Hard Eight is a very unique BBQ restaurant. You start outside in a covered area and order your meats right from the pit. It was a bit smoky, but also a magical experience. I ended up trying several different things. Then you go inside and there is a cold bar with packaged sides like coleslaw, and then a hot bar with packaged sides like the corn. Finally you visit the cashier to see what the damage is. I thought the food was excellent. I got brisket, jalapeno sausage, and pulled pork. I've had other pit BBQ like Salt Lick, and compared to that I would say this meat has less smoke flavor. It is still delicious, but just a slightly different style from low and slow with hardwood using an offset smoker. For my sides, I got the coleslaw and the jalapeno corn. Both were delicious. Hard Eight is definitely a place that would be in my rotation if I lived closer, and I look forward to trying it again next time I'm in the Dallas area. read more

I enjoyed this place on our first night! Got jalapeño sausage, brisket, chocolate pecan pie, and sweet potato. Everything was great! Even though my brisket was a bit dry compared to the other ones that I've had before, still was great! Only complaint I have was, waiting in line outside where the pits were, make it even hotter! But I guess that the experience to see how things are made. Everything is self served once you get inside and there are plenty of seats and bbq sauce stations everywhere! The place was chill and not too loud so you're able to talk amongst your group. Definitely need to visit if you're in the area. read more

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I was a bit confused in the ordering process, but I believe that to be user error. The staff working the smokers and ordering station are very helpful and guided my confused mind. Inside the sides bar was clear and fully stocked, so many options I couldn't get them all even though I wanted to. Decor and restaurant overall was very on theme and a classic bbq or meat centric restaurant type. Lots of wood and framed classic photos, very cute. The food was so good, I am not the biggest bbq fan going in but I kept and open mind. When I tell you I am happy I did, I mean it. The half chicken was delicious, I only wish I had a second stomach to eat more. I took a picture of my plate before and after and for your own sake I wont share the second one, but my goodness there was so much food here and I wanted it all. read more

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I have to say this is an experience. We got to order straight from the grill. That made it easy to order instead of looking at a menu because the meats are laid out right before you: the ribs, brisket, jalapeno sausages, turkey breast, ham, beef bologna, chicken, and shrimp popper ( I got both) and the baked potato. I order most of the meats, the baked potato, okra, and potato salad. I know some of you would say why order the baked potato and potato salad. Well, because they are each made differently. Plus, I'm a sampler when it comes to dining at places I've never been, and taking a friend makes it even easier to try out the whole menu. So, once you order your meats, you go inside and order your sides. It's the same concept as you order your meat; the sides are laid before you. Also, the BBQ sauce is on the side; some people like sauce on their BBQ, and others don't. Now, I go between adding sauce and not. This time, I did both, but mainly without because the meat had such a flavor that my tastebuds were loving; I didnt want to take away from the taste. My friend order drinks from the bar, which is a full bar. We decided to sit communal style at one of the long tables, talking to our neighbors while music, (a nice playlist) played in the background. The music wasn't loud at all. We had a great time with great food, a nice casual atmosphere, and unbelievable Pit Masters! read more

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The food was phenomenal. When you can eat the barbecue with or without sauce, you know that it is good. The right amount of flavor and smokieness is the correct amount for tasty barbecue. The beef Brisket was amazing! I have had a hard time finding a tender and tasty brisket without a ton of fat. The great thing about this restaurant, is that you have the option to choose what and how many sides you want. They have healthy hot sides to order with your barbecue, and then a ton of Southern sides inside. Whatever you choose, you can cater to your taste and appetite. read more

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Ordered Brisket on line for pick up. What was edible was very good, however for a pound of meat, at least 30% was pure fat and had to throw it out. Best to order in person and see what you're getting. read more

I had high hopes going in but was pretty disappointed in the overall quality of the bbq. The brisket and turkey were lackluster at best, with the brisket being cooked way too hot hence the bottom being very burned and the brisket itself being very overdone. The turkey tasted as if it was cooked in an oven and didn't have much smoke flavor. The actual restaurant itself is great and is a great experience. read more

