OMFG: Hill Country Barbecue Legend The Salt Lick Will Open A DFW Restaurant

Dallas has no shortage of excellent barbecue restaurants, but a Hill Country legend will soon shake up the metroplex’s smoked meats scene.

The Fort Worth Star Telegram reports that The Salt Lick will open its first proper DFW location next year in Grapevine. The chain already operates a scaled down version of the original restaurant at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, but the Grapevine location will be the chain’s first full-service spot in the area.

The restaurant will occupy a massive 10,000 square foot space just north of Grapevine Mills Mall. Construction has not yet begun on the restaurant, but the spot will offer both indoor and outdoor seating, along with a “specialty wine and beer bar.” We have searched the Metroplex the last 10 years for a site where the look and feel of the place would remind us of the Hill Country and allow us to re-create the backyard BBQ party we have in Driftwood,” Salt Lick owner Scott Roberts said in a statement. “We have finally found a Hill Country home in Grapevine.”

The hallowed barbecue institution has earned praise from pretty much every critic and publication on the planet. It has operated in Driftwood, TX since 1967, when owners Thurman and Hisako Roberts introduced their open pit ‘cue to the world. In addition to the original location and DFW outpost, there’s also a Salt Lick at Austin’s Bergstrom Airport and another in Round Rock, Texas.

The Salt Lick is expected to arrive in DFW at some point in 2018. In the meantime, you’ll just have to satisfy those smoked meat cravings at one of the dozens of currently-open DFW barbecue restaurants.

• Salt Lick BBQ is coming to Grapevine next year [DFW.com]