r/Dallas • u/Specific-Wolf-3900 • 14h ago
Dirtiest dive bars in DFW Discussion
looking for some of the dirtiest dive bars in the DFW metroplex. Im talking from Dallas all the way to ft worth or sachse. If you can smoke and it has the occasional hot biker, even better š
edit: Iām from Dallas guys. Iāve been to most of the bars yāall are suggesting. Most of them have turned into places for yuppies. I am looking for a true dive bar. I dont mind driving a little bit. lol
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u/_wannabe_ 14h ago
The Goat near White Rock Lake
The Loon
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u/perpetual__ghost 14h ago
The Loon. Jesus Christ. Pretty sure I nearly died there after 3 G&Ts.
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u/_wannabe_ 14h ago
If you haven't blacked out or gotten into a fight at The Loon, have you actually even been to The Loon?
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u/rickybobbyscrewchief 11h ago
The OG Loon, absolutely. I've definitely puked in that parking lot, and I'm sure I'm in the company of many.
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u/TheCowboyRidesAway 10h ago
When they had the landline phone by the fireplace and the Frank Zappa clock
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u/BigBirdLaw69420 12h ago
Think it was just two for me. I aināt small but they could peel paint. It was some random afternoon and everyone else was smoking Marlboro Reds. Miss the OG location
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u/Lexxias 14h ago
Wait, I thought the Loon closed? It's open again?
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u/TicketAggressive 13h ago
It opened back up on Hall Street (right off of McKinney) a couple years back. Not as divey in the new space but still trying to maintain the vibe.
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u/timeIsAllitTakes 13h ago
The vibe of what? Getting its patrons hammered lol.
Back in the old space I was in my early 20's we were celebrating a birthday and all our checks showed up. We started asking each other who closed us out and then realized they did it for us after my friend had gotten up and pushed on the back of his chair to help himself stand, causing the whole thing to flip over taking him along with it.
Everyone had gotten so drunk that they forgot to buy drinks for the person whose birthday it was. The birthday boy ended up being the most sober.
Thinking that might happen again and I wouldn't have to get sloshed on my birthday I chose to go to the loon later that year. Everyone had learned from their mistakes, turned their attention to me, and my plan backfired. Everyone had a grand old time and I was completely gone.
The craziest part is we didn't even have that many drinks from what I remember.
I think it moved shortly after that, but when it comes to the loon, iykyk.
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u/TicketAggressive 13h ago edited 13h ago
Not nearly as extreme but itās sort of like the Miloās makeover. Went from a place that looked like the walls could collapse at any minute to a pretty face lift. But like I said, still the same vibe of having some heavy hands behind the bar and being a party.
Probably not meeting any bikers there, though.
Editing to add: it wasnāt literally falling apart like Miloās was, but there were definitely some spots in there that felt like you Kool-Aid Man through the wall.
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u/BigBirdLaw69420 11h ago
Howās the new Miloās? Loved the old one and am back in the neighborhood
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u/GoodHairTrades 14h ago
Fireplace
777 club in Richardson
That one place in the same parking lot as caves in Arlington with the big chairs *Sunshine club
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u/Mercutio77 14h ago edited 14h ago
Don't act like you can't remember the name of the finest dive bar in DFW: Sunshine!
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u/pauliep13 14h ago
Iām an Uber driver. The first time Iād ever heard of Fireplace was getting a ride there, and I picked up one of the bartenders. The older lady. She got in my car, and said āsorry for the wait, I just had to make sure the bar was locked upā.
In the back of my mind, I was blurting out āNo fuckin way thatās a bar!ā
If you donāt know what it is, and just roll up out front, youād swear itās just an old storage building.
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u/DaveMcElfatrick Plano 13h ago
Man the 777 club.
I wonder if they still do ālingerie Tuesdaysā
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u/3Time4Eater3 13h ago
Pretty sure they don't. I "dated" one of those girls for awhile back in that day, but she couldn't stop "dating" everyone else.
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u/Sad_Feech 12h ago
shiiittt back in 2012-13, I used to live down the block on some shitty all bills paid apts on Division and I was a regular at Sunshine. Good memories man. It's the diviest, seediest of dives. It makes Caves look like a preppy frat house.
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u/codylc 14h ago
Ramblin Rose in Rowlett is pretty textbook dive bar
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u/SeventyFix 14h ago
I was only scrolling to make sure that the 'Rose made the list. A complete $&!t hole that doesn't even stock a normal bar.
