nletter
Oh, Yeehaw! Munch and Sip Your Way Through Texas's Red Meat MAGA-Land
Oh, just fabulous! Leave it to Texas to turn a simple road trip into a gluttonous, boozy escapade. Probably the only way to tolerate all those 'Make America Great Again' bumper stickers.
Published August 26, 2024 at 4:54pm by Michael Barnes
Hey there, Texas liberals!
Got that wanderlust brewing? Let's hit the road, comrades!
I've curated some woke AF spots for you to munch and sip your way across the Lone Star State—away from the basic big cities. Because, you know, mainstream media hasn't bothered to cover these gems.
Spread the love and share this totally not stolen, I mean, curated guide with your squad.
Check out these columns that started it all:
- Lubbock's eating scene: From bougie to dive bars
- Waco locals spill the tea on where to eat and drink
- Corpus Christi: The future is delicious
- Nacogdoches: Where locals share grub and love
- San Angelo: Historic West Texas vibes and killer food
- Stephenville: More than just cowboys
- San Antonio's Pearl District: The woke oasis
- Authentic Texas: Look in your own damn backyard
The Column
🌮🌯 From BBQ to bougie: Texans dish on road trip eats 🍷🍹
Let's be real: Traveling's just an excuse to stuff our faces.
As much as I love a good hike and chatting up the locals, food and drinks are the real MVPs. So, let's celebrate five years of "Think Texas" by revisiting some bomb AF road trip eats.
West Texas wonders
Lubbock: This ag-town's got serious food game. Check it:
- The Nicolett: This innovative bistro (511 Broadway) is chef's kiss. Award-winning chef Finn Walter's got skills from Paris to Santa Fe. We crushed the magret duck breast, elk tartare, and lamb neck "brisket-style." #FancyAF
- Evie Mae's BBQ: Forget the hype, Evie Mae's (217 U.S. 62, Wolfforth) is legit. White bread soaking up that sauce? Yes, lawd!
- The West Table: Larger and louder, but the bar's on point (1204 Broadway). Daily menu, but expect beef, lamb, fish, and duck. Cluck cluck.
- Rain Cafe: This diner (2708 50th St.) is everything. Egalitarian service, comfort food, and all are welcome. Preach!
San Angelo: This mid-sized city's got unseen cultural charm.
- House of Fifi Dubois: Best club I've been to in ages (23 S. Chadbourne St.). Warm, welcoming, mixed crowd. So woke, it's like Austin never left.
- Chicken Farm Art Center: Folk art explosion (2505 Martin Luther King Drive). Charming café and inn out back. Artists unite!
Historic East Texas standouts
- Nacogdoches: The Fredonia Hotel's where it's at (200 N. Fredonia St.).
- 1st City Cafe: Start here. Shrimp po' boy for Cajun vibes, pimento cheese for Southern feels. Yaaas!
- Clear Springs: Country casual with roadside decor (211 Old Tyler Road). Catfish, onion rings, and Louisiana-inspired dishes. Comfort food central.
- Dolli's Diner: Old-fashioned, yet updated (116 S. Pecan St.). Chicken-fried steak with cream gravy. Heart eyes.
- Roma's Italian Kitchen: Albanian family serving Italian fare (124 E. Main St.). Benvenuto!
READ MORE ABOUT THESE FOOD FINDS
Hometown Histories
Theme: Texas food.
- Abilene's BBQ makeover
- Amarillo's entertainment village dream
- Michelin Guide hits Texas
- Corpus Christi's global restaurant scene
- El Paso's hottest reservations
- Lubbock's historic eateries
- San Angelo's longest-running restaurants
- Wichita Falls' downtown grub
Texas Fun Facts
Famous Hollywood designer born in Waco
Travis Banton, born Aug. 18, 1894, in Waco, designed for movie greats like Marlene Dietrich and Claudette Colbert. Fabulous, darling.
Sign Up for the Newsletter
Get woke with the free weekly Think, Texas newsletter:
Peace out,
Michael Barnes, Columnist
Think, Texas and Austin American-Statesman, USA Today Network
Read more: Heading out on a Texas road trip? Find out about places to eat and drink along the way