The Most Talked-About Restaurants in Texas—15 You’ve Got to Try

Texas dining has exploded into something truly special over the past few years. Food lovers from around the world now travel here just to experience what local chefs are creating. From traditional barbecue joints to fancy steakhouses, the Lone Star State offers incredible meals that keep people talking long after they leave the table. Here are fifteen restaurants that have everyone buzzing with excitement.

1. Taste of Texas

Walking into this Houston landmark feels like stepping onto a working ranch. Massive steaks arrive at your table after you’ve personally selected your cut from the butcher case.

Family-owned since 1977, this restaurant has perfected the art of Texas-sized portions. The salad bar stretches longer than most dining rooms, loaded with fresh vegetables and homemade dressings.

Celebrity sightings happen regularly here, but the real stars are the perfectly grilled ribeyes and the famous bread pudding that finishes every memorable meal.

2. Ember Kitchen

Fire transforms everything at this modern Austin hotspot where wood-fired cooking takes center stage. Chefs here don’t just cook with flames—they choreograph an entire dance around open fire pits.

Local ingredients get the royal treatment through ancient cooking methods that somehow feel completely fresh. Vegetables emerge from the flames with smoky sweetness that converts even the most dedicated meat lovers.

Reservations disappear faster than smoke in the wind, but patient diners discover why food critics can’t stop writing about this place.

3. Roots Southern Table

Southern comfort food gets a sophisticated makeover without losing its soul at this Dallas favorite. Grandmother’s recipes meet culinary school techniques in dishes that somehow taste both familiar and surprising.

Fried chicken here achieves legendary status through a secret spice blend that has food bloggers desperately trying to crack the code. Mac and cheese arrives bubbling with three artisanal cheeses that elevate this classic to new heights.

Sunday brunch draws lines around the block, but every bite of their famous biscuits makes the wait worthwhile.

4. Domingo Restaurant

Mexican flavors explode with authentic intensity at this San Antonio gem where recipes travel straight from family kitchens in Mexico. Every tortilla gets pressed by hand moments before reaching your table.

Mole sauce here requires two full days of preparation, layering dozens of spices and chiles into complex flavors that dance across your taste buds. Fresh seafood arrives daily from Gulf waters, transformed into ceviches that sparkle with lime and cilantro.

Weekend mariachi performances fill the colorful dining room with music that perfectly matches the vibrant, joyful food.

5. Winsome Prime

Dry-aged steaks reach perfection through careful attention that borders on obsession at this Fort Worth steakhouse. Each cut spends weeks in temperature-controlled aging rooms before earning a spot on your plate.

Wine selection here rivals collections found in Napa Valley, with sommeliers who guide diners through perfect pairings. The lobster tail, flown in fresh from Maine waters, provides an elegant contrast to the rich, marbled beef.

Business deals get sealed over perfectly cooked porterhouses while couples celebrate anniversaries in intimate booths lined with rich leather.

6. Jeffrey’s

Austin’s culinary scene wouldn’t exist without this pioneering restaurant that helped transform the city into a food destination. Since 1975, innovative dishes have emerged from this kitchen, inspiring countless other chefs.

Seasonal menus change with local harvests, showcasing ingredients from nearby farms in preparations that feel both elegant and approachable. The famous crispy oysters with chile pequin aioli remain a signature dish that regulars order without even glancing at the menu.

Date nights flourish in the romantic candlelit dining room where proposals happen almost weekly over dessert.

7. Stock & Barrel

Bourbon flows like water at this Plano gastropub where whiskey knowledge runs deeper than most libraries. Over 200 different bottles line the impressive back bar, each one carefully selected for unique character.

Elevated pub food pairs perfectly with rare pours, from short rib sliders to truffle mac and cheese that redefines comfort food. Knowledgeable bartenders guide newcomers through tastings while seasoned whiskey lovers hunt for allocated bottles.

Happy hour brings crowds of professionals unwinding over craft cocktails and plates designed for sharing among friends and colleagues.

8. Osteria il Muro

Authentic Italian flavors transport diners straight to Tuscany without leaving Dallas. Pasta gets rolled fresh every morning using techniques passed down through generations of Italian grandmothers.

