Want to know what Texas tastes like? We can show you! Traditional dishes are deeply flavored with history, from the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle, in big cities and little towns. Here’s where to find prime examples of purely Lone Star cooking.
San Antonio
The creation of the Frito Pie is a fun bit of Texas mythos: Some say the dish made its debut in San Antonio in the 1930s, and others credit the Frito-Lay corporate test kitchen in Dallas in the 1950s. Because Fritos actually evolved from a snack fashioned by a corn chip company in San Antonio about a century ago, we say that’s where you must eat this uber-iconic Texan creation. At The Dogfather, try a Frito Pie served on top of a hot dog for a unique twist on the classic. The best Frito Pie with a twist is found at Smoke Shack where Fritos are topped by chopped barbecued brisket, pinto beans, cheddar cheese, and barbecue sauce. Enjoy your pie after a day spent walking along San Antonio’s famous River Walk or Mission Trail.
Austin
Named the Texas State Dish by the legislature in 1977, chili is the dark reddish-orange meat stew deeply imbued with dried and ground red chiles and cumin — not necessarily spicy (though some like it so…), but, if it’s the real deal, nuanced in flavor from hours of simmering. The true-blue version in Texas does not have beans, according to the original recipe for chili con carne crafted in the mid-1800s by women called the chili queens, who sold their creation on San Antonio’s Military Plaza. By all accounts, the must-go spot is Texas Chili Parlor in Austin, opened in 1976, and long-loved by politicos, students, musicians, and everyone else. Get your bowl of mild, medium, or hot chili topped with chopped onion, jalapeño, or nothing at all, with traditional Saltines alongside. Venison chili and chili with beans are options. Don’t miss out on the Mad Dog margaritas.
While in Austin, head nearby to Ranch 616, the source of the Ranch Water craze. The cocktail that’s taken the nation by storm is essentially a fizzy, not-very-sweet margarita, created around 2000 at this beloved watering hole that also serves excellent food. The refreshing cocktail is best enjoyed on the rollicking porch overlooking Nueces Street, with a guitarist strumming nearby and fried Texas quail bites for noshing. You can also enjoy a Ranch Water at numerous live music venues around Austin, so make sure to catch a show while you’re in town!
Fort Worth
If there’s anything truly Texan in the world of Tex-Mex eating, it’s fajitas. And nobody does a more impressive job of turning out sizzling platters of searing-hot grilled, marinated strips of steak and chicken than Joe T. Garcia’s. Open since 1935, this North Side landmark serves on any given Saturday as many as 2,500 orders of fajitas, which diners fold into hot tortillas, along with grilled onions and peppers, grated Cheddar cheese, and maybe a forkful of refried beans or a dab of fresh guacamole. Every day at Joe T.’s is a fajitas fiesta on the beautiful garden patios. Toast your good time with one of the signature margaritas after a day shopping along the historic streets of the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Dallas
In other places, they call it a corn dog — wrongly, of course. All Texans know the best meal-on-a-stick is the corny dog and that the truly best comes from Fletcher’s in Dallas. A hot dog snugly wrapped in a golden, fried cornbread jacket, this sensation made its debut in 1942 at the State Fair of Texas, and that’s where Fletcher’s sells over 500,000 corny dogs during the annual event every autumn. Don’t worry if you can’t plan your Dallas visit during the fall though—you can also find Fletcher’s bright-red food truck several days a week at Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas, as well as at various festivals around the state.
West
When settlers from Czechoslovakia came to Central Texas, they brought traditions of oompah bands, polka dancing, and the kolaches. The latter is a sweet, yeasty pastry as puffy as a pillow, made irresistible with fruit fillings at the center that vary from apricot or cherry to prune or cream cheese. The kolache’s very close cousin is the sausage-stuffed version correctly called a klobasnek, if you’re hankering for something savory; you can even get these with cheese and jalapeños! Our favorite stop for these is Czech Stop in West, just a short drive north of Waco. The convenience store, open 24 hours, stocks dozens of kolache varieties freshly baked right next door at Little Czech Bakery. Grab a coffee and tank of gas and, while you’re at it, a box of kolaches to take home, too. This is the perfect stop on your Texas road trip vacation.
Nederland
You can’t find the distinctive barbecued crabs anywhere but far southeast Texas, in and around the town of Beaumont. Close to the Gulf shoreline and the Texas-Louisiana border, the hamlet of Nederland is home to The Schooner Restaurant, the best place to find this Cajun-style delicacy every day. Neither smoked nor grilled, and never served with barbecue sauce, these blue crabs are fried, dusted in a proprietary spicy-sweet seasoning blend, and served hot on big platters with French fries. Deliciously messy to eat, they’re good companions to a cup of dark seafood gumbo. While you’re in the area, try your hand at crabbing yourself in the Gulf Coast, or learn a little about the history of commerce on the Gulf Coast at nearby Port Arthur’s Museum of the Gulf Coast.
Amarillo
Of course, beef is king way up in the Panhandle’s cattle country. And nothing is more Texan to eat than the chicken-fried steak at Youngblood’s Café in Amarillo. It’s not chicken; rather, it’s a top-round steak that’s been tenderized then battered and cooked like fried chicken. This spot shouldn’t be missed, as their chicken-fried steaks have been expertly prepared to deliver you just the right fork-tender steak cloaked in a crunchy, golden-brown crust that melts on the tongue. This dish is the perfect nourishment after a day spent exploring the nearby Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
From the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle, Texas flavor and history run deep. So hit the road and taste your way through the Lone Star State on your next vacation.