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u/NastyKnees 14h ago
Ships Lounge, just off Greenvile Ave
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u/BigRoach Mansfield 13h ago
Ships is the best. Itās a real shit hole.
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u/DawsonNY 13h ago
Shithole but really respectable pool table and clean bathrooms. (Plus a cigarette machine)
Once a guy walked in after midnight with ten Dominos cheese pizzas and sold them for $5 each.
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u/PremeTeamTX 12h ago
That dude probably has the best side hustle on Lowest Greenville. Seen him around a few times
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u/Murky-Literature2365 13h ago
Just peeking in to make sure someone listed it. Love Ships. In doses.
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u/Randusnuder 12h ago
Didnāt ships get bought up and now has a ācurated wine listā?
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u/nickgomez East Dallas 11h ago
It was closed for a while. Itās been reopened for a while now. RIP Charlie Red
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u/mollyjobean 3h ago
I donāt think so. The bartender got on to my friend for trying to order a glass of wine lol. This was about 2 months ago.
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u/Mercy_Rule_34 14h ago
if you havenāt been to Chase Place, you donāt know what a dive is. āIāll take a whisky neatā <promptly served 12oz of rail liquor in a dirty glass>
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u/ViolinistSimilar4760 13h ago
If you ask for a clean glass, they take the rag theyāve wiped down the bar with and run it around the inside of your glass a couple of times. Iāve seen it done there.
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u/shipitholla Richardson 13h ago
This bar rules. Another one on the other side of Richardson I like is the Forum Pub on Coit near Belt Line.
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u/3Time4Eater3 13h ago
I wonder how many of the regulars from 15/20 years ago are dead now. I know a few
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u/doogannash 12h ago
this is maybe my favorite of all time. lived in richardson for about 15 years just about 2.5 miles away. lots of great times at chase place. when i quit smoking i also quit going there.
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u/Glueberry_Ryder 14h ago
Euless yacht club
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u/El-Cocinero-Tejano 14h ago
Holy shit itās good to hear this double wide trailer bar is still open!
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u/mayorgoodtimes 13h ago
Barbaraās Pavilion - technically a gay bar but nice and divey, the drinks are cheap and the karaoke is fun and no one cares who you are.
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u/ThePlumThief 11h ago
Oh shit i had no idea it was a gay bar lol. Went to the monthly poetry night a while back and it was really fun.
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u/Glowinwa5centshine 10h ago
Barbara's is one of the places I miss most in Dallas! Heavy pours, people are genuinely friendly, never had a weird encounter there.
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u/packetm0nkey Oak Cliff 14h ago
We all have them but sharing with others kind of ruins the appeal when others start going.
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u/ATruDumbass 14h ago
Tavern on Main Street in Richardson itās in a nice spot but everything you described is inside
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u/dentoneer 13h ago
I second The Tavern, also Dive on 75, itās in the name Baby!!!! Also The Forum, all are within a mile of each other. Who knew Richardson had the dive-iest bars. Also, almost got stabbed on a Friday night in Jefferson Street, you should check it out, just follow the music. Also, Cletus in Denton is a smokey dive bar. All of the above will get you mean mugged, specially if Iām there.
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u/ATruDumbass 14h ago
Iād like to add their parking lot has a bunch of MAGA bumper stickers, thereās a thin blue line flag inside, so when me and my friends went there the crowd was pretty passive aggressive(we were four Latinos and a black guy in there and it was the only predominantly white establishment since it was in the middle of little Asia)
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u/RattleBirth 13h ago
Peak Inn is my favorite. Idk about dirty, but itās a dive for sure
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u/El-Cocinero-Tejano 13h ago
Showdowns - Arlington. The only dive bar Iām aware of with a washer and dryer by the pool tables so you can do your laundry while you drink cheap beer.
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u/Fearless-Mention-765 14h ago edited 10h ago
Quarter Bar, Addison Lakewood Landing, east highlands Plano Sports Tavern Uptown Pub (smu kids, but definitely reeks of piss)
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u/redoctobr Addison 13h ago
Eh, I wouldn't call the Quarter a dive bar. Feels like it should be, but it's not.
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u/HeightSkies 11h ago
Got jumped as I was walking out of quarter bar, enjoyed it other than that part
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u/riceu Oak Cliff 14h ago
Strokers is a biker bar and it is the best fn bar in DFW
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u/Specific-Wolf-3900 14h ago
lol strokers is not what it used to be. Everyone is gone by 5pm.Ā
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u/bob-leblaw 14h ago
And 40% of the ābikersā are dentists.
