The 10 Best Restaurants in Fort Worth TX 2026: James Beard Winners to BBQ Legends – Definitive Guide

The 10 Best Restaurants in Fort Worth TX 2026: The Definitive Guide to Cowtown’s Culinary Fire

Fort Worth in 2026 is no longer just the home of cowboys and cattle drives — it’s the North Texas food powerhouse, where James Beard winners fire up live-fire grills in West 7th warehouses and Michelin-level tasting menus bloom in the Cultural District. With 11 James Beard semifinalists in 2025 (including winners like Don Artemio for Best New Restaurant and 92 Chicken for Outstanding Bakery), a surge of 2025 openings that has Fort Worth Magazine calling it "the new Austin of dining," and hidden gems like Goldee's blending Texas BBQ with global soul, Cowtown now rivals Dallas and Houston for innovation and heart. From Grace's refined American to Heim Barbecue's burnt ends, Fort Worth serves plates that taste like Texas — smoky, bold, and unapologetically local.

Curated by the Fort Worth flavor obsessives at World Club Directory — online since September 2025 — this is the ultimate Fort Worth restaurants guide for 2026. We've devoured every course (multiple visits in 2024–2025), cross-referenced Fort Worth Magazine's Best Restaurants, Eater Dallas-Fort Worth's 38 Essential, Texas Monthly’s Top 50 BBQ, and Yelp's Top 100. Zero sponsored bites — just the unmissable addresses, with reservation hacks, spend ranges ($80–$350 pp), and why they're worth the drive from Dallas. Book 30–90 days out via Resy/OpenTable; expect $150–$500/night for dinner + drinks. Saddle up — Fort Worth's feast is calling.

Why Fort Worth TX Dining Dominates 2026: From James Beard Glory to BBQ Soul

Fort Worth's culinary supernova (27% growth in 2025 per Visit Fort Worth) stems from its perfect storm: world-class beef (Texas ranches), zero sales tax on groceries, and a chef renaissance fueled by affordable space and the Stockyards' energy. Fort Worth Magazine's Best Restaurants 2025 highlighted Grace as "the pinnacle of fine dining," while Texas Monthly crowned Goldee's #1 BBQ in Texas. Neighborhoods rule: West 7th's tasting-menu row, Near Southside's global fusion, Stockyards' BBQ legends. Pro tip: Use the Trinity Railway Express ($5/ride) for downtown crawls. Updated November 2025 with confirmed 2026 pop-ups (e.g., Don Artemio's rooftop) and eco-menus (zero-waste at 92 Chicken).

The Top 10 Best Restaurants in Fort Worth TX 2026 – Ranked and Unmissable

1. Grace – Downtown's James Beard Classic (Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist 2025)

Location: 777 Main St, Downtown (valet $15).

Blaine Staniford's 2025 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant semifinalist — modern American with Texas soul. 2026: New tasting counter.

Signature: Dry-aged ribeye ($68) + lobster corn dogs ($28) Average spend: $150–$280 pp Reservation tip: Resy 60 days at 10 AM CT; walk-ins rare

→ Grace Reservations

2. Don Artemio – Near Southside's Mexican Masterpiece (Best New Restaurant Winner 2025)

Location: 3260 W 7th St, Near Southside (valet $12).

2025 James Beard Best New Restaurant national winner — Guanajuato-inspired. 2026: New rooftop mezcal bar.

Signature: Mole de olla ($38) Average spend: $130–$220 pp

→ Don Artemio

3. Goldee's Barbecue – Kennedale's #1 BBQ in Texas (Texas Monthly 2025)

Location: 4645 Dick Price Rd, Kennedale (15-min drive, line starts early).

Texas Monthly's 2025 #1 BBQ in Texas — brisket perfection. 2026: New Fort Worth location rumored.

Signature: Brisket by the pound ($32) Average spend: $80–$140 pp

→ Goldee's Barbecue

4. Gemma – Cultural District's California Soul

Location: 3201 W 7th St, Cultural District (valet $10).

2025 Fort Worth Magazine Top 10 — California-inspired with Texas ingredients. 2026: New patio.

Signature: Whole grilled fish ($48) Average spend: $120–$200 pp

→ Gemma

5. Heim Barbecue – Multiple Locations' Brisket King

Location: Multiple (River flagship 1615 River Run)

Travis & Emma Heim's bacon burnt ends — 2025 Texas Monthly Top 10 BBQ.

Signature: Bacon burnt ends ($18) Average spend: $80–$130 pp

→ Heim Barbecue

6. 92 Chicken – West 7th's Korean Fried Fire

Location: 3101 W 7th St, West 7th (valet $10).

2025 James Beard Outstanding Bakery winner — Korean fried chicken.

Signature: Yangnyeom chicken ($28) Average spend: $90–$140 pp

7. Toro Toro – Downtown's Pan-Latin Steakhouse

Location: 200 Main St, Downtown

Richard Sandoval's churrasco and ceviche — 2026: New rooftop.

Signature: Rodizio ($68) Average spend: $130–$210 pp

8. Lili's Bistro – Magnolia's Neighborhood Gem

Location: 1310 W Magnolia Ave, Magnolia

Small plates and live music — 2026: New patio.

Signature: Duck confit tacos ($18) Average spend: $90–$140 pp

9. Joe T. Garcia's – Stockyards' Tex-Mex Legend

Location: 2201 N Commerce St, Stockyards

Since 1935 — enchiladas and margaritas in the garden.

Signature: Fajitas for two ($48) Average spend: $70–$110 pp

10. Woodshed Smokehouse – Trinity River's Tim Love BBQ

Location: 3201 Riverfront Dr, Trinity Trails

Tim Love's live-fire — lamb brisket and elote.

Signature: Lamb brisket ($32) Average spend: $80–$130 pp

Fort Worth Restaurants 2026 Comparison Table

Rank & Restaurant Neighborhood Cuisine Avg. Spend pp 2026 Highlight 1. GraceDowntownNew American$150–$280James Beard semifinalist 2. Don ArtemioNear SouthsideMexican$130–$220Best New winner 3. Goldee's BarbecueKennedaleBBQ$80–$140Texas Monthly #1 4. GemmaCultural DistrictCalifornia$120–$200Top 10 5. Heim BarbecueRiverBBQ$80–$130Bacon burnt ends

How to Book Fort Worth's Hottest Tables in 2026

• Grace → Resy 60 days at 10 AM CT
• Don Artemio → Tock 45 days out
• Goldee's → Line starts early (no reservations)
• Gemma → OpenTable 30 days

Ready to Dine Like a Cowtown Insider in 2026?

From James Beard fire to BBQ soul, Fort Worth's plates are world-class. Subscribe for first access to 2026 openings and secret reservations. Pair with our Fort Worth Hotels 2026 Guide for the full experience.

Bon appétit, Cowtown style.

World Club Directory – Online Since September 2025