Fort Worth’s food scene goes far beyond steak and Tex-Mex, and I’ve spent years eating my way through its most original restaurants. My favorite starts at a hidden handroll bar off West 7th, where the chefs pass each roll across the counter while the nori is still crisp. From there, this guide takes you to a pay-what-you-can nonprofit café and a 1935 Tex-Mex institution whose garden patios seat more than 1,000 guests.
Each listing includes current hours, prices, and my go-to orders, plus big changes like Reata’s move to The Tower. You’ll also find tips for timing your visit around the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo and the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival. Many of these spots cluster in the Near Southside and West 7th, which makes it easy to plan a food crawl.
👉 Pro Tip: For a fun way to see Fort Worth between meals, I recommend the Cowtown Cycle Party’s BYOB Mixer. It’s a two-hour pedal tour through the city with stops at local hot spots along the way. Bring your own drinks, and book early for weekend slots during Stock Show season.
18 Most Unique Restaurants in Fort Worth at a Glance
From spending time eating my way around Fort Worth, one thing becomes clear pretty quickly: the food scene is where old-school cowboy culture meets a lot of modern creativity.
The table below highlights 10 of the city’s most distinctive places to eat, each one showing off its own local personality, memorable dishes, and that unmistakable Texas atmosphere.
| Restaurant | Best For | What Makes It Unique | Neighborhood |
| 1. Taste Project | Community Impact | A non-profit, pay-what-you-can model with no prices on the menu. | Near Southside |
| 2. Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar | Theater & Freshness | Minimalist bar where chefs serve hand rolls while the nori is still crispy. | West 7th |
| 3. rise soufflé | French Elegance | A boutique bistro specializing almost exclusively in sweet and savory soufflés. | Clearfork |
| 4. Coco Shrimp | Island Escapism | Hawaiian-style shrimp plates served in a “Cowtown” setting with reggae vibes. | Near Southside |
| 5. Reata | Rooftop Views | Upscale “Cowboy Cuisine” served on a multi-level patio in the heart of downtown. | Downtown |
| 6. Spiral Diner & Bakery | Vegan Comfort | A 100% plant-based retro diner serving “chicken” fried steak and decadent shakes. | Magnolia Ave |
| 7. Joe T. Garcia’s | Historic Atmosphere | A legendary, cash-or-check only institution with a massive hacienda-style garden patio. | Stockyards |
| 8. Dusty Biscuit Beignets | Savory-Sweet Twists | Creative beignet sandwiches like the “Dirty Bird” (fried chicken beignet). | South Main Village |
| 9. Wabi House | Soul-Warming Ramen | Izakaya-inspired ramen shop with rich Tonkotsu and a hip, wood-slat interior. | Near Southside |
| 10. The Cookshack | Extreme Heat | Modern hot chicken joint with “AMF” heat levels and a killer Cookshack sauce. | West 7th / Cultural District |
While the table above gives you a quick look at 10 of the “best of the best,” each spot has its own story, from family-run dumpling secrets to local ordering tips. Keep reading for the full guide to all 18 restaurants featured in this list to make your Fort Worth foodie adventure as delicious as possible.
1. Taste Community Restaurant (Taste Project)
- 📍 Location: 1200 South Main St, Near Southside
- 🕒 Hours: Tue to Sun, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- 💲 Price range: Pay what you can
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Seasonal American brunch and lunch
- 🔥 Standout Features: Nonprofit with no menu prices, BYOB, online reservations only
- 🎯 Perfect For: Weekend brunch, group birthdays, a pre-rodeo meal
Taste Community Restaurant is a nonprofit brunch and lunch spot on South Main Street in the Near Southside, and its menu has no prices at all. You pay what you can afford, or you pay your usual tab plus a little extra to cover a neighbor’s meal. Around three in four guests eat free or at a reduced cost, and I always leave a few extra dollars knowing it feeds someone nearby.
The menu changes with the seasons, and the food is fresh, generous, and beautifully plated. Look for the salmon eggs Benedict or the poblano smash burger when they’re available. Volunteers called Taste Buds help serve and prep, and the nonprofit also offers paid culinary job training for low-income adults.
