The Tastiest Treats to Eat in Texas
Everything is Bigger in Texas… Especially the Portion Sizes of Food! What should you eat when you visit Texas? There are more than a few great treats to eat for foodies when they visit Texas. Our Most Popular Dishes to eat when you visit Texas are…
Texas Beef
Texas is ranching country, so beef is king. You will see steak on almost every restaurant menu, and so many kinds of steak! Unless you are a vegetarian, definitely try some of the various steaks and beef dishes available in Texas.
Texas BBQ: Brisket!
Eat the Beef Brisket! The Beef Ribs are great too, but just know Texas BBQ is beef based, not as much pork based. And be prepared to wait a long time in line at some of the better BBQ joints around Texas. The longer the line, chances are the better the BBQ. The best BBQ joints in Texas are often holes in a wall, nothing fancy.
Of course, side dishes are equally important when getting barbecue in Texas. Lots of places serve baked beans with BBQ, but Texas BBQ is usually served with Ranch Beans. Ranch beans are more savory, less sweet, with a bit of a kick.
Texas toast is another popular side dish, and even though you can get Texas Toast anywhere, you may as well have it in Texas!
Tex-Mex:
Tex Mex is NOT Mexican food; it’s an amalgamation of various cuisines, including Mexican. It’s really good, and we recommend trying a bunch of smaller plates so you can see what you like, and you can start to learn the difference between Tex-Mex and Mexican food. A few things we recommend are the queso, enchiladas, and refried beans. Breakfast tacos in Texas are amazing, too. Again, go to the hole in the wall. Some of the best breakfast tacos in Texas can be found at a gas station.
Texas Chili:
Texas Chili is very meat heavy, less soupy, and many times, there are no beans in Texas chili. It seems that every family has their own recipe, so it’s never the same from one place to the next. Some Texans even put beans in their chili! Texas chili is especially delicious if you make Frito pie with it. The OG Frito Pie involves pouring chili and toppings into a single-serve bag of Fritos.
Chicken Fried Steak:
Flattened, beaten, steak, battered and fried up. A plate of pleasure for foodies in Texas. Have it with some mashed potatoes and gravy and you have CFS heaven!
Texas Beverages
Local beer is great in Texas (Shiner Bock is one of our faves) and the Margaritas will help you get through your travels in Texas. Whether it is a frozen margarita or a few bottles of Lone Star Beer you will have a good time enjoying the liquid refreshment in Texas.
For non-alcoholic drinks, Big Red and Dr. Pepper are huge in Texas.
Kolaches
While these are definitely a European thing, Kolaches have also become a Texas thing. Of course, Texas has put their own spin on them, so they taste different than the European version. If you are traveling between Austin and Dallas, head to the Czech Stop for really good kolaches.
Pecan Pie
Pecan Pie is the official state pie of Texas. However you pronounce it, it’s delicious when you’re in Texas. So always save room for dessert.
Bucee’s Treats
Bucee’s is legendary in Texas so you have to check it out when you visit. They are known for having really clean bathrooms, but what a lot of people don’t know is that they have great food, too! We have a whole list of things to eat at Bucee’s.
Beaver Nuggets, are a crunchy sweet treat that is perfect for road tripping through Texas. And you can only get them at Bucee’s. Try a few different flavors, but make sure you try the original!
Mark’s favorite thing to eat at Bucee’s is the brisket sandwich. They’re made fresh right in front you. At a gas station.
Liam’s favorite are the cinnamon rolls from the Bucee’s Bakery. They also have kolaches, of course.
Jocelyn’s favorite is the deli area, which has fresh fruit, salads and all kinds of options.
Caleb’s favorite thing to eat at Bucee’s is the jerky. You can get it prepackaged, but you can also peruse an entire deli case of jerky options.
Of course, Texas has some favorite chain restaurants worth trying. Our kids love Whataburger, especially the spicy ketchup, while Jocelyn loves Torchy’s Tacos. And don’t forget the Blue Bell ice cream!
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Want to know what to do in Texax besides eat? Check out these blog posts: