688 Freeport Pkwy
Coppell, TX 75019
(972) 471-5462

Hard Eight wins the trophy when it comes to presentation. How else to woo the undecided patron but with a smoker full of barbecued meats right next to the checkout stand? On several visits, the whole chicken dipped in a lemon-herb butter sauce garnered my undying affection. Hard Eight cooks a good brisket, when one remembers to ask for a nice moist, off-the-point cut, but it doesn’t compare to Rudy’s. As with most BBQ establishments, side dishes are an afterthought at Hard Eight. Their cornbread salad, while interesting, evoked the dryness of some of their meats. Their jalapeno corn lacked flavor and punch. I am definitely not a fan of their bland barbecue sauce, which tasted more like a brown gravy than anything resembling barbecue sauce. Now…if you like beans, you can stock up all you like at Hard Eight, since it comes free with every meal. Just fill up at the serving station at the other end of the dining room. Speaking of which, Hard Eight’s dining area looks comfortable and clean, more than I can say than a lot of hole-in-the-wall joints…but perhaps that’s the chain atmosphere of Hard Eight, since they have 3 location in North Texas.

Is it the best BBQ in Texas? Not by a long shot. But it’s good enough ‘que in a suburban setting…should the need arise for you to fill your belly with smoked meats.

1927 E Belt Line Rd
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 416-0810

Located in a strip mall competing with Chinese, Vietnamese, and Mexican eateries, VIP Buffet tries to lure the ethnic crowd into its establishment with the promise of diversity and budget dining prices. This however is no guarantee of quality…but buffets usually fall short in this category. So it is with VIP buffet, large variety of dishes: some passable, others poorly executed. Just like Best Buffet, it’s best you steer clear of the chafing dishes sitting around for awhile, untouched–an obvious flag. The sushi cabinet looked unappetizing while the bizarre assortment of fried foods boggled the mind: where else would you find fried mini corn-dogs sitting next to chicken teriyaki and enchiladas? (Did I mention they have jars of salsa on the tables, next to the hot sauce and soy sauce?) On a couple of visits, the garlic crab tended to be consistently good, while the korean short ribs ended up being flavorless and disappointing. VIP Buffet also serves up dim sum on the line, typically pork buns, chicken feet, steamed spare ribs, and assorted dumplings. Again, some were good; others, not so much. But gauging a buffet’s success is the ratio between tummy satisfaction and the hit on wallet. In this case VIP Buffet is cheap and affordable, worth the trip if all you need is filler–it’s not the place for celebrations or a date.

2540 Old Denton Rd
Carrollton, TX 75011
(972) 466-0786

If the cuisine at BBQ Tonite is considered Pakistani, then it differs from Indian food mainly due to the lack of veggies and sharp spicing. The fiance and I went on a dining adventure at BBQ Tonite, attempting to discern the difference between Indian and Pakistani cuisine, and determined that the differences were minimal. Our Indopak experience had no curries, tended toward the mild and buttery–no sharp tantalizing flavors or odors–though represented by many familiar names: such as korma, tandoori, biryani. I personally enjoyed the goat dishes and found the beef stew extremely tender and flavorful. The tandoori chicken surprised me with its juiciness. Instead of a spicy pickle medley, they offered sliced chiles and a bizarre looking spicy condiment, which was later identified as picked mangoes. Some amazing standouts at the buffet were a mashed sweet potato (we assumed it was yams and not pumpkin) dish and their dense creamy custard flan (one of the best flans I’ve ever had).

If the flavor profiles at BBQ Tonite were a bit more daring (i.e. less home-cooking) and spicier, I think I could be persuaded to visit again…however, I’d like to try it during the week, when buffet prices should be more attractive.