Taste is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed on Mondays. Book your table online, since the team doesn’t take phone reservations, and reach out at least a day ahead for groups larger than eight. It’s BYOB with glassware provided, which I love for a relaxed birthday brunch.
If you’re visiting for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo from January 15 to February 6, 2027, Taste is an easy brunch stop before the short drive to Dickies Arena. Afterward, I walk up South Main for beignets at Dusty Biscuit or a craft beer at The Bearded Lady. You can sign up to volunteer a shift at volunteer.tasteproject.org, and a second location is open in Arlington.
2. Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar
- 📍 Location: 907 Foch St, West 7th
- 🕒 Hours: Tue to Sun, lunch from 11 a.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. (closed Mon)
- 💲 Price range: $20 to $100+ per person (sets from about $18, daily specials extra)
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Japanese hand rolls and sushi
- 🔥 Standout Features: Walk-in only, bar seating, daily specials
- 🎯 Perfect For: Sushi lovers, date nights, solo diners
Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar is my top pick for sushi in Fort Worth, tucked into a small, minimalist space on Foch Street off West 7th. Every seat faces the bar, where the chefs make each hand roll to order and hand it straight to you. You eat it right away while the nori is still crisp and the rice is warm.
I start with a set combo of hand rolls, including salmon, bay scallop, and crab, which begins at around $18. The crab roll mixes snow and blue crab, and it’s my favorite of the bunch. After that, I order from the chalkboard of daily specials, which can push dinner to $80 or more per person.
Hatsuyuki doesn’t take reservations, and the bar seats only about 25 people. I arrive 20 to 30 minutes before opening, especially on weekends, when waits can stretch past an hour. Lunch starts at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday and at noon on Sunday, dinner starts at 5 p.m., and the restaurant is closed on Mondays.
The team posts each day’s specials on Instagram (@hatsuyukifw), and I check them before I head over. If you’re sharing, ask your server to split the rolls in half. During the 2027 Stock Show & Rodeo, Hatsuyuki is a short drive from Dickies Arena, and a late lunch is my go-to way to skip the dinner rush.
- Visit the Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar website
- Read reviews of Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar
- Read Next: 12 Underrated Places in Texas
3. rise soufflé
- 📍 Location: 5135 Monahans Ave, The Shops at Clearfork
- 🕒 Hours: Daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Fri to Sat until 10 p.m.)
- 💲 Price range: $30 to $60 per person (savory soufflés $20 to $24)
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: French bistro and soufflés
- 🔥 Standout Features: Savory and sweet soufflés, Marshmallow Soup, wine flights
- 🎯 Perfect For: Date nights, birthday lunches, special occasions
rise soufflé is a French bistro at The Shops at Clearfork, and almost everything I order here comes out of the oven puffed and golden. The menu centers on savory and sweet soufflés, with French onion soup and a daily cheese plate on the side. The concept started in Dallas in 2008, and this Fort Worth location has been open since 2017.
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Every soufflé is baked to order, and I plan on at least 90 minutes for a relaxed meal. Book a table through Yelp, especially for weekend dinners and celebrations. If you eat gluten-free, skip the soufflés, since the bases contain flour, and order the Salad Niçoise or seared ahi tuna instead.
rise is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival returns April 1 to 4, 2027, and has been held at Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork, a short drive away. After dinner, I walk down to The Trailhead on the Trinity Trails, home to Press Café and the Clearfork Farmers Market.
4. Coco Shrimp
- 📍 Location: 318 Bryan Ave, Near Southside
- 🕒 Hours: Mon to Thu 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri to Sat 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Closed Sun
- 💲 Price range: $12 to $20 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Hawaiian-style shrimp plates
- 🔥 Standout Features: North Shore shrimp truck roots, buttered rice, Coco Tacos
- 🎯 Perfect For: Quick lunch, casual groups, takeout
Coco Shrimp brings the shrimp trucks of Oahu’s North Shore to Fort Worth, and the original restaurant is on Bryan Avenue in the Near Southside. Founders Isaac Hadley and Jordan Barrus prepped shrimp at a North Shore shack while studying at BYU-Hawaii. They launched a Fort Worth food truck in 2016 and later opened this restaurant, with surfboards hanging from the ceiling.
