1600 Westheimer RoadHouston, TX(713) 524-7744 | hugosrestaurant.net. 5251 McCullough AvenueSan Antonio, TX(210) 338-0746 | restaurantmixtli.com, WHAT: The home of the puffy taco. To learn more, visit their website, More than just a restaurant, The Kenney Store is a place for families and friends to gather and have a good time - the great food is just a perk. Here are a few of our favorites. Open in Google Maps. Overnight stays include breakfasts (maybe grits and eggs scattered with bacon lardons) made with the same city-meets-country finesse. To learn more, visit the official website for, Upon looking at the storefront, you would never know that a fancy, high-class seafood restaurant awaits you. We publish one Texas article per day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Then theres the back room the Purpecha Room a reservation-only, eight-course tasting-menu space appointed to resemble the Michoacn kitchen of chef-owner Regino Rojass mother. Visit, This little cafe in the quaint suburb of Marble Falls serves up some of the most delicious country eats in Texas. Or take the Texas theme over the top with a plate of fork-tender beef short ribs that are braised in Dr Pepper (the states unofficial beverage) and served over a pile of jalapeno grits. Foursquare. Kanpai Club Also featured in: 20 Essential. Good cooking doesnt have to hide behind the facade of fancy decor, nice atmosphere, and impressive architecture. Voila! Kermit in Bangkok (frog legs in a house-made yellow curry garnished with almonds) hangs with the Degenerado (aged chorizo and carne asada topped with frijoles de olla and a quail egg). From small towns to major metros, our *data scientists compiled a list of the all-time top 100 restaurants that shine big and bright deep in the heart of Texas - and Yelp! From chicken-fried steak to fluffy buttermilk pancakes, everything is made from scratch with fresh, local ingredients. WHAT: A rambling, glitzy, big-hearted chophouse that couldnt and wouldnt exist anywhere but Texas. Address: 16634 TX-36, Needville, TX 77461. When youre in the mood for simple, good food made with wholesome local ingredients, look for the winged pig painting on East 53rd Street. No worries just seek out one of these 13 culinary secrets of the Austin dining scene. Save space for the decadent desserts like baklava and rice pudding. WHY: I acknowledge the lunacy of distinguishing one Tex-Mex combo plate above all others in a state full of citizens weaned on its specific delights (or at least happily sustained by them). Got the soup dumplings and the spicy beef noodle soup. WHY: Chefs (and hip-hop DJs) Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya Tako Matsumoto run an izakaya in a former barbecue restaurant, and they take their culinary cues from their surroundings. Our goal, to share the worlds unique, hidden and once in a lifetime locations with you to create unforgettable memories. What more could you want? Or, nominate your favorite attractions for a chance to be featured. This no-frills Tex-Mex joint is decorated with colorful murals. For $60 for adults and $25 for kids, head to The Statler's Scout for a Mother's Day . A recent dinner began with a serotonin-boosting plate of tangelos, snow peas, and thyme before veering funky (and peak Yu) with a stew of brisket warmed in pickle juice, crumbled white cheddar, and preserved vegetables. WHAT: Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaughts gracious, 16-year-old lodestar of hospitality, whose success presaged this moment of upscale Mexican dining in the United States. And guess where the restaurant gets all its meat? OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Chef Franson has a passion for serving up gourmet food at an affordable price - from sea bass to ribeye steak, crab cake pasta to chicken scampi, your taste buds will be blown away. It's easy to see why it's one of the best hidden gem restaurants in Texas! The four other Texas restaurants on the list are Birdie's, a neighborhood wine bar in Austin; Blood Bros. BBQ, a smoked-meat house playing with Asian flavors, outside of Houston; and two taco. In Texas, barbecue is a generational thing, and Terry Blacks BBQ on Barton Springs Road is rich with pedigree. We have quite a few places like this here in Texas, but by using reader comments and critic reviews, weve compiled a list of some of the best. With two locations in South Texas, Butter Churn is committed to spreading the joy of down-home cooking far and wide. WHY: The couples other standout Houston restaurants, Xochi and Caracol, specialize, respectively, in Oaxacan and Mexican coastal cuisines. Yeah, everyone knows Freds for killer burgers, but as any cattle drover can tell you, the CFS is the true prize. Though there are others that can replicate that magic Los Barrios, Teka Molino, Henrys Puffy Tacos Rays Drive Inn, with its throwback Spurs signage, virgen shrine, and Budweiser y Tacos neon, is a living time capsule of old-school San Antonio. The juice will run like a faucet once youve cut a link open, so have a slice of white bread, or better yet, a pile of rice dressing similar to dirty rice ready to capture it all. Robb Walsh is a the three-time James Beard Award winner who divides his time between Galveston Bay, Texas, and Galway Bay, Ireland. The project builds on our city sites 38 lists and our annual guide to the essential restaurants in America. To learn more, visit their website, This charming cafe is part of The Ridge Marketplace, a shopping center that also features a bakery and enchanting fairy garden. 