10 Best Texas Restaurants

Texas is famous for dishes like brisket, Tex-Mex, and chili. The state's food identity is defined by its distinct culinary regions and a deep-rooted ranching culture. What sets Texas food apart is its world-renowned barbecue, specifically the Central Texas style, which is a culinary technique focused on slow-smoking beef brisket with a simple salt-and-pepper rub over post oak wood. Tex-Mex, another state staple, is a fusion cuisine that originated in Texas, popularizing dishes like fajitas, nachos, and chili con queso. The official state dish, chili con carne, is defined by its core ingredients of meat and chile peppers, and traditional Texas recipes strictly omit beans.

The average cost of a meal in Texas at a budget restaurant is between $15 and $25 for one person. A three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costs between $65 and $110. Meals at high-end or fine dining establishments like Mixtli or Tatsu Dallas start at $175 per person and can exceed $250 for tasting menus and pairings.

Texas is the birthplace of several major fast-food chains that are deeply ingrained in the state's culture, with Whataburger being the most celebrated for its burgers and orange-and-white-striped A-frame buildings. Torchy's Tacos is another Texas original that has grown into a statewide favorite for its unconventional tacos.

• Whataburger: A Texas institution famous for its made-to-order burgers, particularly the namesake Whataburger, the Patty Melt, and its spicy ketchup.
• Torchy's Tacos: An Austin-born chain known for its creative and "damn good" tacos, green chile queso, and monthly special tacos.
• P. Terry's Burger Stand: An Austin-based chain beloved for its simple menu of high-quality burgers, fresh-cut fries, and real ice cream milkshakes.
• Bill Miller Bar-B-Q: A San Antonio institution that serves quick-service barbecue plates, fried chicken, and a popular breakfast of tacos and biscuits.
• Taco Cabana: Founded in San Antonio, this chain is known for its patio dining, 24-hour service at many locations, and its menu of Tex-Mex staples like fajitas and margaritas.
• Fuzzy's Taco Shop: A Fort Worth original, popular for its Baja-style tacos topped with feta cheese and garlic sauce, and its laid-back atmosphere.
• Schlotzsky's: An Austin-founded chain famous for its unique round sandwiches served on toasted sourdough buns, with "The Original" being its signature item.
• Golden Chick: A Texas-based chain known for its Golden Tenders, Southern-fried chicken, and Yeast rolls.

The Texas dining scene is constantly expanding, with notable new restaurants opening in its major cities. Recent additions include The Mont, a fine dining steakhouse in Fort Worth, and Anacacho Coffee & Cantina, a dual-concept venue in San Antonio from a James Beard semifinalist chef. These establishments bring fresh energy and concepts to the state.

• The Mont: A fine dining restaurant in Fort Worth with Art Deco interiors. The menu features butcher’s cuts of meat, including Irodori wagyu selections, a double long bone pork chop, and a signature duck dish. Located at 4729 Saint Amand Circle, Benbrook, TX 76126.
• Duchess at The Nobleman: A restaurant in Fort Worth with a menu developed by chefs from notable kitchens. The menu includes Gulf snapper crudo, Texas corn and ricotta stuffed farfalle, and a selection of steaks in a chic dining room. Located at 503 Bryan St, Fort Worth, TX 76104.
• Winsome Prime: A steakhouse and sushi restaurant in Dallas's Trinity Groves. The menu features dishes like Hawaiian rib-eye, snapper Orleans, and collard green risotto in a dark, romantic setting. Located at 331 Singleton Blvd, Dallas, TX 75212.
• Anacacho Coffee & Cantina: A dual-concept venue in San Antonio's St. Anthony Hotel that is a coffee bar by day and a cocktail lounge by night. The menu from a James Beard semifinalist chef includes a wagyu burger and Big Red & Barbacoa Tacos. Located at 300 E. Travis St., San Antonio, TX 78205.
• Petit Coquin: An intimate, 25-seat French-inspired bistro in San Antonio's Southtown. The restaurant offers a single seating per night with a 3-course prix fixe menu that changes frequently. Located at 1012 S Presa St, San Antonio, TX 78210.
• Otto's Ice House: A neighborhood hangout with riverside views near San Antonio's Pearl Brewery. The spot offers indoor-outdoor seating, yard games, live music, and a menu of elevated pub fare. Located at 111 Newell Ave., San Antonio, TX 78212.
• Beau's Tiny Diner: An all-day diner concept in San Antonio's former Little Em’s Oyster Bar space. The small diner focuses on classic comfort fare, including all-day breakfast, sandwiches, meatloaf, and chicken fried steak. Located at 1001 S. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78210.

Texas's main cities, Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, have several popular restaurants in their downtown areas such as Comedor, Tatsu Dallas, and Mixtli. The list below shows the best restaurants to try in Texas's key downtown locations.

