Texas is a foodie’s dream! From San Antonio to El Paso and everywhere in between, The Lone Star State boasts a diverse cuisine influenced by Mexican, Czech, German, and Austrian immigrants. But let’s talk about Texan food – it’s in a league of its own, blending flavors from the American South with a strong meat culture.
Regardless, Texas guarantees fantastic, varied food your whole family will love. Every dish is a flavor-packed adventure from creamy King Ranch Casserole to the iconic Texas sheet cake. So, dive into the falvorful culinary scene, and savor the top ten best food in Texas.
The Top 10 Best Food in Texas
Nailing down a top-ten list for Texas grub is a tough task. We’re talking about mouthwatering dishes like King Ranch Casserole, loaded with creamy mushroom soup, smoky tacos al carbon, frito pie, the famed Texas sheet cake, and the irresistible chile con queso. And hey, this list isn’t exhaustive – Texas has a feast of flavors beyond these ten.
#1 – Texas Barbecue
Texas is synonymous with barbecue; the meat here is good, and the people are enthusiastic enough to cook it for long hours, sometimes overnight, to achieve the best results. We’re talking about meaty, juicy meat with delicious sides — authentic experiences worth traveling to Texas alone. Texas, though, is a large state, so there’s more than one barbecue style. Here are the most common.
East Texas style barbecue is all about making fork-tender meat marinated in a sweet and tangy tomato-based barbecue sauce. Pulled pork is particularly popular in the area.
Central Texas Style Barbecue is known for its peppery flavor, achieved by seasoning meat with salt and black pepper and slow-cooking it, often with mesquite wood. The best is probably the smoked brisket.
South Texas Style is easy to spot because it’s sticky. People marinate the meat in thick, molasses-like sauce, producing rich and bold meat. This style is best enjoyed with a few thick slices of Texas toast.
West Texas style barbecue is also cooked indirectly, bit it gains a smokier flavor, as the meat gets a nice, caramelized crust. Texas barbecue is fantastic.
#2 – Tex Mex
Tex Mex food is part of Texas and its multicultural personality. You’ll probably find the best Tex Mex food in the state in San Antonio, but every town has its specialty restaurants. As the name suggests, combines Mexican and Texan cooking traditions, resulting in Mexican-inspired meals that you won’t find in Mexico; they’re genuinely Texan.
Fajitas served with corn tortillas, beef tacos, tortilla chips smothered in yellow cheese, and many other dishes give variety to the category. Some of the most common ingredients in Tex Mex food are lime juice, raw onions, chili powder, green chiles, tortillas in all forms and beans. What a treat!
Of course, not everyone makes this type of food the same way, so trying different versions of classic dishes is worth it.
#3 –Texas Chili (Chili Con Carne)
Chili con carne is a specialty of the Tex Mex cuisine. It is the official state dish, and for a good reason — the hearty and meaty dish is wholesome, comforting and filling. Chili is basically a spicy dish containing chili peppers and ground beef in a tomato-based sauce mixed with whole beans.
The dish is generally seasoned with garlic, onions and a pinch of cumin, and it’s best when served steaming hot.
This is a typical dish in Southern Texas and was introduced during the 1850s Mexican-American war. Yes, chili is what you’d serve a battalion on the battlefield, but it is also what you’d cook at home to feed a large family. Texas Chili tastes like home.
#4 – Fajitas
Fajitas are another Tex Mex dish. It consists of thin skirt steak strips, marinated until tender, grilled and tossed with sliced bell peppers and onions.
The whole thing is then topped with cheese for a melty and meaty dish. Served with flour tortillas or corn chips and topped with cheesy goodness and chopped onions, this is one of the state’s most colorful and flavorful Texas-style meals.
Texas is not the only place you’ll find fajitas, as they’ve become a national phenomenon, but you’ll find the best here for sure, especially when they’re made with local beef — the best in the country. Add a side of beans, guacamole, and salsa, and you’ve got yourself the perfect meal.
