Grab a seat at the counter and watch your meal being prepared from start to finish. WHY: Arturo Lopez gave San Antonio something to brag about in the 1960s when he invented what became known as the puffy taco a chubby tortilla thats fried until puffed, no longer than 45 seconds. Burgers, shakes, and massive onion rings keep loyal patrons returning to this Galleria-area eatery year after year. But I recently dedicated an entire month to wandering and devouring, and the standouts among my scores of meals made it obvious that eating in Texas has never been more exceptional. But many of the states defining restaurants also reflect the rich multiculturalism of its metropolises. For inclusion on this map, restaurants must not be on the Eater Heatmap or Eater 38, and must not have publicists. 3. To learn more, visit their website, If you're looking for white tablecloths and classical music playing in the background, keep driving. Enjoy in-house or with convenient online ordering for a taste of Montrose wherever you dine. WHY: Ninfa Laurenzo, known as Mama Ninfa, opened her restaurant in 1973 in front of her familys tortilla factory. Ivar's River Pub in San Marcos sits along the picturesque San Marcos River. WHAT: The apotheosis of a great Tex-Mex restaurant and its irresistible comforts. This is the spot to show off Central Texas-style barbecue when your party doesnt have time for the line at Franklin Barbecue. 2704 Navigation BoulevardHouston, TX(713) 228-1175 | ninfas.com. Clear Springs Restaurant. Here are 11 more delicious hidden gem restaurants in Texas that will please your taste buds if not your eyes. Its time to talk tacos again. From mammoth portions of chicken fried steak to meatloaf, you can't go wrong here. Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Located across the street from the architecturally stunning Flagler College, the Lightner Museum occupies the former Hotel . WHY: From its inception as a pop-up inside Grace Bible Church to its eventual launch inside a former Tex-Mex dive in December 2016, 2M Smokehouse has quietly set the tone for what San Antonio locals want out of their barbecue experience. But Texas is a state so immense, so full of mythology and ambition, and so populated with such compelling and culturally specific dining options, that it stands plainly as a region unto itself. 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 Quick, what food is Austin, Texas, famous for? Have you been to any of these hidden gem restaurants in Texas? Meghan McCarron is Eaters special correspondent and the former editor of Easter Austin. WHAT: A modern Indian cafe and bakery serving Indian street food with a Gulf Coast spin. Superb tapas (shaved jamn ibrico, lush pan con tomate, crisp-creamy patatas bravas) and potent gin-and-tonic variations bobbing with whole spices set the meals foundation. Served along with hand-cut fries made to order and a cute green salad to help you feel virtuous this giant plate is deeply satisfying. But the richest terrain is the soba fresh buckwheat noodles, notoriously difficult to form and cut, that Teiichi Sakurai crafts daily. Hefty portions of Southern classics are just the type of fuel we like to put in our tanks. M.M. Just listen to this quote from the website: We cook our brisket low n slow over Texas post oak for 14 to 16 hours. Tony's Italian Delicatessen - Montgomery 2. Where else can you find pretzels stuffed with chorizo-spiced mushrooms that taste meaty despite being vegetarian, whole chicken-fried fish heads, and breakfast pizzas topped with quail? You could always hit the hot spots to sample these and other delicacies the next time youre in the Texas capital. Except at this place "where everybody knows your name," it's up . Austin is a thriving metropolis, and it has a little bit of everything and that includes a French-inspired gastropub. Breakfast platters, chicken-fried steak, pecan waffles, and so much more are mouthwatering every time. D.V. 6425 Broadway StreetPearland, TX(281) 485-0844 | killenssteakhouse.com, [Note: This restaurant closed in October, 2018]. Be prepared to spend a bit more for the quality, and make a reservation if you can. 4315 Bryan St, Dallas, TX 75204. 3936 W. Vickery BoulevardFort Worth, TX (817) 732-5661 | swisspastryonline.com. 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. Testina. 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. 