Joe T Garcia’s

I like the atmosphere in here, it was pretty and laid back and the food was delicious. I wouldn’t hesitate to go here again.

This was our first time here, and I get that it’s a «Ft. Worth Institution» and all, but I think this place is highly overrated.
White tourist food (nothing against white tourists). The fajitas, beans, and rice all came on the same Comal. WTH is that? Decent margaritas, pretty good flour tortillas.
Unfortunately, we won’t be back. Surely there is better Tex-​Mex/​Mexican food in Ft. Worth. If not, then this town is dead to me.

It’s been a long time coming and on my list of places to eat for years & years. Not knowing our way around, we — fortunately — ended up in the dining room instead of the insanely long line for the patio. I did not know there were two separate entrances. Know this is you go. We could see the patio from our table, and it looked like a place worth a try in the future.
The salsa is insanely good. The queso was moderate… not nearly hot enough (temp-​wise, not spicy-​wise). All they offered from the kitchen was fajitas or their enchilada dinner. I know I saw more menu items on online menus, but to be honest, it really did not matter. The fajitas are AMAZING. The chicken may be the best I’ve ever tasted. The rice… OMG, the rice! Light, fluffy, and to die for!!!
There are a lot of compliments on the margaritas. Not sure what we did wrong… maybe because we ordered frozen? Nonetheless, they were unspectacular and almost watered down.
Our server was a bit on the inattentive side. He did not offer queso or guac or any type of up-​sell.
I can’t wait to go back & try the enchiladas!
NOTE: CASH ONLY

This is my first review, I suppose I felt the urge to finally write one after eating at this spot. Worst Mexican food EVER!
The food options on Saturday evening you only have two food options… I’m not making this stuff up. Then the food comes in family style like the food was made in an assembly line!?! I am not sure why the 1 hour wait but never go eat here! I swear make a pit stop at Taco Bell– it’s so much better!!! Oh, and you can only pay cash!!! What!!! The last piece is just tragic, when the manager was made aware of our experience, she didn’t apologize but instead said then don’t come back!!! Obviously, I’m not the first person to complain and I won’t be the last!

Family style Mexican with no menu! Packed but probably the largest restaurant I’ve been to; I hear the patio lights after dark are an experience. Mexican food came be similar elsewhere but the enchilada dinner sets it apart from the rest. Come hungry!

The food is nothing to write home about. This place is all about the atmosphere and margarita’s. If it wasnt for those two things I would not go back again. It is a fun place to bring folks who are visiting from out of town or to meet up with friends.
Not my first pick for tex-​mex in DFW.

This is a great place for tourists, but the line can be over an hour long on nights and weekends.

My first time to Fort Worth and this place is nothing but class! The food is the best Mexican I have ever had! It started with casual conversation with my waiter Chris. He asked how I found them? I had told him that I belonged to a Veteran group on FB called Drinkin Bros. We share our thoughts and commonly ask for local recommendations when traveling. Right before I left I asked Chris where the ATM was as it’s cash or check only. He responded with, «This one is on me, thank you for your service.» I was and am still blown away. It’s extremely rare a service member or Veteran is showed respect especially when it’s not a holiday. I will never forget this experience and will certainly tell people about it. Chris restored my faith in humanity today. Please go you won’t regret the experience. I will always visit when I’m in town. Thank you Chris for your service it’s an experience I will never forget.

The short review is that the food is okay, the drinks are very good, and the atmosphere and history are amazing. A must visit restaurant.