Food was delicious. We ordered a stuffed pull pork baked potato,Ribs, sausage You can smell the smoke down the street. The service line was out the door but it was worth it. They can be busy on Saturday but there is plenty of seats. Don't wear your best outfit because you'll either get sauce on you because food good and smell like delicious food smoked. read more

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Smooth ordering & everything else lines up right to paying. Food was good! Extremely satisfied! read more

Hard Eight BBQ - Some of the sides - Barbeque Near Me - Coppell, Texas

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Definitely a cool Texas BBQ experience. The line feels like an amusement park where you select the meat you want straight from the smoker, and then continue through the line cafeteria style to pick sides and desserts. Everything is very reasonably priced. Mac n cheese was delicious, pulled pork, sausage and brisket was also delicious. Would recommend! read more

Hard Eight BBQ - 1/2 lb of sausage, brisket and pulled pork - Barbeque Near Me - Coppell, Texas

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This place was a pleasant surprise. There was a guy outside directing patrons on how to go about ordering. He was polite and patient. There's a grill out in front with different meats, corn, potatoes, etc. I decided on brisket and ribs. They weighed my tray and off I went. Once inside a gentleman pointed to a board where they hot sides were listed and gestured towards cold sides. I decided on fries and he gave me a flag and said my fries would be delivered. Inside was HUGE. They had these wood pieces as chairs and a long counter. The theme is a bit rustic retro in a good way. There's a beans station which I passed on. Both the ribs and the brisket were tender and tasty. The fries was piping hot. The bbq sauce was perfectlys sweet. I enjoyed my meal immensely and I would definitely return. The reason for the 4 stars is due to the price. Quite high. read more

Hard Eight BBQ - Ribs brisket and cheesecake - Barbeque Near Me - Coppell, Texas

The customer service was great, with a friendly staff and a convenient ordering system. The turkey was moist and flavorful, and the pork ribs had great seasoning, perfectly balanced without being too salty. The regular sausage was also well-seasoned, with just the right amount of flavor. The brisket was succulent but lacked a bit of seasoning. The mac and cheese was creamy and cheesy, with shells instead of the usual elbow pasta. The peach cobbler was delicious, not too sweet. The restaurant is spacious, with a main dining area and an additional room for extra seating. Take-out containers and plastic bags are self-serve, and the bathroom was clean. There's plenty of parking available. read more

Hard Eight BBQ - 2 slices of turkey, regular sausage, mac n cheese, peach cobbler, 4 slices of brisket, and 2 pork ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Coppell, Texas

I was slightly disappointed overall with the service and food here at this location. We invited some friends from Spain to join us here as they were craving some TX bbq. Because we had a great experience at the Colony Hard Eight we expected the same here. The workers were not very friendly and we all felt rushed through the ordering process, despite there not being many people. It took quite a while to receive the steak I ordered and even longer for the fries our guest ordered. Aa a matter of fact he ended up getting them AFTER he had finished his meal, albeit he is quite a fast eater. My steak was incredibly underseasoned and I really wish I would have ordered something different. The baked potato was great, brisket was okay and the ribs were actually nicely done. read more

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I thought Texas was supposed to have good barbecue. Well if they do, it ain't from Hard Eight. I got pulled pork, brisket and corn on the cob. The pork was nothing but fat and gristle. It was literally inedible. The brisket had been overcooked by several orders of magnitude. Looking for a pink smoke ring? Nah. This is basically grayish brown pot roast. And the corn tasted like it had been cooked in dishwater. All for the low, low price of $50!!! Stay away from this disappointing place. read more

I wanted an authentic barbecue place when I came to Dallas and my friend took me here. You wait in line at the barbecuer choose what you want then walk inside to get your sides pay, then they have a vat of beans where you can also get barbecue sauce. They do not have cornbread which was a huge disappointment. There's a little bar in the middle of the restaurant you can get cocktails from. I don't know but I think this was a big disappointment for me as far as coming to an authentic barbecue place especially in Dallas. And no cornbread, what kind of barbecue place does not have homemade cornbread? read more

