384 Best Restaurants in Texas, USA

Down-home Texas barbecue is prepared ranch-style—mesquite-smoked and served with tasty red sauce. Patrons young and old line up on the sidewalk to eat at picnic tables on the covered patio. A standard order is the chopped-beef brisket sandwich on jalapeño-cheese bread. Don't skip the celebrated pecan pie for dessert. Goode Company Hamburgers and Taqueria across the street serves—no surprise here—hamburgers and tacos, as well as great weekend breakfasts. And for some honky-tonk atmosphere, shuffleboard, dominoes, pool, and lots of cold beer, check out Goode's Armadillo Palace next door. You can't miss the place: it's the building with the giant stainless-steel armadillo standing guard out front.

Austin’s favorite over-the-top doughnut destination, born out of food-truck fame, is now a brick-and-mortar café, where diners can get their favorite perforated pastries topped with everything from chicken-fried steak to beer-battered oysters. Salads (served with garlic doughnuts) and sides like creamed corn and fried brussels sprouts, plus a full bar and rotating selection of local beers, round out the extensive menu. A weekend brunch features doughnut French toast and savory-sweet egg sandwiches, along with Bloody Marys and pitchers of mimosas. But plenty of folks still show up for the giant-sized coffee and dessert doughnuts, like the “Sin-A-Bomb,” with melted cinnamon butter drizzled over cream-cheese icing. A food-truck location is on nearby South 1st Street.

This turn-of-the-century home at The Pearl is one of the new hot spots to discover the pleasure of slow-smoked meats and barbecue. A counter-service barbecue joint by day and a brew pub and full-service restaurant serving globally-inspired barbecue plates by night, the Granary is for those with a Texas-sized appetite for meat. On any given day you'll find anything from house-made pastrami to thick-cut Niman Ranch smoked pork butt on the menu here. Soulful sides include crispy grit fritters and a version of Texas Toast griddled with a smear of beef tallow and served with a side of butter infused with drippings straight from the smoker. The house beers are pretty good as well, especially the Belgian-style Rye Saison and the dark and stormy Brown Ale. And you can't beat a cold mug of homemade root beer made with pure cane sugar and sarsaparilla.

This unpretentious urban bistro is known for the romantic intimacy of the indoor dining areas and the laid-back charm of its sidewalk tables. The menu, which changes every few weeks based on the availability of regional ingredients, begins with Grape's signature creamy mushroom soup. The menu might offer a marinated hanger steak served with fries and a watercress salad, crispy duck breast with a rice pilaf, or baked black cod with smoked ham, clams, and a white-wine garlic broth. Regulars rave about the crispy flatbread and the fried calamari (not on the menu, so be sure to ask). Brunch is served Sunday.

Located just up the hill from Texas State University, Grins has been a favorite among students and tubers alike since 1975. They're known for their burgers (and have 12 different kinds to choose from) and crispy onion rings, as well as heaping, sizzling fajitas and frozen margaritas in several different flavors.

In downtown Houston's thoughtfully designed city park, you'll find The Grove, an airy, modern eco-friendly restaurant from the people who gave the Bayou City the famed Cafe Annie. Though the space might look contemporary, the food is decidedly hearty and homespun, with locally-sourced organic ingredients and "why-didn't-I-think-of-that" combinations like a deviled egg appetizer made with Spanish chorizo and tapenade, or mesquite-smoked Texas quail with baby turnips and local peaches. For a more casual vibe, head upstairs to the Tree House indoor/outdoor lounge and patio (open Thursday through Saturday) for cocktails and appetizers with a great view of Houston's skyline.

Behind the Gruene Mansion Inn, this riverside grill draws quite a crowd. People seem to frequent this locale for the famed rib eye pan-seared in butter and balsamic vinegar, but a cup of the creamy jalepeño crawfish corn chowder makes a notable impression as well.

If a hearty, comforting plate of cheesy eggs, crispy bacon, and buttered waffles is what you're looking for, head to The Hen's Nest. The digs are humble (in fact, the day's featured dishes are written on postcards in lieu of a menu), but this tiny little café packs a big breakfast punch.

There's a reason you'll likely have to wait for a table at this spacious, modern, light-filled farm-to-table restaurant in the heart of town. The chef-driven menu is casual but uses top ingredients and perfected techniques that are on display at the open kitchen. The menu includes a wide range of appetizers, salads, "handhelds," and "toasts," along with bright, fresh, delicious mains, a nice wine list, and a good range of Texas craft beer. The cornbread and biscuit box are stellar; you may want to take one to go. While you wait, kick back on the patio with a cocktail from their Volkswagen bus bar. Brunch—including Chicken Schnitzel & Waffles and Carrot Cake French Toast—is available on Saturdays and Sundays.

Housed in a 1920s drugstore owned by one of Austin's first African American pharmacists, this historical landmark now serves up a different kind of "medicine" to the east side with a gorgeous menu of farm-to-table Central Texas cuisine in exquisite antique-laden interiors. Stop by any time of day, whether it's a quick weekday breakfast or a boozy late afternoon happy hour (try their house punch made with gin, hibiscus syrup, grapefruit juice, and bubbles). Dinner service features wonderful seasonal specials and weekly offers like a popular Sunday Steak Night. Weekend brunch is first come, first served.

