How in the hell does this place only have a four star rating? Folks, this is a direct descendant of the finest barbecue in DFW for the past 100 years. I will go elsewhere for ribs, but you will not beat their brisket anywhere. And their turkey simply melts in your mouth. Yeah, and their potato salad is simply weird, but this isn't a potato place or a salad place. In fact, sides at many BBQ places suck. This is Texas. David's does brisket. That's all you need. read more

This is my go to place for BBQ in Arlington. I've had the brisket, ribs, and sausage. I'm a big fan of ribs and they do s great job! Their onion rings are also a favorite of mine. I usually get ribs with two sides, potato side and onion rings. That's my go to and it's also good Everytime! read more

OMG... the ribs are fall off the bone and the brisket melts in your mouth. Been here since 1910... and is 4rth generation run....hope they stay in business another 200... read more

Enjoyable eating experience! Great ham sandwich with fries. Fires were a little undercooked but sandwich was perfect! The two meat tray was ribs and brisket and two sides. The onion rings were hot and crispy. The potato salad was really good! So much food we had to take some with us. Be back when in Arlington again! read more

What a better introduction to Texan food culture than a visit to David's Barbecue. It was lip-smacking good! First off, this restaurant was more like a cafeteria with most sides self-served. The meat appeared to be made ahead and chopped-to-order. Also, there was soft-serve ice cream and cake cones that one could get complimentary with their meal. All meat plates were under $10, with the exception of the three meat combo for $11.95. The meat selection included beef brisket, sausage, pork ribs, turkey, and ham. I decided to get a two meat combo plate with ribs and sausage for $9.95. Wow! The moment I got my plate I wondered how I was going to finish it all. There was about 4-5 ribs and a good portion of sausage. The meat carver also handed me a good-looking slice of Texas toast. Next along the counter were the sides. There were trays of BBQ sauce, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans and cups of banana pudding. I slathered the BBQ sauce over my meat and took a scoop of potato salad. Then I noticed little wooden stands with the words, french fries, fried onion rings, and fried okra. Fried-to-order? Awesome! I opted for the Southern classic, fried okra. With a glass of ice water, my tab came out to $10 and some change. Good deal. Mmmm. The barbecue was so good! The pork ribs had a nice smoked charred mark and were very tender. I took half a bite and the meat fell off the bone, revealing a clean bone. Now that's a well cooked rib! The sausage was good, too; thickly sliced, meaty, and soft. But what brought the whole meat plate together was the delicious homemade BBQ sauce. It was so good, I even dipped my fried okra in it. It wasn't overly sweet and had a slight spicy kick to it. Can I just bottle some BBQ sauce for the future? The only thing I didn't like was the potato salad. It was mushy with lots of mayonaise. Not my favorite style. 4 stars. read more

I am a snob. I was born in Kansas City, and grew up in St. Louis. I am a barbecue snob. I already know it is impossible to find good barbecue in Texas, but was recently coerced to give it another shot by a co-worker who would NOT shut up about this place. It is a very cute, family run place with very reasonable prices. You enter this old, smallish, restaurant by passing a creepy cowboy and indian statue sitting and a table, and veer right to the cafeteria style line to order and pick up food. After you order, you meat is handed to you on a plate, which you rest on your plastic tray as you peruse the various side items (baked beans were AWESOME). Not only do you get enough meat to choke a small child, but you get to pile on as much potato salad/cole slaw/beans as can fit onto your plate. The meat is absolutely fall of the bone tender. Seriously. The person I went with bit into her rib, and the bone fell out on her plate. I had a chopped beef sandwich weighing about 25 lbs, which also had deliciously tender meat. There is also a softserve machine providing you with FREE ice cream after your meal! My main disappointment was the sauce. This was a very runny, slightly vinegary sauce. A far cry from the thick, brown sugary sauces that I love. This gets three stars because all the good meat is poisoned by the awful sauce. And who can eat barbecue without sauce?!?! read more

Good food. Overpriced as all bbq places seem to be. Good for catering. Worth checking out.