18010 N Dallas Parkway
Dallas, TX 75334
(972) 733-1110

This review is long overdue. I’ve been a long-time fan of Rafain, and next to Fogo de Chao, it is the next best source of Brazilian BBQ in Dallas. The changes in their pricing and menu (mostly in the salad bar) makes it more competitive with other churrascaria in the DFW and improved the overall dining experience of thisone-price-smorgasbord. No longer do you have to pay separately for their dessert bar, it comes packaged with your meat-and-salad-bar price. I’m happy to see plentiful selections on their hot-and-cold bar, and their desserts never cease to lure me in. However, the meat extravaganza is the show-stopper at Rafain…from their Picanha and Lamb Chops to their Garlic Beef and Beef Ribs, every cut was a delight and served to our specifications. No overcooked, dried or reheated meats here–when we found a specific meat conspicuously absent from the rotation, we needed only to ask and were visited by a gaucho with a fresh skewer of medium-rare meat or grilled pineapple. I remember visiting when the Dallas outpost of Rafain was barely a few weeks old, and the service has since gotten much better. Our hosts were always observant–quickly refilling our glasses and clearing out empty plates–and always considerate about our requests. For nearly $40 a person, my fiance and I had a most pleasurable dining experience. While the economy might be prohibitive of such luxury, I think it’s for this very reason that we sometimes need to throw caution to the wind and go out to enjoy a meat coma. For me, I’ll have a Garlic Beef coma with my triple-bypass please.

An all-you-can-eat Texas BBQ buffet? Say it isn’t so! When I heard of the buffet at North Main BBQ, I hurriedly packed the fiance into the truck and drove 40 minutes to Euless to see it for myself. And I was not disappointed! For a mere $12, North Main BBQ serves up a good selection of meats, 3 types of sides (on our visit, cole slaw, potato salad and beans), along with the requisite onions, pickles, peppers and sauce. Oh, and for that price your buffet comes with ice/sweetened tea as well…which came as a huge disappointment for us soda drinkers, because the soda machine took only $1 dollar bills (why no soda fountain) and the water came out tasting like unfiltered water (blech). But who cares what you wash down your meats with? North Main serves up fabulous pulled pork (surprisingly smoky) and moist, tasty brisket (not as crusty as it is fatty). Many folks in line also vouched for the shredded beef sandwiches, though I stuck with the standards. North Main boasts it has the best pork ribs in the world; I disagreed, finding them tough, dried and flavorless on at least two separate visits to the buffet line. Their chicken also suffered the same fate, while their sausage tasted grocery-store quality. I did find their peppery coleslaw a little bizarre, and just as cough-inducing as their peppery tabasco sauce (cowboy sauce, they called it). However, one thing that North Main got right: they never overfilled their chafing dishes with food, ensuring that fresh cuts of meats were constantly refilling the empty trays. And the food just kept coming as more and more patrons filled up the restaurant on a busy Saturday lunch. Oh, perhaps that’s another reason for North Main’s success: they’re only open Friday through Sunday, which no doubt generates an appetite for their food. There is no denying that North Main’s buffet is a fantastic deal for good barbecue–but remember to exercise some restraint. I’ve learned that there is a limit to gorging on Texas bbq–and North Main is one place where I learned that there is such thing as too much meat!

14910 Midway Rd
Addison, TX 75244
(972) 991-8811

There are many reasons for eating at Snuffer’s and very few reasons not to. What recommends this place is their menu of reliable bar food: their burgers are meaty and juicy, and prepped the way you order them. Their loaded cheddar fries are gut-bustingly delicious…the best I’ve had in town. The downside of Snuffer’s is that it IS a bar, so if you dislike that atmosphere, best to steer clear. However, Snuffer’s knows that their food is well-received, and at this Addison location, they can seat you as far away from the alcohol as possible, patio seating is possible. This particular location is frequented by bar hoppers, sports watchers, and families alike, so it tends to be crowded and noisy especially on weekends. What not to order here: onion fries. We sent our plate of cakey, flavorless onion straws back to the kitchen with our apologies. Of all our burger adventures, Snuffer’s has proven to be the best.