Ten miles north of town, this hilltop dive set in a 1930s gas station truly feels like it's in the middle of nowhere, but it's luckily a beautiful trip to nowhere. All menu conventions are thrown out the window to create the Athens–meets–New Orleans–meets–Texas dishes. On weekends, your best bet is to grab a few appetizers and a bottle of wine and sit back for a little live music, curated by musician/owner Johnny Nicholas, whose wife Brenda is the artist in the kitchen. The Port Arthur-style shrimp gumbo and Kefalotiri Saganaki (Greek cheese baked and served flaming with roasted garlic and crustini) are fantastic starts, and the Greek special tenderloin is a decadent adventure.

Named for John Russell "Hondo" Crouch, self-proclaimed mayor of nearby Luckenbach, this local dive is somewhat of a legend of its own. If the live music and Texas country decor aren't entertaining enough, the menu certainly is: from the Lip Burnin' Burger with green and chipotle chilies to the BBQ Pig Ribs, everything about this place radiates good old-fashioned fun. The half-pound burgers are excellent, especially the Blue Ribbon Barbecue Bacon Burger. With two bars—one indoors and one out—and generous margaritas, you will never go thirsty.

Tucked away near the train tracks off San Antonio Street, the Huisache (pronounced wee-satch) is a must-stop for anyone who loves healthy, flavorful food and a glass of wine. Consistently delivering fantastic soups, salads, sandwiches, fish, grilled meats, and vegetables, there's a lot to love about this place, and the beautiful 1920s building only adds to the experience.

Locals consistently nominate Hut's for the best-burger award in Austin Chronicle restaurant polls. Part of the mystique may be the American Graffiti–like atmosphere: the joint is a local institution that began in 1939. It's been in its present Old West location since 1969, and neon signs, vintage license plates, and UT memorabilia line the walls. Juicy burgers come in about 25 varieties, and the addictive onion rings are graciously served in shareable baskets. It's hard not to surrender to the experience. Beat the considerable dinner rush on Wednesday nights, when all burgers are two-for-one.

This welcoming Hyde Park hangout has kept the locals coming in since 1982 with a classic, Southern comfort food menu and signature French fries. Interiors are cozy and decorated with pleasant, colorful paintings (for sale) by local artists, and there's an easygoing atmosphere for both the shorts-and-T-shirt crowd and the dressier, special-occasion fraction. The variations on simple fare run from black-bean veggie burgers and chicken-fried steaks to fresh seafood. Weekend brunch and lunch hours are busiest—look for the hungry crowd milling around the fork-in-the-road sculpture staked in the front parking lot.

This popular Thai trailer opened a physical restaurant in Johnson City, where the staff serves a short but stellar menu of dishes like the "Crying Tiger," featuring char-grilled steak and served with Thai dipping sauce, rice, and salad greens. Other tasty options include "Banh Mi in a Bowl" with your choice of grilled protein, a stellar Green Curry, and a wide range of create-your-own wok stir-fries. A local favorite.

Gutsy, sometimes playful cuisine prepared by Chef Charles Clark is served in a bustling Midtown dining room as seductive as its namesake island off the coast of Spain. Generous portions of seasonal dishes intermingle with delectable Spanish tapas and hearty entrées such as braised lamb shank with mint oil. Oenophiles appreciate Ibiza's ever-changing wine list of rare tastes at fair prices. Don't miss the outdoor patio on pretty days or the homemade sangria chock-full of fresh fruit. Insider tip: cotton candy is available as a lunch dessert; just ask! An adjacent lounge, Ibiza Lounge Next Door, packs in a young, good-looking, and chic crowd in a cozy dark room with lots of low seating.

A cavernous open space, once a garage, now resembles a cross between a sports bar and a loft. The extensive menu—with vegetarian and vegan options—is built around the Texas Live Oak smoker in-house, and standouts (the portions are extremely generous) include brisket tacos; crispy brussels sprouts; and the fried or grilled chicken "sando" with house hot sauce, pickles, and slaw on a potato roll. There's live music on the patio most nights, which is a perfect place to nurse an oversized cocktail or local draft beer, kick back, and have a great time.

Irma and her family dish out home-style Mexican specialties to a wait-in-line breakfast and lunch crowd (weekdays only) of lawyers, judges, cube-dwellers, and sports fans. The surroundings may be homey, but this place is not cheap—still, the food has made Irma's a local landmark. There's no menu: your server will tell you what is available. Opt for the chicken-and-spinach enchiladas with green chili sauce, and wash it all down with the famous lemonade. Irma opens on weekends when the Astros are in town—and stays open until 6 pm during the week on home-game days.

From its creekside perch in the shadow of the Austin Convention Center, this spot caters to name-tagged conference attendees, construction workers, and thoroughly starched-shirt office workers alike. Dependable house specialties include pepper-crusted smoked pork loin, tender brisket, and Flintstones-sized beef ribs. Wrought-iron grills, forged here when the building was an ironworks, hang from the rafters. It's a charming (albeit slightly raucous) slice of laid-back Texas fare, even if it's not the best barbecue joint within the city limits.

