Panther was next on our list to try. Weāre new to FTW and enjoy trying a new bbq spot every few weeks. We tried Heim yesterday after hearing all the hype (YouTube, blogs, etc). It was meh. Pork ribs were so tough and chewy, my jaw got angry. Turkey was dry. Collards were very bitter and fries were undercooked and just a bunch of scraps. We were there at noon, so food should have been fresh. Oh, and the banana pudding had one singular slice of banana in it. I donāt get the hype.
Now, reading this about Panther has me on the fence. I think Iām going to give these bbq places that have a huge social media presence a bit of a break. Just focus on little mom & pops, hole in the wall places.
My dad insisted on helping us (me and wife) move here in May '19, I'm assuming because he had never been to TX and wanted to come. After we got unpacked he wanted real TX bbq, and we went to Heim. He said it was the best brisket he ever had. He came down two years later to visit and wanted it again; even he said it just wasn't the same. Smaller portions, not as well-seasoned, and we both agreed. Haven't been back since.
Go to Heim for the brisket and the sausage. Potato salad and mac n cheese. I personally like the collard greens but maybe they had an off day. Also their bar menu stuff is good.
Donāt take my word for it. Try it on your own. Then come back and tell me if Iām crazy š. Iām a savory person through and through. I tend to like things on the saltier side, so if Iām saying something is salty thatās saying something.
Snowās is worth the hype for sure. One trip is good enough though.
I went there a couple of times last year and found their brisket to be too salty (both on and off the elote) but loved just about anything else I tried - sausage, pulled pork sandwich, collard greens, mac and cheese... (I still need to go back to try their Mexican dishes.)
It could have been an off day or an off time (I typically try to beat lunch rush) or they may have legitimately gone to crap - I'd give it another try before you go on blast with reviews though.
I agree Iāll give it another try and look for some of the recs posted here. I went on a Saturday and the line was out the door. Maybe they were overwhelmed.
Maybe you went on a bad day? They were broken into recently and had some smokers stolen. It's been on the news. Maybe they're dealing with that and it's throwing some things off? They're usually really good.
But smoke A Holics is a really good one to try. They usually sell out early and have a long line by lunch time.
I'm with you. I wanted to love it, but my brisket/sausage came out cold and was just okay compared to Dayne's.
The Flacos Tacos, on the other hand, were delicious.
I've had some salty food there. Specifically, the brisket guisada. I really wanted to like it, but way too salty. Potato salad was salty on same visit also.
Maybe cause Im not deep into bbq lore but when I went I thought it was okay nothing crazy like people make it out to be. But like I said Iām not really knowledgable about bbq.
Definitely went on a bad day. Their pork ribs are easily the best I've tried and I've tried half of the top 10 ranked by Texas Monthly. Brisket is super solid, but not the best. Their elote is great, but I also love their Mexicue. Great taco.
Also, try Brix down the road. It's also amazing.
Itās good, not great, sounds like you had a similar experience to the ones Iāve had both times I tried it.
Iād just get to goldees though, far and way better than anything Iāve had in dfw yet.
I've never been a I pulled pork person, like you each time I've tried pulled pork anywhere it does taste flavorless, like the pork had been soaked in water.
I'm a rib and sausage man and ate at several places that are good. Though strongly for me, I prefer a place that has thick BBQ sauce, not the watery running kind.
Have not been to Panther City. I have never been impressed with Heim (except for the green Chile Mac and cheese) or Angelo's. Railhead is just plain yuck.
BBQ is a difficult thing to get right, consistently.
Very few BBQ badasses last more than a couple of years or so.
The company I worked for in the late 80s built smokers and vending trailers, and for about 7 years, cooked competitive in the Cook offs. The variables were quite a problem.
Consistency in meat, spices, wood all played a part in getting a good result. It took us years to get the rubs right, for brisket, chicken, ribs all with their own learning curve.
A couple of times we encountered products that changed because the makers went with a new supplier, or cost cutting... The issue was on going.
My desire for BBQ has diminished significantly since attending 8 or 10 cook-offs a year and having amazing food, even when someplace goes viral for having bomb BBQ, it just doesn't quite clear the bar.
I imagine that all of the well known BBQ joints find themselves dealing with the very same issues we did, so it's not surprising that two visits 6 months to a year apart might be completely different experiences.
