Gate-side Texas smokehouse vibes in Terminal D
Hickory sits in DFW Terminal D after security, handy if you’re flying international on American or connecting through gates D15–D40. It’s a full-service sit-down spot, so budget at least 45 minutes if you’ve got a boarding time printed. The concept leans hard into Texas barbecue and burgers, with plenty of wood and metal in the decor and a bar that runs along the center of the space.
Menu pricing runs in typical airport range: burgers and sandwiches hover around $16–$20, salads sit closer to $14–$18, and mains can creep past $25 once you add brisket or ribs. Portions get called out as solid by frequent flyers in Terminal D, which makes it a reasonable value compared to grabbing two $9 snacks at a nearby newsstand. There’s table service plus bar seating if you’re solo and want faster attention.
The bar pours draft beer with a Texas tilt, plus standard cocktails and wine by the glass at usual airport prices, think $9–$14 for beer and $13–$18 for mixed drinks. If you have a flight out of gates D20–D29, it’s close enough that you can settle the check and still walk to boarding in under 5–7 minutes. Spirits list skews mainstream, so don’t expect rare bourbon finds, but it beats drinking from a plastic bottle by your power outlet.
Lines spike around the big evening international bank, roughly 4–8 p.m., when DFW sends flights to Europe and South America, so a 10-minute wait at 3 p.m. can turn into 25 minutes at 6 p.m. There’s no Priority Pass tie-in and no separate to-go window, so if you’re short on time, the fast-casual spots down by D23 or D27 may be smarter. Tip: if your flight leaves from another terminal, ride Skylink to D a full hour before boarding, eat at Hickory, then jump back on Skylink; the train ride between terminals usually takes under 10 minutes platform to platform.