You order at the counter and choose from five shrimp flavors, each served over buttered rice with a side salad. The crispy coconut shrimp is the signature, but I always get the Sampler Plate, which gives you seven shrimp in three flavors. My combo is coconut, butter garlic, and spicy, and the buttered rice is a highlight on its own.
Plates cost around $12 to $13, which makes this one of the best-value lunches in the city. The Coco Tacos have landed on Yelp’s list of top taco spots in the US, and they’re my pick for a lighter meal. Orders come out fast and boxed, and takeout is easy if you’re heading to a park.
The Bryan Avenue location is closed on Sundays, which catches plenty of weekend visitors off guard. Coco Shrimp now has 11 restaurants in Texas, including Heritage Trace in north Fort Worth and Mansfield. Groups of 12 or more can order catering at regular restaurant prices, which I love for a casual party.
5. Reata
- 📍 Location: 530 Throckmorton St, Downtown (The Tower)
- 🕒 Hours: Lunch daily 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Dinner Sun to Thu 5 to 9 p.m., Fri to Sat 5 to 10 p.m.
- 💲 Price range: $40 to $100+ per person (mains $23 to $85)
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Upscale Texas and Southwestern
- 🔥 Standout Features: Tenderloin Tamales, Blackened Buffalo Rib Eye, 30 years in Fort Worth
- 🎯 Perfect For: Special occasions, business dinners, meals before a Bass Hall show
Reata is my go-to for upscale cowboy cuisine in downtown Fort Worth, but it’s no longer in Sundance Square. In July 2024, it moved a couple of blocks to the ground floor of The Tower at 530 Throckmorton Street. The famous rooftop didn’t make the move, and Reata calls this an interim home while it plans a permanent flagship downtown.
Order the Tenderloin Tamales with pecan mash ($18), Reata’s signature starter and my favorite bite on the menu. For your main, the Chicken Fried Steak with cracked pepper cream gravy ($28) is the best value, while the Blackened Buffalo Rib Eye ($67) is the splurge. If you like heat, start with a cup of jalapeño and cilantro soup ($8) and add a Habanero Margarita ($14).
Lunch is served daily from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and dinner starts at 5 p.m., closing at 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. I book ahead on show nights, since Bass Performance Hall is a short walk away. Reata is celebrating 30 years in Fort Worth in 2026, and Western artist Stylle Read is painting a mural for the dining room.
The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo returns January 15 to February 6, 2027. In past years, Reata has set up satellite spots at the show, including Reata at the Rodeo and Reata at the Backstage. I’d check its website before you go and reserve the downtown restaurant early for Stock Show weekends.
- Visit the Reata website
- Read reviews of Reata
- Love downtown Fort Worth after dark? You’ll enjoy: 12 Things to Do in Fort Worth At Night
6. The Cookshack
- 📍 Location: 500 University Dr, near West 7th and the Cultural District
- 🕒 Hours: Daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- 💲 Price range: $12 to $25 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Hot chicken and smoked ribs
- 🔥 Standout Features: Five heat levels up to AMF, hormone-free chicken, applewood smoked ribs
- 🎯 Perfect For: Spice lovers, casual lunch, a pre-rodeo meal
The Cookshack is my pick for hot chicken in Fort Worth, served from a bright counter-service spot on University Drive. Two veterans of Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen opened it in 2019, and it has landed on Yelp’s Top 100 Restaurants in Texas list twice since. Every tender is hand battered using all-natural, hormone-free chicken.
You choose from five heat levels, starting with Not Hot and climbing to AMF, short for “Adios My Friend.” I recommend Medium on your first visit, since Texas Hot already packs a serious kick. My go-to order is the chicken sandwich with coleslaw, thick-cut pickles, and Shack Sauce, with spicy Dragon Fries on the side.