House-made charcuterie boards showcase cured meats that age slowly in the restaurant’s own curing room. Wine selection focuses exclusively on Italian varietals, many from small family vineyards that rarely export to America.

The intimate dining room buzzes with animated conversations in multiple languages, creating an atmosphere that feels genuinely European rather than merely inspired by Italy.

9. Twelve Kitchen + Cocktails

Molecular gastronomy meets comfort food in unexpected ways at this Houston innovation lab disguised as a neighborhood restaurant. Dishes arrive looking like art installations but taste like childhood memories.

Cocktail program here pushes boundaries with house-made bitters, smoke-filled glasses, and garnishes that change color before your eyes. Each drink tells a story through carefully balanced flavors that surprise and delight adventurous palates.

Chef’s tasting menu changes monthly, ensuring regular customers always discover something completely new during return visits to this culinary playground.

10. Red Ash

Italian techniques meet Texas ingredients in this Austin kitchen where every dish tells a story of cultural fusion. House-made pasta gets topped with local wild boar ragu that simmers for hours.

Wood-fired pizza ovens imported directly from Naples create crusts with perfect char and chew. Fresh mozzarella gets stretched by hand throughout the day, ensuring every caprese salad showcases creamy perfection.

The expansive patio fills with tech workers and artists sharing bottles of natural wine under string lights that twinkle like stars above lively conversations.

11. Vault Seafood & Steakhouse

Fresh Gulf seafood meets prime beef in this Houston temple to surf and turf dining. Daily flights bring in the finest catches from both coasts, displayed on ice like precious jewels.

Lobster thermidor here achieves legendary status through a secret cheese blend that bubbles golden brown under the broiler. Wagyu beef gets treated with reverence typically reserved for religious ceremonies, grilled to exact specifications.

Business lunches and romantic dinners both find perfect settings in dining rooms that exude old-school elegance without feeling stuffy or pretentious.

12. The Mansion Restaurant

Opulence defines every detail at this Dallas fine dining institution housed in an actual historic mansion. Crystal chandeliers cast romantic light over tables set with fine china and sterling silver.

French techniques elevate local ingredients into dishes that photograph like magazine covers but taste even better than they look. Service here approaches theatrical levels, with servers who anticipate needs before guests realize them.

Special occasions demand this level of luxury, where marriage proposals happen over champagne and chocolate soufflé in private dining rooms that once hosted oil barons.

13. Four Winds Steakhouse

Native American heritage influences every aspect of this unique San Antonio steakhouse where tradition meets modern culinary excellence. Bison steaks showcase flavors that predate European settlement by centuries.

Smoked salmon gets prepared using ancient techniques that infuse deep, complex flavors impossible to achieve through modern methods. Wild rice pilaf and fry bread accompany meals that honor indigenous foodways.

Cultural artwork adorns walls while storytelling servers share the history behind each dish, creating educational experiences that enhance appreciation for both food and heritage.

14. The Ranch at Las Colinas

Cowboy culture comes alive at this Irving restaurant where servers wear authentic western wear and live music fills weekend evenings. Mesquite-grilled steaks carry smoky flavors that define Texas barbecue tradition.

Line dancing lessons happen every Thursday night, transforming the dining room into a honky-tonk dance floor. Chicken fried steak here weighs nearly a pound, served with cream gravy that locals consider the gold standard.

Families gather for Sunday dinners while couples two-step between courses, creating memories that last far longer than the satisfying food-induced contentment.

15. Reata Restaurant

Cowboy cuisine reaches sophisticated heights at this Fort Worth legend where rustic meets refined in perfect harmony. Tenderloin tamales showcase unexpected combinations that somehow make complete sense.

Rooftop dining offers stunning views of the Fort Worth skyline while live music drifts up from the streets below. Pan-seared quail with jalapeño cheese grits represents the kind of creative comfort food that defines modern Texas cooking.

Celebrity chef appearances happen regularly, but the real stars remain the dedicated kitchen staff who execute complex dishes with consistent precision night after night.