texan craves. The salsa and chips are perfect. And the mesquite-grilled fajitas hit in all the right places. It's got good energy, service is quick and prices are decent; plates range from $14 to $19.

Soy Cowboy

888 Nolan Ryan Expressway

Soy Cowboy might be the nicest restaurant in Arlington. It's just across from Globe Life Field at the bottom of Loews Hotel (the big one, not the little one — yes, there are two side by side). Soy Cowboy, a pan-Asian restaurant and bar, is named for a Bangkok street lined with go-go bars. The restaurant is mostly business casual with a bit of everything: dim sum, sushi, robata, noodles, dumplings and Tomahawk steak with ponzu garlic butter ($285). Here's a first look we wrote a while back.

Hurtado Barbecue

205 E. Front St.

Hurtado Barbecue is one of the top barbecue spots in the state. There will likely be a line out the front door, but don't let that scare you off (unless it's all the way down the sidewalk). Once you're at the front, you get your food pretty quickly. It's a casual but nice spot with a big outdoor area and a medium-sized dining room. There's a bar attached so you can order drinks while in the line. Winning! Everything at this Central Texas-style barbecue spot is great  — particularly the brisket. Get the birria tacos. And dessert. Don't skip dessert.

Cane Rosso Arlington

200 N. East St.

Cane Rosso is a local chain that serves much-better-than-chain pasta and Neapolitan-style pizza. The bar has a stellar sangria on tap and Italian and local craft beers. The pizza is creative and fun with things like bacon marmalade and sweet drop peppers. There are also pasta dishes (a real carbonara), sandwiches and good salads (get bacon on the Cesear). It's a casual spot with table service and a large outdoor courtyard with space for kids to frolic.

Division Pizza

506 E. Main St.

Division Brewery's side-hustle, Division Pizza, makes Chicago tavern-style pizzas (the cracker-thin crust style) and smash burgers. That's about it. The menu is small but perfect. We're fans of The Abbey, a white-sauce pie with pistachio and plump mounds of house-made sausage topped with a drizzle of hot honey. Get a house-made beer while you're at; the brewery has a good selection of sours and IPAs. And, it's actually within walking distance of the stadium — if you don't mind a walk.

J. Gilligan's Bar & Grill

407 E. South St.

This old pub (it's been around forever) is a fun sports bar that often run shuttles (which you can reserve) to games and events at either stadium. There's plenty of indoor seating at J. Gilligan's, some outdoor space and bars everywhere, yet it's also family-friendly. The Irish nachos are all the rage here, but any of the elevated pub fare will do.

Grease Monkey

200 N. Mesquite St.

Grease Monkey has good burgers and a big bar that offers both inside and outdoor seating (we love the outdoor seats). There's a huge TV in the middle of the main room that's fun for watching games. Grease Monkey also has shuttles to the stadiums and live music on occasion. This spot is good for groups and anyone who doesn't mind if things get loud.

Texas LIVE!

1650 E. Randol Mill Road

This isn't really a restaurant, even though it serves food. It's actually a massive sports hall connected to Globe Life Field. There are no TVs here, just movie screens. The food at Texas Live! is sports bar level; nothing really special, but you're probably not there for the food. Service is decent and you can reserve tables for big games. Other restaurants flank the space, like Troy's, an upscale-ish spot with live music, a big bar and all-American fare.

Hearsay

1711 E. Randol Mill Road

Hearsay is at the bottom of Choctaw Stadium, which was the previous home of the Texas Rangers. It bills itself as fine dining in a sophisticated space. We haven't been here, but it's worth noting for its proximity to the stadiums and, frankly, there aren't a lot of options in the area for an upscale steak. This is one.

Cut & Bourbon

1600 E. Randol Mill Road

Another steakhouse in the stadium-hood, Cut & Bourbon is inside Live by Loews (the smaller of the two hotels). Dinner is seafood- and steak-heavy. Get a 32-ounce dry aged Porterhouse for $135.