DB’s Rustic Iron BBQ

Convenience West

When we visited this joint, which is housed in a former gas station and bus stop, we anticipated the meat, of course, but also the much-raved-about sides, specifically the popular Carrot Dip Dip: roasted carrots blended with onion, garlic, and red pepper, sprinkled with pepitas, and flanked by Fritos Scoops.

Pollos Asados Los Norteños

This chicken has a cult following.

Pho Hong Phat

Pho from A to Z.

Mr. C’s Fried Chicken & Waffles

Crispy fare with a Southern flair.

Butter’s BBQ

If you’re traveling along I-37 between San Antonio and Corpus Christi, detour to this joint located along Highway 359. You’ll find superbly smoked USDA Prime brisket, flawless pork ribs, and an excellent jalapeño-cheese sausage, made with 80-20 beef and pork, diced jalapeño, and, on the day we visited, pepper jack

Pit Stop BBQ

Retro-chic cue joint off the beaten track.

Bella Mia

A Columbian chef cooks up real-deal Italian food in Edinburg.

Wiatrek’s Meat Market

Ginocchio

The building is rich in history, with food to match.

Barkeeps

Asian fusion in a rambunctious setting.

Pat’s Belle Pepper Cafe

Folksy service and good home cooking.

Smokin’ Moon

The Copper Moon folks have set their sights on barbecue.

Picoso’s Mexican Kitchen

Upscale Mexican in a rustic-modern setting.

Flippers Tavern

Carefully curated pinball paraphernalia and seriously satisfying food.

Tribute

An ambitious, reimagined new venue in the historic Houstonian Hotel.

The Living Room

Where art, wine, coffee, and food unite.

The District Pub & Kitchen

Come cheer your team and your taste in bar food.

Vidorra

Skyline view upstairs, pretty patio below—and the food is up and down too.

Jalisco Norte

Chef José Meza Arróyave dishes out authentic Mexican cuisine in a sleek, modern space.

Hudson House

This Addison location hits the mark with a comfortable setting, good seafood, and cold martinis.

Ronin

A century-old building and food fresh from the family farm.

Buenos Aires Café

Homestyle hospitality and delicious Argentine food.

Siena Ristorante Toscana

Travel to Tuscany in Austin's Northwest Hills.

Tillie’s

International flavors on the beautiful Hill Country grounds of Camp Lucy.

Ciclo

The Four Seasons' revamped restaurant is eclectic but approachable.

Reveille Barbecue Co.

Bodacious Bar-B-Q (Gladewater)

Espresso y Poco Mas

Breakfast burritos, sandwiches, tamales, y más, plus spectacular views.

Star Drug Store

This historic landmark offers patty melts and egg creams at a U-shaped counter straight out of the twenties.

Leo’s Cajun Corner

Come for the barbecue riblets, stay for the Cajun comfort food.

Century Bar & Grill

A steakhouse in all but name in a vintage hotel lobby.

Fig & Olive

This sleek newcomer to the Galleria offers sophisticated Mediterranean fare.

Piattello Italian Kitchen

By turns both modern and warm, the town’s hottest pasta house just gets better.

Saint-Emilion

Sophisticated yet informal, this bastion of French cuisine has pleased generations of cultured palates.

Jay’s BBQ Shack

The Shed Market

Blackland Smokehouse

Pitforks and Smokerings BBQ

Rejino Barbeque

Aaron and Christina Rejino are serving quality smoked meats and novel side dishes worthy of the short road trip from Lubbock—or the longer road trip if you’re coming from pretty much anyplace else. By the time we pulled up to their truck on a particularly idyllic Saturday, the Rejinos were

Mi Casita

Your family will love the Tex-Mex this family dishes out.

Nettie’s Southern Kitchen

This funky little cafe serves a mean CFS.

Stagecoach Inn

An approachable prix-fixe menu in a cozy dining room.

Lizzy’s Diner

Folks line up for Lizzy's all-American comfort food.

Taste of Thailand

Best Thai near Lackland.

Meadow

New Southern rises at the Alley on Bitters.

El Chaparral

Hacienda vibe, spacious patio, packed parking lot.

The Arizona Cafe

Tex-Mex standards upheld here for 23 years.

African Village

Ethiopian and Eritrean food served with style.

Wanna Bao

The dumplings are divine.