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. Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list. Good cooking doesnt have to hide behind the facade of fancy decor, nice atmosphere, and impressive architecture. Most folks think about BBQ immediately. Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. There are so many wonderful hidden gem restaurants in Texas. Its a jumping-off point for the restaurants overall greatness: Service is amazingly engaged. Smoke BBQ And Skybar, San Antonio. Location: 23 Putney Road, Kenilworth, Cape Town, South Africa. Come as you are; it aint fancy, yall. There are also whole fried crabs to devour by the pound and bowls of noodles simmered with shrimp and barbecued pork, topped with a runny quail egg. For more small-town eateries, check out our previous article: Delicious Mom & Pop Restaurants In Texas That Serve Home Cooked Meals To Die For. 3. Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Cafe Bella Open since 2000 in the hidden Westcliff Shopping Center, Caf Bella is the Cheers of several nearby neighborhoods, from Bluebonnet Hills to Tanglewood. 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. Roger builds upon these standards with more outre dishes, like sauteed sea cucumber with lobster rice and an improbable but smashing entree of duck breast with quince, Idiazbal cheese sauce, pine nuts, and balsamic reduction. WHAT: Austins deserving crowd favorite for righteous breakfast tacos. Texas is known for a wide variety of delicious cuisine. Its still worth the wait. D.V. This restaurant is attached to a full-service butcher shop. While we love the unassuming restaurants in Texas, theres no denying the appeal of our states most famous places. Address: 3610 Belt Line Road, Farmers Branch, TX 75234. The Lower Southeast shop entices barbecue zealots with buttery brisket, sausage links stuffed with Oaxaca cheese and spicy serranos, and, on the first Sunday of every month, barbacoa a south Texas staple. 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. Address: 420 Carolyn Street, Freer, TX 78357. (432) 522-1188. The farm-to-table movement is alive and well in Austin. Eight gigantic pits filled with Texas hickory lay the foundation for Angus beef, smoked ribs, jalapeno sausage, ham, and chicken. Amy McCarthy is the editor of Eater Dallas and Eater Houston. 2800 Kirby Drive, Suite b132Houston, TX(713) 522-2022 | pondichericafe.com. He excels in a rarity known as hunter beef, a preparation similar to pastrami, best served cold, in thick slices, with sinus-buzzing mustard. WHY: This Dallas taqueria is no mere taco spot. Houstonians love the sweet and savory morning fixes at this time-honored locale on the corner of W. Gray and Montrose. Still, there are only a handful of restaurants that deserve top honors, and Pho Dien, which gained acclaim by serving sides of raw, marinated filet mignon called tai uop, is the finest example of Houstons nascent pho revolution. But the fame and a guest list that often includes presidents, governors, musicians, and movie stars is mostly due to Tom himself, who treats every customer like a welcome friend at his kitchen table. 2. No worries just seek out one of these 13 culinary secrets of the Austin dining scene. Amy McCarthy, 11360 Bellaire Boulevard #990Houston, TX(281) 988-8098 | (no website). Take advantage of the $1.39 breakfast burritos available from 5am-9am daily. Texans have a famous breed of zeal and loyalty for their homeland; there will be vehement disagreements over our choices. Book well ahead, or be prepared to dine at the well-trafficked but comfortable bar near the entrance. Get more stories delivered right to your email. N.C. 1201 South Lamar BoulevardAustin, TX(512) 433-6521 | oddduckaustin.com, WHAT: Tex-Mex classics and community, from third-generation Austin taco royalty. In 2019, he visited Japan and Mexico, and hes become passionate about spreading a simple message: Traveling isn't necessarily expensive, and it's one of the best paths to self-improvement. La Fiesta. Or a plate of salad Nicoise with delicate yellowfin tuna? Something went wrong. Eaters 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. 