If you are looking for a delicious BBQ experience from a place that isn't main stream...then David's is the place for you!!! Wow this BBQ was delicious. Since they have been around since 1910, I would hope that they would know what they were doing. The setting is very casual, with decor of good down home, southern photos and head shots of famous to semi famous folks who have hitched their horse outside and had a bite of Texas BBQ! They have sandwiches and meal platters. I went with the pick two meats platter. I got the brisket and turkey. Brisket of course was tender and juicy and the turkey was surprisingly equally delicious. I also had the baked beans and potato salad....both of which are some of the best I've every had. I would like to mention their home made sauce. A lot of sauces to mean can run too much on the sweet side. Davids is the best mix of sweet and sour that I have tasted in a while. This is a great place for families and kids as well as couples and friends. What better way to get to know someone than over a plate of BBQ. GO HERE!!! read more

This was my first time in Texas, so I scoured Yelp for a good smokehouse. I came across this place nearby, and it didn't disappoint. Keep in mind that I'm a Lucille's guy, so I'm comparing it to that chain (and I love Lucille's). The ribs were fall off the bone good, with the perfect amount of tang and sweetness. The baked beans were also tremendously flavorful and delicious. The fries also came out fresh, and the side of white bread was a nice palette cleanser. Overall, it was a ton of food for a very cheap price. The service was also extremely courteous. This was my first venture into authentic Texas BBQ, and it didn't disappoint! read more

Service - 5 Star Food - 4 Star Baked Beans - 1 Star First, I want to make it clear, I love the barbecue here. They are an institution that I hope outlives me and will continue to produce great barbecue for my yet-to-be-born-so-get-a-move-on-it grandkids. However, this place is not perfect. Not while they produce those sour tomato baked beans. And that's what they taste like to me. Everyone is so happy with the barbecue, that they forget that a barbecue plate needs good beans to go with the Que! Know what I mean? Almost any can of Bush brand beans can beat the stuffing out of these beans. Maybe you've never really thought about it before, but even perfection in barbecue could use a little help with one of the side dishes. So if you feel like I do, go ahead and send them a helpful hint. Better beans make the barbecue dinner better. Don't change the meats, just put a little brown sugar, maybe a taste of bacon in those beans. That's all I'm asking. That ain't too much, is it? read more

Great place and great food. Eat here every week! Will always keep coming back. Turkey is the best!

I've got a tendency to get long winded when it comes to BBQ so I'm going to cut right to the chase - the Bryan's clan has got some serious BBQ sauce running through their veins! I think any one of them could crap better BBQ than most people could make in a day. Upon discovering David's heritage I was concerned that it would be no more than a mirror image of Sonny Bryan. Turns out David's is distinguished and refined, doing the bloodline proud while providing a unique take on Texas BBQ. The brisket and ribs should take center stage at any respectable BBQ establishment, and David's did not disappoint. The ribs were lean and had a really solid smoky flavor with good thick bark on the outside. The brisket was large and in charge, and went perfectly with the buckets of sauce I was pouring on them. Both were capable of fulfilling my BBQ fantasies, just not my wildest ones. I was actually surprised at how much I liked the onion rings. Normally I'm not the biggest fan, but the batter reminded me more of a donut than traditional onion ring batter, which I've gotta say was a pretty good combination indeed. Wash those down with some self serve ice cream and there's no need to stop for dessert afterwards. David's was my second of three BBQ joints this week, and easily the most memorable. It took our crew 40 minutes one way to get to David's and I would not think twice about doing it again. read more

David's Barbecue on West Park Row in Pantego is a best-kept secret of real Texas barbecue available to the dining public today. Every region has it's own style barbecue and can elicit heated arguments between aficionados of the different types of cooked meat loosely lumped under the term "barbecue." Memphis style pork barbecue is nice, albeit possibly a bit sweet for many Texans. Kansas City barbecue, while being a hit with the folks in the four-state area, would be run out of town tarred and feathered in Texas. Real Texas barbecue is a very esoteric commodity. Some people swear by Spring Creek, some by Colter's and even some poor folks by (ugh) Dickey's. There is no accounting for some people's taste. David's Barbecue heritage extends back to 1910 when Elias Bryan opened a restaurant in Dallas called simply "Bryan's Barbecue." Then, Elias' son, W.J. (Red) Bryan opened the famous "Red" Bryan's Barbecue on Jefferson in Oak Cliff in 1935. Red's son, W.J. Jr. (Sonny), using time proven family recipes, opened his own barbecue "joint" in 1958. Once, during one of my many visits to the only real Sonny Bryan's Barbecue on Inwood Road in Dallas, Sonny, who always sliced the meat and filled the plates, told me that his grandfather's recipes were tried and true, so why change them. David's sauce, meat, portion size and friendly service is no different than what you would expect from Texas' first family of barbecue, despite imaginary barking dogs and ants or whatever. The 2-meat combo is the star of the show, followed closely by the oh-so-tender and "slap-yo-momma" good ribs. Sides are outstanding from the special order fried okra to the slaw, beans and down-home potato salad. If you leave hungry from David's you are a prime candidate for lap-band surgery. read more

New to area (from La. staying in Arlington right now) we wanted BBQ Yelp helped me find David's. Two from Bedford joined us. They have a place in Hurst they prefer, but came down here to try David's. We all thought the food we picked was very good. Brisket, sausage, ribs, beans, cole slaw and potato salad. We all agreed WE WLL BE BACK... read more

David's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Pantego, Texas

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Very delicious. Large meal that a regular person can be full. Great staff. Don't forget to take your free ice cream cone after meal.