The “ranch-to-table” cuisine of this far-east restaurant speaks to the Southern comfort cravings of Austinites, with savory classics like stuffed Salisbury steak, pickled fried green tomatoes, and shrimp-and-grits. The shabby-chic interiors, boasting natural hardwoods and salvaged materials from the Jacoby family ranch, provide an ideally casual place to kick back and relax with cocktails like mezcal margaritas and West Texas shandies; the scenic back patio overlooks the Colorado River. Jacoby-brand beef is featured in the house burger and chicken-fried steak, both of which are diner favorites. The expansive patio gets crowded during happy hour and weekend brunch service.

The chichi vibe of this legendary Clarksville steak house starts curbside with pink seersucker-clad valets, and extends to the lavish interiors and menu, with decadent accoutrements like martini carts and Ossetra caviar service whirring around the dining room. Find a seat at the bar during happy hour (all night Monday), when bar food is discounted. The crispy fried Gulf oysters are still a hot ticket—and a mainstay of Jeffrey’s past—and the truffled deviled eggs are divine. Expertly prepared steaks and racks are the main specialty here though, paired with an elaborate cocktail and wine program that all contribute to this elite dining experience.

This local favorite combines the founder's El Paso and Jewish roots to create some of the best flat-top burgers, "border-style" burritos, and homemade potato latkes in town. Highlights include "the Goyim" burger (a JewBoy patty with grilled pastrami, bacon, Swiss, pickles, and mustard) and the "Que Pasa" carne asada burrito with marinated rib eye and grilled onions and poblanos. Save room for fried sides like green chili and cheddar potato latkes and their classic tots.

This is the ultimate Tex-Mex joint. There's usually a wait for tables, but with seating for more than 1,000 in the maze of dining rooms and patio areas, the line moves quickly. Dinner is limited to two choices: an enchilada-and-taco combo plate or fajitas. Lunch offers a more traditional menu, and on weekends there are Mexican breakfast specials, including purported hangover-cure menudo (stew made with tripe, hominy, onions, and chili). Folks from all over the area drive to Fort Worth to take out-of-town guests to this lively restaurant about three blocks from the Stockyards—and often hope they'll be seated in one of many relaxing outdoor spots.

The adorable little sister of Jeffrey’s, located just across the street in a beautifully restored navy bungalow, offers a slightly more approachable, but still very sophisticated, daytime option for modern American cuisine and cocktail service. Locals love to sit at the patio or front-lawn tables, and reservations are recommended for the popular Monday Steak Frites Night, when a three-course meal (featuring a choice of steak, from rib eye to tartare) costs around $50. There's no lunch, but brunch is served daily (9 am to 3 pm), and an afternoon snacks menu pairs perfectly with the daily happy hour menu.

They call it an oldie but a goodie, with good reason. "Jo Street" is famous for dishing up steaks and whiskey since 1979 in an early-1900s building on the outskirts of downtown, Steaks come in all shapes and sizes, from a tasty chicken-fried variety to a 12-ounce Texas T-bone. For something different try the pork chops or liver and onions. Don't miss the baked-fresh-daily peach cobbler, for a belly-busting finish.

This is another South Congress standby that matches its impeccable style with a heft of substance. The sunny-side-up neighborhood café and wine bar is a sophisticated injection of Parisian, alfresco attitude on the pedestrian-heavy strip of south Austin. Kick up your heels after a day of SoCo window-shopping to enjoy tasteful bistro classics like smoked salmon Nicoise salad, croque madame, and snapper carpaccio. And as the name implies, there's something on the menu to satisfy any type of craving, at any time of day.

Pronounced kape'h—the Mayan word for coffee—this charming gem of a coffee shop/art gallery/boutique is housed in a cozy homestyle building across from Madison Square Park. Owner/artist Laura Lopez and owner/chef Rudy Lopez created a simple but diverse lineup of flavorful dishes like tomato and feta scramble, salmon toast, and delectable sandwiches on house-made bread. Perfect for a relaxing breakfast or lunch, Kapej has indoor and outdoor dining.

For those craving authentic Texas barbecue, head to Kelly’s where they are serving up brisket, ribs, smoked turkey, and chicken out of an Airstream with a picnic table or two on the outskirts of town (the smoker is right outside). Sandwiches, fully-loaded plates, brisket by the pound, and barbecue tacos are all extremely popular, and if you don’t want to miss out, get there early before the mac ‘n’ cheese, brisket, and ribs are gone.

The long lines, rain or shine, at this east-side food truck make no secret of its epic Texas barbecue. The cheesy brisket kolaches wrapped in mouthwatering sweet dough (only sold on Sunday) have been lauded by everyone, including the barbecue editor at Texas Monthly, who samples the fiercest and finest BBQ all across the state. Thankfully, the standard Texas plates heaped full of pork ribs, hot links, and prime Angus brisket, plus contemporary sides like blue-cheese coleslaw and jalapeño-dill potato salad, are also heaven-sent.