384 Best Restaurants in Texas, USA

Steaks are charcoal-grilled at the front of the room, and you can pick out your own cut of meat. Those steaks are the biggest draw, but the menu also includes seafood, chicken-fried steak, fried chicken, and grilled pork chops. The trusty, basic fare is served in a laid-back, unpretentious setting reminiscent of the 1950s.

More than just a coffee shop, Chaparral is truly a community hub. Owners Taylor and Austin Burge have developed the breakfast and lunch menu of the tiny space to fit the town's growing needs, and they throw DJ-fueled dance parties and other events here, too. But yes, the coffee is also stellar—in fact, it's worlds better than most of the coffee you can find anywhere else in small-town Texas.

This steak house reigns over the San Antonio skyline, perched at the top of the Tower of the Americas and rotating slowly and smoothly. Its predecessor was primarily popular as a destination for drinks, but Chart House serves up great steaks and seafood to keep you occupied for an entire night out while enjoying the view from the top. It's a short stroll from the River Walk and other downtown attractions, and then a high-speed elevator ride to the top of The Tower.

Downtown’s Radisson hotel finally ousted an outdated TGI Fridays location on their ground floor and made way for yet another hit from chef and restaurateur Shawn Cirkiel. The delicious contemporary Southwestern cuisine is delivered in shareable or a la carte portions, from oyster taquitos to grilled hen with yellow mole. A limited menu is available in between lunch and dinner service and the Sunday brunch features more than 50 dishes served buffet style. Interiors are chic and floor to ceiling windows show off spectacular views of Lady Bird Lake.

For a smallish place, Cheesy Jane's has a surprisingly varied menu, with big burgers, milk shakes and malts, and nostalgic decor dominating this throwback to old-time malt shops. Flavors for shakes and malts—made with Cheesy Jane's ice cream—include plain vanilla, peppermint, Dreamsicle, chocolate peanut butter, amaretto-espresso, and more. Ground-chuck burgers come in different sizes, with variations like a deluxe bacon burger with applewood-smoked, sugar-cured bacon; a Wurst burger topped with Kiolbassa sausage; and a bean burger with refried beans, cheddar, and Fritos corn chips. Adventurous diners should definitely try the Spicy Splinters—battered and fried slivers of onion and jalapeño peppers.

Austin's first French bistro, owned by Paris natives, manages to maintain its quiet and cozy atmosphere despite its location mere feet from raucous 6th Street. Simple dishes from the French playbook make appearances on the reasonably priced menu, and the three-course prix-fixe dinner ($32.50) is a bargain. Start with the house-made pâté du jour or escargot, then treat yourself to housemade confit duck legs. The casual bistro atmosphere encourages long meals and romantic glances, so pace yourself accordingly.

The star attraction here, whether you dine inside or on the gracious patio, is the signature view through three walls of windows that bring the craggy Chisos Mountains to your table. They serve decent, tried-and-true American food, with a few Mexican specialties; the staff is friendly and efficient. The huevos rancheros are among the better morning options, while at lunch and dinner, you'll do well with the black-bean or beef burgers, chicken-fried steak, or mango-spinach salad. Each table has an informational booklet about the Big Bend region.

Arrive around sunset to catch the fading rust-color rays through the Window rock formation at the opposite end of the basin.

A San Antonio institution since 1977, Chris Madrids is synonymous with burgers. The six varieties of hamburger—which locals and tourists alike consider among the best anywhere—come in two sizes: the regular quarter-pound and the Macho half-pound. Options include fan-favorite Cheddar Cheezy, the house-specialty Tostada Burger, the Cheeseburger, Porky's Delight (bacon slices and melted cheddar cheese), the Old Fashioned (no cheese), and the Flaming Jalapeño Cheddar burger. Grilled chicken sandwiches, homemade hand-cut fries, nachos, chalupas (open-face tacos), and a kids' meal (10 and under) round out the menu. The place can be boisterous and bustling, but it's fun.

At this tiny little bakery housed in an old building, the enchanting aroma of fresh-baked pies and pastries envelops you the second you walk in the door. The question of what to order then immediately overwhelms you as you scour the glass cases showcasing pies, sweet and savory kolaches, and cookies. The German-style sweet pretzel and the cream cheese–poppy seed kolache are great choices. Of course, the jalapeño, cheese, and sausage kolaches and cinnamon rolls are amazing as well, but you'll have to get there before the hunters, fishers, and early travelers do; they go fast.

