Order the beer. Seriously, order the beer.
North McAllen / La Plaza Mall area · McAllen · American casual dining, brewpub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 2, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at BJ's McAllen is an afterthought dressed up in laminated font. You're surrounded by flat screens, house-brewed IPAs on tap, and a menu the size of a small novel — the wine program is clearly not why anyone showed up. That's not entirely a knock on BJ's; it's a brewpub, after all. But if you're reaching for a glass of wine here, temper your expectations before they hit the floor.
Twenty to thirty-five bottles, almost exclusively California, and anchored by the Holy Trinity of grocery store wine: Kendall-Jackson, Josh Cellars, and Meiomi. There's nothing wrong with these wines in isolation — KJ Chardonnay has its fans, Josh Cab moves units for a reason — but a list built entirely around supermarket staples signals zero curation effort. No Willamette Pinot to challenge the Meiomi, no Spanish Tempranillo for the red meat crowd, no bubbles to speak of. It's a list that was built to check a box, not to excite anyone.
Eight to twelve pours by the glass sounds generous until you realize it's basically the same California roster in a slightly smaller format. At $8–$13 a glass, you're paying restaurant markup on wines that retail for $12–$18 a bottle, which means the math stings a little. There's no rotation, no seasonal surprise — what's on the list today was probably on the list two years ago.
Meiomi Pinot Noir — $11/glass
It's not a complex wine, but Meiomi is consistent, slightly sweet, and actually works with BJ's food. If you're splitting a pizza and someone insists on wine, this is the least painful option on the list.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
Underrated in the sense that people reflexively dismiss it as basic — and it is — but KJ Chard is reliably clean, lightly oaked, and at this price point in a brewpub context, it does exactly what you need it to do without embarrassing anyone.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Josh Cab retails for around $15 a bottle and they're charging you $13 a glass. The markup is punishing for a wine that's perfectly fine but nowhere near special. Buy the bottle at H-E-B on the way home instead.
Meiomi Pinot Noir + BJ's Signature Deep Dish Pizza
The pizza's rich tomato sauce and cheese-forward weight need something with enough fruit to stand up without steamrolling it. Meiomi's soft tannins and jammy red fruit don't fight the sauce — they coast alongside it. It's not a revelatory pairing, but it's the most functional one available on this list.
❌ The Bottom Line
BJ's McAllen is a great place to drink a Brewhouse Blonde and watch the game — the wine list exists purely as a courtesy to the table's one holdout who doesn't drink beer. Do that person a favor and point them toward the hard cider.
Central McAllen / Expressway 83 · McAllen · American Comfort Food
Cheddar's is a solid spot for a Monte Cristo and a cold beer — but the wine program is a corporate afterthought dressed up as a list. Order a cocktail, tip your server well, and save the wine for somewhere that earned it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central McAllen · McAllen · Seafood
Red Lobster's wine list exists to check a box, not to enhance your meal. Order the Riesling or the Sauvignon Blanc, accept the situation for what it is, and save your wine ambitions for a different night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Plaza Mall area · McAllen · Asian Bistro
P.F. Chang's McAllen isn't a destination for wine lovers, but the list is thoughtfully assembled for what it is — a chain that actually considered food-pairing when building it. Order a Riesling, get the Lettuce Wraps, and adjust your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East McAllen / Expressway 83 · McAllen · Italian
Macaroni Grill McAllen isn't a wine destination, but Thursday's half-price bottle night makes it a reasonable call if you're already going for the pasta. Show up on a Wednesday and order cocktails instead.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Central McAllen · McAllen · Casual Italian / Italian-American
This is the wine list of a restaurant that views wine as a line item, not a feature. Come for the pasta and the endless breadsticks — just don't expect the wine to be part of the story.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Plaza Mall area · McAllen · Brazilian Steakhouse (Churrascaria)
Texas de Brazil McAllen isn't a wine destination, but it's not a wine disaster either — the list is overpriced in spots and short on imagination, but the anchor bottles are solid enough to carry a big carnivore night. Send your friend here for the meat; just tell them to reach for the Malbec and skip the Pinot Grigio.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.