Hard Eight BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Coppell, Texas

My 2nd favorite BBQ spot in the Dallas area. Nestled right by DFW airport. I love the atmosphere and decor of this bbq joint. When you walk in it's a outside patio area with this huge smoker! And you get to pick your food directly off the grill. It is by far the hottest temperature wise food I have ever had from a resteraunt. I had the brisket sandwhich, corn, potato salad and a dessert. Everything was absolutely amazing and the prices are very far. I love the outdoor seating area with the fireplace. Did I mention they have free beans for dinning in :) read more

Brisket super moist and juicy, rib are soft fall off the bone, very friendly staff, got to love the spicy sausage and homemade hot bbq sauce. read more

Hard Eight BBQ - Food - Barbeque Near Me - Coppell, Texas

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I cannot give lower than 1 star at minimum. This place is complete bogus. Brisket is cold, sub par and no salt so no taste. Pork ribs price I felt is higher than Gold with $70 for full stack is nothing but ludicrous and guess what meat doesn't fall off the bone even with Cutco knife I would say. And the bacon wrapped shrimp is just charred and a mere cholesterol strip. I never recommend to anyone going there and if you still prefer to go hope god gives you peace. Freebies like beans in water is worst and so cold inside restaurant as they kept the door open on 1/10/2026 which was a cold day. Ambience also I give 1 star with high chairs not suitable for a restaurant setup. Don't stop Run away to different BBQ. read more

First time visitor food was A+ plus plus service awesome great atmosphere a must visit when traveling !!! read more

Hard Eight BBQ - Peach Cobbler, barbecue ribs, fried okra, jalapeño stuffed shrimp corn on the cob, baked potato - Barbeque Near Me - Coppell, Texas

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Hard Eight is becoming my first stop when traveling through. The vibe is all BBQ and country music. All the smoked meats come standard with smoke rings and manually cut. 1/2 lb of brisket is about $12. 1/2 lb beef rib (Friday's and Saturdays) is $12. Price add up if not paying attention to the amount and variety of meats ordered. It's all good memories. The next day, I'm still burping smoked BBQ. read more

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amazing all around. The food and the service. Even my TX husband said his Cali girl found him a good bbq place! read more

Hard eight was a good attraction as a tourist to Dallas. They have an immersive experience cooking and smoking the meat while you wait in the long line out the door. It was a bit confusing how you order at first as you start to come up to the ordering area. The "butcher" abruptly asks what you want and starts to either start cutting brisket until you say stop or asks how much and grabs the pulled pork with their hand. Then the queue goes inside and you start picking up sides for an added cost. It can get pricey once you reach the end. After you pay, it's a free for all on seating so it really depends how fast others finish their own food. Huge back area seating though so we didn't wait long. read more

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As they say when in Rome... well when in Coppell you have to stop here for the best BBQ. You stand in a line and pick what you like they charge you by the pound. We picked - brisket, half chicken was charged as a half, sausage, ribs, bacon wrapped shrimp and corn on the cob. The service is just as good the staff makes sure to take care of you Oh and if you dine in you can help yourself to the large pot of beans that's a freebie when you dine in! read more

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The perfect bbq setup, the lines move fast, and you see them pulling the meats off the smoker and bring it to the chopping area. There's no baked beans, BUT UNLIMITED FREE pinto beans. The jalapeño cheddar sausage, pulled pork, ribs, and brisket were *chefs kiss* The sweet corn was SUPER sweet, but still good. The Mac and cheese had a velveeta feel to it, I wasn't a fan. Potato salad and pinto beans were average. Plenty of parking and seating. $60 (with tip) Very good pricing, everything was $11 for 1/2lb or $22 for 1lb of meat. The sides varied from $3.75-$4 read more

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We're from Kansas and don't have anything like this! Very cool overall experience, and the food was amazing :)

