We researched the Top 100 Dallas Restaurants the old-fashioned way: by eating at more than 400 Dallas-area restaurants for this list, ranging from a $300 tab at Flora Street Cafe to a Tibetan dumpling counter inside a gas station. Restaurants are ranked based on anonymous, paid-in-full meals, not popular opinion or freebies.
All food-serving establishments in Dallas County, Collin County or the portion of Carrollton in Denton County were eligible. We did not consider restaurants opened since Aug. 1 because they have not had time to build a consistent track record.
We believe that no cuisine is inherently “better” than any other. Whether they serve haute cuisine or barbecue, the highest-ranked restaurants on this list are quite simply the most delightful, memorable, uniquely and essentially Dallas places to eat.
Restaurants No. 1-50 on this list are ranked; restaurants 51-100 are listed in alphabetical order.
The Top 100 Dallas Restaurants, No. 6: In an industrial park in Farmers Branch — although the postal service oddly lists this address as Dallas — Cattleack Barbeque lives up to every bit of hype it’s received from Texas Monthly, which named it the third-best barbecue joint in the state, and matches the anticipation generated by its sometimes painfully long lines. Fabulous fatty brisket and massive, magnificent beef ribs are the stars of the show, and it’s a joy to bring an out-of-town guest to Cattleack, order them the Toddfather sandwich and watch the sheer glee on their face as they contemplate the Dagwood-tall stack of brisket, pulled pork and sausage between two buns. The vinegar-based coleslaw, from pit master Todd David’s mother’s recipe, is the perfect counterpoint to all that fatty meat. Grab another bite of slaw and you’ll be prepared to tackle that next slice of Texas hot link.
Top pick: On some weeks, the Cattleack crew smoke beef ribs rubbed with a pastrami spice mix. The ribs are jaw-dropping; order an extra, take it home and throw it in a pot of beans the next day.
The downside: Like all great Texas barbecue joints, Cattleack has a serious line at peak hours, even in bad weather.
Fun fact: There’s usually still something good to eat around 2 p.m., as long as you’re not picky. Join Cattleack’s mailing list and you’ll receive an email anytime there are no lines — and you’ll hear about specials like boudin and pastrami burnt ends, too.
