384 Best Restaurants in Texas, USA

Locals take their out-of-town guests to this legendary "real Texas food" locale. The original location opened on North Lamar in 1933 as a gas station that soon evolved into a honky-tonk that drew local musicians, including a pre-fame Janis Joplin in the early '60s. Today, live music is still a huge priority, but Threadgill's is now a friendly restaurant with cleaned-up Texas charm, and the main attraction is the massive chicken-fried steak, followed by homemade cobbler and ice cream. Some other mains may fall flat, though veggie sides are satisfying. There's a breakfast buffet on Sunday from 10–1. The atmosphere is a bit hokey, but Threadgill's has earned it.

The owners brought the building over from Vietnam and reconstructed here in Texas. The American Nouveau cuisine is outstanding for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but the afternoon tea is truly delightful (one of the owners is English), as the Hill Country meets the Cotswolds. Enjoy a perfectly calibrated blend of sweet and savory offerings including beef Wellington with charred horseradish mash, ham and Gruyère puff, deviled egg sandwich, and a pile of lovely sweet treats. Visit the chapel and sculpture garden while you’re here.

Don't let the word "roadhouse" fool you—upscale food is served in a quirky, hip Texas setting at Tillman's. Contemporary music plays (sometimes too loudly) while old black-and-white movies are projected on a wall near the bar. Fussy chandeliers hang over sturdy, wood tables; look closely at the animal trophies—they're actually carved from wood. Meals begin with hot roasted peanuts and popcorn coated in truffle oil and black pepper. Be sure to try the moist cornbread, heavy with cheese, peppers, and corn; the thick, gravity-defying burger; and the chocolate birthday cake (even if it's not your special day).

It's a strange fact of Houston life that many of the city's finest restaurants are found in strip shopping centers, albeit the more glamorous ones. Tony Mandola's, in the art deco–themed River Oaks Shopping Center, is an upscale restaurant that proves, with loads of tastebud-pleasing menu choices, that the concept of a Texas-, Italian-, and (some) Mexican-influenced seafood restaurant is here to stay. Off-the-menu items, such as Calamari a la Mama, lightly battered with lemon-butter sauce, may make you see stars. You'll see everyone you know at this neighborhood joint, if everyone you know is rich, famous, and well connected. There's open-air dining and a kids' menu.

This adult playground is the place where deals get done, life celebrations are marked, and people keep an eagle eye out for the next boldfaced type (as in boldface type in the social columns) to walk through the water-wall-surrounded front doors. Oh right, the Euro-Italian food is excellent, too, and the über-elegant surroundings, complete with contemporary artworks by Jesus Moroles, Robert Rauschenberg, and Donald Sultan, are sensory overload. Tony Vallone and his trained staff take excellent care of each and every customer. Watch for him and wife Donna moving around the room at lunch and dinner, personally greeting diners. Call ahead to order the towering molten white-chocolate soufflé, a local favorite. The cellar holds more than 1,000 labels, and is particularly strong in wines of France, Italy, and California. Lunch is a prix-fixe steal.

Pricey-but-excellent fish, shellfish, and steak are served in handsome surroundings that suggest a businesspeople's yacht club here at Truluck's, part of an upscale chain with restaurants in Texas and Florida. Every Monday is all-you-can-eat crab claw night, but you can get Truluck’s signature stone crab any day of the week at the downtown and northwest locations. Alaskan king crab is also expertly rendered, if expensive. Don't miss the jumbo lump crab cake and the hot-and-crunchy trout over citrus aioli sauce with a mango-jalapeño marmalade. The second-story dining area has floor-to-ceiling views of the surrounding Warehouse District and skyline.

If Cooper's is the big-name barbecue spot in town, Tumlinsons is the understated gem that the locals love. Order by the pound and load up a tray of meat or choose the famous 3 Meat Combination to enjoy in the pared-down dining room.