190 E. Stacy Rd
Ste 1714
Allen, TX 75002
(972) 678-2940

Mooyah really doesn’t have much going for it, except the cute name and the family-friendly setup. Burgers here were just average fare…overpriced for unimpressive thin patties. Shakes were barely memorable. The only standout was their in-house cut fries…and I admit those were tasty. If you’re looking for a “kid-safe” environment, Mooyah would suffice…but those quarter-pound burgers are probably too much for the little ones. Good thing they have grilled cheese and hot dogs on the menu. Gourmet burgers Mooyah serves not…mooove on!

18101 Preston Rd #302
Dallas, TX 75252
(972) 250-2000

Every dining adventure involves the risk of failure, turning hungry appetites into disappointing encounters. Such was my visit to Dimassi’s, a newly opened Mediterranean buffet in Far North Dallas. The buffet line was piled high with food for a 5pm dinner, and the dining room was conspicuously vacant, save for a couple of patrons…a bad sign for a weekend evening. An axiom about buffets: the more food left sitting out, the worse the food tastes. And so it was with Dimassi’s: rock-hard cold pita bread, overly dried chicken kabobs, soggy fried cauliflower and countless of other tasteless offerings (their rice pudding was so heavy with rosewater that it was nigh inedible). There was no turnover on the buffet line the entire time I was there…and why would there be, when the food was so horribly neglected in their chafing trays? I wondered if the evening crowd would be treated to the same repast as my dining companion and me. The only bright notes on their buffet were their garlic sauce and baba ghanoosh, an unidentifiable rice dish with boned chicken and pine nuts, and their passable baklava. Thankfully the price of the buffet was under $12 a person…we made sure that we left no tip for the non-existent customer service. An okay place for filler, bad place for authentic Mediterranean food.

12895 Josey Ln
Farmer’s Branch, TX 75006
(972) 243-4901

The fellow running Marshall’s counter was decidedly jolly and chatty with this early-evening-dinner gal looking to sate her BBQ cravings. As much as he seemed attentive however, he couldn’t deliver on the promise of good brisket. The barbecue here was “just okay”. I requested some fatty (NOT LEAN) brisket…I pleaded for “off the point” and some tasty “crusty” brisket, but the cut I received was nowhere near what I asked for. Sure, it tasted of smoke and I had morsels of flavorful crust, but the brisket was fall-apart dry. When I want moist, I want to see it glisten without having to poke the meat for the heavenly juices gluing together a rich, fatty brisket. The nice surprise to the meal however were the sides…I enjoyed the mayo-mustard potato salad and devoured their unique “signature” carrot-pineapple slaw. I’d like to give Marshall’s another try again for their sides…but if only I could convince them to cut me some outstanding brisket.

240 Legacy Dr Ste 306
Plano, TX 75086
(972) 517-8200

Does it say something about the restaurant when it merits a return visit for their buffet? Ok, perhaps I may not have as discriminating a palate for Indian lunch buffets as other buffet-goers, but on 2 separate visits, Iravat did not disappoint. I enjoyed seeing a good selection of non-vegetarian dishes on their buffet line, and even partook of their naan. I do find that the tandoori chicken was overly dry (perhaps chicken drumsticks shouldn’t be the choice for this) and I found their veggie selections lacking (the veg pakoras lacked the light, crispiness that I was looking for). I also expected more heat from their curries, which I quickly resolved by ladling some of their spicy pickled carrots over my meal. I can describe the flavor of their dishes as conservative, which does not always characterize good and true Indian cooking, but what I ate of Iravat’s buffet was fairly palatable and reasonably priced. Given my distance from Pasand, Iravat is much nicer drive in prettier digs, and worth repeat visits.