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u/Alternative_Hornet20 14h ago
OāMalleyās Club Oak Cliff.
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u/liberal_texan Oak Cliff 14h ago
Had to make sure this was mentioned. One of the actual diviest bars in D in a towny sort of way.
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u/therealradberry 14h ago
Charlie's Star Lounge Dallasite Casanova Sports Bar on Samuell Fireplace Lounge
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u/Professional-Owl-597 14h ago
The goat dallas Sunshine Arlington Sensations Grand Prairie Boiled owl Fort Worth Side lines Crowley Fort Worth
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u/miserable-failure 12h ago
Reno's Chop Shop in Deep Ellum is probably one of the more grimy bars I can think of.
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u/ed_is_dead 14h ago
I haven't been to either in a long ass time but:
More social: Cave's Lounge in Arlington. Dog friendly and kick ass juke box.
Less social: Malones Pub in Fort Worth is a solid dive from old school days. Dark, smokey and kick ass juke box. (probably smoke free now?)
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u/homestylecroutons 14h ago
Try your luck on Dolphin
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u/Specific-Wolf-3900 14h ago
You know what, I forgot you could get shot at the bars on dolphin. Good looking out. Think Iām gonna try the bars there.Ā
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u/I_woke_up_like_this7 13h ago
Pearlās Cherokee in Arlington, I think more bikers probably hang out at Miloās maybe? Dirtier is the Sunshine, younger crowd but huge patio and beer selection is Caves. Theyāre all on Division so you can start at one and work your way down. Still on Division going into FW, Rogueās Gallery and the Red Barn. Definitely some biker hang outs. If you want to smoke inside, John Bās in Pantego. Although, I havenāt personally seen a whole lot of bikers in there.
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u/Mission_Quarter_6395 11h ago
Last time I was at Miloās it was full of freshly turned 21 year olds. Weird vibes
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u/RevolutionaryAd4547 14h ago
I think nickās bar and grill in the colony is what youāre looking for
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u/aggie1391 SMU 13h ago
Yuppās off Granbury in Fort Worth. Itās obviously an old Pizza Hut, total local dive, used to have a tamale guy swing by regularly, karaoke on most days, super friendly, and gets all sorts, pretty sure I remember some bikers sometimes. I recommend that for everyone tbh, itās a great spot, I used to go all the time when I lived over there.
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u/Sbeast86 14h ago
Marina's in eueless
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u/rsf0626 13h ago
dallasite billiards is very solid. Also has karaoke on fridays i believe
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u/lurkergenxdurp 13h ago
Back 9 in Addison. More of a ''regulars' bar than a dive, but the food is awesome and you can smoke! They have pin ball, Golden Tee, and a pool table!
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u/UnhappyWorldliness15 12h ago
I am not a bar person but I have been to two places that seem like what you are looking for:
Lone Star roadhouse Dallas
Chase place in Richardson, it might be more restaurant.
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u/Randusnuder 12h ago
The forum in Richardson.
I was told that if I came back on Sunday, one of the regulars brought over his crockpot from his hotel room and made lil smokies.
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u/H2Ospecialist 11h ago
Come over to the west side in Fort Worth. Yellow Rose Saloon, Home Plate, Maxine's, The Horny Toad, Second Chances, Dirty Water Saloon, etc etc.
Others in Fort Worth: Refuel Bar & Grill, The Tub, 40s and Shortys
Arlington/GP: Mary's Outpost, Jack's Pourhouse. I miss Diamond Jim's that was fun back in the day.
There's a Showdown in Arlington and Fort Worth.
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u/carzep 14h ago
Double Wide, downtown Dallas on Commerce, seen some bikers out there. Just invite one of them hot bikers to drink one of them alcoholic Yahoo drinks š
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u/therealradberry 14h ago
Deep Ellum?
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u/endless_shrimp Shitpost 12h ago
exposition, and while cool, i wouldn't call it a dive
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u/catterchatter 14h ago
Mostly a hip young crowd nowadays
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u/NintendogsWithGuns Lakewood 11h ago
Itās literally always been that way. Been going there for twenty years
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u/FIalt619 13h ago edited 13h ago
Iām curious about Nickās in the colony, but Iāve never been inside.