Part wacky Tex-Mex restaurant, part shrine to Elvis, dogs, and hubcaps, and part kitschy gift shop, Chuy's is a true Texas original. Always busy and always fun, this is the place to go for large, many-flavored margaritas and original dishes like the Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken, which is coated in potato chips. The Chuychanga—a fried flour tortilla filled with chicken, cheese, cilantro, and green chilies, and best when ordered with Deluxe Tomatillo Sauce—is bigger than most people's forearms and is life-alteringly good. Be sure to request complimentary creamy jalapeño dip to accompany your chips and salsa (trust us on this one). At happy hour, poor college kids and high-rolling energy traders dig into complimentary nachos served out of the trunk of a classic Cadillac.

The interior of this family-owned east-side bakery and restaurant might be shabby, with worn linoleum floors and various Texas-themed memorabilia and fading newspaper articles hanging on the walls, but the hole-in-the-wall's classic Mexican fare still attracts a loyal breakfast, lunch, and dinner crowd seven days a week. They are drawn by straightforward trademarks like their famed huevos rancheros, which aren’t accompanied by the typical Austin price tag. Diners are offered the choice of flour or corn tortillas or a side of homemade biscuits that can be dressed with drawn butter or honey, both found in squeeze bottles on the tables.

Think of the dining experience here as being akin to a party in a private home with 30 of your closest friends. The chef-owners welcome you to their open kitchen, where ingredients from their garden and a network of suppliers will determine what might appear on several weekly-changing prix-fixe menus. Expect simple ingredients, clean flavors, and creative presentation. You'll be able to choose from a comprehensive wine list (about 250 varieties) that represent the chefs' personal recommendations. Food allergies and dietary preferences are willingly accommodated with prior notice.

Diners arrive in droves to this sleek, contemporary Mexican restaurant from acclaimed chef Philip Speer for the bone marrow tacos with pecan gremolata. Servers will encourage you to mix and match vibrant, inventive plates for the table. Happy hour is a fabulous time to enjoy house margaritas and discounted tacos and tostadas.

Townies and visitors alike love this pizza joint housed in a former filling station, for both its wood-fired sourdough pies and its good selection of American and Belgian craft beer. Kick back on the colorful patio furniture (outdoor seating only) and enjoy one of their signature creations, like the California Club pie, which is loaded up with mozzarella, bacon, roasted chicken, avocado, greens, and tomatoes.

From Sarah Heard and Nathan Lemley, the chef-owners behind Austin's Foreign & Domestic, comes this modern interpretation of a country café, with Commerce Hall, a music venue, upstairs. The seasonal menu is on the short side, but everything on it has been truly perfected, from the crispy, airy popovers to roast chicken with molasses carrots and mushroom jus to hearty spaghetti bolognese. The real pièce de résistance is the chicken-fried steak, which is fried to featherweight perfection, topped with creamy redeye gravy and served with smashed duck fat potatoes and lemony green beans. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday.

A French twist on the usual coffeehouse scene, with friendly staff, freshly baked bread and pastries in a hip, stylish location within a beautifully renovated historic home in Alamo Heights. They offer breakfast and lunch favorites like croissant béchamel and croque madame, while the robust beverage menu has signature and seasonal coffee and tea varieties. Enjoy your meal on the lovely outdoor patio.

This veteran-owned and -operated Tex-Mex barbecue kitchen is a favorite among locals for its heaping trays of mesquite-smoked chicken, beef fajitas, and pulled pork served in tacos or by the pound. Also not to be missed are the generous loaded nachos, massive enchiladas, and succulent birria tacos. BYOB.

This Texas legend is serious about barbecue, and it expects no less from its clientele. The menu is literally what's on display in the open pits that greet you at the entrance: pick your meat from brisket, sausage, smoked turkey, ribs, or whatever else they have on hand for the day and step in line for the typical barbecue sides that include coleslaw, potato salad, and plenty of doughy, white bread. Park your tray where you can find a seat at one of the long picnic tables in- or outside, but not before grabbing a few pickles, onions, and a bowl of beans from the serve-yourself condiment bar. Mesquite-smoked pizza on hand for non-meat lovers!

Named after the nearby charming indoor/outdoor coffee shop and café, Cosmic is also home to this open-aired food truck lot right off South Congress. It's ideal for indecisive or group travelers or anyone who wants to sample some of Austin's best food truck fare. There are breakfast tacos and all-day Mexican food from Pueblo Viejo, barbecue (till it sells out) from LeRoy & Lewis, and mouthwatering lollipop-style chicken wings from Tommy Want Wingy—all parked around a large lot of communal picnic table seating. Cosmic slings coffee, tea, boozy day drinks, and specialty cocktails. Live music and special events are hosted periodically.

