Texas barbecue and Tex-Mex get all the headlines, and they deserve them. But the Texas food story is much bigger than brisket and enchiladas. The state’s cuisine pulls from German, Czech, Southern, African American, Native American and Mexican traditions, and the results are dishes you will not find anywhere else in the world.
Here is what else you should be eating during your visit.
Chicken-fried steak is a tenderized cube steak dredged in seasoned flour and deep-fried until golden and crisp, then smothered in creamy white gravy. German and Austrian immigrants adapted it from Wiener Schnitzel, and it became so Texan that the state legislature declared October 26 “Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day” in 2011.
You will find it at diners, roadside restaurants and casual sit-down spots across the DFW area. The portion is always larger than you expect, and the gravy is not optional.
Czech immigrants brought kolaches to the small, rural communities of Central Texas in the late 19th century. The traditional version is a puffy dough filled with fruit preserves, but the Texas adaptation has evolved to include local ingredients and flavors. Do not confuse them with klobasniky, a savory pastry stuffed with sausage that Czech settlers also developed in Texas.
Bakeries and donut shops across the DFW area sell kolaches, and they are a common breakfast item. Grab a few before heading to the Arlington Entertainment District for the day.
Frito pie is corn chips topped with chili, melted cheese, onions and jalapenos, often served straight from the bag. It is as unpretentious as Texas gets, and it was made popular by high school football concession stands. You will find it at casual restaurants, food trucks and sporting events throughout DFW.
Queso is melted cheese blended with chile peppers, and it is a Tex-Mex creation dating back to the early 20th century. It is served as a dip with tortilla chips and appears on virtually every Tex-Mex restaurant menu in the state. Order it as an appetizer before your enchiladas and do not overthink it.
A breakfast taco is a flour tortilla filled with scrambled eggs and your choice of fillings: bacon, chorizo, potatoes, cheese, beans, salsa or any combination. It is the default morning meal across Texas and available at taquerias, gas stations and drive-throughs throughout DFW.
Migas, a Tex-Mex variation, adds crushed tortilla chips to the scrambled eggs for texture.
Texas sheet cake is a thin, dense chocolate cake baked in a rimmed baking sheet and topped with a fudgy chocolate-pecan frosting. It makes 30 or more servings and shows up at potlucks, church socials and family gatherings. The recipe almost always includes pecans, the state’s signature nut.
Pecan pie is popular across the South, but Texas is the only state that claims it as its official state dessert. The first known pecan pie recipe was submitted to a St. Louis cookbook in 1898 by a Texas woman. Lammes Candies in Austin has been making Texas “Chewie” pralines with the same recipe since 1892.
Tamales are a labor-intensive tradition that Mexican and Central American families brought to Texas generations ago. Making tamales is a communal activity, often done around Christmas with the whole family involved. You can find tamales year-round at Mexican restaurants and taquerias across DFW.
A layered casserole of chicken, cheese, corn tortillas and peppers, King Ranch chicken is believed to be named after the largest ranch in the United States. Think of it as Texan lasagna. You will find it at potlucks and casual restaurants throughout the state.
Inside Globe Life Field, Whataburger near Section 105 and the Boomstick at the Texas 24″ stand near Section 132 represent the ballpark side of Texas food culture. Texas Live! has multiple dining options, and the broader Arlington and Dallas areas have the full range of restaurants covering every dish on this list.
Get tickets to see the Rangers in 2026 and eat your way through the concourse while watching the game.
A tenderized cube steak dredged in flour, deep-fried and served with creamy white gravy. It was adapted from Wiener Schnitzel by German and Austrian immigrants.
Czech pastries made with puffy dough and fruit preserves, adapted by Czech immigrants in Central Texas. Available at bakeries and donut shops across DFW.
At casual restaurants, food trucks and sporting events throughout the DFW area. It is also available at many concession stands.
Melted cheese blended with chile peppers, served as a dip with tortilla chips. It is a Tex-Mex creation and a staple appetizer at restaurants across Texas.
Chicken-fried steak and queso are the two most distinctly Texan items on this list. Both are widely available and affordable.
The ballpark has a range of Texas-influenced concessions. Whataburger near Section 105 and Hurtado Barbecue at Section 141 are among the standouts.
