I'm sure that we all find cool places all over the state, what are some of your favorites?

List 'em here:

Fredericksburg, TX: The Hill Top Cafe
Longview, TX: Johnny Cace's
Daingerfield, TX: Outlaw's BBQ

Kanamwan Thai restaurant in Houston is pretty good. And I've yet to run across a Popeye's I did't like.

In San Antonio, Chris Madrids is pretty good. And there's a few decent Mexican restaurants there.

Sim's in Cedar Hill
Back Street Cafe in Sinton
Theo's in Grand Prairie
Koffee Kup in Hico (whatever the name is now0
El Jardin in Hamilton, used to like the Diner Bell but alas it is gone
City Cafe in Gustine
CJ Diner in Comanche
Crown's BBQ in Grand Prairie
Green Frog in Jacksboro
Cafe in Graford

I should note I am well known for my low food standards. The cheaper/crapper a place looks the more likely it is to peak my interest (used to really help my dating life ). Occasionally this leads to great food discoveries, some times it results in something similar to one of AC's restroom stories.

[This message has been edited by ursusguy (edited 9/24/2010 12:48a).]

Ursus,
I believe it is now the Koffee Kup Family restaurant. Used to be the Koffee Kup Kafe but they changed it after the Klan rallies stopped coming to Hico. They've got some good pies there.

Mary's Cafe in Strawn.

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The cheaper/crapper a place looks the more likely it is to peak my interest

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my dad used to tell me that when selecting amungst these types of fine establishments to make sure that there were at least 3 cars in the parking lot, as even in the most remote places 3 cars garanteed either good food, low prices, or a good looking waitress.

I love the Hullaballoo (sp?) in Wellborn.
Been there a dozen or so times, eaten something different each time and have never been disappointed.
Breakfast is killer!

Tip Top in SA

Orsak's, Fayetteville TX
Shorty's, Falls City TX
Gold N Crips, La Grange TX
Hruska's, Ellinger TX (they make fantastic burgers to go with all those Czech pasteries)

Pat's Place in New Braunfels

I don't really have one to contribute, but I love the dirty/greasy classic American diner for breakfast.

Juicy's in Longview. Big T's in Kilgore. Cotton Gin in Prosper. Tampico's in Bryan. Fishermans market in Longview. Dudleys in Longview. Papa Pablano's in Broken Bow.

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Dudleys in Longview.

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Dudley is (was?) my uncle.

The Section Hand in Brownwood. Best ribs I ever ate.

Some of my favorites:

+1 for Koffee Kup in Hico (for pie & coffee)

Clear Springs in Nacogdoches

Dawson's Family Restaurant in Childress

Bill Miller BBQ (the ones that serve breakfast) becauseI love me some Carne Guisada breakfast tacos. Not the easiest thing to eat while driving, but I git-r-done!

And I drive all over the state for work and have never been disapointed with the food at Cracker Barrel, even though it is a chain/franchise. I love to bring my kids some of the crazy little toys that Cracker Barrel sells.

Arkie's Grill in Austin.

This thread could come in handy so I put a link in the FAQ

My family and I go to Chuy's every Sunday after church for lunch with friends. I'm not sure if that qualifies it as my favorite or not, but it's definitely in the top 3. Actually, no, it's my favorite. Numero uno.

Some other local places I really like:

Monument Cafe in Georgetown
Ironworks in Austin

I'm sure there are plenty others but that's what comes to mind.

"East Texas Style" Pork Ribs: Country Tavern, Highway 31 West, Kilgore

"BBQ" Blue Crab: Sartin's, now located on I-10W in Beaumont

Seafood: Johnny Cace's in Longview is a classic

Hamburgers: Any "Hamburger Depot" in SE Texas serves greasy burgers, toasted buns, and spicy curly-fries

I haven't been in Johnny case's in ten years. It was great when I was little but it started going downhill in the early nineties. It was crap when I left for Aggieland. I guess it rebounded which is good to hear.

Ccard we went to church with your uncle. I remember buying crawfish from him when he was selling out of the trailer. The crawfish enchiladas are amazing.

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Dudley is (was?) my uncle.

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you don't even know if he's still your uncle? Or is it that you don't know if he's dead or alive? Or still married to your aunt?

Y'all must have been close

Ccard we went to church with your uncle. I remember buying crawfish from him when he was selling out of the trailer. The crawfish enchiladas are amazing.

+1 for Hilltop Cafe in Fredericksburg. That's the one by the old bat tunnel right? They had Texas Monthly's best burger in Texas not too long ago. Proud to say we've patroned this fine establishment since it opened.

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Monument Cafe in Georgetown

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My fiancé sent to college in Georgetown and rant and raved about that place. So we went there once when we were in Austin for breakfast and it was awesome. Been back a couple of times.

As far as my suggestion, Florida's Kitchen in Livingston is pretty good BBQ.

Florida's Kitchen in Livingston is awesome. I cannot believe that anyone knows about that place. It was much better before the "addition", you know when the floors were not level and you were not sure the floor would hold you up. Great memories in that place.

Coyote Bluff has awesome burgers in Amarillo. Great atmosphere (cast iron tub full of ice and bottle beer in the "dining room" it has around 12 tables total.

Chisholm Trail in Lockhart. I could eat there every meal if I had to.

Taiwan in south Austin for Chinese food is good. Cheap at lunch too.

Anyone have any favorites in Bastrop or Caldwell?

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you don't even know if he's still your uncle? Or is it that you don't know if he's dead or alive? Or still married to your aunt?

Y'all must have been close

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something like that. he is no longer married to my aunt, who is my dad's sister. So i don't know what that makes him in relation to me now.

royer's in roundtop is pretty good
mel's in tomball
barbecue inn in houston (crosstimbers and yale)

The Rock House in Jourdanton (breakfast)
Moya's in Refugio (Mexican)
Zabak's in Houston (Falafel sammich, gyro plate & tabouli)

JW's Steakhouse - Carmine, TX But then again, I'm biased.

A little different area of Texas than most of yall. But some of my favorites in my area.

Brackettville- Julie's

Uvalde- Amber Sky cafe

Del Rio- Salas Better Burger, Fishermans Hdqts.

Sanderson- Burger Joint(don't know the name)

Langtry- Gas station across from Dryden Stone Co. has really good BBQ sandwiches.

Comstock- The Owls Nest was AWESOME (unfortunately its closed down now) but Holleys is decent.

Alpine has some really good places to eat as well just can't think of the names off the top of my head, there just to a little diner on the left as you drove in on 90W that was pretty dang good.

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+1 for Hilltop Cafe in Fredericksburg. That's the one by the old bat tunnel right? They had Texas Monthly's best burger in Texas not too long ago. Proud to say we've patroned this fine establishment since it opened.

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Nope. Highway 87 North to Mason. At the intersection of the Farm to Market to ......your guessed it......Doss.

Johnny G's in Lewisville