Hard Eight BBQ
| Address: | 5300 TX-121, The Colony, TX 75056, USA |
| Phone: | +1 972-625-8888 |
| Site: | hardeightbbq.com |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Working: | 10:30AM–9PM 10:30AM–9PM 10:30AM–9PM 10:30AM–9PM 10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–9PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 6
ME
Meg Correa
Ive heard people say they dont like Hard 8, but quite frankly I dont understand whats not to like. I dont suggest visiting here on a budget since it is cafeteria style and our eyes are usually bigger than our stomachs. You get right in line outside (covered and they have fans and misters) to order your meats. They have other roasted, smoked and/or grilled items to order as well. I suggest brisket of any kind, sausage of either kind, and ribs, but there are so many options! You can tell them how much you want and they cut it right there for you. Once it is weighed and on a tray, you head inside for your side items. Right inside the door is where you get your bread (or bun if you ordered meat for a sandwich). You can also order regular fries and sweet potatoes fries here. Further down the line you will find your typical bbq fixings (potatoes salad, pickles, bbq sauce, etc.) and a variety of desserts. Then come the warmers - jalapeño creamed corn and Mac and Cheese. Both savory, full of flavor, and absolutely amazing. Beans are complimentary and you can find them by the drinks once you pay. Once you pick your seat, enjoy your meal! They have take home boxes in case Im right and your eyes are bigger than your stomach! This is definitely a place where everyone can find something to eat!
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Karen Allen
Finally went here at 11:30 am on a Sunday, and it wasnt as crowded as we expected. Bonus. The only reason it gets 4 stars instead of 5 is when you walk in the door you are assaulted by smoker smoke. You are in a room full of meat smokers. You get used to it, but I cant imagine standing in there for 10 minutes in a line. We got through fast and then you go through some doors to the restaurant where you get air conditioning and no more smoke. We smelled like smoke for a few hours. But that was okay because the food was great! We got sausage and brisket, sweet potato fries and regular french fries, perfectly greasy like you would expect. We tried the Jalapeno Creamed Corn...YUM! I got a turkey sandwich, which allowed me to not have to get 1 lb of meat. I may have missed it, but I didnt see lots of sides of veggies or anything very healthy, like salads. We were there to splurge so I didnt pay attention. It was great. Well go back if its not busy so we dont have to wait in the smoke. Its a "git yer own" kind of place. You have your tray, you pay, you get your own fountain drink or alcohol, find your own table, throw your own stuff in the trash. We liked it a lot.
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Chris Dobry
This is a fun place. Lots of kitzch, but the meat is NOT good. They used oak wood to (partially) smoke the meat. Thats fine, but hickory, cherry, pecan, or mesquite would be much better. The pork ribs had essentially no rub flavor, only an overdose of salt, they were burned on one end and under-cooked on the other. The brisket was ok, but again, only salt was used-instead of spice and smoke flavors. The sausage was good but nothing special. NONE of the meats we were served had any significant smoke flavor. There was more smoke on my shirt-having walked through the smoke house (thats how you enter the place), than was on the meat. The okra was good, but also unremarkable. The complimentary baked beans were good, as was the corn on the cob. The house barbecue sauce was also good, but not nearly as good as other, long-established, Dallas barbecue staples. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and they checked on us regularly. Everyone there seemed to be having a pleasant time, however, one family we spoke with on our way out, completely agreed with this assessment. Im very particular about Barbecue-as most Dallasites are, and I dont think Hard Eight is going to make it.
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Doug Dockery
While the food was really good, my favorite part of going to Hard Eight BBQ was how you get there. You have to walk in through a bunch of grills - its sort of like being in line for a ride at Disney World. You spend your time in line smelling whats going to come! They sell the BBQ meats by the pound outside and everything is a-la-carte. You can also get grilled corn, baked potatoes, etc. outside as well. Then you pick your sides and salads inside. They also have beans, etc. in the seating area so you can eat as many of those as you want. The brisket was amazing and the ribs were pretty good. The corn was a bit cold once we finally got around to eating it but was pretty good too. While I wouldnt recommend going there during peak hours (the lines get REALLY long), the staff are friendly, helpful, and try to make your experience a great one. Im new to Texas, so were trying to work our way through the BBQ places in Frisco, Plano, etc. So far, Hard Eight BBQ is our absolute favorite - both for the amusement park-like experience while waiting to order and for the food.
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Christin L.
Starting out, figuring out what we are supposed to do when we got there was a bit of a mess. They need a greeter or something. We waited behind some people at a register near the entrance for nearly 4 minutes, once they moved on we realized that register was just for beers. So we plodded through the hot smokey BBQ pit room and tried to read signs and figure out what the heck we were doing. Our toddlers were loosing their marbles in the smoke. Ordering the meat we werent met with the most helpful staff, he walked off while my husband was asking a question about the meats, but I totally get it, it was hot and miserable in there. I wouldnt want to be there. Food was decent, I enjoyed the Mac n cheese and potato salad sides. The brisket was pretty good. We had to sit on the patio, the chairs/stools/whatever they are, werent very fitting for a family with little ones. I would maybe go back at a less peak time, Im not a big fan of the hustle and bustle of rude people that know what they are doing and dont say thank you when you hold the door for them.
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Emery Munoz
The food was great. I had the steak kabobs and they were cooked perfect. So were the ribs and sausage! but let me take a minute and brag on the assistant manager, Jameson. This was my families first time here, my sister is extremely picky, she didnt want a thing from here (she doesnt eat meat, but it was my husbands birthday and thats what he wanted to try), he stopped by to see if she would eat anything on the menu and offered to let her try it. She finally said she liked bananas and at one point in a separate conversation with my father in and out burger was mentioned. He brought her a banana pudding and she was ecstatic. We all thought that it was beyond sweet to try and get her something to munch on while we ate. Fast forward 10-15 min and this wonderful man showed up with an in n out burger for my sister to eat!!! Who does this kind of thing? That gesture made all of our night and we cant thank him enough! The customer service was beyond customer service!