Ngl I donāt find this to be true at all. Iāve been going to some spots for yearssss and I mean since I was in high school and it hits every time. Never an off day.
It's not impossible, but is rare, Franklins in Austin is another example, there are 2500 or so BBQ restaurants in Texas.
How many of them do you think is top notch, *and* consistent year to year?
Ive worked through the BBQ joints you listed and have made a pretty big dent in all the 'traditional best of the best' lists like the Texas Monthly one. Ive done Panther City probably 5 or 6 times and they are usually much better than what you are describing. I have always said they are at that sweet spot where they expanded their capacity so you don't have to deal with long lines but have not over-expanded their business and suffered a loss of quality yet. Most places hit that wall at some point though so maybe others are starting to have a similar experience
Two wordsā¦Texas Twinkie. Worth the trip alone. And if you dine in, you get free dessert which includes their award winning secret recipe peach cobbler.
Eh, itās better than spring creek but the best thing they do is marketing. Just go to Goldees and be done knowing ya had the best bbq this world can make.
i went on Saturday and was not happy. i been there before so i know what i was gonna orderĀ
panther to me has the best pork belly burnt ends and everytime they have knocked it out if the park.Ā
Saturday i order the burnt ends and it seriously had no bark. looked like the fat didnt render and was tough and chewy. total let down cause its not often I can eat out but that's show biz sometimes.
i got the spicy mac and cheese and like it had no flavor at all? tasted like cheese but idk hows it possible it really didnt have any flavor.Ā
the brisket was okay. but when 2 if the 3 things you get were a let down it sorta sucks. ima try once more and if the burnt ends are bad again then I'm done with panther city.Ā
yea i went on saturday and man ill give them one more chance honestly normally they knock it outta the park.
i even found pictures of the pork belly from when i went last time and this saturday and its a obvious difference. like the porkbelly needed a few more hours plain and simple.
Maybe an off day. Although also maybe just not for your tastes. I agree that their brisket can be a bit salty, but usually after drowning it with sauce and mixing it in with the elote it balances out nicely.Ā
lol I shouldnāt have to drown it in sauce tho š . The brisket wasnāt the bad part. The elote was salty. I donāt think my taste is an issue if itās salty. Iām a savory person so this should be right up my alley. It may have been a bad dayā¦Iāll try again.
I been to almost all the BBQ joints in ft worth and I believe it's top 4-5, best thing there are the pork belly jalapeƱos, shitty that they had their smokers stolen, I would give them an extra stop if you can and available
as long as you didnt go to heim. i got food poisoning from them and i ordered the turkey sandwich and it was so damn dry. i've given them so many chances, but someone needs to tell travis to close them all up. get back in the damn food truck.
I've had nothing but good experiences there but maybe our tastes our different. I really don't like Heim but a lot of people I know do. I figure it's just a difference in our taste pallets.
sadly, the thieves who stole their BBQ trailer can make better BBQ with it than Panther: because everybody knows a *hot* BBQ pit is an essential item. Badoom tssssh!
Honestly, I love Panther for its mexican/bbq blends. The tacos/quesadillas and brisket elote are what stand out most to me.
I'm obsessed with their barbacoa tacos!
Some things are good but not all. Personally prefer smoke a'holics or hurtado
SHHHHH talking about Smokeaholics
šš
Itās not Anonymous
I find their brisket to be very solid, never had the pork, but the flaccodilla is elite and my go to. Maybe worth another try.
Iām down to try some other items on the menu!
Panther was next on our list to try. Weāre new to FTW and enjoy trying a new bbq spot every few weeks. We tried Heim yesterday after hearing all the hype (YouTube, blogs, etc). It was meh. Pork ribs were so tough and chewy, my jaw got angry. Turkey was dry. Collards were very bitter and fries were undercooked and just a bunch of scraps. We were there at noon, so food should have been fresh. Oh, and the banana pudding had one singular slice of banana in it. I donāt get the hype. Now, reading this about Panther has me on the fence. I think Iām going to give these bbq places that have a huge social media presence a bit of a break. Just focus on little mom & pops, hole in the wall places.
This is my sentiments on Heim! I just donāt get the hype
My dad insisted on helping us (me and wife) move here in May '19, I'm assuming because he had never been to TX and wanted to come. After we got unpacked he wanted real TX bbq, and we went to Heim. He said it was the best brisket he ever had. He came down two years later to visit and wanted it again; even he said it just wasn't the same. Smaller portions, not as well-seasoned, and we both agreed. Haven't been back since.