• Comedor: Located in downtown Austin, Comedor is known for its modern Mexican cuisine and striking architectural design, offering dishes that reinterpret regional Mexican flavors.
• Tatsu Dallas: In Dallas's downtown-adjacent Deep Ellum neighborhood, Tatsu Dallas is a highly sought-after omakase restaurant specializing in a traditional, multi-course Edomae sushi experience.
• Xochi: At the heart of downtown Houston, Xochi is famous for its menu that celebrates the culinary traditions of Oaxaca, Mexico, with a focus on mole, masa, and exotic insects.
• Mixtli: San Antonio's Mixtli is a James Beard Award-winning restaurant in the Southtown district, specializing in a tasting menu that changes every few months to explore a different regional cuisine of Mexico.

Yes, there are lunch spots in Texas worth trying, including the world-famous Franklin Barbecue, Truth BBQ, and the classic Tex-Mex restaurant Joe T. Garcia's. Franklin Barbecue in Austin is a quintessential lunch destination, where diners line up for hours to get brisket and ribs that are served until they sell out. Truth BBQ, with locations in Brenham and Houston, offers another top-tier barbecue experience with expertly smoked meats and exceptional homemade sides. For a different style of Texas lunch, Joe T. Garcia's in Fort Worth is famous for its sprawling garden patios and its simple, classic menu of fajitas and enchiladas.

Yes, there are good places for dinner in Texas, such as the innovative Mixtli, the nationally acclaimed Birdie's, and the exclusive Tatsu Dallas. Mixtli in San Antonio offers a destination-worthy dinner with its immersive tasting menu that takes guests on a culinary journey through the regions of Mexico. Birdie's in Austin provides a more relaxed yet high-quality dinner experience, with a counter-service model for its daily-changing menu of New American dishes and an extensive wine list. For a formal dinner, Tatsu Dallas offers an intimate and traditional Edomae-style omakase experience, where the chef prepares each course directly for a small number of guests.

Texas has a growing number of vegan restaurants, including The

Vegan Nom, Bouldin Creek Cafe, and Project Pollo. The Vegan Nom in Austin is a taco truck that serves a 100% plant-based menu of tacos, burritos, and queso. Bouldin Creek Cafe, also in Austin, is a vegetarian restaurant with an extensive vegan menu of breakfast dishes, sandwiches, and salads. Project Pollo is a San Antonio-based chain that offers a fully vegan menu of 'chicken' sandwiches, burgers, and tenders. In Dallas, Casa Del Vegano serves a menu of plant-based Mexican dishes.

Restaurants in Texas that serve gluten-free food include dedicated bakeries like Picnik and restaurants with extensive gluten-free options. Picnik, with several locations in Austin, operates from a 100% gluten-free kitchen and offers a full menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items. For dining out, many barbecue restaurants, including Franklin Barbecue and Truth BBQ, are largely gluten-free by nature, as the smoked meats are the focus. Many Tex-Mex restaurants offer corn tortillas as a gluten-free alternative for their dishes. In Houston, Ruggles Black offers a menu that fuses Indian and American flavors with many clearly marked gluten-free options.

Texas's most famous cuisines are Barbecue and Tex-Mex. The state's massive size and its history as a cattle frontier and a border state have created a powerful and distinct food culture. Listed below are the most common and popular cuisines in Texas.

• Barbecue: Texas barbecue is a world-renowned culinary tradition. The most famous style is Central Texas barbecue, which prioritizes high-quality beef, particularly brisket, seasoned simply with salt and pepper and slow-smoked over oak wood. Other regions have their own styles, like the sweet, saucy barbecue of East Texas and the barbacoa of South Texas.
• Tex-Mex: This is a unique regional American cuisine that blends the food of Mexican immigrants with the tastes of Texas settlers. It is distinct from interior Mexican cuisine and is defined by its heavy use of shredded cheese, beef, cumin, and wheat flour tortillas. Signature dishes include cheese enchiladas, fajitas, and chili con queso.
• Mexican: Beyond Tex-Mex, Texas has a deep and authentic Mexican food culture, especially in cities like San Antonio and Houston. This includes regional specialties from across Mexico, from the moles of Oaxaca to the cabrito of Monterrey. Taco culture is a fundamental part of life in Texas cities.
• Steakhouse: The cowboy and cattle ranching legacy of Texas is directly reflected in the prevalence of steakhouses. From historic, rustic establishments to modern, high-end restaurants, the steakhouse is a cornerstone of Texas dining, celebrating the state's beef industry.
• Southern / Comfort Food: While distinct from the Deep South, Texas shares many Southern culinary traditions. Dishes like chicken-fried steak, fried chicken, collard greens, and black-eyed peas are staples of Texas comfort food.
• Vietnamese: Houston is home to one of the largest Vietnamese populations in the United States, resulting in a vibrant and authentic Vietnamese food scene. The city is a top destination for dishes like pho, banh mi, and other regional Vietnamese specialties.