The only reason this place gets 1 Star at all is because it was cheap, now I know why. Brisket was fatty, cold and dry. Potato salad was bland. Chopped brisket sandwich was awful and tasted like mush. Dickey's is better read more

Awesome food and great portions! This is what is left from two orders of beef and sausage. We barely made a dent! Try this place...they won't disappoint! read more

David's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Pantego, Texas

David's BBQ is pretty darn good! The quick, friendly, and helpful (I was a first timer) service makes the experience quite enjoyable. My only complaint is that the restaurant feels very dirty. The tables feel dirty, the wooden blocks you get at the counter are disgusting, and the jalapenos/pickles/onions are just out with tongs placed in there. The food is good. The brisket was a bit on the dry side but nothing a little sauce couldn't fix. The sides which you can pack on as much as you want on your plate are okay. I got the potato salad and it didn't disappoint. The toast is buttery heaven. I like that there is self-serve ice cream that you can get at the end for free. Did I mention all this is under $10? You can't beat that. Overall, I enjoyed it and would come back. read more

Went to David's last night in search of some 'real' Texas BBQ for our last night in Arlington. Wanted to stay away from the chains, of course. I had the brisket and ribs, and my son had the brisket and sausage. The brisket was fall-apart tender, and moist enough to eat without sauce. Don't do that, though-the sauce is some of the best I've had. Sometimes, BBQ joints do a sauce that's so thick and tomato/sweet, the heartburn starts at the table. This was more savory, with a nice (cider vinegar) bite that broke down the natural oilyness of the ribs perfectly. The ribs were wonderful-tender and plentiful. Sausage? Well, it was more of a kielbasa than the hot links we were expecting, but were nice and smoky. Potato salad was really good, according to my son, and the beans were fine. I grabbed a banana pudding in a styrofoam cup, and was happy to see a couple of Nilla Wafers on top of the pudding. One bite took me back to my grandma's kitchen. I went back for more. They also have a soft-serve (all you want vanilla) machine with cake cups if you care to skip the pudding The staff was very friendly, and everything, though a little tired, was squeaky clean. If I ever go back to Arlington, I'm going to David's at least once a day... read more

It may have been an off day, but I'll admit to being a little disappointed after reading so many good reviews of this place. I had a combo plate with sausage and brisket, potato salad and beans. The sides and sausage were fine...nothing fancy or unusual, but perfectly serviceable. Any Texas BBQ joint lives and dies by its brisket, however, and mine was just slightly on the dry side. The crust had a pleasant flavor, there just wasn't much of it on my portion. I usually don't require sauce with brisket, but in this case I applied a healthy dose. It was certainly tender, which is no small thing. A few other tidbits. My wife had turkey, which was tastier than my brisket. Keep in mind that this is Pantego, so stay away from the water. My iced tea didn't mask the taste. My recommendation is if you like your BBQ on the mild side, this isn't a bad choice. Stop on by if you're in the neighborhood, but I don't consider it a go-out-of-your-way destination. read more

I hate the fact that I've driven there like 10x on Sundays and Mondays and peeled out of the parking lot cuz they aren't open on those days. It pisses me off more that I have to eat at Dickey's or down the street at Cokers... The poe-tay-toe salad is sick good. I think it's cuz of the egg whites. I get 4 scoops most of the time. Just the homely feel of growing up in Arlington and damn...writing this is making me want to drink the sauce. The brisket is never...NEVER dry. Moist to perfection as well as the ribs. Sometimes...I'll split a plate with my dad and he'll eat a plate of onions...I know it sounds gross, but the portions are way too much for 1 person unless you are Nate Newton. read more

David's BBQ is the real deal located in the center of a strip mall in Pantego. I consider this to be the best bbq in the Arlington area. Their brisket and ribs are really tender and juicy. Their bbq beans are awesome. The place reminds me of some of the bbq joints located in and around the Kerrville area (Buzzy's BBQ). The interior makes you forget you are in the middle of the asphalt jungle. Oh, there is also free soft serve ice cream once you finish your meal. read more