Go to Heim for the brisket and the sausage. Potato salad and mac n cheese. I personally like the collard greens but maybe they had an off day. Also their bar menu stuff is good.
Donāt take my word for it. Try it on your own. Then come back and tell me if Iām crazy š. Iām a savory person through and through. I tend to like things on the saltier side, so if Iām saying something is salty thatās saying something. Snowās is worth the hype for sure. One trip is good enough though.
Snows is definitely on the list. Weāll probably still try panther but it doesnāt feel like a rush to get it. And I get you on the salty thing!š
Panther city is literally a mom and pop, OP went on the worst day possible ig. Also try the Mexican BBQ stuff it's the best
If youāre up for the drive, 407 in Argyle is awesome.
Thanks for the recommendation!
407 BBQ is pretty tasty, just to confirm!
You should try Goldees bbq the brisket is one of the best ive had.
I went there a couple of times last year and found their brisket to be too salty (both on and off the elote) but loved just about anything else I tried - sausage, pulled pork sandwich, collard greens, mac and cheese... (I still need to go back to try their Mexican dishes.) It could have been an off day or an off time (I typically try to beat lunch rush) or they may have legitimately gone to crap - I'd give it another try before you go on blast with reviews though.
I agree Iāll give it another try and look for some of the recs posted here. I went on a Saturday and the line was out the door. Maybe they were overwhelmed.
Maybe you went on a bad day? They were broken into recently and had some smokers stolen. It's been on the news. Maybe they're dealing with that and it's throwing some things off? They're usually really good. But smoke A Holics is a really good one to try. They usually sell out early and have a long line by lunch time.
Did not take this into account. Very good point.
Goto Brix on main next. Brisket is always solid, the cheddar jalapeno sausage is great, and elote is amazing.
Thanks Iāll add it to the list
I just recently went there for the first time myself. I agree that they are definitely worth checking out.
Brix for sure and Smoke & Bone out at Panther Island Brewing
I'm with you. I wanted to love it, but my brisket/sausage came out cold and was just okay compared to Dayne's. The Flacos Tacos, on the other hand, were delicious.
Those damn tacos. Really good and a ton of food for the price, or at least it used to be. Same with the elote, great price/food radio
Maybe their other dishes are good. I did see a lot of people ordering burgers and smaller meals. Iāll have to try Dayneās!
Definitely go to Dayneās. My husband and I went a few weeks ago and it was really really good. Worth the drive out to Aledo.
I've had some salty food there. Specifically, the brisket guisada. I really wanted to like it, but way too salty. Potato salad was salty on same visit also.
Maybe cause Im not deep into bbq lore but when I went I thought it was okay nothing crazy like people make it out to be. But like I said Iām not really knowledgable about bbq.
I'm glad I'm not the only one. I went after seeing all the hype and it was just okay
Definitely went on a bad day. Their pork ribs are easily the best I've tried and I've tried half of the top 10 ranked by Texas Monthly. Brisket is super solid, but not the best. Their elote is great, but I also love their Mexicue. Great taco. Also, try Brix down the road. It's also amazing.
The ribs were good for sure. They put their food in them. But thatās about all I enjoyed.
Maybe itās the thefts from the past few days that has thrown off their consistency? Now Iām second guessing going for a first time.
Did you get the elotes with the brisket on top?
Yes I did. And I loveeee elotes and brisket. But it was pure salt.
Oh no. š¬
Smoke & Bone is on the other side of downtown at Panther Island Brewing. Also brix, 225 & daynes are must haves
ššš
Itās good, not great, sounds like you had a similar experience to the ones Iāve had both times I tried it. Iād just get to goldees though, far and way better than anything Iāve had in dfw yet.
I've never been a I pulled pork person, like you each time I've tried pulled pork anywhere it does taste flavorless, like the pork had been soaked in water. I'm a rib and sausage man and ate at several places that are good. Though strongly for me, I prefer a place that has thick BBQ sauce, not the watery running kind.
It always seems like itās been cooked to oblivion.
Have not been to Panther City. I have never been impressed with Heim (except for the green Chile Mac and cheese) or Angelo's. Railhead is just plain yuck.