5012 W Park Blvd
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 931-8898

When the fiance pointed out “steak and grill” on the sign outside the restaurant, I wasn’t sure he was in the mood for some raw fish. But Osaka, an all-you-can-eat Japanese buffet, has just the right amount of fresh and cooked food to entice even the most reluctant raw food noob. After years of visiting Osaka, I am happy to report that they are my go-to place when I’m in no mood to make the trek to Addison for Tokyo One. I like that Osaka seems more intimate, less intimidating than other Texas-sized buffets. I always manage to find unexpected gems on both the warm and cold sides of the buffet. This is the mark of a successful Japanese buffet, keeping the menu interesting by remaining inventive.

17390 Preston Rd
Dallas, TX 75252
(972) 248-2424

The fiance and I came to LaHa in search of the best fajitas in town…and while it was leagues better than the dessicated fajita meat we had at On The Border, LaHa fajitas did not earn any great honors from us. What did please us was that one fajita dinner plate could be shared by two, and I had no problem sharing the fajitas (a rare occurrence for me) because of the host of meat on our sizzling platter. I did wish that there had been more grilled onions on the plate, and my fondness for dipping my rolled up fajita in salsa was tempered by the mild, smokiness of that dip. I was looking for spicy heat but found none. The best part of our visit to LaHa was the sinfully sweet ending–LaHa served up a fantastic sizzling-hot pecan pie swimming in a chocolate-whiskey sauce with a side of ice cream! Marvelous!

208 North Greenville Ave.
Allen, TX 75002
(214) 383-7555

Nothing exciting at this Allen town barbecue franchise. Ordered the sampler platter which came with bland and dreary brisket. Tough, dry and no smoky flavor at all! At least the mesquite chicken proved flavorful and a lot less dry. The ribs didn’t taste like anything coming out of a smoker (do they even have a smoker at this location? I couldn’t tell!) but at least were moist and nearly fall-off-the-bone tender. Terribly disappointing amount of onion rings ordered as a side–while and fresh and hot, there just wasn’t enough to elevate this meal above obscurity. Bar-B-Cutie’s only redeeming quality is that it’s located in downtown and has a solid selection of bbq sandwiches (with pulled pork featuring prominently) to satisfy the lunch-going crowd. Just too pricy for the quality and the amount of meat that you get.

335 Central Expy
Allen, TX 75013
(214) 495-9090

This isn’t your typical casual burger eatery, replete with condiment aisle and ice cream/shake dispensers. But JC’s Burger House is a satisfying stop if you’re looking for simple, cooked-to-order burgers. They have a simple grill menu, with burgers and chicken featured as the prime meat sources. There are some salad options–but JC’s is not the place to order them, especially when competing with the likes of “To Die For” Cheese Fries, Beer Battered Onion Rings and Jalepeno Bites, Apple or Apricot Pie, and Homemade Blue Bell Shakes and Malts. The quality of their burgers are one notch above fast food, typical of what you might get from a greasy spoon down the corner. JC’s throws down the gauntlet for any brave souls willing to try out their “Todd-Zilla” burger, a 1.5lb burger with triple cheese and triple patties…you get a spot of honor on their wall and a T-shirt if you manage to conquer this heart-attack inducing monster. On my next visit, I plan on trying out their cheese fries…

310 Coneflower Dr
Garland, Texas 75040
Phone 972-530-6688

Mastergrill will probably be the destination for budget-minded Brazilian steakhouse goers. Their menu prices are very reasonable compared to the big name joints found in the DFW area. However, the lower prices also reflect the lower standards of this budding chain. After several visits (more than 5, less than 10) to their Garland and Frisco locations, I found their meats dry and mostly overcooked (especially during lunch), their salad bar just mildly interesting. Many a time, bread baskets were not refilled and dirty plates sat around awhile before being whisked away (though the Frisco location seemed much more on the ball when it came to service). The digs are upscale enough to host special occasions without being too flaunty, yet the casual suburban locations make it unimposing for neighborhood families with children who just want a comfortable place to dine big. Still, if a meat coma is in your future, and Fogo and Rafain are too much of a drive, then you will be served well at Mastergrill. Just remember to request your meat medium-rare…