Hurtado Barbecue Dallas — Restaurant in Dallas

Please excuse my excitement as I truly LOVE this place!

I have no words to describe it! I've had the fatty brisket, Texas Twinkie, half chicken and the smash burger!

The sides I've had are the potato salad, hatch chili mac and cheese, guacamole, queso and red salsa.

The burger shocked me! It's a double smash cheeseburger! I never understood what the hype was all about on smash burgers and now I finally understand why they're so good! It's the crispiness! And it's not just ANY ground beef either! It is ground up brisket trimmings in house and smashed on a griddle to perfection! Don't be fooled because it's a BBQ joint! I was kind of skeptical, to be honest, but after that first bite, I was hooked!

The brisket NEVER gets old! Every time I go there. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. it's like I'm going there for the first time! It's THAT good! It literally MELTS in your mouth, bursting with the perfect blend of juicy, fatty, smoky, beefy flavor that coats just your mouth! It's truly an unbelievable experience!

And that BBQ sauce on the table is absolutely divine! With that super soft potato bread I add the fresh cut onions, guacamole, queso and BBQ sauce with the lean parts and make a sandwich out of it. MIND. BLOWING!

The half chicken HAS to be experienced! I've NEVER had chicken like this before! I hated chicken breast as a kid because it had no fat, it was always dry and hard!

NOT here! The chicken breast is moist, tender AND juicy! Add the smokiness from the grill and the BBQ sauce? WOW!

Texas Twinkie! One bite and its literally one if the greatest things I've ever eaten! A stuffed jalapeno, with pimento cheese and brisket and wrapped TWICE in THICK cut bacon, brushed with their own house made BBQ sauce and smoked to perfection! They're ONLY $6 a piece and they are HUGE! The best part, that kick! WOW! They don't take out ALL the seeds! They leave some in there and when you get them, if you have sensitivity to spicy food, it hits you hard! I LOVE it!

I can't WAIT to try the bologna! That's next!

Coming from California, BBQ joints like this do NOT exist in the suburbs of LA! It's usually pastrami which is how brisket is done there. I've NEVER had brisket like it's done here in Texas before!

Sides: Potato salad? Perfection! And it's NOT your typical potato salad, either! This is different and mind blowingly good!

Hatch chili mac and cheese? Creamy, not so thick, extremely cheesy and not spicy at all. BUT it WILL clear your sinuses! Delicious!

The guacamole is everything you'd expect! They nailed it, here!

The queso is a little spicy, super flavorful and the ultimate compliment with chips, the super soft potato bread and the brisket, if that's your thing. I LOVE it with the brisket and the bread!

The staff are amazing too and that just adds to the overall experience!

Did I mention how much I LOVE this...

BEST BBQ I'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME! I'm a BBQ purist and I love it when I can find a truly spectacular piece of brisket like I had at Hurtado's. I always order lean brisket because I like to taste the beef first, the spices second, and the smoke third. I don't know how critics judge this but I'm not a critic, that's just my benchmark. In my humble opinion, the mark of a good chef/cook is one that has a light hand with salt. I like salt just as much as the next person but sometimes in the BBQ game things can get a little too salty and Hurtado's did not disappoint. We ordered the 2- 2 meat combos with lean brisket, turkey, sausage, and more brisket. The meats were all succulent and tender. The sausage was so juicy and moist. Such great flavor in all the meats, great spices, not too overwhelming which complemented the sweet and spicy BBQ available at every table. The brisket was the star of the show, so beefy and moist with a great bark that was not too salty.

The sides were Mexican street corn which was sweet, spicy, and cheesy. So delicious. The charro beans had great flavor and creaminess. The mac and cheese had great flavor in cheesy goodness and a great use of rotini noodles. The best side had to be the creamy red slaw with lots of refreshing purple cabbage and onions. Did I fail to mention this is a TEX- MEX inspired BBQ place which is a big win in my opinion? So with that said, we ordered one of the best birria tacos I've EVER HAD IN MY LIFE! That cheese pull is still going as I write this review!! Succulent meat and loads of cheese, what more can you ask for!? The closing of the meal ended with one of the best desserts I've ever had that would rival any French patisserie's pot de creme! Yeah, I said it. The Mexican Hot Chocolate pot de creme took me back to a chilly week I had the privilege of spending in the Swiss Alps visiting my son at school and I spent the week eating a chocolate pot de creme everyday from a local patisserie. This is such a beautiful thing when a food can take you back to a certain memory of a great dish you tried but you never have to board a plane and this dessert did that for me. The Mexican hot chocolate flavor was a great for the senses! Creamy, spicy, chocolatey, and wonderful! Such great service from all the employees, restrooms were clean, this restaurant is damm- near perfect and should be on the Texas Monthly and New York Times best restaurants list immediately! The menu is expansive and I can't wait to try everything. Come hungry, leave fulfilled, and cared for at Hurtado's! Congratulations! Such a triumph in...

From the moment we walked into Hurtados, the amazing aroma of beautifully smoked meat enveloped us, promising a feast. And boy, did they deliver!

Let's start with the food: we ordered the El Patron, and it was absolutely divine. Everything was fall-off-the-bone tender, perfectly smoky, and melt-in-your-mouth juicy. The birria tacos, coleslaw, baked beans, green beans, and street corn were clearly made with love, especially the birria tacos! Each bite was an explosion of flavor, a testament to the skill and passion of the pitmasters.

Now, for the real star of the show: the service. AJ and Daniel. AJ greeted us with a genuine smile and made us feel instantly welcome. AJ walked out from behind the counter to introduce himself with a handshake. Since it was our first time at Hurtados, he explained the menu and offered excellent recommendations. AJ visited us at our table later to check on us and spend time sharing stories, kindness, and his gift for customer service. Daniel brought our feast to our table. The food is served family style (which is so fun) and Daniel delivered everything with care and enthusiasm. He anticipated our every need; we never had to ask for anything! He was so kind and every interaction felt thoughtful and genuine. It's rare to find a restaurant where the staff is so attentive, genuinely cares about your dining experience, and creates an environment where you feel like more than a table number.

Because AJ’s and Daniel’s caring and generous character shined so bright and because we are generally nosey people, we asked how they felt about their jobs at Hurtados. Both of them had amazing stories about the owner and the culture. I got the feeling the owner values the human experience, encourages their employees to be leaders, and truly value that “extra mile” to ensure customers and employees have the best experience possible. I would like to thank the owner for recognizing and empowering such amazing souls like AJ and Daniel!

The atmosphere was warm, inviting, comfortable, yet fun! It's clear that Hurtados has created a space where people can truly enjoy good food and good company.

In a world where mediocre service is often the norm, Hurtados stands out as a beacon of excellence. If you're looking for incredible barbecue and a dining experience that will leave you feeling truly satisfied, both heart and soul, look no further. This is a must-visit for any BBQ enthusiast. I'm already planning...