Beyond the chicken, the applewood smoked baby back ribs and the Chicken Kale Salad are two of the menu’s best surprises. Finish with Aunt Peggy’s Ice Cream Sandwich or a Boujee Margarita topped with Chambord. Expect to spend $12 to $25 per person, and the restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Cookshack is a short drive from Dickies Arena, home of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo from January 15 to February 6, 2027. When I’m feeding a group, I order a Family Shack Pack with 12 jumbo tenders, four sides, and six sauces. The Kimbell Art Museum and the rest of the Cultural District are a few minutes west, which makes this an easy refuel between museum visits.
7. Spiral Diner & Bakery
- 📍 Location: 1314 W Magnolia Ave, Near Southside
- 🕒 Hours: Tue to Thu 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri to Sat 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sun 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Closed Mon
- 💲 Price range: $15 to $30 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: 100% vegan diner and bakery
- 🔥 Standout Features: Vegan diner classics, monthly Blue Plate specials, donuts baked in-house
- 🎯 Perfect For: Vegans, curious meat-eaters, weekend brunch
Spiral Diner & Bakery has served 100% vegan comfort food in Cowtown since 2002, and I send every plant-based friend here first. Founder Amy McNutt started with a tiny lunch counter near the convention center before moving to Magnolia Avenue in 2004. Its Dallas and Denton locations have both closed, which makes this Magnolia flagship the only Spiral left.
The menu covers classic diner food, from burgers and loaded nachos to all-day breakfast and thick shakes. I order the Nacho Supremo with cashew-based nacho cheese, black beans, quinoa, and guacamole, which is big enough to share. Each month brings a new Blue Plate special, and I always check it before ordering.
Weekend mornings are my favorite time to visit, with Cinnamon Roll Pancakes and biscuits and gravy on the brunch menu. Dreamboat Donuts are now baked inside Spiral every Friday through Sunday, including Cozy Dawgs, a vegan take on a kolache. Expect to spend $15 to $30 per person, plus about $11 if you add a milkshake.
Spiral is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays, with doors opening at 8 a.m. on weekends. Free parking is available behind the building and in the signed lot across 6th Avenue. Pantry on Magnolia is a short walk east, and the rest of Magnolia Avenue is great for a coffee and a stroll after your meal.
8. Wabi House
- 📍 Location: 1229 8th Ave, Suite 227, Near Southside
- 🕒 Hours: Sun to Thu 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri to Sat 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- 💲 Price range: $20 to $40 per person (ramen about $15)
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Japanese ramen and izakaya
- 🔥 Standout Features: Yakitori grill, covered second-floor patio, daily happy hour
- 🎯 Perfect For: Ramen lovers, happy hour, casual date nights
Wabi House serves my favorite bowl of ramen in Fort Worth, on the second floor of a dining complex at 8th Avenue and Magnolia. It’s easy to miss from the parking lot, and you’ll find it upstairs in Suite 227. Chef Dien Nguyen opened the original Wabi House on Lower Greenville in Dallas before bringing it to Fort Worth.
The Tonkotsu is my go-to, with rich pork broth, chashu, a marinated egg, and wood ear mushrooms for around $15. The dry garlic ramen has a loyal following, and the tsukemen comes with applewood bacon and a pork broth for dipping. I also order gyoza and karaage to share, plus a few skewers from the yakitori grill.
Happy hour is every day from 3 to 7 p.m., with small plates like gyoza and takoyaki at lower prices. I grab a seat on the covered second-floor patio at sunset, which has its own full-service bar. Wabi House is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Book a table online for weekend nights, and ask your server about free parking in the complex. Spiral Diner and Pantry on Magnolia are a short walk away if you want to turn dinner into a food crawl. A steaming bowl here is also my pick after a chilly January day at the 2027 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.
