East Texas Restaurants

East Texas has a bit of a Southern, near-the-bayou flavor. So while Texas mainstays like barbecue and chili populate the menus at the region's main-street cafés, so do chicken-fried steak and fried catfish—and even fried alligator tail on occasion. Most restaurants serve standard American and Southern fare, heavy on grilled meats and simple side dishes like potatoes and steamed vegetables. There's also ample Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine: nearly every sizable town has at least one restaurant serving south-of-the-border staples. Dress tends to be casual, even at the fancier restaurants in the larger towns.