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. If you head over to the town of Wichita Falls, youll find Casa Maana Restaurant. WHAT: A Tex-Mex landmark whose timeless signature skirt steak fajitas defies and transcends chain-restaurant bastardization. The #7 is a must-try! "For parking, they have their own lot which is hidden behind the building, you can enter it from." more. 1. This no-frills Tex-Mex joint is decorated with colorful murals. If you find yourself peckish on a late night in Austin, make your way to the original Magnolia Cafe on Lake Austin Boulevard. Don't miss House's Best Maid Pickle Beer, now a staple in Fort Worth. This little cafe is known for chicken fried steak the size of Texas and..Tex-Mex? Its helped along by sommelier Lisa also his wife who hones a smart wine list with intriguing choices from the West Coast as well as Europe and South America. Service is uniformly dashing. (214) 821-4447. And it would be a crime to leave without an indulgent slice of homemade pie. What are the best hole in the wall restaurants in Texas? Trippa Milano is one of Italy's most beloved nose-to-tail restaurants, a Milan institution celebrating every part of the animal in a similar vein to London's legendary St. John. Enjoy live music by local artists on select nights, and don't you dare leave without a slice of pecan pie. Hush puppies, shrimp, drum, catfish, oysters, fries, onion rings, guacamole salad, avocado salad, and a tartar sauce that's to die for. Youre just not in Texas until your chin is hopelessly sticky with pecan filling. The top 13 Vegan restaurants in Austin are listed below for your convenience: Arlo's. Bouldin Creek Cafe. Open in Google Maps. Theres no shortage of amazing places to get a magnificent meal. Mai Pham is a freelance food, wine and travel writer based in Houston. What more could you want? Open in Google Maps. The project. Yeah, everyone knows Freds for killer burgers, but as any cattle drover can tell you, the CFS is the true prize. WHY: Thanks to Houstons large Vietnamese immigrant community, pho shops specializing in Vietnams heady, fragrant noodle soup have become as easy to find as McDonalds. Oh, and dont worry about the dinner jacket. Everything is cooked to perfection, especially the chicken-fried steak: just crispy enough on the outside so as not to ruin the juicy, tender meat. Istanbul Grill 6204 S Cooper Street Arlington, TX 76001 (817) 557-3377 Istanbul Grill is a family-run Turkish restaurant that offers authentic Turkish and Mediterranean recipes. Add to wishlist. J.R.R. If you share their taste for meat and cured meat in particular do whatever it takes to have dinner at Salt & Time. 306 Pearl ParkwaySan Antonio, TX(210) 314-3929 | curedatpearl.com. Dont fret, cheesy diet-busters are on offer too as is a full lineup of liquid libations. 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. Running my hands along the turquoise Formica counter at H&H Car Wash and Coffee Shop in El Paso, watching the women spoon caldillo (green chile beef stew) into bowls and folding tortillas to make egg and chorizo breakfast burritos, felt like an archetypal Texas moment. Address: 16634 TX-36, Needville, TX 77461. Ace pastry chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph brings the meal home with sweets like strawberry sorbet covered in salted cream and a caramelized apple tart with smoked juniper ice cream. WHAT: The pinnacle of Texas barbecue from 82-year-old pitmaster Tootsie Tomanetz. 842 Fredericksburg RoadSan Antonio, TX(210) 735-5686 | no website. June Naylor is a sixth-generation Texan working as a food/travel journalist for 25-plus years. Good thing we all have a separate stomach for dessert because the coconut cream pie is absolutely unreal. 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? List of 13 Best Vegan Restaurants Austin, Texas. Book with OpenTable. Mexican flavors also murmur through McHughs modern American menu masa-fried oysters over sopes with black beans and avocado mousse, bison tartare with huitlacoche puree, braised lamb neck with hominy stew. Through videos and a best-selling book, Franklin-style barbecue can now be found on most every continent. 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. No matter which of the above 13 restaurants you visit the next time youre in Austin, do yourself a favor: Scan the dessert menu for pecan pie. Im fondest of Killens firstborn. WHAT: Austin casual with sophisticated execution. J.N. Downtown's posh Four Seasons Hotel houses two wonderful food-and-drink destinations: the lobby bar, Bayou & Bottle, and Toro Toro, helmed by celebrity chef Richard Sandoval. 