9. Joe T. Garcia’s
- 📍 Location: 2201 N Commerce St, near the Stockyards
- 🕒 Hours: Mon to Thu 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m., Fri to Sat 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- 💲 Price range: $20 to $50 per person (cash only)
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Classic Tex-Mex
- 🔥 Standout Features: Garden patios, family recipes since 1935, ATM on-site
- 🎯 Perfect For: Big groups, margaritas on the patio, first-time visitors
Joe T. Garcia’s has served Tex-Mex just south of the Stockyards since 1935, and I bring every first-time Fort Worth visitor here. What started as a small room seating 16 now holds more than 1,000 guests, with five garden patios featuring a pool and fountains. The James Beard Foundation named it one of “America’s Classics” in 1998, and the third generation of the Lancarte family runs it today.
Dinner keeps it simple with two choices, the cheese enchilada dinner or beef and chicken fajitas. The enchilada dinner arrives family style with tacos, guacamole, rice, and beans, and I always leave full. Lunch has a bigger menu, and a pitcher of margaritas for the table is part of the ritual.
Joe T.’s is still cash or check only, and an ATM is on-site if you forget. Budget about $20 to $50 per person, plus extra for margaritas and a tip for the mariachis. Seating is first come, first served, and lines can stretch down the block on weekend nights.
I arrive before 6 p.m. on weekends or come for a late lunch, when the gardens are calmer. From Monday through Thursday, the restaurant closes between 2:30 and 5 p.m., which catches afternoon visitors off guard. If there’s a wait, order a margarita from the outdoor bar and wander the gardens until your table is ready.
10. Pantry on Magnolia
- 📍 Location: 713 W Magnolia Ave, Near Southside
- 🕒 Hours: Fri to Sat 11 a.m. to midnight, Sun 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Closed Mon to Thu
- 💲 Price range: $15 to $30 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Handmade dumplings and Asian fusion comfort food
- 🔥 Standout Features: Rotating dumpling flights, bao, house-made chili oil and kimchi to go
- 🎯 Perfect For: Weekend lunch, late-night bites, adventurous eaters
Pantry on Magnolia calls itself Fort Worth’s original dumpling house, and it’s my first stop on Magnolia Avenue when I want something creative. Former Trimble Tech culinary teacher Natasha Bruton opened it in 2022, and her one-time student Michael Rios now leads the kitchen. The name is a nod to Grandma’s Bar next door, since every grandma keeps a pantry ready for unexpected guests.
The kitchen hand-folds every dumpling and changes the fillings often, from classic pork and shiitake to seasonal flavors like five-spice pumpkin. I order the dumpling flight to try several kinds at once, plus a bao flight for the table. The fried rice with brisket is a hearty add-on, and the banana pudding is my favorite way to finish.
Pantry is open only Friday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and until 10 p.m. on Sundays. Check its Instagram before you go, because the dumpling lineup rotates. Expect to spend about $15 to $30 per person.
The dining room is small, but you can also eat next door at Grandma’s Bar, which the Pantry team now runs. Sunday karaoke at Grandma’s is a fun way to end a weekend food crawl. Before you leave, grab a jar of the house-made chili oil or kimchi to take home.
11. Press Café
- 📍 Location: 4801 Edwards Ranch Rd, The Trailhead at Clearfork
- 🕒 Hours: Sun to Tue 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wed to Sat 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Brunch Sat to Sun 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- 💲 Price range: $15 to $40 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern American cafe, breakfast and brunch
- 🔥 Standout Features: Riverside patio with fire pits, Trinity Trails access, weekday happy hour
- 🎯 Perfect For: Weekend brunch, post-walk meals, patio dinners
Press Café sits at The Trailhead at Clearfork, right on the Trinity Trails and overlooking the Clear Fork of the Trinity River. It has been a Fort Worth favorite since 2015, and the riverside patio with fire pits and Adirondack chairs keeps me coming back. Walkers and cyclists stop in all day, and I like to walk a stretch of the trail before breakfast.
Breakfast starts at 7 a.m. daily, and the $12 breakfast burritos are one of the best deals on the menu. My brunch order is the stuffed French toast with whipped mascarpone and strawberries ($18), or the house ricotta with toasted ciabatta to share. For lunch or dinner, I go with the Café Burger with caramelized onions and Huntsman cheese ($21).