2404 Southmost RoadBrownsville, TX (956) 546-4159 | no website, WHAT: The oldest Czech bakery in Texas, opened in 1952. 13. Either way, the hoppin tunes of zydeco music keep the atmosphere lively. Even last years pit-room fire couldnt keep them down for long, as the famous lines have re-emerged outside their Austin restaurant. Spice Station - Kingsville, TX Outlaw Kitchens - San Antonio, TX Aladdin Cafe - Crowley, TX Ceviche Ceviche - South Padre Island, TX Sikhay Thai Lao Cuisine - Fort Worth, TX Athena's Greek Kitchen - Houston, TX The Shed Market - Abilene, TX Doma Seolleongtang - Dallas, TX Crumbville - Houston, TX Pho Phong Luu - Austin, TX Pappa Gyros - Katy, TX Did we miss your favorite spot? David Uygurs homage to the pig is a stunning array of standard favorites like salami, coppa, and thinly sliced lardo that wilts to translucence under the heat of the warm bread it sits upon. Lunch and dinner sides typically cost less than $5, while entres like tortas and bowls cost between $10 and $13. Come as you are. Carmen Valera, one of the five siblings who own the restaurant, says a third of their menu is identical to what her grandparents served at their now-shuttered restaurant in the 60s, a third is straight from her mothers now-shuttered restaurant from the 80s and 90s, and a third is all-new. Passionately make your case in the comments. The restaurant (which, in true Austin fashion, began as a food truck) is also a major booster for the local farming community going so far as to emblazon farm names on the dining room walls. Portions fit for a giant are sure to satisfy any craving, and they've been open long enough that quality is second-nature. You may leave with an empty wallet, but your belly will be full and satisfied. Texans are not known as a meat-averse people. Good thing we all have a separate stomach for dessert because the coconut cream pie is absolutely unreal. WHAT: The apotheosis of a great Tex-Mex restaurant and its irresistible comforts. Paul Cordova III: One of the best places I found sushi in San Antonio. Crowd favorites include sirloin steak, liver and onions, pork chops, and the 40-item salad bar. Today the kitchen meanders into modern whimsies like roasted oysters topped with spiced crab meat in the restaurants wood-burning oven. This 24/7 diner is the ideal place for Southern breakfast, any time of the day or night. After 17 years of serving local families and vacationers alike, the pub closed in late 2012 for renovations. B.A. Spices are deftly applied to just about everything: desi fries dusted with chaat masala; barley salad with beets, toasted walnuts, and turmeric-almond dressing; and finger-licking ribs swathed, barbecue-style, with vindaloo. WHAT: Barbecue con ganas, made by a former La Barbecue employee and his high school best friend. If youre closer to Austins south side, you can visit Magnolia South, a second location on South Congress Avenue. The underground part comes both from the hip, countercultural aesthetic of the place and its unique dining room, which is, yes, sort of in a basement. Enjoy free bowling during Mother's Day Brunch at Scout. He excels in a rarity known as hunter beef, a preparation similar to pastrami, best served cold, in thick slices, with sinus-buzzing mustard. For inclusion on this map, restaurants must not be on the Eater Heatmap or Eater 38, and must not have publicists. This is partly because his pepper-crusted, mesquite-grilled strip; bone-in cowboy ribeye; his spicy-fried quail legs; hominy laced with green chiles and bacon; and sourdough bread pudding with pecans and whiskey sauce cant be beaten. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Open in Google Maps 518 W 11th St Suite 500, Houston, TX 77008 (713) 393-7425 Visit Website Cheeky drinks and delicious bits. Project Pollo. Founded in 1987 by Juan Francisco Ochoa, Taco Palenques 20-plus locations serve a quality, affordable version of the states border cuisine including its iconic pirata taco, made with beans, cheese, and fajita meat, thats beloved in Laredo and beyond. J.N. However, the Vazquezs brick-and-mortar in Austins North Burnet neighborhood cranks out food with even more precision and also offers picadas, masa creations that split the divide in texture between tortillas and thicker sopes. June Naylor, 915 Currie StreetFort Worth, TX (817) 332-0083 | fredstexascafe.com. Have you been to any of these hidden gem