Texas BBQ at Lockhart Smokehouse

A special thank you to Lockhart Smokehouse and the Dallas CVB for this complimentary meal.

This past weekend my family and I had the opportunity to visit Dallas on a short weekend getaway.  Being that Dallas is only about three hours away, it makes for an affordable, family-friendly location.

After spending the afternoon in the car when we arrived in Dallas we were all starving.  After stopping at the hotel to drop off our luggage, we headed to Lockhart Smokehouse for what we’d heard would be the best BBQ in Dallas.

Located in the Bishop Arts District of Dallas, Lockhart Smokehouse serves up brisket, sausage, ribs and other meats that are smoked over Texas post oak with traditional southern sides like cole slaw and baked beans.

Special Note: Arrive before you are actually starving or else you’ll get incredibly aggravated as you circle the vicinity looking for a parking spot (not that this actually happened to us or anything). The restaurant is located in a popular spot (or so it seemed) and also in an older residential area.  The restaurant itself does not have designated parking.  Be prepared to walk.

Lockhart Smokehouse is a self-serve restaurant.  When you walk into the restaurant, you are walking into the seating area, which you need to pass through to get to the ordering counter.  Meat is sold by weight and sliced right as you are ordering.  When we arrived around 8’ish pm, they were already sold out of brisket for the day.  My husband was really disappointed to not have the opportunity to try the brisket, but settled for the sausage instead. We didn’t learn until later, but Lockhart Smokehouse is the only place in the DFW area where you can get Kreuz Market Sausage.  The kids and I ordered ribs and for our sides we ordered Mac ‘n cheese and the Lockhart Cole Slaw.

Unlike other restaurants, at Lockhart Smokehouse, you don’t dine on plates but rather the butcher paper that the meat is served on. My children thought this was really neat and it made for a fun dining experience.

But what was so memorable about our time at Lockhart Smokehouse was the food y’all!  It was by far the best pork ribs I’ve ever inhaled.  It was perfectly smoked, incredibly tender and everything a pork rib should be.  If only every other BBQ joint in Texas would take note!  And the sausage, I’ve never had anything quite like it before.  The outer skin had a nice firm snap when my teeth bit into it, but the inside was so tender, crumbly and full of meaty goodness.  It’s a shame I’ll need to drive three hours to experience this again.  Only next time, we are getting there early.  I want to try the brisket!

If you are in the Dallas are, I highly recommend that you give Lockhart Smokehouse a visit.