Weekend brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and tables fill fast. Book on Tock, pick indoor or patio seating when you reserve, and plan on a two-hour table limit. Happy hour is Monday through Thursday afternoons, with half-price appetizers and $7.50 specialty cocktails.
Press is open until 9 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday and until 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The Clearfork Farmers Market sets up next door, and I pair it with Saturday brunch. rise soufflé and The Shops at Clearfork are a short walk away if you want to make a day of it.
12. Dusty Biscuit Beignets
- 📍 Location: 411 S Main St, Suite 109, South Main Village
- 🕒 Hours: Tue to Thu 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fri 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sun 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Closed Mon
- 💲 Price range: $8 to $20 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: New Orleans-style beignets, sweet and savory
- 🔥 Standout Features: 200+ flavors over the years, savory beignet sliders, SnoBalls
- 🎯 Perfect For: Breakfast, dessert, a sweet stop on South Main
Dusty Biscuit Beignets brings New Orleans beignets to South Main Village, and it’s my favorite sweet stop in the Near Southside. Former teacher Trey Smith launched it on Fat Tuesday in 2019 and fried beignets from an Airstream food truck before opening this small storefront. It has earned recognition from Texas Monthly as one of the best new restaurants in Texas, and it has served more than 200 flavors over the years.
Start with the French Quarter, the classic beignet buried in powdered sugar, then add a flavored one like the Cowtown King Cake. For something savory, the Dusty Cristo Sliders are a Monte Cristo made with beignets. The Bayou Bacon Tots come loaded with remoulade, bacon, and green onions, and they’re big enough to share.
Dusty Biscuit is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays, staying open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The shop seats only about a dozen people and has no parking lot, but free street parking is usually easy to find nearby. Flavors rotate monthly, and I check Instagram (@thedustybiscuit) before I go.
Fat Tuesday is the shop’s birthday, and February 9, 2027, is a fun day to stop in for King Cake beignets. Emporium Pies is right next door if you want a slice to go. Budget $8 to $20 per person, and order a café au lait on the side.
13. Toro Toro Pan-Latin Steakhouse
- 📍 Location: 200 Main St, Downtown (inside The Worthington Renaissance)
- 🕒 Hours: Lunch Mon to Fri 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Brunch Sat to Sun 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Dinner Sun to Thu 5 to 10 p.m., Fri to Sat 5 to 11 p.m.
- 💲 Price range: $18 lunch buffet, $50 to $100+ per person at dinner
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Pan-Latin steakhouse
- 🔥 Standout Features: Rodizio-style churrasco, $69 bottomless brunch with a Latin DJ, complimentary valet
- 🎯 Perfect For: Group dinners, weekend brunch, special occasions
Toro Toro is my pick for a lively, upscale dinner downtown, inside The Worthington Renaissance hotel just steps from Sundance Square. Chef Richard Sandoval built this Pan-Latin steakhouse around Mexican and Peruvian flavors and a South American-style grill. The name is a play on words, since toro means tuna in Japanese and bull in Spanish.
Everything is meant for sharing, and the Toro Toro Churrasco is the showstopper, with wagyu picanha, rib eye, barbecue chicken thigh, and Colorado lamb chops. I order it for a group of four, then add the sweet corn empanadas and pork belly mac and cheese. Pair it all with a hand-muddled mojito or margarita made with fresh fruit and herbs.
Bottomless brunch costs $69 per guest on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a Latin DJ and a Bloody Mary bar. On weekdays, the $18 lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. is one of the best deals downtown. Taco Tuesday brings $10 chef’s special tacos to the bar and lounge from 4 to 7 p.m.
Dinner starts at 5 p.m. nightly and ends at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Valet is complimentary, and Bass Performance Hall is a short walk away for a pre-show meal. During the 2027 Stock Show & Rodeo, I stop here for dinner and drinks before heading west to Dickies Arena.