restaurants in Texas? Open in Google Maps 2514 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005 (713) 523-4753 Visit Website Ellie Sharp/EHOU Hobbit Cafe An expansive patio deck hidden behind lush foliage encourages lingering over. Nadia Chaudhury is the editor of Eater Austin. Encircle the steak with all the traditional creamy and carb-powered side dishes. Burgers, shakes, and massive onion rings keep loyal patrons returning to this Galleria-area eatery year after year. To learn more, visit the official website for, They don't call it Stanley's "Famous" BBQ for nothin'. In 2014 Houston entrepreneur Ignacio Torras coaxed Luis Roger, an accomplished chef and fellow Barcelona native, to move to Texas and partner on a venture that glorifies their home countrys cuisine. This is the spot to show off Central Texas-style barbecue when your party doesnt have time for the line at Franklin Barbecue. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie. She was right, of course. And if youve got time for a day trip, Hamilton Pool would be a great one. Hugos menu, on the other hand, is a national survey of the countrys most legendary dishes; Ortegas genius for employing spice and intensifying meaty flavors creates the through-line between them. This little cafe may not look like much, but if you're looking for some good old fashioned country cookin' in the heart of San Antonio, this is your place. 2. 408 W. 8th StreetDallas, TX(214) 948-4998 | luciadallas.com, WHAT: The taqueria with the little back room thats a Mexican food game changer for Texas. Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. But it also boasts an. Nadia Chaudhury, 2027 Anchor LaneAustin, TX(512) 614-2260 | contigotexas.com. Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list. The restaurant, and Laurenzos fajitas, became an oft-imitated (and, for a time, franchised) sensation. WHY: Texas is an endless font of mega-successful Tex-Mex fast food, from statewide standard Taco Cabana to hipster hegemon Torchys, but a regional chain slinging freshly cooked tortillas and menudo, with a fresh salsa bar at every location? Open in Google Maps. Kurry Takos - Austin 4. Weird mixture, we know, but you won't be disappointed either way. Here, chefs wood-grill just about everything, with plenty for meat lovers, vegetarians, and the gluten intolerant alike. 1989 W Lucas Rd Parker, Texas 75002. (214) 463-6222. WHY: Even in the shadow of West 7th districts flashy new developments, the original Freds Texas Caf still shines bright as a beacon for down-home Texas cuisine. There's also a breakfast buffet! Come for the award-winning menu of Gulf Coast favorites, stay for the hospitality of a well-oiled dining machine owned and operated by siblings Francisco Ruiz and Martha Lopez. Open in Google Maps. WHY: With scores of options in Austin and San Antonio (for starters), and plenty of controversial and passionate words written about origins and ownership, its safe to say there is no one absolute best place for breakfast tacos in Texas. WHY: There was a time when shops specializing in barbacoa de cabeza en pozo a la lea (whole beef head cooked slowly in an underground, mesquite-fueled barbecue pit) dotted South Texas. Texans have a famous breed of zeal and loyalty for their homeland; there will be vehement disagreements over our choices. Good, cheap breakfast tacos are available between 8 and 11 a.m., each for less than $4. Come as you are; it aint fancy, yall. Get the goods to go or take in the charm of the dining space great for watching the steady stream of customers and the busy streets outside. Less than 10 miles north of downtown Austin, youll find the finest flavors of New Jersey in the South. They . WHAT: The last standard-bearer of a Texas culinary tradition along the Rio Grande. Get more stories delivered right to your email. A Montrose staple for years, this is the place to come for curries, soups, and noodles. The Daltonyes, it's named after Patrick Swayze's character in Road House features a zesty blend of spicy buffalo chicken, bleu cheese, and celery. Mai Pham is a freelance food, wine and travel writer based in Houston. Counter Culture. Eater's "Regional 38" series previously named the vital dining destinations across three fertile swaths of America: the South, New England, and the Great Lakes region of the Midwest. The folksy Village Bakery often gets overshadowed by shinier establishments right off Interstate 35, but drive over the tracks into downtown west for quintessential Texas Czech treats. Something went wrong. A glassed-in locker at the restaurants entrance displays beauties like culatello (ham made from the loin of a pigs hind leg) aged for one year, and the kitchen assembles smart novelties such as hot goat sausage and catfish mortadella. Were they better than their looks would lead you to believe? There are indoor dine-in services. New staples now include Vietnamese-Cajun crawfish boils, duck breast over mole coloradito, Italian bread dumplings