Lunchtime Classics ― Fort Worth Style

Lunch might not be the “most important meal” of the day, but it comes in a close second. Fort Worth has some nostalgic lunch spots as well as some unique eateries that make that mid-day meal something special. These are 10 Fort Worth lunchtime classics that you just have to try.

Galligaskin’s Submarines

This sub shop opened in 1972 near SMU, with a Boston-style that spawned other locations in North Texas. The only remaining location of Galligaskin’s opened in Fort Worth in 1973, at 5817 Camp Bowie Boulevard ― making it the oldest submarine sandwich shop in Texas.

It’s been owned by the Diomede family since 2000, but the menu and interior remain gloriously unchanged. A time warp in the best possible way, with its café chairs, wood paneling, and row of booths lining the wall. Select from 22 different subs, all made with freshly baked bread like the traditional No. 11 cheesesteak or the No. meatball sub.

Pak-a-Pocket

Imad and Liz Eljizi have owned this Fort Worth staple for nearly 40 years. They serve pita sandwiches as well as Lebanese and Mediterranean specialties. Gyros, falafel, hot and cold pockets, baked potatoes, and salads have kept regulars flocking in year after year. It’s been located for many years across from Country Day School near the new and improved Hurley House bakery.

The classic gyro is filled with tahini sauce, sliced tomatoes, and onion. Traditional spices make the kafta and kibbe special, and a side of tabouli salad or smoked babaganouj dip and house-made pita chips always satisfy.

The Lunch Box

The Lunch Box arrived on the scene in 1974, and has become a Ridglea Hills lunchtime staple. The eatery is situated in the interior courtyard at 6333 Camp Bowie Boulevard. Its bright green and yellow color scheme and wall decorated with vintage lunch boxes still rings true.

First opened as Paula’s Tea Room by owners Paula and Al Kilgore, it was renamed The Lunch Box by owner Marless Deminico in 1978 and was run by Chris and Vicki Stellar over the next thirty years. Now it is owned by Immy and Lauren Khan who purchased The Lunch Box in 2012, and their Black Rooster bakery is located nearby.

Paula’s original pimento cheese, chicken salad, and poppyseed dressing recipes are still on the menu, along with lunchtime classics like pimento cheese, tuna, or egg salad by the scoop, filled into an avocado half, or spread on a sandwich.

Kincaid’s Hamburgers

Charles Kincaid’s Grocery and Market opened as a grocery store in 1946 on Camp Bowie. The first grocery store in the area to have specialty departments, Kincaid’s included a full-service meat market, and O.R. Gentry was its head butcher. He began cooking burgers on a small grill in the back for the neighborhood locals in 1964, and word spread quickly.

Soon, the lunchtime line began to form — so much so that the grocery store shelves were cut down to countertop height just to accommodate the carnivorous crowd, who began beating a path to Kincaid’s for one of those butcher-paper-wrapped beauties.

Eventually, Kincaid’s had to accept the fact that they were no longer a grocery store — it had become a local hamburger institution. Today, there are five Tarrant County locations turning out the same, never-frozen Angus chuck patties, which are ground fresh in-house daily and cooked to perfection on flat-top griddles.

The Kimbell Cafe

Most Fort Worthians still affectionately call it the Kimbell Buffet. Chef Peter Kreidler is at the helm. The Café menu offers visitors a weekly rotating selection of soups, sandwiches, and quiches. He also caters events at world world-famous museum and tea for two between 2 pm and 4 pm, featuring sweet and savory items, including scones, finger sandwiches, cookies, and muffins.

The lunch line flows quickly through the buffet, where you can add green salad, fruit salad or pasta salad, and your choice of dessert to your plate, crafting your own lunchtime masterpiece, before perusing one of the Kimbell’s exhibits, its permanent collection, or its gift shop. The vine-topped, central patio is ideal during the right season.

Carshon’s Delicatessen

David and Ella Carshon began in 1928, opening Fort Worth’s first kosher deli in conjunction with Chicotsky’s Meat Market. It’s been located at 3133 Cleburne Road since the mid-70s, and is now owned by Mary Smith, for whom Mary’s Famous Pie of the Day is named. Diners are treated to freshly baked meringues and pecan pies six days a week.

The cold case displays cuts of deli meats and cheese, as well as cold egg, chicken, and tuna salad. Sandwiches include the Rachel, Rebecca, Ruthie and Ruben with different combinations of corned beef pastrami, served in either egg bread or rye with variations of Russian dressing, sauerkraut. Grab a Dr. Brown’s soda to wash it down.

Paris Coffee Shop

Dating back to 1926, the old favorite got a massive reboot in 2021 ― complete with new interior and lighting. But it still feels the same, with scattered booths and counter seating on stools.

The pie case still greets you at the entry, so you know exactly what you’re “saving room” for. Paris serves breakfast all day, and now even cocktails to sip with it. Plate lunches include the chicken fried steak and Salisbury steak, and sandwiches include a fab BLT, a Monte Cristo, and a French Dip as well.

Charley’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers

This burger joint is a local institution. It’s quaint, throw-back window order service at 4616 Granbury Road has served the neighborhood well since 1992. Charley’s retro, 1950s style is matched by its top-notch burgers.

Choose from a simple hamburger or the double cheeseburger with two thick patties, served alongside thick onion rings and hand-cut French fries. Other options include avocado or blue cheese topped, and Project X with grilled onions and jalapenos.

NM Café

Lunch has always been special at Neiman’s. When it was located at Ridgmar Mall it was call Hedges, now NM Café can be found on the upper level, inside the Clearfork store. Chef Charles Youts runs the kitchen and maintains standards. After all, generations of Fort Worth shoppers have become somewhat addicted to starting their meal with a sip of consume and an eggy popover slathered in strawberry butter. Best not to disappoint.

Salad trios with chilled orange soufflé, a creative collection of sandwiches, salads, keep “ladies (and gents) who lunch” satisfied. Mains include salmon tacos, a crispy chicken paillard, and a decadent seafood carbonara.

Angelo’s Barbecue

Some readers may recall shuffling through inches of sawdust that once covered the floor on their way to order at the old wooden counter. Those were the days, before the fire department put the kabash on it. Luckily, the wide assortment of taxidermy is ever-present. The seven-foot-tall black bear is still in place at Angelo’s.

In 1958, Angelo George opened what was then a tiny window-service joint. Now, over 67 years later, Angelo’s (North Texas-style) hickory-wood-smoked meats and frosty schooners and mugs of beer have never gone out of style. His grandson Jason George carries the tradition forward. Famous for their brisket with perfectly charred bark, and meaty ribs ― this is where we learned from our grandparents how to order the burnt ends. At least I did.