Families and comfort food have a tight connection. When kids grow up learning how to cook alongside loved ones, they start to see the warmth that food can ignite. So when Heim BBQ’s owners Travis and Emma Heim decided to open a barbecue joint in Fort Worth after growing up with a love of comfort food, it was set to be a success.
Travis stood alongside his family members in the kitchen as a boy and watched them spend hours to build up flavors in their dishes. Under their guidance, he was able to build up his own skills and develop his own love for cooking.
“That first 14-hour cook started a passion for barbecue that I never could shake,” Travis says on Heim BBQ’s website.
The Heims got their start in the industry with a food truck in 2015, and after finding their groove and building up a following, they opened a storefront on Magnolia Avenue in Fort Worth. Now, they are hoping to feed the masses with their biggest location yet in the River District. While they may be feeding more people than ever, he says they have the same goal: “To offer their guests the best possible experience at Heim — from providing a warm, welcoming environment to sourcing humanely raised and processed meats and the freshest ingredients.”
Heim BBQ’s second location, nicknamed Heim on the River, gives fans what they crave: more. The larger space, which opened in April, is outfitted with additional smokers churning out vast quantities of Texas-style barbecue. But they have never forgotten the importance of quality.
With the motto “farm to smoker,” the Heim family takes the time to ensure they are serving meat that does not negatively affect the environment or food landscape. Their menu boasts high-quality, locally sourced meats like Niman Ranch Pulled Pork and C.A.B. Brisket, available by the pound or as part of their combo plates.
Their signature items, like Bacon Burnt Ends, put them on the barbecue map. The Kansas City-style burnt ends, made out of smoked pork belly, give guests a new take on a barbecue classic. Those familiar with Heim BBQ may notice the River District location has new offerings available, like an array of burgers. Guests can sink their teeth into the Heim- burger, a messy brisket burger topped with American cheese and bacon-burnt-end jelly, or try something fresh like the Funky Burger with Heim’s Bacon Burnt Ends and blue cheese. Paired with a side of Twice Baked Potato Salad or Green Chile Mac & Cheese, this is a meal that is set to satisfy.
Heim on the River also features a full- service bar, covered patio and outdoor beer garden, which makes it the perfect place to order up a cold drink and take in the views. With a brew in one hand and a forkful of barbecue in the other, guests will be able to melt into the experience with each bite.
To end things on a sweet note, you won’t want to pass on Emma’s Banana Pudding — available by the single serving, pint or quart. (There’s no shame in taking some home to enjoy later.) Its light and refreshing flavors offer a creamy brightness that won’t leave you feeling heavy. The new location also offers seasonal cobbler and hand pies for those looking for a southern favorite.
So round up your herd, and head over to Heim. Their dishes not only bring the smoke and heat you would expect in good Texas cooking but also provide that warmth that only comes out of a family’s kitchen. We can’t promise you won’t stand in line to enjoy their low and slow creations. But we can say that after your first bite, you’ll see why Heim has such a following.