with braised mustard greens, and Indian thalis (trays) filled with dishes like vinegar-tinged Goa pork and turmeric soup. But this classy, family-run spot is worth seeking out. Bring your appetite and chow down! WHY: The restaurant from James Beard Award-nominated chef Bryce Gilmore epitomizes contemporary Austin cuisine. Address: 1424 Speight Avenue, Waco, TX 76706. And in case you didn't already know what old-fashioned barbecue is, Kenny's Smoke House will show you. Read all his columns in the archive. WHY: Ross Coleman and James Haywood prove exceptionally adept at distilling tastes and textures into dishes that leave you invigorated. With a brisket second to none, Smoke BBQ challenges the best barbecue joints in creating outstanding combinations and platters. WHAT: The crown jewel of San Antonios restaurant-rich Pearl District. WHY: Ninfa Laurenzo, known as Mama Ninfa, opened her restaurant in 1973 in front of her familys tortilla factory. The Pakistani affinity for beef plays so well in Texas that Lashkari dreamed up on-point friendly fusion weekend specials, such as smoked brisket masala, to bridge the cultures. Its still worth the wait. Take advantage of the $1.39 breakfast burritos available from 5am-9am daily. WHAT: A tasting-menu restaurant in middle-of-nowhere West Texas that actually lives up to the romantic fantasy of such diversions. B.A. Located across the street from the architecturally stunning Flagler College, the Lightner Museum occupies the former Hotel . La Fiesta is a true Tex-Mex restaurant and one of the best places to eat in Waco! Yes, people wait in line for hours just to try their scrumptious ribs and brisket, but its so worth it. His newest venture, a steakhouse-barbecue hybrid called Killens STQ, opened in Houston proper in 2016. newsletter. WHY: Czechs began immigrating to Texas in the 1850s, and many settled in the fertile, blackland strip down the center of the state, including in the small town of West. Rajwadi's samosa sandwich Kathy Tran Rajwadi Vegetarian Indian Fast Food 9400 N. MacArthur. Visit Website. Its like a graduate-level course for cured meats where spectacular pasta is just for extra credit. J.R.R. This is the only place in the city maybe in the world where you can pair a pork-and-quail corn dog with pinto falafel fritters. It's all-you-can-eat, featuring a different entree every week. Address: 811 South Loop 497, Kenney, TX 77452. Even after Lopezs passing in 2015, the pillowy bites still satiate that puro San Antonio craving to the tune of 500 puffy tacos a day. Enjoy live music by local artists on select nights, and don't you dare leave without a slice of pecan pie. Look past the burgers, grilled cheese, and eggs with bacon for the specialties that reflect El Pasos locus at the edge of Texas, Mexico, and New Mexico: slim breakfast burritos filled with picadillo or eggs and chorizo, enchiladas smothered in ruddy chile Colorado or chile verde, and huevos rancheros. Ask for them by the bakerys trademarked name, klobasniki. But a recent re-visit to Garcias, run by the same family since 1962, confirmed my devotion to its Deluxe Mexican Dinner plate: The oversize platter includes two cheesy enchiladas and a pork tamale covered in chili con carne and additional cloud banks of yellow cheese (say yes to the option of chopped onions); a freshly fried crispy taco stuffed with ground beef, shredded iceberg lettuce, and diced tomato; sides of rice and refried beans creamy with lard and bacon fat; and, brought first as a starter, a chalupa smeared with guacamole. The Texas Chili Parlor was name-checked in a Guy Clark song, which is about as famous as you can get for a Texas institution. Its a jumping-off point for the restaurants overall greatness: Service is amazingly engaged. Sure, this collection includes singular steakhouses, barbecue standard-bearers, Tex-Mex strongholds, and cafes serving outstanding burgers, breakfast tacos, and kolaches: the foods that make Texas defy trendiness. WHAT: An exceptional and luxurious foray into Catalan cuisine. Currently, for example, their subject is Rediscovering the Mayan Gastronomy; one dish, equally stunning in taste and appearance, expresses the lost empires trade routes by combining quinoa, fish roes, and avocado. Believe us, this remote restaurant is worth the time it takes to get there. B.A. On the contrary, stop at Liberty Cafe for great food and friendly, yet no-frills service. Its here that Foreign & Domestic works its nose-to-tail magic for hearty, no-frills dishes that let the quality ingredients take center stage. Jessica Elizarraras is the food and nightlife editor for the San Antonio Current. 1. Im fondest of Killens firstborn. Features include grilled pollo en mole and the quinoa chile relleno neither skimp on flavor or fill-factor. Address: 2420 South Interstate 35, Denton, TX 76210. Multiple locationsLaredo, TXtacopalenque.com. Flower Child. I still love the trailer. (214) 821-4447. Come hungry - we can guarantee you won't leave that way! It's a little on the pricey side, so maybe wait and treat yourself to a meal on payday. 