Japanese fans in Texas for the World Cup are discovering that everything is indeed bigger in Texas — including the food.
As Japan opened its tournament with a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands at Dallas Stadium, a local TV station posted a video on Instagram asking tourists about Texas' most famous foods: barbecue, steak and brisket.
"So good," one visitor said after rattling off a list of things he had tried, including steak, a hamburger and Caesar salad.
"Very nice," another said of Terry Black's Barbecue.
"I was expecting a lot of big food... I'm so happy to eat everything," one more said.
One tourist visiting with a group said they went to Hutchins Barbeque after the match and "ate until they were stuffed." Posting to X under @fivestaryoshi, they wrote that they found the price of their shared meal "relatively affordable... a big plus!"
Another delightful finding? "... the seasoning was on the lighter side, which suited Japanese tastes perfectly — it was delicious!," they wrote.
"It's great that when you write about Texas BBQ, locals give you all sorts of recommendations..." someone said in response. "lol BBQ isn't just food; it's a full-blown culture, huh."
Another Instagram reel showed a fan testing his brisket against his fork, zooming in as the meat fell apart with little force. After just one bite, he smiled, and his son gave a thumbs up.
Another fan, posting as @pomi0423, described Terry Black’s Barbecue as "mind-blowing." "The meat is so juicy, meltingly tender and flaky... it's way beyond expectations."
At Ryan’s Smokehouse in Houston, another person wrote that the brisket was “the absolute best” he's had. Like others, he was wowed by the price of the meal — $60 for six people — and said "it was way too cheap."
After watching hours of soccer in a hot stadium, one fan summed up the appeal of a big plate of Texas barbecue succinctly:
"The meat seeps into my tired body from all the cheering."
June 16, 2026