What We Ate: Joe T. Garcia’s (Fort Worth)

Collage of two images of a restaurant sign

The first time I visited Fort Worth institution Joe T. Garcia’s as an adult, I was told I would do one of two things: Order the enchiladas or the fajitas. And drink a margarita. And eat the assorted tostadas that made their way to the table before the main event.

(Okay. So maybe that’s four things. But they were good things.)

Back in December, my cousin, her family, her in-laws, their family, Winston and I trekked over to Fort Worth for a lovely day on the patios of Joe T’s. We repeated this on Saturday with my in-laws, first visiting an art museum and a brewery before ending our tour of Cow Town at this Mexican restaurant, and we had a fabulous time.

Plate of food in front of glasses of water at a restaurant
Collage of two images showing beef and vegetables

Let me be the first to say that the beef and chicken fajitas live up to the hype, especially since the tortillas are clearly homemade, as is the guacamole.

join our party!

get our latest recipes delivered to your inbox every week — plus all my entertaining tips and tricks!


    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

    My preferred way to eat one? Slather some guacamole on the tortilla, followed by refried beans and cheese before topping that with the meat and veggies and maybe just a little bit of rice before rolling it up and consuming quickly.

    It’s so good.

    Collage of two images showing a beverage and a plate of food

    Collage of two images showing bowl of salsa and decorative vases Collage of two images of plates of food

    Not only is the food delicious, but the grounds of Joe T’s are something to visit solely for. When the weather is nice, everyone eats in the gardens… and they are gorgeous.

    Every time I have been, I’ve enjoyed a brisk walk around the grounds before hopping back in the car for the hour-long drive back to our Dallas home.

    Two images of outdoor dining and a water fountain

    How could you not enjoy walking around a place that has architectural elements like this? And a fountain?

    Two images showing a sculpture and outdoor dining

    Have you ever been to Joe T. Garcia’s?

    Other things and places where we ate and drank: What We Ate: State Fair of Texas (2014)What We Ate: Cape Cod {May 2014}What We Ate: State Fair of Texas (2013)What We Ate: Sylvain (New Orleans, La.)What We Ate: New Orleans (May 2013)What We Ate: Los Angeles, Venice Beach, Culver City and everywhere in between / What We Ate: Bartley’s B.B.Q. (Grapevine)What We Ate: Snooze A.M. Eatery (Denver)What We Ate: State Fair of TexasWhat We Ate: New OrleansWhat We Ate: DenverWhat We Ate: Crawfish Season

    A woman with dark curly hair wearing a black tank top in front of a white wall

    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

    Similar Posts

    Before leaving a comment or rating, ask yourself:

    • Did you make the recipe as directed? If you didn’t or made an ingredient swap, please do not leave a rating. Recipe results are not guaranteed when changes have been made.
    • Is your comment helpful to others? Rude or hateful comments will not be approved. Please remember that this website is run by a real person.
    • Are you complaining about ads? I develop these recipes and provide them to you for free. Advertising allows me to continue to do so at not cost to you. It is also unavoidable on the internet and in everyday life. If you want recipes without ads, please purchase a cookbook or borrow one from your local library.

    7 Comments

      1. Don’t be jealous — just come visit Texas and try it for yourself! It’s quite lovely, and the combination of the atmosphere and the food is pretty fantastic. I just wish I lived closer!

    1. Looks like some pretty good eats, those fajitas are calling my name…too bad I live so far away lol I am always looking for the perfect fajita though 😛

      1. Yes, ma’am. These are DEFINITELY good eats… and I’m convinced I could happily eat these fajitas daily because they’re that darn good, especially with the homemade flour tortillas. SO GOOD. And it’s a shame that you live so far away… but you can always visit and check it out!

      1. Sorry ’bout that, girl. I could probably eat fajitas daily. Definitely weekly. (My waistline would be SO SAD, but my tummy would be SO HAPPY.)

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *