I don’t know about y’all, but our favorite kinds of bucket lists are the ones that involve food. The following are 15 restaurants in Texas that you absolutely have to try in 2018. See how many you’ve been to already:
- The Salt Lick (Driftwood)
Facebook/TheSaltLickBBQ
Facebook/TheSaltLickBBQ This massive barbecue pit is full of ribs, brisket, sausage links, and basically any other type of meat imaginable, all smoking to perfection above a roaring flame. It’s some of the juiciest, most tender, flavorful barbecue you’ll ever eat, and you haven’t lived until you’ve done so. More information here. 18300 Fm 1826, Driftwood, TX 78619
- Jus’ Mac (Houston)
TripAdvisor/Mark B.
TripAdvisor/Travlerlee Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. It’s warm, gooey, and takes us back to simpler childhood days. Jus Mac makes all your wildest foodie dreams come true with unique mac and cheese concoctions like buffalo bleu cheese and brisket with barbecue sauce. More information here. 2617 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008
- Allen Family Style Meals (Sweetwater)
TripAdvisor/Patricia L.
TripAdvisor/Bucky732 We love the words “all you can eat” here in Texas. And when the food in question is all of our favorite Southern classics, we couldn’t be happier. Allen Family Style Meals in Sweetwater is one such restaurant. More information here. 1301 E Broadway St, Sweetwater, TX 79556
- Chef Point Cafe (Watauga)
Facebook/chefpointfans
Facebook/chefpointfans Gourmet food in a gas station? That’s an oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one, but Chef Point Cafe has made it a reality. Instead of cold tacos whose cleanliness is questionable, you’ll find homemade meals like Maple Leaf Duck and Lobster Mac and Cheese here. More information here. 5901 Watauga Rd, Watauga, TX 76148
- Crown Pizza (Beaumont)
Facebook/crownpizzabeaumont
Facebook/crownpizzabeaumont We like to go big or go home here in the Lone Star State. As if a cheeseburger pizza wasn’t enough already, we had to throw french fries on top to complete the meal. Only in Texas! More information here. 5535 Calder Ave, Beaumont, TX 77706
- Coyote Bluff Cafe (Amarillo)
TripAdvisor/Jerry M.
TripAdvisor/Touran1979 You won’t find a juicier, more flavorful burger in the panhandle - even if this one comes from one of the most unassuming restaurants you’ve ever seen. Luckily, we Texans know that it’s all about the food itself and not the atmosphere. More information here. 2417 S Grand St, Amarillo, TX 79103
- Leona General Store (Leona)
TripAdvisor/Hadi628
TripAdvisor/1777gina General stores don’t typically have full-service restaurants, but since when does Texas follow the rules? People come from all over East Texas for a mouthwatering steak at Leona General Store. More information here. 136 N Leona Blvd, Leona, TX 75850
- Keller’s Drive-In (Dallas)
TripAdvisor/gabyrd80
TripAdvisor/ATX_Golfer_N_Foodie Keller’s is something of a legend here in Texas, partially due to the nostalgia factor and partially because of how amazing their burgers are. The old-fashioned diner has been around 52 years and doesn’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. More information here. 6537 E Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX 75231
- Franklin Barbecue (Austin)
TripAdvisor/Joyce S.
Facebook/franklinbbq The line extending around the block says it all. Franklin Barbecue is arguably the best joint in the state, and every day you go without trying it is a day wasted. More information here. 900 E. 11th St., Austin, TX 78702
- Mary’s Cafe (Strawn)
TripAdvisor/Badgelady
TripAdvisor/MistiATX We’re just as picky about our CFS as we are about our barbecue. It has to be just right - tender, juicy chicken surrounded by a crisp crust and topped with a cream gravy that isn’t too thick or too runny. Mary’s Cafe checks all the boxes and then some. More information here. 119 Grant Ave, Strawn, TX 76475
- Cattleman’s Steakhouse (Fabens)
TripAdvisor/Z1529FZChristian
TripAdvisor/banshee787 Forget dinner and a movie - how about dinner and one of the most breathtaking views you’ve ever seen? Take a trip back to the Old West at Cattleman’s. More information here. 3450 S Fabens Carlsbad Rd, Fabens, TX 79838
- Lulu’s Bakery & Cafe (San Antonio)
TripAdvisor/Clea428
TripAdvisor/Jim K. I don’t know about y’all, but my life wouldn’t feel complete without being able to say I’ve eaten (or at least helped eat) a three pound cinnamon roll. At Lulu’s, you can do exactly that. More information here. 918 North Main Ave., San Antonio TX 78212
- Railroad Crossing Barbecue (Houston)
TripAdvisor/Bud M.
TripAdvisor/Bud M. This restaurant has mastered the delicate balance between a unique atmosphere and delicious food. Train lovers, this one’s for you! More information here. 14715 Hempstead Highway, Houston TX 77040
- The Shed (Edom)
TripAdvisor/jdalecole1
TripAdvisor/scottishbum Some of the best restaurants in the state go unnoticed since they’re basically in the middle of nowhere. The Shed is one such restaurant, and you’ve definitely been missing out if you’ve never eaten there. More information here. 8337 FM279, Brownsboro, TX 75756
- Snow’s Barbecue (Lexington)
TripAdvisor/Joyce S.