Hard Eight BBQ is literally the only BBQ spot I go to when I'm in Texas--it's that good! If you're looking for real, no-frills Texas barbecue, this is the spot. The moment you walk in, you're greeted by the smoky, mouthwatering aroma of meat cooking over an open pit, and that alone tells you you're in for something amazing. For our Friday date night, we went all in: two ribs, 1/2 lb of brisket, 1/2 lb of pulled pork, slaw, mashed potatoes, and fried okra--and let me tell you, it was more than enough for two, plus leftovers. The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth tender, the ribs were perfectly smoked with just the right amount of char, and the pulled pork was packed with flavor. And don't even get me started on the fried okra--crispy, golden, and downright addictive. Everything was cooked to perfection, with that signature Hard Eight smoky goodness in every bite. The atmosphere is casual, fun, and exactly what you want from a Texas BBQ joint. You grab your food straight from the pit, pick your sides, and find a spot to dig in--it's simple, authentic, and delicious. If you're ever in Texas and craving top-tier barbecue, Hard Eight is the only name you need to know. read more

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One of the best Texas style BBQ places in the DFW metroplex. Spartan seating, but the food is excellent. Full bar is great.

We went here with family over the weekend as we were in the area. We liked how big the place is, and how many food options were offered. We went right when they opened at 10:30am and we didn't have to wait in line. We ordered brisket, sausage, a ribeye, corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, and some slices of white and wheat bread. We may have over-ordered as we were too full to try the sweet potatoes. The brisket and sausage were cooked to perfection. Neither was too dry and we appreciated the sauce dispensers which made it easy to get more. The ribeye was also tasty and cooked to how we wanted it. When served, the portion size seemed to be on the smaller end, and the included side was small as well. The flavors are on point but not sure if it was worth the price of $20+tax. The corn on the cob was good but it wasn't salted or buttered. I wish they would have put more thought into their corn but it tasted plain. The corn wasn't sweet; I think an opportunity was missed here. I enjoyed their free beans soup that's added to fat rendering and jalapeños. That said, the soup is a bit spicy but it was good to include fiber in our meal. We sat outside and it wasn't too loud. We saw that they have patio heaters and fans they could turn on if needed. Not a bad BBQ place, we'd be interested in going back to try some of their other items! read more

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Don't get the steak. Go for the Disney like line of anticipation. Most of the meats are priced at the same price per lb, and you don't need to go at set amts (like 1/4, 1/2), just point and say I want a little or a lot. Is this the best bbq in Dallas? Absolutely not. But is it a VIBE? Yes. Everyone's having a good time. Cold beer. I would NOT do takeout here. Other tip: you can definitely order too much, and then if you take it home, again not great Que so that would be bad. Get sides, drink more beer if you're still hungry but very likely you will not. read more

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The hint of cardamom (or maybe not) in the dry rub on briskets and pork ribs was peculiar and interesting. Spicy sausage was good, shrimp thing was also good, and the chicken was the most unexpected item on the platter. That Shiner Bock tasted somewhat better, but I'll say it was a placebo. Fun eating in that outside patio in humid Texan evening was, definitely an experience. read more

As an out of towner I felt like this was the real Texas experience. A true meat lovers dream.

Can never go wrong with anything in this place, the most tender ribs you'll ever have read more

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Hard Eight has genuine Texas "pit style" BBQ as well as a large bar, indoor/outdoor seating and a friendly staff. Hard Eight is a great place to meet with friends or have a casual meal with loved ones. The food choices lean heavily towards meat (not many veggie options) but the sides are amazing - especially the jalapeño corn and cobbler. Bring your appetite, you will invariably order more than you can eat. The brisket and ribs are famous, but I found my brisket to be very try and crumbly (good flavor, but over cooked). I enjoyed the sausage and the chicken - especially the "prairie bites" appetizer. I would not pay extra and get a steak. The steaks are lower quality and were not as good as some as the other food. Overall, we had a fun night out here. Everyone was so nice and the ambiance is very Texas BBQ. The food is average, but that was okay because it was priced fairly. Would eat here again. read more

