Joe T. Garcia's: Dallas / Fort Worth's Best Mexican Food

If you ask any Dallas or Fort Worth resident - heck, any Texas dweller, for that matter - what his or her favorite Mexican food restaurant in the state is, you have a good chance of hearing the answer, "Joe T. Garcia's." The famous restaurant makes the list of any Texas restaurant guide's recommendations for the Dallas-Fort Worth area not only for its sizzling Tex-Mex but also for its atmosphere. Old-timers know it, young folks make it a favorite dining hangout, and wedding receptions frequently occupy the gardens. The restaurant is even the site of a 5K race called Run to Joe's. Let's face it, Joe T.'s is simply a classic.

Located on Commerce Street just on the other side of the Trinity River from downtown Fort Worth's bustling center, Joe T. Garcia's originated as a small restaurant with a seating capacity of sixteen. The personable and gregarious Mr. Garcia, who never met a stranger and became personal friends with his patrons, refused to advertise and instead relied on excellent service and food to create returning customers and attract new ones. The Garcia family soon expanded the restaurant, adding a pool, gardens, and pavilions to seat more people. As the restaurant grew physically, its reputation skyrocketed as well, and soon, Joe T. Garcia's was a Fort Worth landmark. The business has continued to expand, but the recipes and friendly service remain the same, and the Garcia family retains ownership of the legendary restaurant, even after Mr. Garcia's death in the late 1950s.