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. Encircle the steak with all the traditional creamy and carb-powered side dishes. Mary's Cafe serves up enormous burgers and traditional Southern cooking that has been pleasing hungry Texans for generations. The dishes are served on seconds-old tortillas and casually devoured at communal tables or bar tops. 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. Prices for dinner entres range from $16 to $36 and up. Auntie Pasta's Italian Kitchen. Ten writers with deep local roots joined me in whittling down a small nations worth of restaurants to the crucial 38. When youre in downtown Austin looking for a quick breakfast or an unforgettable lunch, you cant do much better than Arturos Underground Cafe. WHY: The fishing boats are docked a few blocks away and the specialty is Gulf red snapper called pargo here, as it is in Nicaragua, homeland of Francisco Paco Vargas (there are also baskets of plantain chips on every table). 1. Owner Armando Vera runs what is likely the last restaurant cooking barbacoa de cabeza with wood in the Lone Star State, opening only weekends to dole out shimmering cuts of cheek, tongue, lips, and other head cuts served with warm corn or flour tortillas. The time has come: Were messing with Texas. With a brisket second to none, Smoke BBQ challenges the best barbecue joints in creating outstanding combinations and platters. The emphasis here is on quality ingredients. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. WHAT: Extraordinary burgers in an old-world sweets shop, borne from the mind of a classically trained pastry chef. To experience the complete measure of Sakurais skills, call ahead to request the seven-course omakase: It often weaves in blockbuster Japanese ingredients like A5 wagyu beef and ultra-seasonal fish but always concludes with a meditative plate of soba. Jos R. Ralat is the proprietor of thetacotrail.com and author of the forthcoming book American Tacos: A History and Guide to the Taco Trail North of the Border. WHAT: The crown jewel of San Antonios restaurant-rich Pearl District. Serving family recipes of enchiladas, chile relleno, and carne guisada, La Fiesta is one of the best restaurants in Waco! WHY: Owner and executive chef Kevin Fink has made a calling card out of milling his own wheat for pastas like White Sonora agnolotti filled with smoked potato and the gratifyingly chewy Blue Beard Durum spaghetti for his signature cacio e pepe. 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. David C: Quality sushi and a happy hour where everything is 20% - 50% off. Multiple locationsLaredo, TXtacopalenque.com. WHAT: An unholy yet wholly triumphant mashup of Japanese and Texan food cultures. Hes since claimed the James Beard Foundations Americas Classics award and is the Beard Houses most frequently featured Texan. 2. This local foodie favorite starts with Mexican tradition and twists it into imaginative new forms and flavors. My 7 Favorite U.S. Mountain Towns To Visit In The Summer, 5 Unique Stays In Rhodes, Greece With A View, 13 Highs, Lows, And Key Insights From My Years As A Freelance Writer On Travel And Other Themes, The Historic Austin Hotel Perfect For A Luxurious Weekend Getaway, 9 Amazing Fall Festivals To Experience In Austin (2022), Peek Inside This Unique Austin Rental Youll Never Guess How It Was Made, 17 Amazing Things To Do In Beautiful Austin, Texas, For details on Quillt's privacy and cookie policies, please visit our, 6 Best Austin, Texas Restaurants Perfect For Outdoor Dining, Best Things To Do With Your Family On Lake Travis. 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. Enter la Barbecue, a female-owned representative of Central Texass proud tradition of rubs, smokes, and sears. Hand-cut fries, juicy burgers with all the toppings, and the sincerest service around throw it back to the 1950s. There's also a breakfast buffet! In an area of downtown Austin chock-o-block with dining options, Emmer & Rye easily distinguishes itself from the crowd. Make a reservation; this place fills up fast. And while Franklin Barbecue deserves its accolades, were here to steer you a bit off the beaten path. WHAT: A taco chain to rule them all, rooted in regional tradition. The Lightner museum in downtown St. Augustine is an eclectic treasure. If its a hearty steak youre after, visit Murphys Steakhouse in Winchester. Address: 1400 East Highway 6, Did we miss your favorite spot? Ivar Gunnarson, its late