Dallas
Great American breakfasts and true Texas fare make this a must-stop for anyone who wants to have the full local culinary experience. Portions are big and…
Must-see restaurants in Texas
East Austin
If you want quick, cheap and easy, this walk-up taco stand (with a big deck for your dining pleasure) can't be beat. You've got to try breakfast tacos…
Houston
Belly up to the beef brisket, smoked sausage and gallon ice teas in a big ol' barn or out back on picnic tables. Even on the hottest day, the beer is cold…
Northeast Texas
Reasonable steaks and the friendly, down-home atmosphere are worth the drive 15 miles west to Avinger. Everybody knows everybody eating in here in these…
Hill Country
Colorful, bright and airy, this bistro and sidewalk cafe is housed in an old limestone building in the historic district. It's packed at lunch, and is one…
Dallas & the Panhandle Plains
Unusual and inventive coffee drinks and interesting baked goods are available through the day. Sandwiches are served until 3pm. There's a bare-brick vibe,…
Panhandle Plains
Catch up on all the gossip at TC's Ponderosa, which is inside a gas station. Great barbecue is served up simply on Formica tables. Try the hot links and…
East Texas
Authentic rustic Italian meals are served in a lovely wooden house. Look for faves like lasagne as well as seafood and meaty mains. The wine list is…
Northeast Texas
Join the crowds queuing at the counter to place your order for great burgers, chicken-fried steak or barbecue. Options are many, try the fried okra. It's…
Dallas
This top Dallas bakery has three locations. It features from-scratch, all-butter cupcakes in banana chocolate chip, Italian cream and red velvet, among…
San Antonio & Hill Country
Get your streusels, danishes and pretzels here, as well as sandwiches, wraps, soup and daily specials. It's not all German specialties here, but they've…
Fort Worth
Since 1928 Fort Worth's only kosher deli has served up classic New York sandwiches. Half the fun's in watching local movers and shakers make and break…
Houston
Soul food served cafeteria-style in the Museum District: think oxtails, ham hocks and ribs – cooked from the, well, soul. The dining room is simple and…
Hill Country
Get out of the crowded downtown area for a relaxed lunch. This cafe exudes Hill Country charm like a cool glass of iced tea, with salads and sandwiches…
East Texas
This appealing cafe is run by the local Royers clan and is just the spot if all you want is a fine coffee drink and a slice of one of the legendary pies…
East Texas
Everybody's favorite burger: the thick beef patties and hand-cut onion rings have cooked up a passionate following. Tookie's is as casual as it gets,…
El Paso
Vegetarians, plug your ears: it's hard to say what we like better, the groovy roadhouse-style decor, or the mounds and mounds of delicious, steaming…
Dubl-R Old Fashioned Hamburgers
Dallas & the Panhandle Plains
Chargrilled burgers with grilled onions and all the usual toppings are the thing at this near-shack local legend. Have a shake, maybe some tots and scarf…
Dallas
The rustic Spanish decor – wine barrels, warm saffron walls – comes to life with live flamenco guitar music. Tasty tapas at decent prices. Also serves…
Panhandle Plains
The kind of unassuming but excellent Mexican restaurant that pops up like treasure in west Texas. Just try to decide between the green enchiladas and the…
East Texas
Top-notch coffee drinks and excellent baked goods make this a good place to recharge. The walls are lined with art; there are seats outside.
Dallas & the Panhandle Plains
Fair-trade coffees are brewed at this simple cafe and served with breakfasts and sandwiches. Income goes to community development.
Dallas
Defining Dallas: fabulous burgers, excellent microbrews and tables outside in the balmy air. Hopdoddy hits the troika.
Lubbock Downtown Farmers Market
Panhandle Plains
This organic farmers market sells the best produce from the region. There are also plenty of ready food vendors.
San Antonio
The 40+ food producers and artisans at this bustling market are all based within 150 miles of San Antonio.
Dallas & the Panhandle Plains
Serves up Texas menu stalwarts with color and flair. Steaks come with a huge choice of sides.
Dallas & the Panhandle Plains
This irresistible bakery creates treats which you can enjoy here or on your onward journey.
Austin
Get your Tex-Mex fix here; the menu is consistently good, with several healthier-than-usual options. But we'll let you in on a little secret: this place…
Larry's French Market & Cajun Restaurant
Gulf Coast & South Texas
Larry's has a real Louisiana vibe. You can't get more authentic than this rustic restaurant and dance hall. During lunch the local specialties – including…
West Texas
What could have been a perfunctory restaurant at the Indian Lodge within Davis Mountains State Park is actually a more-than-decent dining option. Look for…
Central Texas
Serving Lockhart since 1900, the barn-like Kreuz Market uses a dry rub. Don’t insult them by asking for barbecue sauce: Kreuz doesn’t serve it, and the…
Corpus Christi
A character-filled throwback to the days when drugstores all had lunch counters, this is the real 1960s deal. Sit on a barstool or in a tiny booth and…
San Antonio
San Antonio isn't known for its barbecues – it's clearly more of a Tex-Mex kind of town – but this outpost of the Austin chain scratches the itch nicely…
Central Texas
The blackened pit room and homely dining room are all original (they used to have knives chained to the tables). Choose from a succulent array of…
San Antonio
You can’t miss this spectacular building, in the King William district a mile south of downtown. An 1883 home that became a Benedictine convent in 1939,…
Corpus Christi
Great coffee is a given in 'too cool for brewed' Corpus, but this daytime-only cafe is also much loved for excellent breakfasts, creative salads,…
Austin
Everybody knows about Home Slice. And on Saturday night between 6pm and midnight, it seems everybody is in fact here! All of them digging into the New…
Corpus Christi Area
This lively, ramshackle eatery always packs a crowd. There is an á la carte menu, but you should probably just order the Hungry Cajun ($16), a tabletop…
Galveston
The historic building may be elegant, with fern-studded colonnades and high wood ceilings, but the tasty comfort food and counter service are down-home…
West Texas
We love this friendly little walk-up counter at La Posada Milagro, where you can find pastries, breakfast burritos, lunches and what might just be the…