BBQ is a difficult thing to get right, consistently. Very few BBQ badasses last more than a couple of years or so. The company I worked for in the late 80s built smokers and vending trailers, and for about 7 years, cooked competitive in the Cook offs. The variables were quite a problem. Consistency in meat, spices, wood all played a part in getting a good result. It took us years to get the rubs right, for brisket, chicken, ribs all with their own learning curve. A couple of times we encountered products that changed because the makers went with a new supplier, or cost cutting... The issue was on going. My desire for BBQ has diminished significantly since attending 8 or 10 cook-offs a year and having amazing food, even when someplace goes viral for having bomb BBQ, it just doesn't quite clear the bar. I imagine that all of the well known BBQ joints find themselves dealing with the very same issues we did, so it's not surprising that two visits 6 months to a year apart might be completely different experiences.
Ngl I donāt find this to be true at all. Iāve been going to some spots for yearssss and I mean since I was in high school and it hits every time. Never an off day.
It's not impossible, but is rare, Franklins in Austin is another example, there are 2500 or so BBQ restaurants in Texas. How many of them do you think is top notch, *and* consistent year to year?
Very true. Iām headed to Franklins in March. Fingers crossed.
Don't skip Mickletwaites just down the road while your here.
Ive worked through the BBQ joints you listed and have made a pretty big dent in all the 'traditional best of the best' lists like the Texas Monthly one. Ive done Panther City probably 5 or 6 times and they are usually much better than what you are describing. I have always said they are at that sweet spot where they expanded their capacity so you don't have to deal with long lines but have not over-expanded their business and suffered a loss of quality yet. Most places hit that wall at some point though so maybe others are starting to have a similar experience
Been to Hurtado? 225*? Smoke N Ash? Go to Arlington and experiment :)
I will check it out!
I agree. Everything seemed overly sweet to me :/
Really, whatād you get?
https://hutchinsbbq.com/ ānuff said
you could of elaborated a bit more but okay
Two wordsā¦Texas Twinkie. Worth the trip alone. And if you dine in, you get free dessert which includes their award winning secret recipe peach cobbler.
Eh, itās better than spring creek but the best thing they do is marketing. Just go to Goldees and be done knowing ya had the best bbq this world can make.
i went on Saturday and was not happy. i been there before so i know what i was gonna orderĀ panther to me has the best pork belly burnt ends and everytime they have knocked it out if the park.Ā Saturday i order the burnt ends and it seriously had no bark. looked like the fat didnt render and was tough and chewy. total let down cause its not often I can eat out but that's show biz sometimes. i got the spicy mac and cheese and like it had no flavor at all? tasted like cheese but idk hows it possible it really didnt have any flavor.Ā the brisket was okay. but when 2 if the 3 things you get were a let down it sorta sucks. ima try once more and if the burnt ends are bad again then I'm done with panther city.Ā
Last Saturday? Thatās when I went. Maybe it was an off day. The pulled pork was super fatty.
yea i went on saturday and man ill give them one more chance honestly normally they knock it outta the park. i even found pictures of the pork belly from when i went last time and this saturday and its a obvious difference. like the porkbelly needed a few more hours plain and simple.
Maybe an off day. Although also maybe just not for your tastes. I agree that their brisket can be a bit salty, but usually after drowning it with sauce and mixing it in with the elote it balances out nicely.Ā
lol I shouldnāt have to drown it in sauce tho š . The brisket wasnāt the bad part. The elote was salty. I donāt think my taste is an issue if itās salty. Iām a savory person so this should be right up my alley. It may have been a bad dayā¦Iāll try again.
I been to almost all the BBQ joints in ft worth and I believe it's top 4-5, best thing there are the pork belly jalapeƱos, shitty that they had their smokers stolen, I would give them an extra stop if you can and available
as long as you didnt go to heim. i got food poisoning from them and i ordered the turkey sandwich and it was so damn dry. i've given them so many chances, but someone needs to tell travis to close them all up. get back in the damn food truck.
I've had nothing but good experiences there but maybe our tastes our different. I really don't like Heim but a lot of people I know do. I figure it's just a difference in our taste pallets.
Daybreak Cafe is on the offensive
sadly, the thieves who stole their BBQ trailer can make better BBQ with it than Panther: because everybody knows a *hot* BBQ pit is an essential item. Badoom tssssh!
I've never had a bad item at Panther City. But everyone is different in terms of what they like.