Lubbock

(From September 2010) This is a chain? It feels, acts, and tastes like a hometown cafe run by the neighborhood’s favorite abuela. An extensive menu has something for everyone: shredded beef enchiladas smothered in rich red chile sauce, chiles rellenos bursting with queso fresco, overstuffed burritos, and spicy menudo. The shrimp burrito, with rice, coleslaw, and tangy sauce, is excellent, and the traditional tortas satisfy with a variety of fillings, our favorite being the tender carnitas. ¡Muy sabroso!

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(From May 2011)

The red-and-white tablecloths, murals of country scenes, and friendly servers at Apple Tree make for a cozy, farm-house atmosphere. The tortilla soup, brimming with vegetables and chicken, is light but filling, especially paired with half a sandwich. Apple Tree blends tangy mayonnaise, pickles, and pineapple into its chicken salad and serves it on thick-sliced fresh bread. There’s also an assortment of Mexican dishes, including an enormous burrito, stuffed with beef and beans and topped with creamy enchilada sauce. Breakfast is good too, particularly the baked goods: The pretty Bavarian cream turnover was our favorite—flaky and just rich enough.

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(From November 2010) We blinked and almost missed this tiny spot, where traditional Thai and Japanese hibachi offerings are generous and always tasty. They excel at soups here, like the tom yum, with its layers of tart lime, lemongrass, cooling mint, and fiery chiles, and noodle soups that mingle peanuts, bean sprouts, and cilantro. A humble mix of chicken and vegetables is elevated with coconut milk and a striking green curry. Thai iced coffee nicely complements the spicy fare.

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(From January 2011) Located next to a tattoo and piercing parlor, this burger joint is as hip as its neighbor. Just for fun, build your own burger: Pick a regular, wheat, or jalapeño-cheddar bun and then choose your toppings (all the usual ones, plus roasted pepper relish, cranberry-apple chutney, and “guaco mayo”). There are also salads and a variety of sandwiches, as well as onion rings and regular and sweet potato fries. Finish with the O-Pie, an Oreo crust with peanut butter crème and chocolate-velvet filling. (All of the artwork at Belly’s is for sale, for those who prefer it on the wall rather than the body.) Bar.

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(From March 2011) This hot spot near the university and medical districts offers quick service and heart-healthy food. From the Smart Mex menu, we like the Clucker taco, a whole-wheat tortilla stuffed with apple-sweetened chicken salad, and we love the decadent Mediterranean pizza overflowing with mozzarella, artichoke hearts, red onions, and tomato slices. The cold sandwiches pile on the turkey, roast beef, or dolphin-safe tuna, and they’ve even made the burger healthy with hearty buffalo, turkey, or veggie options. And don’t forget the yogurt bar, with fresh fruit and fat-free, guilt-free fudge!

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(From February 2012)

Lean metallic chairs and tables, blue neon lights, and a crown of flat-screen TVs atop the bar give this restaurant an uptown, urban air. We loved the leaning tower of a sandwich they call the BBQ Pork ’n’ Slaw. A great combination of flavors: tangy, creamy slaw; sweet barbecue; and spicy pepperjack. The Blackened Catfish Tacos also paired up some unique ingredients: Cajun catfish, lime slaw, and jalapeño mayonnaise. So original, so delish. The dishes with Mexican crema were too dry for us, but we went totally bananas over the Totally Bananas Monkey Skewers—decadent bites of fried cheesecake and caramelized bananas, skewered and drizzled with chocolate and caramel. Now, that’s the kind of dessert we daydream about. Bar.

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(From September 2010) A favorite Amarillo eatery makes its way south, to the delight of Lubbock burger fans. The roll of paper towels on our table comes in handy as we bite into juicy beef patties on soft, toasted buns; grilled chicken sandwiches dressed with olives and tangy Greek dressing; and thin, crispy onion rings. The Frito Pie Salad features crispy greens topped with meaty chili, corn chips, and queso, while the Pico Pasta Chicken Salad gets a kick from pico de gallo and a sweet-and-spicy salsa vinaigrette. A thick, creamy shake (banana is our favorite) completes the meal. Beer & wine.

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(From January 2011) This is a family diner, and customers are treated like kin: Our waitress kindly stacked our purses in a chair because, according to her, handbags on the floor bring bad luck. To start, chips, guacamole, and hot sauce (a smoky recipe), followed by the hearty caldo de res aswim with beef, cabbage, potatoes, and a little ear of corn. Traditional Mexican entrées get a twist here: A spicy red sauce topped the meat enchiladas; shredded beef, a tender alternative, filled the tacos and burritos; and creamy queso, not grated cheddar, smothered the cheese enchiladas. For dessert, try the sugary sopaipilla. Beer.

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(From July 2011)

Stashed inside an unassuming strip mall, Galvan’s has an at-home atmosphere that says family owned: folksy four-tops, clean wood floors, and the friendliest service we’ve encountered all year. This is the cafe where you become a regular. The food is simple and delicious: rice and beans done right, no fancy ingredients added; enchiladas served piping hot and stuffed with melted cheese, chicken, or beef; and chiles rellenos with a unique corn dog breading. The carne guisada, our favorite, is tender beef tips in a robust stew, served with fresh tortillas. Top it off with a sopaipilla—fluffy, sugary melt-in-your mouth bliss—served as fast and hot as everything else. 

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(From January 2012)

Giorgio’s is downtown lunch at its best. We’re enamored of the Italian awning, the no-frills tables and chairs, the old-fashioned red-and-white-checkered floor, and, of course, the food. Hearty meat, gooey cheese, and tomato sauce are tucked into the flaky, homemade crusts of the calzones as well piled on the pizzas, which you can get by the slice or the pie (New York–style, with a crust so delicate it folds right up in your hand). Lunch specials are a good bet, like a slice, a salad, and a drink for only $5.50 or lasagne, garlic toast, and a drink for $6.25. And with prices so low and food so beloved, you can expect a line out the door. Thank goodness it moves fast!

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