Joe T. Garcia’s

Joe T. Garcia’s is famous, the place in Fort Worth to feast on giant portions of Tex-Mex chow from an era before Tex-Mex was fashionable. Located on the north side of Fort Worth, not far from where the stockyards used to be, it is a white house, trimmed in green, that looks like it is about to cave in. Since it opened in 1935 it has been expanded many times, and now the various dining areas, indoors and out, are an incomprehensible sprawl with seating for 1000.

What to eat at Joe T. Garcia’s

Wherever you sit, you will eat large. Joe T. Garcia’s Tex-Mex meals are dished out family-style with mess hall efficiency. At dinner time, there is little choice on the menu. You get either the traditional dinner, which includes chips and salsa, nachos, enchiladas, tacos, guacamole, rice and refried beans and a pile of tortillas; or you can go for fajitas – chicken or beef – that come with tortillas, guacamole, pico de gallo sauce and beans.

More modest lunch options include plates of chilies rellenos, flautas rolled around chicken or beef, and tamales. Weekend brunches include migas (eggs scrambled with shredded tortillas), menudo (made with pork), and huevos rancheros. Whatever you choose, it comes fast and furious, to the music of clattering pots and pans if you are seated in a room anywhere near the roaring kitchen.