This Alamo Heights standard has served fresh, healthy food since 1981. Regulars and visitors love it because it's a neighborhood spot with a tempting bakery case and a varied menu for breakfast and lunch, including some Mexican favorites. The atmosphere is relaxed, friendly, and a bit quirky. Breakfast is a special treat with a good assortment of omelets, including vegetarian, cowboy, and vaquero (Mexican cowboy), plus Mexican favorites like chilaquiles, migas, and even tofu rancheros. Lunch offers homemade soups and freshly made salads and sandwiches. Brunch is served on Saturday only.

The chefs here have culinary school degrees, and they're proud to turn out what some consider to be the best burgers in town. Ingredients are gathered from nearby growers and farmers whenever possible. The menu always includes the basics, half-pound Angus, buffalo, turkey, and veggie burgers. Look for rotating specials, such as a blue cheese and jalapeño burger and a burger topped with green chilies, pepper-jack cheese, and guacamole. Even the ice cream is handmade; it's the base ingredient for adults-only milk shakes spiked with liqueurs.

Respectful of traditional sushi and sashimi methods—but not limited by them—this standout sushi bar (and consistently ranked top restaurant in Austin) starts with super-fresh ingredients. After that, anything goes, including touches of the South or south-of-the-border: yellowtail with ponzu sauce and sliced chilies, tempura-style fried green tomatoes, or seared monkfish cheeks with Vietnamese caramel, Belgian endive, roasted red grapes, and cilantro. You can make a tapas-style meal from the cold and hot "tastings" menu. Make reservations ahead of time for their daily happy hour (4–6 pm).

This spot might have started out as the "little brother” of chef Tyson Cole’s now famed Uchi restaurant, but the contemporary Japanese fusion eatery has become a standard in its own right. The shareable small plates make for a delightfully playful experience, especially when left up to the expert with the daily omakase (“I trust the chef") menu.

Sure it's trendy, and maybe more stylish than substantive, but if you're looking for the decadent sushi experience, it's hard to beat the pricey and delicious Uptown Sushi. With its ethereal, white-on-white and Lucite-and-low-light decor, this Galleria-area hot spot offers fresh, interesting takes on sushi and sashimi. The Seven-and-a-Half Roll (tuna, salmon, yellowtail, masago, and avocado, all tempura fried) is not to be missed, nor is the Ribeye Roll (slices of beef wrapped around avocados and sweet Japanese yams). Try to snag a mezzanine-level table so you can see all the glamour go down. While waiting for said table, cool your designer heels at the raucous, pick-up-line-laden bar, with great, expensive wines and strong mixed drinks.

Known for its authentic trattoria feel, complete with an aromatic waft of homemade Italian classics upon entering, this is a great dinner destination after a long day spent strolling up and down South Congress. Dive into a bowl of cacio e pepe or nibble a slice of classic margherita pizza studded with garden-fresh basil. The inviting atmosphere will make you want to splurge on an espresso martini or phenomenal homemade desserts, from tiramisu to lemon panna cotta.

This buzzing Italian bistro consistently attracts hordes of South Congress Avenue’s heavy foot traffic, with patrons crowding the narrow, warmly lit bar while waiting for a table in the small, tawny-hued dining room. Noshing on the gratis white-bean puree with basil-infused olive oil makes perusing the menu of delicate handmade pastas, thin wood-fired pizzas, and robust northern Italian–inspired entrées an even greater treat. Chef specials change daily, including soul-warming risottos of the day—perhaps one with braised veal and black truffle oil. Smoky, prosciutto-wrapped prawns never disappoint, nor does the savory veal scalloppine wrapped with sage, prosciutto, and wilted spinach.

This family-run coffeehouse, set in a renovated bungalow, invites you to settle in, stay awhile, and enjoy artisanal, small-batch roasted coffee and a hearty breakfast, with entrées ranging from Croque Monsieur to Spanish Tortilla. With its cozy vibe, cute decor, great coffee (pour-over, French press, espresso, or just plain drip), homemade baked goods, and tasty breakfast options, there's really no reason not to linger.

