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A table with a flag tablecloth holds multiple dishes on oblong, off-white plates, including a club sandwich with chips, a strip steak, a salad, a chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and squash, fried catfish, and a burger.
The spread at Jerry’s, a cafe in Onalaska, Texas.
Clark Lara

The 14 Best Restaurants to Road Trip to From Dallas

Pack the car and get ready to eat

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The spread at Jerry’s, a cafe in Onalaska, Texas.
| Clark Lara

Considering the incredible abundance of dining options within the Dallas city limits, it’s easy to slip into a routine of going to the same old comfortable spots week after week. But it’s time to break out of that routine because eating outside the Big D can be ridiculously delicious.

If you have a free day, a full tank of gas, and nothing to do, head out on one of these culinary road trips. All located a day’s drive, or less, away from the Metroplex, these eateries are worth the trip.

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The Jones Assembly

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The restaurant is more than a restaurant: it’s got a concert venue, a massive outdoor patio, and delicious food. It’s located in a former Model T depot with 20,000 square feet of space on the West End along historic Film Row. Savvy diners know to order the seasonal scallop crudo, the elote pizza, and a Porch Swing, this place’s Southern version of a Pimm’s Cup.

34 Chophouse & Doc's Lounge

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Downtown Denison’s Main Street has been the location of a considerable revival effort, and 34 Chophouse is the steakhouse to hit when one drops by the town to see all the progress. There are steaks, as expected, but the Eisenhower Pot Roast paired with an Old Fashioned is an order worth trying.

Barley & Board

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Spending a day on the square in Denton can yield some fantastic music and book finds from Recycled, a cute souvenir from the 3 Wishes gift shop, and a long afternoon of craft beers and build-your-own charcuterie boards at Barley & Board. Or, if you don’t like beer, there’s a fun cocktail menu and mimosa flights.

Don Artemio Restaurant

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One of the James Beard Awards nominees for Best New Restaurant in 2023 has to be worth a drive from Dallas, right? The Northern Mexican food at this spot has been raved about by many, and the praise is well deserved. The menu highlights include seafood, fried cactus cooked in bacon grease, and a remarkable selection of Mexican wines. 

Mabry House

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When traveling to or through Shreveport, a stop at Mabry House, a quaint Victorian house converted into a restaurant, won’t disappoint. Eat plates of seasonal American fare by candlelight — what’s on offer is constantly changing and always exceptional. For a singular dining experience, consider the chef’s tasting menu with a wine pairing.

Country Tavern

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There are a lot of opinions about where to find the best barbecue in Texas, and Country Tavern in Kilgore is on the top five list of many folks. This place is known for its ribs, which it coats in a Coca-Cola-infused barbecue sauce to make them finger-lickin’ good. 

Perini Ranch Steakhouse

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Perini Ranch out in Buffalo Gap is about three hours on the highway from Dallas — and it’ll be the best steakhouse and ranch experience of any road tripper’s life. The menu is genuinely Texan, from the quail legs to the Cowboy Potatoes (skin-on red potatoes with butter, salt, and pepper) and every cut of steak in between, all raised on the ranch. Tom and Lisa Perini have a lot of friends in Dallas fine dining, including Dean Fearing and Stephen Pyles, and take a lot of cues and inspiration from them — so the plate might look familiar, while the setting is extraordinary.

Jerry's Restaurant

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Disclaimer that this one is the family restaurant of your friendly Eater Dallas editor, but it also has the best chicken fried steak in Texas. The burgers and steaks are pretty darn good too, and spending a day on nearby Lake Livingston isn’t a bad way to whittle away some time.

Foreign & Domestic

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Co-owners and chefs Sarah Heard and Nathan Lemley serve a New American menu at this restaurant that’s part of Eater Austin’s 38 Essentials. They call it a “nose-to-tail and farm to table dining experience,” which means diners will find the familiar, from a 44 Farms bavette steak and Parisian gnocchi with oyster mushrooms and mustard greens to the less frequently seen, including pork collar and tomato leaf cassarecce.

Eater Houston’s Restaurant of the Year in 2022 deserves a visit when passing down 45. It’s a modern Indian restaurant in the kitchen of chef Jaspratap “Jassi” Bindra. Classic Indian fare gets a “magical” treatment, such as biryani made with jack fruit or malai kofta with prunes and cheese. 

The Salt Lick BBQ

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Want to visit a classic Hill Country barbecue joint? It might be time to head to the Salt Lick for Mississippi-style barbecue, slow-cooked over coals. Beef brisket, pork ribs, and house-made sausage are what it’s known for, so get a big platter with all the sides. 

The Blind Goat

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Christine Ha, who took home the MasterChef title and is a past James Beard Award nominee, runs this Vietnamese restaurant in Houston. Her childhood and family favorites inspired the menu, including “Mom’s Eggrolls,” bang bang shrimp, and sticky wings. And the well-known, Texas-famous rubbish apple pie a la mode is a must to finish the meal.