Hard Eight BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Coppell, Texas

This place is awesome! Atmosphere was as fun as could be. Just very unique and exciting place to stop and try out. I got more than I could eat. - 1/2 chicken - small amount of pulled pork - small amount of beef brisket - bread - mac and cheese - coleslaw - soup beans with bacon - bacon wrapped shrimp stuffed jalapeño - souvenir large cup $30.00!!! I think you can smell this place for a half a mile away. Promise to go back when I get back to town. Super friendly smiles from the front door to exit door. read more

We always enjoy Hard 8... we have been going there for years since they opened their flagship location in Stephenville. The problem has become the fact they are pretty pricey in that all of their meats except the chicken are now $22 per pound and they did not offer pork ribs. On top of the ludicrous prices, they have tip cans by the pit and various locations which we always contribute for the staff.. When we arrived home this time, we found an additional 15% charge on our ticket for the tip. After we added up the charged tip and the money we WANTED to tip by placing in tip cans, we had paid a total of 32% in tips. We were a party of 4 who carried our own food, got our own drinks and beans and then cleared our own table, disposing of the trash and putting away the dirty silverware and trays. Consumer beware, check your tickets before you pay at the register! read more

We got there on a relatively slow Sunday night. I had some beef ribs and some brisket. I think both had been left on the warmer too long. Very dry. So unlike a normal barbecue. Bottom line is I will not be back. read more

Super cool atmosphere! The staff was super friendly and helpful. We tried the ribs were seasoned well and cooked perfectly. The brisket was good. Pulled pork was tender and seasoned well. Overall great experience, would definitely recommend. read more

Hard Eight BBQ - Ribs, Sausage, Brisket and sides! - Barbeque Near Me - Coppell, Texas

Wanted to try some good barbecue while we were in Texas and I am sure glad we came here!! I loved the setup of this place, although it was a bit confusing at first. You basically select the meat you want and they slice it up and you tell them when to stop. Be careful! We definitely thought we'd eat all of what we got but didn't even come close! We had the brisket, the smoked sausage, and pork spare ribs. The brisket and smoked sausage were PHENOMENAL! I would like to come back for those before we leave. The pork spare ribs were a tad too salty for my liking but they weren't bad. The barbecue sauce is simply wonderful. I wish they had cornbread. I think it would be a lovely addition to the menu. Service was spot on and the restaurant was clean. We really enjoyed our meal. read more

Hard Eight BBQ - All the goodies! Spare ribs, brisket, and smoked sausage. - Barbeque Near Me - Coppell, Texas

When planning places to eat while in DFW, barbecue was at the top of my list. I had picked out a few, but had a disappointing experience at the first spot I chose. One of the locals recommended Hard Eight to us, and thinking we had nothing to lose, we made our way over on our last night before heading home. Hard Eight has a few locations, the one went to was in Coppell and located away from most other commercial businesses (it looked like we were across from a warehouse or something). The barbecue serves pit-style - upon entry you get in line, and eventually you reach one of two large pits that contain all the meats. You're then led inside where you pick sides, desserts, and drinks before finally sitting down. The vibe is really casual, as expected at a barbecue spot. As we were waiting in line, I had a chance to browse the menu. Lots of meats, as well as a selection of sandwiches, sides, and desserts. As I approached the pit I saw all of them on display - there's a pitmaster you place your order with and they place the carvings on a tray that is then weighed. You're then led inside where you order/pick out sides and pay. So how was the barbecue? Really good. I got cuts of sausage, brisket, and turkey. I also picked up shareable sides of potato salad, mac and cheese, beans, sweet potato fries, onion rings, as well as cherry and apple cobblers for dessert. The meats were really good - not dry at all, good cuts, and complemented well with the sauces they had available. Sides were good too - my favorites were the mac and cheese and beans. The cherry cobbler was really heavy and didn't have much flavor, the apple was better. Everyone was really friendly - service was efficient and everything was easy to find. Overall, I had a really great experience at Hard Eight - I'm glad I was able to try good barbecue during my time in the DFW area, and would have no qualms returning or recommending this place to others. read more

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Service was a bit slow, but worth it. Meet is packed with flavor and super tender. great atmosphere to watch a game.