#5 – Breakfast Tacos
Breakfast tacos are the best way to start the day in Texas. These colorful two-biters are made with bacon, potatoes, scrambled eggs, and sometimes sausage, all over a tender tortilla and topped with spicy salsa. Shredded cheese, of course, is always welcome, and the combination is always filling and comfy.
Of course, there are many versions of Texas breakfast tacos; some incorporate mushrooms, tomatoes, and prickly pear cactus leaves, while others come smothered with rich smashed pinto beans.
What all breakfast tacos have in common is the tortilla, often made from scratch to order; you can’t eat only one of these bad boys, so be prepared to have a morning feast.
#6 – Chicken Fried Steak
Chicken fried steaks are also known as country-fried steak, and it’s unique to the American South, particularly Texas. Chicken Fried Steak is a hearty and satisfying dish, loved for its crunchy exterior, juicy interior. It typically consists of a tenderized and breaded cube steak.
After breaded and deep fried until golden brown, these thin, heavenly sheets are served with peppery white gravy; the cream gravy is made from drippings and spices.
Chicken fried steaks are lovely at all times of day, and you can find them easily in restaurants in Texas, so don’t miss out.
#7 – Whataburger
Over 70 years ago, Harmon Dobson created this unique burger chain in Corpus Christi, Texas. Their goal was to make one good burger “that took two hands to hold,” and that would make you say, “What a burger!” after the first bite. They did just that.
Nowadays, Whataburger is more popular than ever, with restaurants in the Midwest and as far east as Atlanta. The restaurant is still a Texas staple and worth visiting every time you visit the state. For first-timers, I recommend trying the Chili Cheese Burger or the Avocado Bacon Burger, paired with Chili Cheese Fries or onion rings.
#8 – Kolache
The kolache or kolach is a Czech and Slovak dessert that means cake or pie. German and Czech immigrants brought this pastry to Central Texas, where it evolved into something else entirely: a soft yeast dough pastry filled with fruit and cream cheese. The European version is not necessarily made with soft yeast dough, so the Texas Kolache is a local treat.
The Village Bakery is credited with inventing it in the 1950s! Expert a tender, crumbly texture and a sweet filling that invites you to take another bite. Savory kolach also exists, mainly in Houston, and it can be filled with all types of meat or sausage.
#9 – Blue Bell Ice Cream
Founded 116 years ago in Brenham, Texas, Blue Bell Ice Cream is an All-American company with deep roots in Texan traditions. The company offers over 250 frozen treats, including 66 ice cream flavors, some of which you’ll only find seasonally. Perhaps the tastiest vanilla ice cream in the world, Blue Bell’s Homemade Vanilla is a must-try when visiting Texas.
Sure, you’ll find Blue Bell products around the country today, but there’s nothing like trying it in its home. And if you want something more interesting than vanilla, try their Dr. Pepper float ice cream or Dutch Chocolate.
#10 – Pecan Pie
The pecan pie is a Southern specialty and the official state dessert of Texas. This delightful pie is made with buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, baking soda, sugar, flour, butter, cocoa, corn syrup and pecans, of course. The result is greater than the sum of the ingredients; this dessert is heart-warming and inviting, nutty and crunchy but sticky and crumbly at the same time.
Pecans are native to North America, and the pie, although probably invented by French immigrants in New Orleans, is now as Texan as Longhorn cows. If you ever visit Texas, order a slice of pecan pie after every meal — it’s a life-changing experience.
Conclusion
And of course, let’s not forget about the drinks! Dr. Pepper rules the scene here, even beating out Coca-Cola. (Check out the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco!) And when it’s time for a chill vibe, frozen margaritas from the slushie machine are a Texan go-to.
Finally, when you are in Texas, for a perfect pairing, dive into Texan cuisine with a glass of the state’s top-notch wine. Texas wine is making waves globally, so don’t pass up the chance to savor them!
So, what’s your favorite Texan food?