owner, purchased and opened the San Marcos River Pub and Grill in 1996. The Little Deli & Pizzeria occupies an unassuming Crestview storefront, but the Italian deli-style sandwiches are excellent, and the pizza could hold its own in the Northeast. The smoked chicken is so popular, its usually the first to vanish. Weekend brunch crowds fill every seat in the restaurants cavernous dining room, clamoring for the straight-up goodness of dishes that veer closer to home: peppery fried chicken with biscuits. Restaurant Underdogs: Houston's 12 Best HiddenGems, Sign up for the Or let everyone pick out a sandwich, which will run you $8.50 to $11 apiece as of this writing. Their migas taco cradling scrambled eggs, Monterey Jack, onions, cilantro, a slice or two of avocado, and crumbled tortilla chips became a morning ritual for locals and visitors alike. These eateries serve meals that satiate both body and mind. 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. 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. The Village Bakery is the self-proclaimed inventor of the now-ubiquitous sausage kolaches. 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. Order extra hot-from-the-Tandoori (clay oven) naan for soaking up the rich sauces and fluffy Basmati rice. To learn more, visit, All the delicious traditional Hispanic fare can be found here for an affordable price. It's all-you-can-eat, featuring a different entree every week. 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. WHAT: A rambling, glitzy, big-hearted chophouse that couldnt and wouldnt exist anywhere but Texas. B.A. It takes a real standout to make it in this culinary capital and we found that standout in ATX Cocina. Don't stuff yourself too silly, as the homemade peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream simply can't be passed up. WHAT: A culinary mind meld of two veteran chefs whose menus express the sprawling, global, ever-dynamic mosaic of cuisines that define Houston dining. 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. Their kitchen turns out nearly 100 distinct dishes, many with regional Indian origins, but the key is to order gems inspired by Kaiser Lashkaris native Pakistan. Texans are not known as a meat-averse people. Takeout orders can be placed over the phone or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.. 1722 Routh Street (One Arts Plaza)Dallas, TX (214) 220-2828 | tei-an.com, WHAT: Proof that a passion for chuck-wagon vittles supersedes that for finer fare. WHY: Todd David at Cattleack is the only pitmaster in Texas serving whole-hog barbecue on a regular schedule, and thats still just on the first Saturday of every month. On the contrary, stop at Liberty Cafe for great food and friendly, yet no-frills service. But once youve exhausted all the big names, you may find yourself hungry for more. 4210 Roseland StreetHouston, TX(832) 834-3411 | bcnhouston.com, WHAT: A James Beard-nominated strip-mall sensation that beautifully showcases the uniquely Houston fusion of Cajun crawfish boils with Vietnamese flavors. WHY: If links and rice dressing dont come to mind when you think of Texas barbecue, youve been spending too much time in Austin. 10/10 hidden gem . 4601 Washington AvenueHouston, TX(713) 842-7114 | kitchen713.com, WHAT: Authentic Vietnamese pho house in Houstons Chinatown area. 13628 Gamma RoadDallas, TX(972) 805-0999 | cattleackbbq.com, WHAT: Southern comfort food in one of Dallass swankiest dining rooms from one of the citys stalwart chefs. You could spend ages sifting through the extensive menu, with everything from deli items to juicy steaks and gourmet mac and cheese. 6652 Southwest FreewayHouston, TX(713) 532-2837 | himalayarestauranthouston.com. Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. 2404 Southmost RoadBrownsville, TX (956) 546-4159 | no website, WHAT: The oldest Czech bakery in Texas, opened in 1952. 18 tips and reviews. But this classy, family-run spot is worth seeking out. If you head to Houston, youll also find some authentic Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese eateries. Sure, a fancy atmosphere is nice, but its the quality of food that really determines an eaterys appeal. From hidden waterfalls to the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants and attractions, Only In Texas is for people who LOVE the Lone Star State. WHY: Lashkari and his wife, Azra Babar Lashkari, are ever-present in their boxy strip-mall restaurant in the citys Mahatma Gandhi District. 