Mac’s Bar-B-Que has been a regular spot in my Dallas dining scene and somehow I forgot to take Frankie and photograph. So when we last visited I got some photos to include on this series of Dallas posts. Chef and owner Billy McDonald put Mac’s up for sale (2015) but that’s been a while and based on the crowd it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere fast. The restaurant opened in the mid-50’s and moved to this spot, very near the main Baylor Hospital, in 1982 when his dad and mom still had the place. It’s a plain little place that you’d easily drive by but there is parking on the side and in back. Inside the tables are good sized and spaced nicely. Customers line up at the window and the menu is posted on the wall beside you. While your order is being prepared you can chose from a nice selection of condiments, including pickle relish, onions, lemons, banana peppers, dill pickles and jalapeños.
McDonald takes your order and chops the beef, ribs, sausage, ham or turkey when you order. There are sandwich plates that come with one side or meat plates that come with 2 sides and can include one, two, three or a sampler of meats. Sides are all really good as are the meats. They offer a variety of soft drinks as well as sweet and unsweetened teas. Of the meats the sausage is a favorite. It’s juicy and well flavored. The ribs are tender and taste richly of smoke even without the sauce. The beef is tender, moist and a few terrific edge pieces work their way into the mix that are a treat to bite into. The sauce is delicious and is great to pour on whatever you get or to dunk your fries into.
For the sides the French fries are a favorite. They are double fried when you order so they are hot and crispy – just wonderful. They offer both sweet beans and ranch beans. I love the sweet beans which taste a lot like the baked beans I grew up eating. My husband likes the chile flavored ranch beans. The cole slaw is also nice if you need a salad fix and so is the potato salad.
Yes, I’ve worked my way through this menu and in addition to a sandwich or meat plate you’ll also find some different combinations which include his version of frito pie and stuffed baked potato, both of which include chopped beef. You can’t go wrong although I will say the stuffed baked potato was strange. It was a fun combination of two things I like but I had a hard time eating them together – I guess I still prefer mine separate -however almost every time I’ve been there someone is eating one. It is a huge meal. In fact, all portions are generous and when there, take a bit of time to look at some of the old cartoons and photos that decorate the walls. It is a little treasure of east Dallas, so get there before he gets a buyer!
