First visit to Hurtado's in Mansfield, and I came away impressed…read more
Parking is a little limited since the lot is shared with a few other businesses. I could see it being an issue during the early hours of opening on the weekends, but probably not as much in the evenings.
Inside, it has a cozy, almost dive-bar feel, just not dark. LOL. There's a small bar tucked into the back corner, several four-person tables, and a couple of wooden booths along one wall.
When you walk in, you order at the counter window. They give you a number for the table, you grab a seat, and they bring the food out to you. The staff was friendly and polite, checking on us here and there without hovering.
I went with the Texas Trinity Platter: brisket, pork ribs, garlic & pepper sausage, and Mexican street corn for my side. I also ordered a Brisket Tostada.
The brisket had a nice smoke ring, decent bark, and that Central Texas, Mex-Tex seasoning profile. What I enjoyed most was the seasoning wasn't too salty or laid on too thick. It added flavor without masking the beef.
The pork ribs were moist and close to fall off the bone, but still held together enough to get a good bite. There was plenty of smoke, and again, the seasoning complemented the pork instead of overpowering it.
For the sausage, I chose the garlic & pepper. It had a good snap, was juicy inside, and had a light garlic flavor with a little pepper coming through. The texture was a medium grind with a good balance of lean meat and fat.
But the surprise for me was the Brisket Tostada.
The tostada was crisp and thick enough to support everything piled on top. There's a thin layer of refried beans, thick slices of brisket, a little salsa verde, cotija cheese, and a drizzle of Valentina's. And yes, you can actually pick the thing up and eat it without it falling apart or turning soggy.
I'll admit I was eating it a little faster than usual--not because I was worried about it falling apart, but because it was that good. LOL. The salsa verde helped cut through the richness of the brisket and beans, while the Valentina's added a little extra kick without taking over.
The Mexican street corn was also well seasoned without being heavy-handed and worked well with all the meats.
For a first visit, Hurtado's checked a lot of boxes for me. Awesome barbecue, friendly service, and that Brisket Tostada alone gives me a reason to come back.
Since it's not too far from the house, I can see this becoming one of my regular BBQ spots.