3422 Allen Pkway. Enter la Barbecue, a female-owned representative of Central Texass proud tradition of rubs, smokes, and sears. In an area of downtown Austin chock-o-block with dining options, Emmer & Rye easily distinguishes itself from the crowd. WHY: Dont be alarmed at the tarp-like tablecloths and rolls of paper towels at the table. Kenny's Smoke House. Were known for smoking a mean brisket and beef rib. From perfectly smoked meats to creamy potato salad to grilled corn-on-the-cob that melts in your mouth, Fatboy's menu is always a winner. Visit, Inside this trailer is some of the most succulent BBQ in Texas. Restaurants in Nacogdoches. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie. Enjoy its quaint and quiet environs, and find comfort in a traditional menu featuring dishes like spaghetti and clams and seafood risotto. Address: 420 Carolyn Street, Freer, TX 78357. WHY: Yes, its only open once a week, and it usually sells out before the lunch hour, but Snows BBQ is exceptional. Mai Pham, 11830 Bellaire BoulevardHouston, TX (281) 495-9600 | phodienhouston.webs.com. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing. 3. B.A. Here at Eater, you can reliably find Houston's hottest restaurants, the city's essential eateries, and pretty much all the food news you can chew on. Its all about the skill that goes into making food taste great. 16 Standout Mexican Restaurants in Houston, 19 Essential Restaurants in Houstons Asiatown. (For more on that, read my case for Texass culinary superstardom.) Book with OpenTable. The East coast-style pizzeria and deli is so popular with Austinites that a Windsor Park location on Briarcliff Boulevard was added at the end of 2019. (832) 582-5642. B.A. But some restaurants, namely those that have been around for a while or don't employ a massive staff of publicists, can flyunder the radar. Weve said it many times before, but for claritys sake: Southern hospitality and hefty portions will always trump white tablecloths and waiters dressed to the nines. Of course, Texas is also known for its delicious Tex Mex restaurants. The Lightner museum in downtown St. Augustine is an eclectic treasure. Robb Walsh, 2028 Postoffice StreetGalveston, TX(409) 762-3696| rudyandpaco.com. The meal, ticketed at $97 per person, typically careens through seven or eight courses and lasts a concise 90 minutes or so. Just about every meal in Austin starts with chips and salsa, and Curras housemade salsa is delightfully fresh and spicy. Best is the seasonal special Cloudcroft Christmas Burger, combining New Mexican red and green chiles with pepper jack cheese and grilled onions atop the supple patty, all crowned with a fried egg and framed by a house-baked brioche bun. Start a meal in this bright, luxe-casual dining room with Fearings iconic, smoky, and creamy tortilla soup, then feast on Grannys fried chicken, shaken with flour and spices before being fried to perfection in cast iron. Along the turquoise Formica counter, regulars and visitors gather for diner food with a dynamic sense of place. Open in Google Maps. If you love things spicy, you have loads of options for tasty tacos and enchiladas. 18 tips and reviews. The time has come: Were messing with Texas. WHY: Tei-Ans menu winds through broad territory: tempura, udon, ramen, sashimi, curry rice, and dishes like braised beef tongue and okonomiyaki. A winning spread here might include chicken, shrimp, and andouille-sausage gumbo depth-charged with smoked fish (an homage to thiboudienne, the national dish of Senegal, where gumbos predecessor originated); crisp shreds of turkey-neck meat cradled in bibb lettuce leaves with Vietnamese nuoc mam cham for dipping; and catfish tikka masala. 3. The wine list leans obscure and funky. Franklin BBQ, located in Austin, is no exception. Oops. What are the best small town restaurants in Texas? Its not unusual for Veras to be sold out of meat before it closes at 2 p.m., but the first to go is what Vera calls Mexican caviar. That would be cow eyes. If youre looking for more scrumptious meals, check out these fantastic neighborhood restaurants in Texas. 2800 Kirby Drive, Suite b132Houston, TX(713) 522-2022 | pondichericafe.com. Diner classics are also on point with BLTs, burgers, and grilled cheese. Relish them simply, mounded on a woven bamboo mat alongside a dashi dipping sauce simmered with duck meat. All photos by Bill Addison unless otherwise noted. Take-out is 35% of Captain Marden's restaurant business, and they also have an excellent retail store where you can purchase all manner of fish, including $39.99-per-pound Alaskan king wild . 5707 Andrews Hwy. Here are 11 more delicious hidden gem restaurants in Texas that will please your taste buds if not your eyes. Mare Oyster Bar . Barbecue, chili, and tacos especially breakfast tacos are all acceptable answers.
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