14. Righteous Foods
- 📍 Location: 3405 W 7th St, Cultural District
- 🕒 Hours: Mon to Fri 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sun 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- 💲 Price range: $15 to $35 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Health-focused American, served all day
- 🔥 Standout Features: Organic and responsibly sourced ingredients, Detox and Retox drink menus, dog-friendly patio
- 🎯 Perfect For: Pre-museum brunch, healthy lunch, vegetarian and gluten-free diners
Righteous Foods is my go-to healthy restaurant in Fort Worth, a block from the Cultural District museums. Chef Lanny Lancarte, great-grandson of Joe T. Garcia, opened it in 2014 in the space that once housed his fine-dining restaurant. The kitchen cooks from scratch with organic, responsibly sourced ingredients and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.
For brunch, I order the Green Egg Chilaquiles & Ham or the Paleontology bowl with eggs, sweet potato hash, bacon, and avocado. At lunch, the Niman Ranch beef burger with smoked gouda and yuca fries is my favorite indulgence. Vegetarians have plenty of choice, from tofu poke bowls to the hemp seed, mushroom, and black bean burger.
The drink menu splits into Detox, with fresh juices and wellness drinks, and Retox, with cocktails, wine, and beer. Happy hour is from 2 to 5 p.m., and I like to grab a table on the dog-friendly patio. If you’re in a hurry, the take-away window handles coffee and call-in orders.
Righteous is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The small lot next to the building fills up at lunch, and street parking is your backup. During the 2027 Stock Show & Rodeo, I fuel up here before the short drive to the Will Rogers grounds.
15. Ampersand
- 📍 Location: 3009 Bledsoe St, West 7th (second location near TCU)
- 🕒 Hours: Coffee daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Bar Fri to Sat 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- 💲 Price range: $6 to $15 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Coffee shop by day, cocktail bar by night
- 🔥 Standout Features: In-house air-roasted beans, signature shaken lattes, coffee cocktails
- 🎯 Perfect For: Remote work, coffee lovers, late-night weekend drinks
Ampersand is a coffee shop by day and a late-night bar on weekends, tucked into a vintage building on Bledsoe Street in the West 7th district. It opened in 2017, and the team air roasts its own beans, including the Moonlight blend of Guatemalan and Brazilian coffee. A second Ampersand is open near TCU on South University Drive.
The signature shaken lattes are why I stop in, and my favorite is the Toasted Coconut, a hazelnut breve latte topped with coconut cream cold foam. The Butterbrew, with caramelized butterscotch and vanilla cold foam, is a close second. Matcha fans should order the Strawberry Fields with muddled strawberries.
Coffee service is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, and the back room has plenty of seating for working or catching up with friends. On Friday and Saturday nights, that same room turns into a bar and dance floor from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Coffee cocktails have been part of the concept since opening day, and I like ending a night out with one.
Parking out front is paid by the hour, and I set a timer if I’m settling in to work. Budget $6 to $15 per person for drinks and a pastry. Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar is a short walk away if you want to turn coffee into dinner.
- Visit the Ampersand website
- Read reviews of Ampersand
- Read next: 12 Amazing Things to Do in Fort Worth At Night
16. Black Coffee
- 📍 Location: 1417 Vaughn Blvd, Polytechnic Heights (East Fort Worth)
- 🕒 Hours: Mon to Sat 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sun 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- 💲 Price range: $5 to $15 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Specialty coffee shop and cafe
- 🔥 Standout Features: Black-owned, globally inspired craft drinks, East Side community hub
- 🎯 Perfect For: Coffee lovers, supporting local businesses, a morning stop near Texas Wesleyan
Black Coffee is my favorite coffee stop on Fort Worth’s East Side, near Texas Wesleyan University in Polytechnic Heights. Fort Worth native Mia Moss opened it in late 2019, years after falling for coffee while working at Seattle’s Best Coffee. She named it after her grandparents, who drank their coffee black, and for her own place as a Black woman opening a shop in a Black neighborhood.
The menu is focused, with about a dozen coffee drinks that blend global flavors into Black Coffee’s own recipes. Moss’s personal favorite is the turmeric and honey latte, and it’s my go-to order. In the fall, look for the seasonal Sweater Weather Chai, which pairs well with a gluten-free apple cider donut.