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. What are the best small town restaurants in Texas? And just look at that spreada little bit of everything is the way to go. Daniel Vaughn is the Barbecue Editor at Texas Monthly. 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. 51 Rainey StreetAustin, TX(512) 366-5530 | emmerandrye.com, WHAT: The best brisket in Texas. 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. Good, cheap breakfast tacos are available between 8 and 11 a.m., each for less than $4. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Wash it all down with draft beer or luscious homemade smoothies. 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. And in case you didn't already know what old-fashioned barbecue is, Kenny's Smoke House will show you. Jersey-style thin-crust pizzas are in the $20 range and sandwiches are generally between $7 and $11. Smoky brisket, breakfast tacos, chile con carne, and 200,000 square miles of belt-busting beauty. Mai Pham, 11830 Bellaire BoulevardHouston, TX (281) 495-9600 | phodienhouston.webs.com. WHY: The restaurant from James Beard Award-nominated chef Bryce Gilmore epitomizes contemporary Austin cuisine. Enjoy freshly made Turkish dishes including appetizers of tabuli, humus, and red lentil soup plus flavor-rich sandwiches, kebabs, and Turkish pizza on a shady tree-lined street in bustling Rice Village. Pork steaks and spare ribs will have you questioning why anyone would say Texans can only barbecue beef. Their culinary traditions as well as their language and polka music have endured and fused with local culture to yield pastries and plates that are distinctly Texas. Tender brisket and deliciously sloppy . WHY: Dont be alarmed at the tarp-like tablecloths and rolls of paper towels at the table. Bill Addison, national critic, The 38 essential restaurants in Texas, mapped >>>, Sign up for Bill Addisons newsletter for extras and outtakes from his travels across the country >>>, WHAT: A thoroughly Austin outdoor haven with ranch-inspired eats. Better yet, grab an affordable, delicious breakfast taco, starting at $3.50. Paul Cordova III: One of the best places I found sushi in San Antonio. Buy the dry-rubbed, wood-fired meats by the pound for $16 to about $23. Clear Springs Cafe. 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. Trick question. Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Visit, This little cafe in the quaint suburb of Marble Falls serves up some of the most delicious country eats in Texas. He has has since opened two additional locations, but the expansion hasnt changed his simple mission: Serve cold-ass beer to wash down the finest chicken-fried steak in town, smothered in a sourdough batter and cooked just till the golden crust delivers the perfect crunch. We want to inspire you to explore new destinations, discover new experiences and savor the journey. 3002 FM 89Buffalo Gap, TX(325) 572-3339 | periniranch.com. Cheverells Farm. Its called Uchi (or house in Japanese), and its the brainchild of James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole. It is arguably the most avant-garde restaurant experience in Texas, but the modernistic, academic cooking also delivers ample poignancy and pleasure. In southeast Texas, garlic- and chile-laced beef links bursting with juice (dont call it fat in SETX) are the barbecue gold standard, and the Patillo family has been serving them since 1912. Here are a few of our favorites. B.A. Switching from sandwiches to pizza, Queens, New York's Figlia leverages specialty ingredients, long fermented dough, and an old-school wood-fired pizza oven to create Astoria's latest and greatest . When youre in the mood for simple, good food made with wholesome local ingredients, look for the winged pig painting on East 53rd Street. Look for the po boy specials at lunch: They hearken impressively to McHughs years of cooking in New Orleans. Open in Google Maps. Try the signature prickly pear margaritas, mojitos, and sangria and stay tuned for loteria aka Mexican bingo starting in August. The pargo elegante, topped with avocado and crabmeat, is stunning. I lived in Dallas a decade ago and converted then to a disciple of Lone Star foodways; since becoming Eaters national critic four years ago, Ive made a point of returning to the state for several weeks each year.