9 Mom & Pop Restaurants In Texas That Serve Home Cooked Meals To Die For
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Southern country cookin’ and a friendly atmosphere — these are by far our favorite kinds of restaurants. We value quality food and hospitable service over a fancy atmosphere any day. Here are a few of the best mom-and-pop restaurants in Texas. These eateries will make your heart (and taste buds) happy. Come out and enjoy – maybe even make a whole Texas foodie road trip out of ’em!
1. Blue Bonnet Cafe (Marble Falls)
Blue Bonnet Cafe, 211 US-281, Marble Falls, TX 78654, USA
Blue Bonnet Cafe, in the hill country, is known all over Texas for having some of the best home cookin' and southern hospitality around. From classic country breakfasts of eggs, bacon, sausage, and buttery biscuits to some of the crispiest, most tender chicken fried steak you'll ever eat for lunch or dinner, Blue Bonnet will fulfill your taste buds' wildest dreams and then some. And let's not forget about the most decadent pie that will ever pass your lips. Dessert is definitely what this cafe is known for above anything else.
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2. Mary's Cafe (Strawn)
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Mary's Cafe, 119 Grant Ave, Strawn, TX 76475, USA
If you skipped the chicken fried steak at Blue Bonnet in favor of a huge slice of pie, here's your chance to redeem yourself. Mary's Cafe has arguably the best chicken fried steak in Texas. It's huge, cooked just right, and the cream gravy comes in a huge bowl on the side so you can dollop (or smother) it on to your liking. Take a road trip out to Strawn and get ready to enjoy one of the most delicious home-cooked meals in Texas.
3. DeWese's Tip Top Cafe (San Antonio)
Tip Top Cafe, 2814 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78201, USA
San Antonio is filled with Mexican restaurants for obvious reasons, and although we love some good queso and enchiladas, it's nice to have options for when the hankering for a home-cooked, southern meal strikes. DeWese's Tip Top Cafe has been serving up just that since 1938, so you can be sure that they put heart and soul into their cooking.
4. Pickett House (Woodville)
Pickett House, 157 Private Rd 6000, Woodville, TX 75979, USA
We've never been to a restaurant that gives us as much of a warm and fuzzy feeling inside as this one. You're seated at long tables with other customers and served family-style platters of fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, greens, rolls, and the most delectable peach cobbler you'll ever taste. Rest assured you'll never walk out of here hungry, but you might leave with a few new friends and many cherished memories. Pickett House is an experience!
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5. Hilltop Cafe (Fredericksburg)
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Hill Top Cafe, 10661 US-87, Fredericksburg, TX 78624, USA
Dine inside an eclectic 1930s gas station at Hilltop Cafe. This Fredericksburg restaurant is known for its scrumptious seafood gumbo, southern fried shrimp, and fried Mississippi catfish. Stop by on a Sunday morning for some of the most incredible brunch you've ever had! In addition to their finger-licking-good fare, this beloved eatery hosts some of the best live bands around.
6. Poor Richard's Cafe (Plano)
Poor Richard's Cafe, 2442 K Ave, Plano, TX 75074, USA
Poor Richard's Cafe is the oldest restaurant in Plano and definitely one of the best. It's only open for breakfast and lunch, but that's okay - everyone knows breakfast is the best meal of the day anyway. At least a southern, down-home country breakfast certainly is. The menu is so huge that we won't even attempt to list all the items, but just know that everything you could ever want, from eggs benedict and home fries to french toast and fluffy pancakes to Texas-sized chicken fried steak, you can find at Poor Richard's.
7. Lumberyard Cafe (Edgewood)
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Lumber Yard Cafe, 809 E Pine St, Edgewood, TX 75117, USA
This one was actually a reader recommendation. We can pretend we'd rather eat salad, but everyone knows brown food is the best food. Lumberyard Cafe is easily the best place on 80 for a good ol' southern meal complete with impeccable service and prices that just can't be beat.
8. The J And P Bar And Grill (Comstock)
The J and P Bar n Grill, 32137 Hwy 90 West, Comstock, TX 78837, USA
The J And P Bar And Grill is another reader favorite, and we definitely understand why. There isn't one bad item on the menu here - not to mention the atmosphere is fun and the service will have you feeling like you're at grandma's for Sunday supper. Definitely a must-try, y'all.
9. Leona General Store (Leona)
Leona General Store, North Leona Blvd 136, TX-75, Leona, TX 75850, USA
Leona General Store, North Leona Blvd 136, TX-75, Leona, TX 75850, USA
It doesn't get more "mom and pop" than a general store. Not every general store has full, hot, home-cooked meals, though, so this one is extra special. Folks say they serve the best ribeye in Texas. Leona General Store is a trip through time for you and your tastebuds alike.
Have you ever been to any of the best mom-and-pop restaurants in Texas? Which one is your favorite? Share your thoughts with us in the comments! Need a place to stay while you’re here? Check out all the options from our friends at Extended Stay America!
Hungry for more scrumptious Texan meals? Check out these out-of-the-way restaurants in Texas that are great for a road trip.
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More to Explore
Best Mom and Pop Restaurants In Texas
What are the best comfort food restaurants in Texas?
There’s no shortage of scrumptious comfort food in Texas.
- If you’re looking for some lip-smacking goodness, visit Kitt’s Kornbread Sandwich and Pie Bar in Jefferson.
- You’ll also find amazing meals at The Gristmill in New Braunfels. There really are so many wonderful places to eat in the Lone Star State.
What are the best hidden gem restaurants in Texas?
- Journey off the beaten path to Cattleman’s Steakhouse in Fabens. This delicious eatery is one of the best hidden gem restaurants in Texas.
- If you’re looking for a refreshing glass of wine, visit Flat Creek Estate in Marble Falls. These places are worth going out of your way for.
What are the best places to get chicken fried steak in Texas?
- Mary’s Cafe in Strawn is often praised as the best place to get chicken fried steak in Texas. People travel from all around just to taste this delicious goodness.
- You can also find wonderful CFS at Hoover’s Cooking in Austin. This down-home restaurant will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.