I am not sure this place needs another good review to stay in business (they’ve been a Fort Worth institution since 1935), but I need to Unilocal about something, so here goes…
If you find yourself near the Stockyards or downtown Cowtown, tucked away off Main Street is a slice of Tex-​Mex heaven called Joe T’s by most locals. There ARE signs off Main Street pointing to it, but you might miss it unless you GPS-​it. Note that the surrounding area is a bit dicey — there is plenty of parking cross-​corned from the entrance to Joe T’s, but take your valuables from your car!
Both times I have dined here, I have sat outside on the patio, which is like eating in another world. Nice gardens, pools, and wrought iron furniture make this feel like you are in Spain or Mexico.
Service was good-​great both times — the waiters work in teams so don’t hesitate to grab anyone to ask for more water… The salsa is HOT HOT HOT!
The next best thing after the chips and salsa is the margaritas. I’ve heard that there is a limit of 2 per person. I am not a light-​weight when it comes to alcohol and I was feeling like a fiesta after only one (and they aren’t even that big!)
The menu is pretty standard tex-​mex. You can’t go wrong with fajitas (and you’ll remember the meal by smelling your clothes after waking up from the nap you’ll take after a lunch here). I also tried the cheese chili relleno. My brother said that it was the best mexican rice and refried beans he has ever had, but take this recommendation with a grain of salt because he lives in Ohio.
If you want a Mexican meal that will be memorable, head to the one and only Joe T’s. Oh and bring CASH, because like in 1935, they don’t take credit cards!

Don’t let card swiping haters dissuade you. This is my favorite Mexican place anywhere.
Yes, it’s CASH ONLY. Yes, it’s dinner menu is limited. Yes, there are long waits during prime-​time on weekends (Friday & Saturday).
Why are there such lines for a cash only place with very limited food menu? Because it’s that good!!!
Choose from Mexican dinner (nacho, enchilada, taco) or fajitas (beef, chicken, combo). They’re all bullet proof. My pick: chicken fajitas.
Pro tip: add a bowl of queso.
Margaritas are really good here too.
What sets Joe T’s apart is there service. After eating there dozens of times, I’ve never had an off experience. Never.

Joe T’s has the best outdoor patio in DFW!
Any time we have friends or family in town, this is place we take them. It’s great for large parties and children. It’s one of our go-​to restaurants, for sure!

Love me some Joe T’s. Great environment, good food. Be prepared to wait in line but it is sooooooooo worth it.
Stacy D

Very cool crowd. I didn’t like the lack of variety on their dinner menu and I hate they only take cash. The have an ATM with a reasonable charge. Great margaritas though.
There’s much better Mexican food in the area. For the price, lack of variety, inconvenience and wait time it’s really not worth it.

Horrible wait time people showed up and got seated and their food before us even though we waited 1 hour and a half in line and at table and they showed up 5 minutes before we were seated.
Beautiful grounds though. The outside seating is the only way to go.
Dinner options are chicken/​beef fajitas or enchiladas so don’t expect anything else because they don’t have it.
Unless you just want to booze up on Margaritas I don’t recommend this place. I rarely write reviews and I am extremely patient. I was talked out of walking out
Negative stars

Total tourist trap. Expected better.
Took my Mom here on Mother’s Day. She was visiting from California and thought it would be memorable to go to this popular institution.
There were two things on the menu for Mother’s Day so one would expect them to be good. Fajitas were cold as if it was sitting for a while. It definitely was not sizzling when brought to our table. Enchiladas were also cold. Had to be pre-​made and sitting for a while because the meals were brought to our table before the chips.
This was very disappointing!

I went to Joe T. Garcia’s for lunch yesterday and I must admit I really enjoyed eating there. The place was super packed and even though I was in a party of 20 people I waited in line for about 20 minutes. Good thing you can order a drink while waiting in line!
The place is absolutely beautiful. There’s trees everywhere, beautiful water fountains and plenty of nice settings to take pictures.
Now for the food. They basically only have two entrees on the menu: fajitas or enchiladas. It may seem strange, but the entrées do come with rice, beans and nachos. Plus the endless supply of chips and salsa. I was very satisfied with my food!
ALERT: they take CASH ONLY. Yes, no credit/​debit cards. But they have an ATM on site for your convenience.
Overall I would highly recommend this place for anyone looking for an extra spice to their tex-​mex experience.

Fantastic atmosphere and delicious food. Plenty to eat and plenty to share. Family friendly and can handle large crowds with seating up to 1,500. Our kids love it and we always bring out of town visitors here. 5 stars! You won’t be disappointed.
Dinner menu is a choice of either cheese enchiladas or steak/​chicken fajitas. Cash Only.

