El Paso
This working cattle ranch is 35 miles southeast of downtown – follow signs 4.7 miles northeast from I-10 exit 49 – but locals would probably drive 200…
Must-see restaurants in Texas
San Antonio
Mighty slabs of meat hang smack-dab in the center of the dining room at this Pearl District crowd-pleaser, where charcuterie platters ($20 to $36) are…
Austin
Not content to rest on his Uchi laurels, chef Tyson Cole opened this bustling North Lamar restaurant, which describes itself as 'Japanese farmhouse dining…
Amy's Ice Creams - South Austin
Austin
The South Congress location of this beloved local ice-cream chain shares its daily flavors on a chalkboard out front. Pick your favorite add-on, and they…
San Antonio
Choose your ice cream and pick a topping – then watch the staff pulverize the two into a blended little cup of heaven.
Dallas
A short drive from downtown, Fuel City serves up some of Dallas' best tacos in one of its most idiosyncratic locations (it's also a gas station and car…
Austin
Set in a sprawling former feed-and-seed store from the late 1800s, this Austin classic always draws a crowd. Güero's may not serve the best Tex-Mex in…
Dallas
This deeply cultured restaurant takes the gentrified cuisine of old Mexico City to new levels; forget whatever ideas you may have previously held about…
Dallas
The interior here is just acceptable: dark and roomy. But that's good as it doesn't get in the way of the beauty you'll find on your plate. Regional…
Houston
Welcome to Houston's favorite steakhouse. While other beef palaces start perusing Las Vegas leases at the first sign of success, this long-running gem…
Houston
The most famous name in New Orleans cooking runs this refined restaurant in Midtown. No mere offshoot, it’s a culinary temple all of its own, blending New…
Fort Worth
Fresh, seasonal and local are the keywords in this serene, light-filled cafe. The farm-to-table ethos is a religion here and the seasonal menus always…
Houston
This vintage neighborhood grocery store is now dedicated to serving some of Houston's finest burgers. Thick, juicy and loaded condiments, what more could…
Houston
Chef Hugo Ortega elevates regional Mexican cooking and street food to high art in this much-celebrated Montrose bodega. Many menu items may seem familiar,…
El Paso
Winning extra points for style – from the cool sign to the cutlery hanging from the ceiling – this hip little restaurant serves up creative comfort food:…
Fort Worth
At Tim Love's mod-Western Stockyards dining experience, even the chefs wear cowboy hats. It's Southern fusion, with the traditional flavors of the region…
El Paso
One of El Paso's best-loved Mexican joints, L&J serves up delicious tacos, fajitas and famous green-chile chicken enchiladas – plus a legendary menudo …
Houston
Formal but friendly, this large Mexican restaurant, just east of downtown, is a true local institution. Houstonians have flocked here since the 1970s to…
Fort Worth
The most famous restaurant in Fort Worth, this fourth-generation place takes up a city block. Dining in the walled courtyard is a magical experience (and…
Dallas
Small groups of friends flock to this buzzing Design District gastropub, 2 miles northwest of downtown, to linger over Belgian-style mussels, shrimp and…
Fort Worth
The family behind this joint brings knowledge and passion to the cause of creating barbecue for a new age. Sausage, brisket (of course!), turkey, pulled…
Dallas
This classic downtown lunch spot, which has been tucked into Neiman Marcus for more than 50 years, evokes old-school Dallas. Attentive waiters bustle…
Dallas
Self-styled as a 'Bohemian Bistro,' this funky street-corner Deep Ellum diner is a true home from home. Families and rocker types alike chow down on Tex…
Austin
It's not just the ice cream we love; it's the toppings that get pounded and blended in, violently but lovingly, by the staff wielding a metal scoop in…
Fort Worth
The antidote to same-seeming Tex-Mex. Yep, the dining room is dead simple and the menu a familiar litany of enchiladas, quesadillas and guacamole. But…
Dallas
Dallas’ favorite barbecue joint also has a handy downtown location, but for the full authentic experience you can’t beat a visit to the place it all began…
Houston
In a town where the competition for best burger is tough, Stanton's is always on the A-list, with big, stacked juicy burgers. The chipotle option has…
Fort Worth
A local institution, complete with the sickly green walls, this former grocery is now stuffed with picnic tables, and serves some of the best burgers in…
Dallas
Rodeo Goat is located on an unpromising stretch of roadway on the outskirts of the Design District and, from the outside, looks like a low-key strip club…
Austin
Small plates. Tantalizing flavors. Locally sourced. Changing menus. Snout-to-tail culinary creations. And craft cocktails. All served in a rustically chic…
San Antonio
This brightly colored waterside restaurant is hugely popular with locals. Fresh guacamole is made right at your table. The upscale Tex-Mex menu reveals…
Austin
Oh Tacodeli, how we love your handcrafted tacos – surely blessed with the smiles of angels. From the Tacoloco with its adobo-braised brisket to the Pollo…
Fort Worth
In this hugely successful Trinity River joint, Texas celebrity chef Tim Love serves up gourmet barbecue and more besides, including deep dark bowls of…
San Antonio
This enormous, weird, and very wonderful place is not just a restaurant and bar – it’s also a laundromat and car wash. Casual things may be, with no table…
Austin
What? Why is my pizza a square? Because it's Detroit-style, baby, meaning it's cooked in a square pan, plus there's caramelized cheese on the crust and…
Coopers Old Time Pit Bar-B-Cue
Austin
The downtown lunch crowd has discovered this new outpost of beloved Cooper's Bar-B-Cue in Llano. Pick your meat at the counter (paid by the pound) then…
El Paso
A welcome addition to El Paso, Craft & Social whips up high-end sandwiches (featuring ingredients such as oven-roasted chicken, Brie and roasted red…
El Paso
They take their corn tortillas so seriously at this modern, small-plates downtown restaurant that they credit the specific Mexican farmers responsible for…
Houston
Pairing Vietnamese seafood with Cajun flavors was inevitable once Vietnamese immigrants entered the Gulf Coast fishing economy. This shiny, hugely…
Fort Worth
The proprietors also own their own cattle ranch, so the sizable steaks are worth their weight. But you might also try the Texas specialties such as…
