Hefty portions of Southern classics are just the type of fuel we like to put in our tanks. They . Good cooking doesnt have to hide behind the facade of fancy decor, nice atmosphere, and impressive architecture. When the seafood restaurant opened in 2017, Express-News food critic Mike Sutter said the spot's defining moment came when he slurped the. B.A. Weird mixture, we know, but you won't be disappointed either way. WHY: If links and rice dressing dont come to mind when you think of Texas barbecue, youve been spending too much time in Austin. And guess where the restaurant gets all its meat? Open in Google Maps Foursquare 514 Medina St, Austin, TX (512) 770-6880 Visit Website imafoodaddictx Fukumoto: Sushi & Yakitori Izakaya imafoodaddictx 541. You could always hit the hot spots to sample these and other delicacies the next time youre in the Texas capital. San Antonio's largest outdoor restaurant and bar, Smoke BBQ and Skybar combines Texas barbecue, a sky bar, live music, and outdoor games. 1. Try the raw seafood tower, decked with seasonal shellfish, ceviches, and crab claws. Dont fret, cheesy diet-busters are on offer too as is a full lineup of liquid libations. Burgers, shakes, and massive onion rings keep loyal patrons returning to this Galleria-area eatery year after year. Citizens Eatery. Chef Franson has a passion for serving up gourmet food at an affordable price - from sea bass to ribeye steak, crab cake pasta to chicken scampi, your taste buds will be blown away. Mare Oyster Bar . B.A. Get the goods to go or take in the charm of the dining space great for watching the steady stream of customers and the busy streets outside. Come as you are; it aint fancy, yall. Visit Website. And it would be a crime to leave without an indulgent slice of homemade pie. WHAT: The apotheosis of a great Tex-Mex restaurant and its irresistible comforts. WHY: The restaurant from James Beard Award-nominated chef Bryce Gilmore epitomizes contemporary Austin cuisine. There are also whole fried crabs to devour by the pound and bowls of noodles simmered with shrimp and barbecued pork, topped with a runny quail egg. 13. Testina. WHY: Tei-Ans menu winds through broad territory: tempura, udon, ramen, sashimi, curry rice, and dishes like braised beef tongue and okonomiyaki. To learn more, visit their website, Checkered tablecloths and blue plate specials keep the traditions of old-fashioned American diners alive. Bring your appetite and chow down! Counter Culture. Open in Google Maps 518 W 11th St Suite 500, Houston, TX 77008 (713) 393-7425 Visit Website Cheeky drinks and delicious bits. The restaurants migas, enchiladas, tacos, and tamales are made with the same care the Vasquez-Valera family has employed for three generations, served in a homey East Sixth space with an absolutely killer patio. Most folks think about BBQ immediately. Clear Springs Cafe. (214) 463-6222. Wash it all down with draft beer or luscious homemade smoothies. Tony's Italian Delicatessen - Montgomery 2. However, the Vazquezs brick-and-mortar in Austins North Burnet neighborhood cranks out food with even more precision and also offers picadas, masa creations that split the divide in texture between tortillas and thicker sopes. Dine-in or carry-out: This is a casual spot. "And the beloved had fish and chips.". An expansive patio deck hidden behind lush foliage encourages lingering over meals with friends and family while the cool, dim interior is cozy and cave-like. WHAT: A handmade-pasta shop whose impeccable noodles are second only to the salumi. 2800 Kirby Drive, Suite b132Houston, TX(713) 522-2022 | pondichericafe.com. WHAT: A sanctuary of a restaurant in Dallass congested downtown, where one of the countrys outstanding Japanese chefs practices the art of soba. 12. 4315 Bryan St, Dallas, TX 75204. Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list. Cheverells Farm. Torchy's is quite the empire these days, with 90-plus locations in over a dozen states, but it all started as a little food truck in Austin . Get more stories delivered right to your email. WHY: From colorful breakfast and dinner thalis to a phenomenal Indian-spiced, gluten-free, chickpea-crusted fried chicken, three-time James Beard award nominee Anita Jaisinghani takes the stuff of traditional Indian street food chaat, dosas, pani poori and turns out beautiful, artistically plated food that vibrates with authenticity while still showing contemporary Gulf Coast flair. She took special pride in her version of tacos al carbon, skirt steak served on a hot comal with caramelized onions and a stack of fresh flour tortillas. Crowd favorites include sirloin steak, liver