TripAdvisor/BenH989 Picture this: you’ve been driving for miles down a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, when suddenly, the smell of perfectly smoked barbecue starts to infiltrate your nostrils. Snow’s is like a shining beacon of light guiding you to heaven (for your taste buds, anyway). It’s been voted the #1 barbecue joint in the state by many, so you’ve gotta try it out and see if it lives up to that title. More information here. 516 Main St, Lexington, TX 78947
How many of these restaurants do you still need to check off your list? Which ones are your favorites? Let us know your thoughts!
Facebook/TheSaltLickBBQ
This massive barbecue pit is full of ribs, brisket, sausage links, and basically any other type of meat imaginable, all smoking to perfection above a roaring flame. It’s some of the juiciest, most tender, flavorful barbecue you’ll ever eat, and you haven’t lived until you’ve done so. More information here. 18300 Fm 1826, Driftwood, TX 78619
TripAdvisor/Mark B.
TripAdvisor/Travlerlee
Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. It’s warm, gooey, and takes us back to simpler childhood days. Jus Mac makes all your wildest foodie dreams come true with unique mac and cheese concoctions like buffalo bleu cheese and brisket with barbecue sauce. More information here. 2617 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008
TripAdvisor/Patricia L.
TripAdvisor/Bucky732
We love the words “all you can eat” here in Texas. And when the food in question is all of our favorite Southern classics, we couldn’t be happier. Allen Family Style Meals in Sweetwater is one such restaurant. More information here. 1301 E Broadway St, Sweetwater, TX 79556
Facebook/chefpointfans
Gourmet food in a gas station? That’s an oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one, but Chef Point Cafe has made it a reality. Instead of cold tacos whose cleanliness is questionable, you’ll find homemade meals like Maple Leaf Duck and Lobster Mac and Cheese here. More information here. 5901 Watauga Rd, Watauga, TX 76148
Facebook/crownpizzabeaumont
We like to go big or go home here in the Lone Star State. As if a cheeseburger pizza wasn’t enough already, we had to throw french fries on top to complete the meal. Only in Texas! More information here. 5535 Calder Ave, Beaumont, TX 77706
TripAdvisor/Jerry M.
TripAdvisor/Touran1979
You won’t find a juicier, more flavorful burger in the panhandle - even if this one comes from one of the most unassuming restaurants you’ve ever seen. Luckily, we Texans know that it’s all about the food itself and not the atmosphere. More information here. 2417 S Grand St, Amarillo, TX 79103
TripAdvisor/Hadi628
TripAdvisor/1777gina
General stores don’t typically have full-service restaurants, but since when does Texas follow the rules? People come from all over East Texas for a mouthwatering steak at Leona General Store. More information here. 136 N Leona Blvd, Leona, TX 75850
TripAdvisor/gabyrd80
TripAdvisor/ATX_Golfer_N_Foodie
Keller’s is something of a legend here in Texas, partially due to the nostalgia factor and partially because of how amazing their burgers are. The old-fashioned diner has been around 52 years and doesn’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. More information here. 6537 E Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX 75231
TripAdvisor/Joyce S.
Facebook/franklinbbq
The line extending around the block says it all. Franklin Barbecue is arguably the best joint in the state, and every day you go without trying it is a day wasted. More information here. 900 E. 11th St., Austin, TX 78702
TripAdvisor/Badgelady
TripAdvisor/MistiATX
We’re just as picky about our CFS as we are about our barbecue. It has to be just right - tender, juicy chicken surrounded by a crisp crust and topped with a cream gravy that isn’t too thick or too runny. Mary’s Cafe checks all the boxes and then some. More information here. 119 Grant Ave, Strawn, TX 76475
TripAdvisor/Z1529FZChristian
TripAdvisor/banshee787
Forget dinner and a movie - how about dinner and one of the most breathtaking views you’ve ever seen? Take a trip back to the Old West at Cattleman’s. More information here. 3450 S Fabens Carlsbad Rd, Fabens, TX 79838
TripAdvisor/Clea428
TripAdvisor/Jim K.
I don’t know about y’all, but my life wouldn’t feel complete without being able to say I’ve eaten (or at least helped eat) a three pound cinnamon roll. At Lulu’s, you can do exactly that. More information here. 918 North Main Ave., San Antonio TX 78212
TripAdvisor/Bud M.
This restaurant has mastered the delicate balance between a unique atmosphere and delicious food. Train lovers, this one’s for you! More information here. 14715 Hempstead Highway, Houston TX 77040
TripAdvisor/jdalecole1
TripAdvisor/scottishbum
Some of the best restaurants in the state go unnoticed since they’re basically in the middle of nowhere. The Shed is one such restaurant, and you’ve definitely been missing out if you’ve never eaten there. More information here. 8337 FM279, Brownsboro, TX 75756
TripAdvisor/BenH989
Picture this: you’ve been driving for miles down a dirt road in the middle of nowhere, when suddenly, the smell of perfectly smoked barbecue starts to infiltrate your nostrils. Snow’s is like a shining beacon of light guiding you to heaven (for your taste buds, anyway). It’s been voted the #1 barbecue joint in the state by many, so you’ve gotta try it out and see if it lives up to that title. More information here. 516 Main St, Lexington, TX 78947
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