This place is a Fort Worth establishment, or so I’m told. I’m inclined to agree since people line up to wait to get a table and they probably have 300 tables. Do the math, they can serve so many people at once and there is always a line. Incredible.
But don’t be turned off by the idea of waiting in line. It’s no longer than a 30 minute wait and you can run to the bar and bring out a pitcher of margs to make it more fun.
The ambience is unlike any other place that I visited in Fort Worth. It’s a large oasis-​like patio with fountains, flowers, intimate music, and full of sunshine. It was beautifully done and just the right amount of cheesy.
Speaking of cheesy, the «nachos.» I put that in quotation, not only because it’s just a chip with cheese and a bit of jalapeño tapenade, but also because they call it nachos, but there’s only one.
The food is just ok, but there’s so much of it. Between the two of us, we didn’t even make a dent in the fajitas for two. It was like never-​ending meat, which isn’t a bad thing, but it wasn’t anything special. The margaritas were a bit too sour and were strong, which made the sour even worse. The food isn’t notable, but probably because they have to make everything in bulk.
This is somewhere you go once, just to do it. Or maybe you go on special occasions or when friends are visiting. Don’t go here for the food, but rather for the experience.

I went here while visiting the Stockyards and had a really great experience. We got there around 5:15 and waited in what seemed to be a long line for about 20 minutes. The line got even longer as we waited and was still long when we left, but it moves quickly because this place is huge! Normally lines are a big turn off for me but it moves fast and I definitely got the sense that this is placed was filled with locals. The outdoor seating in the garden is really lovely. Service was quick. The menu was hilariously small (enchiladas or fajitas) but I sort of loved that. The portions are very generous, so come hungry! Be aware, cash only!
(+) local vibe
(+) quick service
(+) garden seating
(+) generous portions
(-) small menu (not great for picky eaters)
(-) the line – pro tip: go inside to get drinks to enjoy while you wait

well worth the wait… if you plan it right!
had my very first Joe T Garcia’s experience this past weekend and I loved everything about it. I was prepared for the wait so that wasn’t big deal, we got there around 5:30 and got seating close to 7. I think as long as you don’t show up when your hungry, buy a pitcher of margaritas, wear comfy shoes, and have good company you should be fine!
we got nachos as an app and then the fajitas as the main meal and they were both delicious. I loved all of the outdoor seating and fountains. just make sure you bring cash, if you forget no worries they have ATM’s but you’ll be in line with the rest of the people who didn’t know to bring cash. I’d absolutely go back, it seems like a fun place to take out of towners who want delicious tex-​mex.

Well, I have been to Joe T’s many times, but it was all in the distant past. It was all at dinner. I can’t say I ever disliked the place, but I remember that you either had enchiladas or fajitas, take your pick. Used to not even be a menu, best I recall.
The atmosphere is great. A true Fort Worth, Texas institution. You have to eat here at least once. My wife ordered a Margarita, which was delivered in a glass that resembles (and probably is) from the glass factory in Juarez, Mexico that my wife and I used to visit before the town got unstable. Hand blown glass, rather cool if you ask me.
We ate there for lunch today. They gave us a menu. Its been a few years since we’ve been here. I was pleased they have a menu now. Maybe they always have for lunch. The options weren’t expansive, but they were sufficient. My wife and I ordered a bowl of queso, a mexican plate (two cheese enchiladas, rice, beans, chips, salsa), a cheese tostada, and a quesadilla. We shared it all.
My wife liked her margarita, said it was good. The salsa was a little bland, but not bad. I personally love cilantro, so if salsa doesn’t have cilantro tickling my tongue, I tend to think it not flavorful. However, this was spicy. So I ordered a side bowl of cilantro, which they happily provided, and I dumped it in everything. Made the salsa go from good to great.
The chips were probably the least appealing, although they weren’t bad. They were thick, very thick. Not as crisp and fresh as I would have liked, but they were still good enough. The bowl of Queso was good. Not great, but good. Sort of a softer white melted cheese, easy on the flavor. I like a sharper cheese, but that is just my preference.
The Quesadilla was good. Big soft flour tortilla with lots and lots and lots of white cheese in the middle, served with a small side helping of pico de gallo and sour cream. We really enjoyed it.
The enchiladas were really good. They say they are served with ‘a tomato sauce,’ which I would agree. They are good old style enchiladas, but I have had better, but not by much though. These are up there.
The beans are excellent, just tasty as can be. I could nearly go there just for the refried beans, which are not usually my strong suit. Very tasty. The rice was good, not bland. The side tortillas were fresh, the real thing.
I asked for some jalapeños on the side. I was expecting a small bowl of sliced jalapeños. They brought out a bowl of, umm jalapeño relish? I guess? It was fantastic! I’ve never seen this before and I’ve eaten my weight in Mexican food yearly across Texas and New Mexico. *recommended*
The cheese tostadas are really good, better than average honestly. They top it with tasty cheese and their jalapeño relish.
I wish I could give a 4.5. Wasn’t perfect, but was darn close.
Sit on the patio, it is really really really nice. I mean, the patio is the bomb and makes the place, although the interior of the home/​restaurant is really cool.

