‘Southern Living’ Poll Ranks Joe T.’s Margaritas as the Best in Texas For Second Year

We may take it for granted that one of our very own Fort Worth institutions is not just a tourist attraction but the real deal when it comes to a certain cold libation.

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Having lived in Texas off and on for many years, I’ve come to understand the meaning of being humble. We might have it good, but we don’t brag about it, right? Texans let their actions and products speak for themselves in lieu of any gloating. Well, I’m about to break that rule just for one article. We — and I mean Fort Worth — have some of the best of the best when it comes to western style, hospitality, tranquil open spaces, and yes, Margaritas.

And now we have the receipts to prove it. For the second year in a row, Southern Living magazine has tapped Joe T. Garcia’s as having the best Margaritas in the South in its 2025 “South’s Best” awards—a title not easily earned, much less kept. According to Southern Living readers, Joe T.’s ranks numero uno in the Lone Star State for its cold, Latin-inspired libations.

For 89 years, this Fort Worth eatery has been serving up family meals and frosty Margaritas to locals and visitors alike. On any given day, this family-run restaurant serves hundreds of these potent salt-rimmed classics at lightning speed to its thirsty throng of patrons.

Another reason Joe T.’s Margaritas are legendary? You can order one while waiting in the restaurant’s famously long line. It’s practically a rite of passage — and a delicious one at that.

As for the methodology behind this auspicious Cowtown honor, Southern Living explains that its voting process was conducted by third-party agency Proof Insights among Southern Living consumers. The 2025 survey asked readers to rate their favorite places across the South. According to the magazine’s website, they had well over 20,000 respondents. Some of the categories on “The South’s Best 2025” list include best cities, best road trips, and even best museums and historic landmarks. And Joe T.’s? Proudly perched under the food and drink category.

Besides their iconic Margaritas, Joe T.’s also offers a series of citrus-laced drinks infused with flavors like sweet strawberry, served frozen. Order it skinny or top shelf—either way, this cold drink is sure to refresh anyone looking for respite on a hot North Texas day.

And when we say anyone, we mean anyone. Besides its lush patio, authentic Tex-Mex cuisine served family-style, and yes — its Margaritas — Joe T.’s is also a place to see and be seen. Everyone from Sir Paul McCartney to Michael Jackson has graced the hallowed tables at this Fort Worth institution, which now has the capacity to seat as many as 1,000 customers on any given day. Not bad for a restaurant that started out with only six tables back in 1935.

Over the years, this beloved Fort Worth culinary landmark — founded by Joe T. Garcia and his wife, affectionately known as Mamasuez—eventually took up the entire block of North Commerce Street. Today, Joe T.’s is run by the founders’ six grandchildren, keeping the family tradition alive.

“We pay tribute to our grandparents by living out their dreams,” Lanny Lancarte, CEO and president of Joe T. Garcia’s, told Southern Living last year. “The love and care they poured into each dish was evident in every bite.”