Always wondered about this place, but Yelpers convinced me to give it a try. the verdict: Just gooood barbeque. They have the Dickey's/Spring Creek type setup where you order which type of meat, then proceed to your sides. I got takeout brisket and ribs, w/cole slaw, potato salad, bbq beans (due to the great reviews on all the sides-thanks Yelp!). And no, this wasn't all for me. Totally freaked my mom out when she tried the potato salad-just like she's been making my entire life! Awesome! cole slaw- Awesome! fresh, cold, and crunchy. BBQ beans-Awesome! They're like pork n beans, but with much more flavor, and without the pork :-) They must put some of the meat drippings or something in them, because they're real smoky. yum. I thought the ribs were awesome, but wasn't too thrilled about the brisket. Lacked flavor, basically tasted like a pot roast. But the ribs were great, and the sauce is yummy. Very tomatoey, with a sweet kick. They hook you up on to-go orders. I got 1lb ribs, 1/2lb brisket and all they sides, and they threw in a bucket of sauce, a bag of peppers/onions, and as much texas toast as I wanted. All for $27 incl. tax. Easily feeds 4. I don't go out for BBQ much because I make it at home so much, but this will be my top choice in the future. read more

Went to a party yesterday that had great food. While we were eating, drinking, being merry, I thought the barbeque sauce tasted familiar. I asked. Almost everything was catered by David's. Up until now, I hadn't been able to speak to their catering quality. This stuff was every bit as good as their restaurant fare. Had it not been for the homemade beans, the David's would have been the highlight of the meal. Those beans were damn good, though. Very happy to confirm that David's can keep up the quality while not in the restaurant. read more

After several good reviews on Yelp, I decided to head over to David's for an early lunch on Saturday. As I walked in, I was encouraged by the sign indicating they had been in business for 100 years and lots of autographed photos of local celebs. It had to be good, right? The staff was very helpful and friendly as I pondered what to order. When I said this was my first visit, the server volunteered that the brisket and ribs were the most popular and that portions were generous. I chose a brisket sandwich. The sides look pretty standard, so I passed. The beef had a smoke ring and was tender but I wonder if this had been smoked over wood. There was almost a gas taste to it. The brisket is better than Sonny Bryan's, but Whole Foods still beats it. I will come back to give the ribs a try. read more

Welcome to my addiction! I can hardly go a week without a dose of David's BBQ. In my opinion, all other BBQ places pale in comparison. I could literally drink the sauce, but when it's on ribs or brisket..... it's heaven. The sides are all good, too. I prefer the cole slaw, but hubby swears by the potao salad. All the people that work there are super nice, and Jimmy, the owner is top notch. Only one thing would make it complete perfection: BBQ chicken, but I;m not going to hold my breath. I'll still be there every week for the beef and ribs! read more

Great Barbecue and Great Potato Salad!!! We have always used David's to cater birthday parties for kids and now their graduations. They supply everything- This is the kind of food that people go for 2nds and even 3rds. What makes this place even better is they have a drive through so you don't ever have to leave your car!!! Oh yeah - try the okra!! Yummy! The only bad thing about David's- they are closed on Mondays read more

I love this place and the homey feeling it has. The owner jabbering away as he cuts your meat for you. You can get a little history lesson as you go through the line. The portions are ginormous and the relish bar is so generous. I would like a little more flavor to the meat is my only criticism. read more

So when do you think would be prime business hours for a BBQ joint? If you said dinner time on a Saturday evening, well, that's what I would think as well. So imagine the disappointment when my wife and I made the drive to David's last evening to find that they were closed. People were circling into the parking lot, getting out, going to the door, only to find it locked tight while the employees still inside just ignored them. Now, we've eaten at David's before and liked the food (as BBQ goes, would give 3 stars), but this marks several times now that we have driven there - during the week - on the weekend - only to find that they have closed on a whim. In fact, they're only OPEN when the whim strikes them, and after tonight, we've given up on them entirely. I don't know what they do for a living, but BBQ doesn't seem to be their thing anymore. read more

They are catering our wedding - we love Jimmy Harris and his BBQ that much. This place is top notch - it's low key and simple but the meat is straight up wonderful: the brisket is juicy and fuller of flavor, the sausage is not super greasy but a little on the spicy side, the ham has the most wonderful fresh smoked taste. The plates are large enough to share and still have some leftovers and the sides are serve-yourself so you can whatever portion you like. The staff is just plain nice, they are salt of the earth people and the owner is usually the one cutting your meat at the start of the line. If the line looks long, don't go somewhere else, it goes quickly and is worth the wait!!! read more

