With the 2026 World Cup attracting thousands of domestic and international visitors, Texas will not only host a series of matches but also showcase the best of its traditional cuisine.
Whether it’s barbecue, Tex-Mex or tacos, Texan cuisine will be one of the highlights for tourists flooding North Texas.
If you’re visiting Dallas-Fort Worth for the World Cup or for any other reason, here are five foods you must try to experience Texas’ culinary spirit, along with some suggestions for where to find them.
Eat Drink D-FW
This slow-smoked brisket is the quintessential Texas dish. Its dark exterior and juicy interior, with a texture that falls apart when you cut into it, make it one of the gastronomic gems that no visitor should miss.
Where to eat it:Pecan Lodge, at 2702 Main St., Dallas. pecanlodge.com Terry Black’s, at 3025 Main St., Dallas. terryblacksbbq.com.Hurtado Barbecue, at 900 S. Harwood St., Dallas. hurtadobbq.com.Goldee’s, at 4645 Dick Price Rd., Fort Worth. goldeesbbq.com.Cattleack, at 13628 Gamma Rd., Farmers Branch. cattleackbbq.com.
Here’s a list of additional places where you can find good barbecue.
Hurtado, on Dallas’ Harwood Street, is a local barbecue staple.
Courtesy Hurtado
One of the star dishes of Tex-Mex cuisine that shines for its simplicity but exceeds in flavor. It consists of strips of beef, chicken or shrimp cooked with bell peppers and onions. The secret lies in the seasoning and the meat’s tenderness. They always go well with a margarita.
Where to eat it:Mariano’s, at 6300 Skillman St., Dallas. laharanch.com.El Fenix, at 1601 McKinney Ave., Dallas. elfenix.com.Joe T. GarcÃa, at 2201 N. Commerce St., Fort Worth. joetgarcias.com.Las Palmas, at 2708 Routh St., Dallas. laspalmasdallas.com.Mesero, at 2375 Victory Park Lane #180, Dallas. mesero.net.
The secret of a sizzling skillet of beef fajitas lies in the meat tenderness. Spoon some of the meat and peppers mixture into a soft, warm flour tortilla, add some toppings and go to town. Don’t forget a squeeze of lime!
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Another iconic Tex-Mex dish is enchiladas, a soft taco covered in sauce that can be filled with beef, chicken or cheese. Although it is a Mexican dish, it was adapted to Texan culture with more sauces to cover the tacos, such as cheese sauce or chili con carne. Texan enchiladas invariably are topped with yellow cheddar cheese.
Where to eat them:Enchilada’s, at 7050 Greenville Ave., Dallas. enchiladasrestaurants.com.Javier’s, at 4912 Cole Ave., Dallas. javiers.net.Desperados, at 4818 Greenville Ave., Dallas. desperadosrestaurant.com.Mi Cocina, at 3232 McKinney Ave., Suite 175, Dallas. micocina.com.La Comida, at 1101 N. Beckley Ave., Dallas. lacomidamexicankitchentx.com.
Yellow cheddar cheese is almost always on top of Tex-Mex enchiladas.
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Breakfast tacos? In Texas, they are almost a religion. Consisting of a flour tortilla, sometimes giant, with egg, bacon, potato, ham and other delicacies, a breakfast taco’s mission is to give you an energy boost with the best flavor. It seems simple, but finding the perfect breakfast taco can feel like a mission.
Where to eat them:Resident Taqueria, at 9661 Audelia Road #112, Dallas. residenttaqueria.com.El Paisa Taqueria, at 10844 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas. elpaisataqueria.comTacos y Más, at 4123 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas. tacosymas.com.Tacodeli, at 1878 Sylvan Ave., Dallas. tacodeli.com.Torchy’s Tacos, with several locations. torchystacos.com.
A flour tortilla filled with bacon, egg and cheese is but one of many variations of traditional Tex-Mex breakfast tacos.
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Don’t be confused! This is a breaded, hand-tenderized, fried beef steak covered with white gravy and black pepper. It follows the same preparation technique as fried chicken, hence its name. The ideal chicken-fried steak is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
This dish is a staple in Southern diners and is usually served with green beans and mashed potatoes, though it can also be served with other side dishes.
Where to eat it:Matt’s Rancho Martinez, at 401 Central Expressway, Allen. mattstexmex.com.Lucky’s Cafe, at 3531 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas. luckysdallas.com.Ozona Grill & Bar, at 4615 Greenville Ave., Dallas. ozonagrill.com.The Loon Bar & Grill, 3028 N. Hall St. #179, Dallas. theloonbar.com.Norma’s Cafe, at 1123 W. Davis St., Dallas. normascafe.com.
Chicken-fried steak is one of the most popular dishes in the South. Mashed potatoes and green beens are common side dishes.
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