and onions, pork chops, and the 40-item salad bar. Rajwadi's samosa sandwich Kathy Tran Rajwadi Vegetarian Indian Fast Food 9400 N. MacArthur. WHY: With scores of options in Austin and San Antonio (for starters), and plenty of controversial and passionate words written about origins and ownership, its safe to say there is no one absolute best place for breakfast tacos in Texas. Shoot, wed even take pecan pie. Fresa's Chicken Al Carbon Good thing we all have a separate stomach for dessert because the coconut cream pie is absolutely unreal. Check out the omelets in the $10 range. Eater's "Regional 38" series previously named the vital dining destinations across three fertile swaths of America: the South, New England, and the Great Lakes region of the Midwest. The East coast-style pizzeria and deli is so popular with Austinites that a Windsor Park location on Briarcliff Boulevard was added at the end of 2019. Be prepared to spend a bit more for the quality, and make a reservation if you can. Relish them simply, mounded on a woven bamboo mat alongside a dashi dipping sauce simmered with duck meat. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Hand-cut fries, juicy burgers with all the toppings, and the sincerest service around throw it back to the 1950s. Dont miss the overstuffed burgers, savory enchiladas, or fresh tropical chicken salad. Contigo is both timeless and sturdily Texan, with a menu full of modern bar food that begs to be consumed outdoors: ox tongue sliders, oh-so-crispy green beans, hearty cast-iron pans of rabbit and dumplings, and the stellar house-made charcuterie, all rounded out with Texas fruits and vegetables. Book a table at the South First Street location for a full-yet-casual dine-in experience. Love Texas? Yeah, everyone knows Freds for killer burgers, but as any cattle drover can tell you, the CFS is the true prize. Pork steaks and spare ribs will have you questioning why anyone would say Texans can only barbecue beef. Dine-in or carry-out: This is a casual spot. WHAT: A light-filled, modern American bistro that builds polished menus around a zeal for heirloom grains. I still love the trailer. (The low lighting certainly doesnt hurt, either.). Trippa Milano is one of Italy's most beloved nose-to-tail restaurants, a Milan institution celebrating every part of the animal in a similar vein to London's legendary St. John. Carmen Valera, one of the five siblings who own the restaurant, says a third of their menu is identical to what her grandparents served at their now-shuttered restaurant in the 60s, a third is straight from her mothers now-shuttered restaurant from the 80s and 90s, and a third is all-new. 2. But a recent re-visit to Garcias, run by the same family since 1962, confirmed my devotion to its Deluxe Mexican Dinner plate: The oversize platter includes two cheesy enchiladas and a pork tamale covered in chili con carne and additional cloud banks of yellow cheese (say yes to the option of chopped onions); a freshly fried crispy taco stuffed with ground beef, shredded iceberg lettuce, and diced tomato; sides of rice and refried beans creamy with lard and bacon fat; and, brought first as a starter, a chalupa smeared with guacamole. WHAT: A tasting-menu restaurant in middle-of-nowhere West Texas that actually lives up to the romantic fantasy of such diversions. He has has since opened two additional locations, but the expansion hasnt changed his simple mission: Serve cold-ass beer to wash down the finest chicken-fried steak in town, smothered in a sourdough batter and cooked just till the golden crust delivers the perfect crunch. Prices are generally mid- to upper-range. Their kitchen turns out nearly 100 distinct dishes, many with regional Indian origins, but the key is to order gems inspired by Kaiser Lashkaris native Pakistan. But once youve exhausted all the big names, you may find yourself hungry for more. Served along with hand-cut fries made to order and a cute green salad to help you feel virtuous this giant plate is deeply satisfying. J.N. Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Cafe Bella Open since 2000 in the hidden Westcliff Shopping Center, Caf Bella is the Cheers of several nearby neighborhoods, from Bluebonnet Hills to Tanglewood. I lived in Dallas a decade ago and converted then to a disciple of Lone Star foodways; since becoming Eaters national critic four years ago, Ive made a point of returning to the state for several weeks each year. If you like things smoky, youll have no trouble finding some tender brisket and ribs. "For the food and experience, I would expect to wait in line.if not then a wonderful hidden jewel." more. Running my hands along the turquoise Formica counter at H&H Car Wash and Coffee Shop in El Paso, watching the women spoon caldillo (green chile beef stew) into bowls and folding tortillas to make egg and chorizo breakfast burritos, felt like an archetypal Texas moment. Phone +1 512-480-8441 Web Visit website On the rooftop of Mi Madre's Restaurant, hidden-gem mezcal bar Techo Mezcaleria & Agave Bar is small, intimate, and stocked with a wonderful selection of mezcal varieties, tequilas, and killer cocktails, including a frozen guava margarita and other agave-laden, sweet and smoky delights. We love a good greasy spoon restaurant here in Texas. The meal, ticketed at $97 per person, typically careens through seven or eight courses and lasts a concise 90 minutes or so. Owner Tony Dien Pham simmers his all-beef bone broth for a minimum of 12 hours to create a silky, delicately spiced, soul-warming bowl that is easily one of the best in the country. WHAT: Whole-hog barbecue done the old-fashioned way. This place is adored and waits can be long; a Matcha Pain Killer laced with buckwheat shochu and tequila will tranquilize you into serenity. Jessica Elizarraras, 822 Southwest 19th StreetSan Antonio, TX(210) 432-7171 | raysdriveinn.net. If you head to Houston, youll also find some authentic Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese eateries. If youre on the go, swing by the drive-through-only location near downtown, at Ninth and Lamar. Istanbul Grill 6204 S Cooper Street Arlington, TX 76001 (817) 557-3377 Istanbul Grill is a family-run Turkish restaurant that offers authentic Turkish and Mediterranean recipes. The four other Texas restaurants on the list are Birdie's, a neighborhood wine bar in Austin; Blood Bros. BBQ, a smoked-meat house playing with Asian flavors, outside of Houston; and two taco. They source their animals carefully and cure, age, and otherwise treat the careful cuts for next-level flavor. Their culinary traditions as well as their language and polka music have endured and fused with local culture to yield pastries and plates that are distinctly Texas. The meat sampler plate . Service is uniformly dashing. Ivar's River Pub in San Marcos sits along the picturesque San Marcos River. Play it safe with the ever-popular red chicken curry or branch out with Fish in the Garden hot crispy fried fish topped with cashews, shredded green mango, and lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and mint in a spicy lime sauce. See on map. Smoke BBQ And Skybar, San Antonio. Its also got the market cornered on eggs Benedict variations. 3422 Allen Pkway. B.A. WHY: Austin is brimming with al fresco spaces its got the ideal weather for em but there is something special about chef Andrew Wisehearts restaurant. Community BBQ Grill The only time I eat barbecue is when I help an out-of-town visitor mark "Texas BBQ" off a bucket list. 1. WHAT: Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaughts gracious, 16-year-old lodestar of hospitality, whose success presaged this moment of upscale Mexican dining in the United States. J.E. This no-frills Tex-Mex joint is decorated with colorful murals. Were they better than their looks would lead you to believe? My appetite certainly qualifies as Texas-sized, but no one person can pull off an authoritative survey of a place so far-reaching. WHAT: Austin casual with sophisticated execution. Reservations are recommended. 18 tips and reviews. In Texas, barbecue is a generational thing, and Terry Blacks BBQ on Barton Springs Road is rich with pedigree. WHY: Yes, its only open once a week, and it usually sells out before the lunch hour, but Snows BBQ is exceptional. Zoom in on cabrito with roasted cactus, lechn with a piercing habanero salsa, and lamb barbacoa. Or a plate of salad Nicoise with delicate yellowfin tuna? You might as well mix in some sauce, made from owner Robert Patillos grandmothers recipe. It's no surprise that Houston is chock-full of hidden gems that don't get the same fanfare as Houston's James Beard Award-nominated restaurants or those helmed by celebrity chefs. Is your favorite hidden gem missing? Order extra hot-from-the-Tandoori (clay oven) naan for soaking up the rich sauces and fluffy Basmati rice. Enjoy live music by local artists on select nights, and don't you dare leave without a slice of pecan pie. This little cafe may not look like much, but if you're looking for some good old fashioned country cookin' in the heart of San Antonio, this is your place. B.A. Jos R. Ralat is the proprietor of thetacotrail.com and author of the forthcoming book American Tacos: A History and Guide to the Taco Trail North of the Border.