What can you say about Joe T’s that hasn’t been said already? The margaritas are cold and have a great kick-​after two you will be feeling no pain. I love this Ft. Worth institution dearly even if I have to wait in a mile long line to get in. I am not a fan of the fajitas as I think the meat is too dry, but I love those cheese enchiladas. They are gooey and filled with the perfect amount of cheese and grease. The amount of food is overwhelming and you will not leave hungry. I always get a container of refried beans to go as they are my absolute favorite. I am sure they are made with pure lard, but who really cares.

The food isn’t bad. If I didn’t know it was Joe T’s, I’d eat it again.
I’m a fan of the special margarita.
The whole «no menus» thing? Eh…
The whole «cash only» thing? That’s gotta go.
Rich’s recommendation: go if you must, mostly for the experience, not at a busy time, and with plenty of cash.

Joe T’s is a Ft Worth institution. They are known for their gorgeous outdoor eating area (careful of bees in the summer), their delicious fajitas, and their damn good margaritas. If you pull up and the line is long, don’t let it discourage you because it moves quickly.
It’s cash only so remember to hit the ATM beforehand. Another word of advice is to go SLOW in the parking lots. There are tons of hidden pot holes and dips, so don’t come barreling in like speed racer unless your goal is to blow a tire.
There is no menu but don’t let that scare you. Your server will ask if you are familiar with their food and explain everything to you if it’s your first time.
You must order their fajitas at least once. It’s a massive plate and no splitting is allowed so be prepared to take home leftovers. Especially since it’s almost guaranteed you will fill up on chips.
I skipped the chip basket last night and still left half my plate untouched. I had the combination beef and chicken fajitas which come with rice, refried beans, guacamole, fresh flour tortillas, cheese and sour cream (I declined those last two). The flour tortillas are made in house and downright addictive. It’s impossible to just eat one.
Next time I will be ordering enchiladas as I saw the table next to us get them and was very envious. Our service was stellar as always and though we ate outside on a chilly night, we remained comfortable from all the heat lamps they had set up.
Another great experience here. We will most definitely be back for more!

For how widely known this place is. I wasn’t very impressed with their «Tex mex». Sadly it had rained that day so I didn’t even get to sit on the infamous patio!
First off, their queso tasted like cheese soup. There was no texture, super watery, and very bland in flavor. We added half our salsa (which was actually pretty good) into the queso.
We split the combination fajitas which were pretty good! I only had steak but the meat was tasty and seasoned well. Beware– cheese and sour cream are an extra $ 1 EACH.
The margaritas were strong! Very good– I heard they don’t use mix but my bf insisted he could taste too much mix because it was so sweet/​sour.
I might try this place again for the patio, however I don’t know if I’ll wait an hour again.