Must-see restaurants in Texas

  • Cattleman's Steakhouse

    El Paso

    This working cattle ranch is 35 miles southeast of downtown – follow signs 4.7 miles northeast from I-10 exit 49 – but locals would probably drive 200…

  • Cured

    San Antonio

    Mighty slabs of meat hang smack-dab in the center of the dining room at this Pearl District crowd-pleaser, where charcuterie platters ($20 to $36) are…

  • Uchiko

    Austin

    Not content to rest on his Uchi laurels, chef Tyson Cole opened this bustling North Lamar restaurant, which describes itself as 'Japanese farmhouse dining…

  • Amy's Ice Creams - South Austin

    Austin

    The South Congress location of this beloved local ice-cream chain shares its daily flavors on a chalkboard out front. Pick your favorite add-on, and they…

  • Amy's Ice Cream

    San Antonio

    Choose your ice cream and pick a topping – then watch the staff pulverize the two into a blended little cup of heaven.

  • Fuel City

    Dallas

    A short drive from downtown, Fuel City serves up some of Dallas' best tacos in one of its most idiosyncratic locations (it's also a gas station and car…

  • Güero's Taco Bar

    Austin

    Set in a sprawling former feed-and-seed store from the late 1800s, this Austin classic always draws a crowd. Güero's may not serve the best Tex-Mex in…

  • Javier's

    Dallas

    This deeply cultured restaurant takes the gentrified cuisine of old Mexico City to new levels; forget whatever ideas you may have previously held about…

  • Gabriela & Sofia’s Tex-Mex

    Dallas

    The interior here is just acceptable: dark and roomy. But that's good as it doesn't get in the way of the beauty you'll find on your plate. Regional…

  • Taste of Texas

    Houston

    Welcome to Houston's favorite steakhouse. While other beef palaces start perusing Las Vegas leases at the first sign of success, this long-running gem…

  • Brennan’s of Houston

    Houston

    The most famous name in New Orleans cooking runs this refined restaurant in Midtown. No mere offshoot, it’s a culinary temple all of its own, blending New…

  • Ellerbe Fine Foods

    Fort Worth

    Fresh, seasonal and local are the keywords in this serene, light-filled cafe. The farm-to-table ethos is a religion here and the seasonal menus always…

  • Lankford Grocery

    Houston

    This vintage neighborhood grocery store is now dedicated to serving some of Houston's finest burgers. Thick, juicy and loaded condiments, what more could…

  • Hugo's

    Houston

    Chef Hugo Ortega elevates regional Mexican cooking and street food to high art in this much-celebrated Montrose bodega. Many menu items may seem familiar,…

  • Crave Kitchen & Bar

    El Paso

    Winning extra points for style – from the cool sign to the cutlery hanging from the ceiling – this hip little restaurant serves up creative comfort food:…

  • Lonesome Dove Western Bistro

    Fort Worth

    At Tim Love's mod-Western Stockyards dining experience, even the chefs wear cowboy hats. It's Southern fusion, with the traditional flavors of the region…

  • L&J Cafe

    El Paso

    One of El Paso's best-loved Mexican joints, L&J serves up delicious tacos, fajitas and famous green-chile chicken enchiladas – plus a legendary menudo …

  • Original Ninfas

    Houston

    Formal but friendly, this large Mexican restaurant, just east of downtown, is a true local institution. Houstonians have flocked here since the 1970s to…

  • Joe T Garcia's

    Fort Worth

    The most famous restaurant in Fort Worth, this fourth-generation place takes up a city block. Dining in the walled courtyard is a magical experience (and…

  • Meddlesome Moth

    Dallas

    Small groups of friends flock to this buzzing Design District gastropub, 2 miles northwest of downtown, to linger over Belgian-style mussels, shrimp and…

  • Heim Barbecue

    Fort Worth

    The family behind this joint brings knowledge and passion to the cause of creating barbecue for a new age. Sausage, brisket (of course!), turkey, pulled…

  • Zodiac

    Dallas

    This classic downtown lunch spot, which has been tucked into Neiman Marcus for more than 50 years, evokes old-school Dallas. Attentive waiters bustle…

  • AllGood Café

    Dallas

    Self-styled as a 'Bohemian Bistro,' this funky street-corner Deep Ellum diner is a true home from home. Families and rocker types alike chow down on Tex…

  • Amy's Ice Creams

    Austin

    It's not just the ice cream we love; it's the toppings that get pounded and blended in, violently but lovingly, by the staff wielding a metal scoop in…

  • Enchiladas Ole

    Fort Worth

    The antidote to same-seeming Tex-Mex. Yep, the dining room is dead simple and the menu a familiar litany of enchiladas, quesadillas and guacamole. But…

  • Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse

    Dallas

    Dallas’ favorite barbecue joint also has a handy downtown location, but for the full authentic experience you can’t beat a visit to the place it all began…

  • Stanton’s City Bites

    Houston

    In a town where the competition for best burger is tough, Stanton's is always on the A-list, with big, stacked juicy burgers. The chipotle option has…

  • Kincaid's

    Fort Worth

    A local institution, complete with the sickly green walls, this former grocery is now stuffed with picnic tables, and serves some of the best burgers in…

  • Rodeo Goat

    Dallas

    Rodeo Goat is located on an unpromising stretch of roadway on the outskirts of the Design District and, from the outside, looks like a low-key strip club…

  • Barley Swine

    Austin

    Small plates. Tantalizing flavors. Locally sourced. Changing menus. Snout-to-tail culinary creations. And craft cocktails. All served in a rustically chic…

  • Boudro's

    San Antonio

    This brightly colored waterside restaurant is hugely popular with locals. Fresh guacamole is made right at your table. The upscale Tex-Mex menu reveals…

  • Tacodeli

    Austin

    Oh Tacodeli, how we love your handcrafted tacos – surely blessed with the smiles of angels. From the Tacoloco with its adobo-braised brisket to the Pollo…

  • Woodshed Smokehouse

    Fort Worth

    In this hugely successful Trinity River joint, Texas celebrity chef Tim Love serves up gourmet barbecue and more besides, including deep dark bowls of…

  • The Cove

    San Antonio

    This enormous, weird, and very wonderful place is not just a restaurant and bar – it’s also a laundromat and car wash. Casual things may be, with no table…

  • Via 313

    Austin

    What? Why is my pizza a square? Because it's Detroit-style, baby, meaning it's cooked in a square pan, plus there's caramelized cheese on the crust and…

  • Coopers Old Time Pit Bar-B-Cue

    Austin

    The downtown lunch crowd has discovered this new outpost of beloved Cooper's Bar-B-Cue in Llano. Pick your meat at the counter (paid by the pound) then…

  • Craft & Social

    El Paso

    A welcome addition to El Paso, Craft & Social whips up high-end sandwiches (featuring ingredients such as oven-roasted chicken, Brie and roasted red…

  • Elemi

    El Paso

    They take their corn tortillas so seriously at this modern, small-plates downtown restaurant that they credit the specific Mexican farmers responsible for…

  • Crawfish & Noodles

    Houston

    Pairing Vietnamese seafood with Cajun flavors was inevitable once Vietnamese immigrants entered the Gulf Coast fishing economy. This shiny, hugely…

  • Reata

    Fort Worth

    The proprietors also own their own cattle ranch, so the sizable steaks are worth their weight. But you might also try the Texas specialties such as…

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