I think this is the BEST BBQ place in Arlington! GREAT ribs, and a friendly staff! One thing I wish they would put on the menu is chicken! They do have turkey, but come on, what kind of BBQ place doesn't have chicken??? Other than that, though, this place is Aces! read more

Skip it. Once an arlington staple. This place is cutting corners and quality suffers. Dry turkey Dry fatty brisket Sides leave much to be desired. read more

Great bbq brisket sandwich, that could easily be eaten as a 2 meal. Good choice of fresh sides, sweet tea. Not a chain, more of a family picnicking atmosphere. Free ice cream too can't go wrong! read more

David's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Pantego, Texas

I have been eating at David's for about three years now, and in my experience it is hit or miss. The ocra and potato salad are always great,but the quality of the meats tend to vary. Sometimes the ribs may be dry or chewy and other times the ribs are great. Same for the brisket, sometimes it is great and other times it is dry. I have only had the turkey once, and it was cut so thin it fell to bits in my box. The service is also unpredictable. A majority of the employees at David's are very nice, but the lady that is usually running the drive thru is very unpleasant. I recommend always walking in to get your food, even if you are getting it to go. We used to eat at David's quite often, but over the years, the bad experiences have stacked up so we go there less frequently. However, when the food is good, it is really good, so we haven't given up altogether. But now we know not to ever go through the drive thru, never get turkey and never eat there within a few hours of closing time. read more

We were expecting smaller portions!! The rib meat falls off the bone, the sausage was tasty, and the made to order okra was delicious. The beans seemed a bit generic but who cares about beans when everything else is so good? read more

David's Barbecue - Two meat plate with fresh made okra. Yummy! - Barbeque Near Me - Pantego, Texas

Good ol' Dave's BBQ. Come here for the brisket, its good stuff. Normally, I get a two meat combo (beef/sausage, 'tater salad, beans) and it always satisfies my tastes buds and (kinda) my appetite. The turkey was a bit dry when I got it once, and the cole slaw is unpleasant tasting to me. Its always a spot that I don't hesitate to drop a pretty penny at. The thing that pushes me from what I think is more of a 3/3.5 is how I was treated one time. I was extra hungry one day, and sinces Daves was nearby, I stopped in. The open sign was off, but I went in anyway. I approached the counter, but the man told me they had run out of all the meat except for chopped beef. (I KNOW, ran out of meat?) The man behind the counter told me he was sorry and offered me a free beef sandwich and a side. As my sandwich and beans were being prepped, the kind gentleman said, "Man, I'm sorry about this. You know what, you're a big guy: let me give you another sandwich on me." Yeah, good ol' Dave's read more

I had 'lunch' portions of 1/4 - 1/2lb slow roasted beef briskets with 2 sides - always fresh cornbread, coleslaw or baked beans. Staff was friendly, and someone once greeted me with 'Namaste' (even if I'm familiar with 'Vanakkam' for Tamil / Madras greeting). Plenty of locals and place did feel like a find! Thanks for the food and service! read more

David's Barbecue is located in old Arlington and it is an absolute gem! From the outside, David's Barbecue look like just another run down place, but once you enter the place, you cans sense the history behind this place. Built in 1910, David's Barbecue is celebrating their 100 years anniversaries; every Tuesday this month, they will have sandwich for a dollar, which is absolutely amazing and cheap. Today was my first experience @ David's Barbecue and it was just simply tasteful, juicy and such a delight! The Barbecue is just so juicy and cannot be put into words, unlike other BBQ place that I have been to, the meat here is just juicy and taste great. The down side here is their coleslaw and potatoes salad. Even though I never like side dish, I try their side just to have some and I was extremely disappointed. But aside from this one problem, David's BBQ is worth your money even when they don't have these promotions going on. Also, David's BBQ does not open on Sunday and Monday for some reason, so if you are craving some good BBQ, try to avoid having those craving on these two days. But this is a good place for some good in town food place with some history. read more

David's Barbeque has been outstanding for many years. They have been doing 'craft' barbeque years before that became such a media buzzword in the DFW area. Highly recommended. read more

I am used to eating my bbq at original sonny bryans in dallas. But alas, we've moved to arlington. Ordered for Super Bowl. They were open on Super Bowl Sunday! Sauce is smokey good and the meat is smoked? to perfection What else needs to be said? I love the fact that David's is using an old family recipe that can actually be traced back to Sonny Bryans original stuff! To me this is great DFW culture! Get the ribs! read more