Voted "Best of the Best Seafood" in Corpus Christi for 14 consecutive years, this restaurant pulls in the locals and piles on the tourists who enjoy Gulf seafood and Texas steaks with a little kick of South Texas flavor. Fish is fresh, never frozen; the sushi bar is not intimidating; steaks provide a worthy balance to surf-and-turf combinations; and all the sides (like smoked Gouda mac and cheese) and sauces (andouille cream; crab-and-crawfish nueces) are creative concoctions made in-house. The same menu is offered at lunch and dinner.

A former post office now serves appetites in the middle of nowhere. There are some unusual dishes like mahimahi (a mild, white fish) with tomatillo sauce, but also plenty of German fare. Start with potato pancakes served with apple sauce or sour cream. The schnitzel is fabulous, as is the rouladen—a tenderized beef fillet wrapped around dill pickle, ham, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese. If it's warm outside, sit beneath the vined trellis and watch the resident goats and donkeys grazing nearby. Live music accompanies your meal on Thursdays and Sundays. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Tell anyone in Central Texas that you're heading for Wimberley and the first response you likely may hear: "Be sure to get some pie at the Wimberley Pie Company!" The dimly lit glass case along the front of the shop is filled with fresh, vacuum-sealed pies ready to be picked up and taken to some lucky home, but you can also grab a slice from pies right out of the oven. The traditional cherry pie has a perfect balance of tart and sweet.

This South First Street spot sits alongside a gas station on an unattractive corner lot at Oltorf, but the trendy wine bar and Mediterranean-style tapas eatery boasts all the appeal of a cozy local hangout. Tapas are slightly larger (and pricier) than a traditional Spanish outpost, but the savory small plates deliver, from customary selections like cured anchovies and bravas fries (with pimento and chili peppers) to more unconventional, locally sourced dishes like short-rib bruschetta and pan-seared Gulf shrimp with smoked pork jowl and polenta. 

Tucked in a small strip mall off Lamar Boulevard, this sleek, petite restaurant is as dedicated to excellence in service and artful dishes as it is to fresh, quality ingredients from local purveyors. Put your trust in the classical trained chefs' five- and seven-course tasting menus (vegetarian options available), which change daily. Each course brings a surprising mix of flavors, from grilled antelope with sweet potatoes to seared dayboat scallops in a lemongrass-red-curry broth. The adjacent wine bar is a more casual way to experience the full menu or just small bites from the bar menu with selections from the formidable wine list.

This locally owned fine-dining eatery is a great downtown date-night destination specializing in modern Chinese cuisine with a Texas twist. The exterior is nondescript, but the food alone makes it worth a visit. Expect local favorites like honey pecan prawns, dry-fried local green beans, and handmade steamed and fried dumplings amid the generous offerings of Sichuan-style classics. There is a fun cocktail list full of "Texas tiki" libations, and a popular dim sum service is hosted every Sunday.

Eat like a pioneer at this landmark restaurant, once housed inside the livestock-auction building at the Amarillo stockyards. Now, you can belly up next to the local cowhands who still stand in line in the diner-style downtown location to eat lightly breaded chicken-fried steak with white cream gravy made famous by the late Mom Roberts. While the menu selections may be heavy on the calories, the bill will be light on your wallet. If you can, save room for homemade cobbler for dessert. Kids under 12 can choose from the "Lil' Buckaroo's Menu." Call ahead to see whether fajitas are on the menu.

This stylish Southwestern fusion outpost is popular for its upscale yet unpretentious vibe and attractively presented Southwestern dishes at fair prices. Try the jerk-chicken Diablo pasta or Tex-Mex plates like the smoked-chicken poblano chile relleno. Portions are hearty, but the salads and small bites, like the grilled-shrimp and guacamole tostada bites, are equally enticing. Peak hours can be noisy, with a good chance of a wait before being seated. Weekend brunch has diverse options, like Barbacoa breakfast enchiladas and chorizo pork scrambles.

The Mediterranean menu here features sophisticated versions of Greek classics like spanakopita, dolmades, moussaka, and souvlaki. The lamb salad is a favorite among regulars. The wine list also garners acclaim. Open-air dining is available on the patio. A smaller dining room can be reserved for special events.