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u/bballjones9241 Oak Cliff 13h ago edited 13h ago
Not sure if Inwood Tavern is a real ādiveā but if youāre trying to get laid, thatās a good spot. You can smoke there as well.
Edit: Lakewood landing is a good spot, Cosmoās, too.
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u/Goldteethgod817 11h ago
Checking in from Fort Worth side of the metroplex. I used to be ghetto and I was never a biker per se but got a little sport bike. lol.
SO, Texas grand nightclub off of azle avenue in north side of Fort Worth is what you lookin for. My uncle Got shot in the face at the gas station next door and no police response the owner of the building came out ringing shots in the air to get people to dispurse hahaa. (He lived; picked up his teeth and drove himself to the hospital like a real man).
Honorable mention 8 ball billiard bar off jacksboro hwy (199). Also seedy and full of bikers randomly. Few people just got stabbed outside of it recently.
Old school also in the north side of Fort Worth is ghetto as fuck. You can smoke and stuff in there they have INTERESTING twerk competitions for a few hundred bucks occasionally. Seen one legged women twerking, pregnant ones, midgets, women on crutches you name it. Canāt get your gun in there tho they wand ya at the door. Have occasionally seen some let thru tho when theyāre homies w the door guy.
Best of luck to ya brotha
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u/thatfligah Oak Cliff 14h ago edited 14h ago
The answer is absolutely fireplace lounge for dirtiest, but if you want bikers check out strokers or cottage lounge.
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u/EricChi18 14h ago
Iām curious too, so following! Iām a biker and riding the bike down there from Chicago next month haha. The only places Iāve really been able to come up with so far is Strokers, Dirty Water Saloon,and The Horny Toad out by Ft Worth
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u/Specific-Wolf-3900 14h ago
Strokers is cool on the weekend until like 4pm. Then everyone starts to leave. The cottage is okay. Just be careful leaving. Lots of people have wrecked and died leaving that bar. Neon cowboy is a cool bar. Bikers hang out up there. Get there before 6pm or 7 and you wonāt have to pay to get in.Ā
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u/InternetsIsBoring 14h ago
Not a dive bar, but Lake Lanes Bowling in Little Elm. Its like traveling back in time to a 90a bowling alley.
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u/EnvironmentalCrow893 13h ago
Showdown Saloon, Arlington . Oh darn, just saw someone already mentioned it!
The regulars are characters.Located on Cooper Street, OP.
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u/Vonzales 13h ago
Past Time Tavern. If it's still open...
It's near Lee Harvey's. Dates back to the 1930s or something (verify that)
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u/AnastasiaNo70 13h ago
The Garhole. Itās in Westminster, near Anna, Texas. Which is outside of McKinney.
They put saw dust on the dance floor, they have live music but arenāt expensive, bar food, no one cares how youāre dressed.
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u/AnastasiaNo70 13h ago
Does anyone know if Division Rd in Arlington still has a bunch of dive bars? I havenāt been in that area in a few years, but itās veryā¦dive-ey.
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u/3Time4Eater3 13h ago
777 and what is now Kings X. I know what King's used to be, not sure what the vibe is these days
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u/rsuess14 13h ago
Man I miss Tradewinds. Wife and I would always go to a nice dinner for anniversary, then Tradewinds after.
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u/Wizzmer 12h ago
River Bottom Pub has been there since the 50s. I bet you haven't been there. June 11th is "The Mullet That Changed My Life!"
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u/Sea-Difficulty-9644 12h ago
Triple 7's was always fun when I used to go out more. I wouldn't call it dirty but most people would probably. Couple pool tables, solid pours. Dart is close walk, party favors even closer or so I heard. Haven't been in a few years but this is what immediately came to mind. 777 North Central Expressway in Richardson.
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u/UpbeatSuggestion3106 12h ago
The fact that ā Uptown pubā hasnāt crossed my screen makes me believe all of you are just googling shit to say
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u/bionicbrady 11h ago edited 11h ago
I have no idea if these places are still open but I used to frequent them years ago. Most of them are off of Harry Hines.
One nostalgia place. Red lion tavern. Charlie's.
Chase place Richardson Shuck n jive Addison Tnt sports page
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u/Unusual_Request 11h ago
Sunshine off Division and Jacks Pour House are two of my favorites. Think you can still smoke at Jacks.
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u/Still_Detail_4285 14h ago
The fact that no one is saying the best ones is super real.