Rosario's ComidaMex & Bar

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Rosario’s has been serving great Tex-Mex in San Antonio for 30 years — the right place, right city, and new address for this long-standing restaurant. Head that way for the ideal frozen marg and plates of Mexican comfort food: nachos, tacos, ceviche, enchiladas, parrilla, and so much more.

Black Pearl

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Heading to the Gulf shore means getting seafood. This Galveston oyster bar and Cajun restaurant is a local legend, with Gulf oysters served raw or cooked in various manners. Pair your order with a beer or martini, and sniff that sweet, salty air. 

The Jones Assembly

The restaurant is more than a restaurant: it’s got a concert venue, a massive outdoor patio, and delicious food. It’s located in a former Model T depot with 20,000 square feet of space on the West End along historic Film Row. Savvy diners know to order the seasonal scallop crudo, the elote pizza, and a Porch Swing, this place’s Southern version of a Pimm’s Cup.

34 Chophouse & Doc's Lounge

Downtown Denison’s Main Street has been the location of a considerable revival effort, and 34 Chophouse is the steakhouse to hit when one drops by the town to see all the progress. There are steaks, as expected, but the Eisenhower Pot Roast paired with an Old Fashioned is an order worth trying.

Barley & Board

Spending a day on the square in Denton can yield some fantastic music and book finds from Recycled, a cute souvenir from the 3 Wishes gift shop, and a long afternoon of craft beers and build-your-own charcuterie boards at Barley & Board. Or, if you don’t like beer, there’s a fun cocktail menu and mimosa flights.

Don Artemio Restaurant

One of the James Beard Awards nominees for Best New Restaurant in 2023 has to be worth a drive from Dallas, right? The Northern Mexican food at this spot has been raved about by many, and the praise is well deserved. The menu highlights include seafood, fried cactus cooked in bacon grease, and a remarkable selection of Mexican wines. 

Mabry House

When traveling to or through Shreveport, a stop at Mabry House, a quaint Victorian house converted into a restaurant, won’t disappoint. Eat plates of seasonal American fare by candlelight — what’s on offer is constantly changing and always exceptional. For a singular dining experience, consider the chef’s tasting menu with a wine pairing.

Country Tavern

There are a lot of opinions about where to find the best barbecue in Texas, and Country Tavern in Kilgore is on the top five list of many folks. This place is known for its ribs, which it coats in a Coca-Cola-infused barbecue sauce to make them finger-lickin’ good. 

Perini Ranch Steakhouse

Perini Ranch out in Buffalo Gap is about three hours on the highway from Dallas — and it’ll be the best steakhouse and ranch experience of any road tripper’s life. The menu is genuinely Texan, from the quail legs to the Cowboy Potatoes (skin-on red potatoes with butter, salt, and pepper) and every cut of steak in between, all raised on the ranch. Tom and Lisa Perini have a lot of friends in Dallas fine dining, including Dean Fearing and Stephen Pyles, and take a lot of cues and inspiration from them — so the plate might look familiar, while the setting is extraordinary.

Jerry's Restaurant

Disclaimer that this one is the family restaurant of your friendly Eater Dallas editor, but it also has the best chicken fried steak in Texas. The burgers and steaks are pretty darn good too, and spending a day on nearby Lake Livingston isn’t a bad way to whittle away some time.

Foreign & Domestic

Co-owners and chefs Sarah Heard and Nathan Lemley serve a New American menu at this restaurant that’s part of Eater Austin’s 38 Essentials. They call it a “nose-to-tail and farm to table dining experience,” which means diners will find the familiar, from a 44 Farms bavette steak and Parisian gnocchi with oyster mushrooms and mustard greens to the less frequently seen, including pork collar and tomato leaf cassarecce.

Amrina

Eater Houston’s Restaurant of the Year in 2022 deserves a visit when passing down 45. It’s a modern Indian restaurant in the kitchen of chef Jaspratap “Jassi” Bindra. Classic Indian fare gets a “magical” treatment, such as biryani made with jack fruit or malai kofta with prunes and cheese. 

The Salt Lick BBQ

Want to visit a classic Hill Country barbecue joint? It might be time to head to the Salt Lick for Mississippi-style barbecue, slow-cooked over coals. Beef brisket, pork ribs, and house-made sausage are what it’s known for, so get a big platter with all the sides. 

The Blind Goat

Christine Ha, who took home the MasterChef title and is a past James Beard Award nominee, runs this Vietnamese restaurant in Houston. Her childhood and family favorites inspired the menu, including “Mom’s Eggrolls,” bang bang shrimp, and sticky wings. And the well-known, Texas-famous rubbish apple pie a la mode is a must to finish the meal.

Rosario's ComidaMex & Bar

Rosario’s has been serving great Tex-Mex in San Antonio for 30 years — the right place, right city, and new address for this long-standing restaurant. Head that way for the ideal frozen marg and plates of Mexican comfort food: nachos, tacos, ceviche, enchiladas, parrilla, and so much more.

Black Pearl

Heading to the Gulf shore means getting seafood. This Galveston oyster bar and Cajun restaurant is a local legend, with Gulf oysters served raw or cooked in various manners. Pair your order with a beer or martini, and sniff that sweet, salty air. 

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