This east-side location of this beloved upscale diner operation has enough square footage to suit its adoring fanbase. The mid-century-styled interiors are clean and cozy, with wooden countertops and a blackboard of daily specials next to the line of expert short-order chefs who serve up a familiar menu of classic breakfast and lunch dishes. Patrons can find crab cake Benedict, enormous homemade pancakes, succulent grass-fed burgers, and favorites like the quail and eggs.

A household name in barbecue with several locations in Texas and one in Albuquerque, the Country Line is famous for its barbecued ribs, smoked brisket, sausage, and chicken. The barbecue here is dry-rubbed, with the sauce on the side, and the various combo platters and family-style options let you sample from all the offerings. They even provide recipes for sides on their website. The atmosphere is rustic-casual, so don't be afraid to put your elbows on the table. There is a second location at 4334 Hyatt Place Dr.

The original location of this local barbecue chain is situated in a well-appointed historic speakeasy that offers sweeping, "20-mile views" of the surrounding Texas Hill Country. Sunsets are spectacular, and live music is featured on weekends, so the atmosphere can make up for an otherwise standard representation of Central Texas barbecue. You'll find classic combo and à la carte options, including huge slabs of beef ribs, and generous sides of coleslaw, potato salad, and beans.

With a name like the Cowboy Steak House, you pretty much know what to expect. Western paintings and the smoke-stained limestone hearth of the wood-burning fire create a homey life-on-the-ranch feel. Grilled on an open mesquite fire, the steaks are excellent, especially the not-so-petit filet mignon wrapped with a crispy strip of bacon. Not a fan of red meat? Not to worry, the grilled salmon is exceptionally fresh and flavorful. All entrées come with the standard baked potato or a sweet potato topped with cinnamon and brown sugar.

This modern kitchen and lounge, located right on Cypress Creek in downtown Wimberley, features one of those menus that make it really hard to choose between char siu salmon with black rice, carrots, Asian herbs and sesame seeds; grilled pork chop with garlic mashed potatoes and collard greens; the Mexican-inflected Wimburrito bowl; and loads of delicious comfort foods like the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. Grab a drink and a snack, take in the rustic creekside views, and enjoy the live music likely playing. The Wimberley Way, the house hibiscus margarita, is a winner, also available as a hibiscus mocktail.

The name sounds stuffy, but the dining room is everything but at this European-inspired location far removed from downtown's urban closeness. Views of the forest through large windows and comfortable seating prepare you for a greatest hits approach to continental cuisine, with some unexpected twists such as ostrich fillet. Savory sauces drape chicken, prime rib, and rack of lamb. The on-site bakery serves up fresh breads and pastries. Outdoor dining is plentiful, but beware mosquitoes after dark.

A popular anchor at the east side's Arbor Food Park, this cheery yellow truck has become Austin's go-to for Mexico City–style street tacos. A helpful diagram at the walk-up window showing the actual size of the pequeño tacos (100% nixtamal) is as straightforward as the service and menu here. It's hard to go wrong choosing from the modest selection, but the suadero (flank steak) and cachete (beef cheeks) tacos are excellent. Weekly specials also pop up, and everything can be enjoyed alfresco at the park's picnic tables.

Chef Steve McHugh brings his love of regional ingredients and organic methods to charcuterie-focused New American cuisine in a historic setting. Dishes change seasonally, but the primary theme is always meat (non-red-meat options available). The restaurant's intriguing concept of retail groceries strikes just the right note: you can take home jars of bread-and-butter pickles, pickled okra, basil and mint mustard, smoked tomato jam, and more. The restaurant is in the Pearl's 1904 Administration building, one of the district's most recognizable structures. The interior is equally distinctive, complete with a glass case chock-full of house-cured meats, from which you can build your own charcuterie plate (with expert help if needed).

If you're looking for high-quality authentic Mexican food, head to Curra's. Their house-made cochinita pibil is moist and tender and the enchiladas are a cut above most local establishments. Try the enchiladas con chile Colorado, filled with melted Monterey Jack cheese and braised pork-tip, marinated in guajillo and chipotle sauces. Portions are hearty, and the house avocado margarita has a devoted fan base. There's another lively location in the Hyde Park neighborhood just north of downtown.