Black Coffee is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m., and it closes at 3 p.m. every day. Pastries and breakfast tacos are available if you want something to eat with your latte. Expect to spend $5 to $15 per person.
The shop doubles as a gathering spot for the East Side, with local live music and community events on the calendar. Pick up a BC Social Club tee or snapback if you want a souvenir that supports a local business. For lunch afterward, Michelin-recommended Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez is a short drive away on East Rosedale Street.
17. The Bearded Lady
- 📍 Location: 300 S Main St, South Main Village (Near Southside)
- 🕒 Hours: Tue to Thu and Sun 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri to Sat 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. | Closed Mon
- 💲 Price range: $15 to $35 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Gastropub, burgers, and craft beer
- 🔥 Standout Features: L.U.S.T. Burger, rotating craft beer list, dog-friendly patio
- 🎯 Perfect For: Burger lovers, craft beer fans, patio hangs with your dog
The Bearded Lady is my favorite burger-and-beer stop in Fort Worth, a gastropub with a big, dog-friendly patio in South Main Village. Shannon Osbakken opened it in 2013 in an old house on Magnolia Avenue and moved it to this larger corner spot on South Main in 2019. The tap list rotates between local and national craft beers, and the bar mixes creative cocktails too.
Order the L.U.S.T. Burger, a half-pound patty stuffed with feta and roasted poblanos, then topped with melted gouda, caramelized onions, and avocado. Texas Monthly named it one of the top five burgers in Texas back in 2016, and it’s still my order today. Every burger comes as a half-pound patty or a smash burger, with parmesan fries, garlic butter tots, or kettle chips on the side.
Check the monthly specials before you order, since the kitchen rotates a featured burger, grilled cheese, and cocktails each month. Recent picks include the Oktoberfeast burger with beer cheese and bacon on a pretzel bun. The grilled cheese of the month has gone as creative as butter chicken on garlic naan.
The Bearded Lady is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays, staying open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Seating is first come, first served, and groups of 15 or more can email ahead for a reservation. After your burger, Dusty Biscuit is a short walk up South Main for dessert.
18. Branch & Bird
- 📍 Location: 640 Taylor St, Sky Lobby Level of Frost Tower, Downtown
- 🕒 Hours: Breakfast and lunch Mon to Fri from 7:30 a.m. | Sat brunch from 11 a.m. | Dinner Tue to Sat from 4 p.m. | Closed Sun
- 💲 Price range: $15 to $30 at lunch, $40 to $80+ per person at dinner
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Contemporary American
- 🔥 Standout Features: Outdoor terrace with skyline views, live music three nights a week, validated parking
- 🎯 Perfect For: Sunset dinners, date nights, business lunches
Branch & Bird sits on the Sky Lobby Level of Frost Tower, and its outdoor terrace has one of the best views of the downtown Fort Worth skyline. It opened in 2018 and serves everything from morning coffee to evening cocktails, with a seasonal menu that changes regularly. I come at sunset, when the city lights start to glow below the patio.
At dinner, I start with the tuna tartare ($23) or the roasted duck tacos with orange glaze ($21) to share. The 8-ounce filet mignon ($48) with white truffle garlic mashed potatoes is my splurge, and the bacon-wrapped quail with parmesan risotto is a close second. Flatbreads cost $17 to $19 and are easy to share over drinks.
Wednesday nights bring Wine on the Skyline, with select bottles at half price and live music from 5 to 8 p.m. Local musicians also play Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 6 to 9 p.m. Book a patio table ahead through OpenTable, since the terrace fills quickly on nice evenings.
Breakfast and lunch are served on weekdays starting at 7:30 a.m., dinner starts at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and the restaurant is closed on Sundays. Park in the Frost Tower garage off 5th Street between Lamar and Taylor, and ask your server to validate your ticket. At the elevator touch screen, select the Sky Lobby Level to ride straight up.
- Visit the Branch & Bird website
- Read reviews of Branch & Bird
- Read Next: 12 Fun Attractions to Explore in Fort Worth
Global Viewpoint is a personal blog. All content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional financial, medical, or legal advice.
