As a top-ten tourist destination in Texas, Nacogdoches is known for putting Texas on the table. Unique dining venues range from some of the best-known barbeque and burger purveyors in the region to more upscale dining options. Enjoy a wide variety of cuisines in Nacogdoches’ casual, family-friendly restaurants.
You might not expect to find diverse fare like Asian-fusion or Filipino food in the Oldest Town in Texas, but we’re full of surprises.
Travel deep in the Pineywoods and taste your way through town with delicious options like Barkeeps Eatery & Taps, featuring a variety of Asian-inspired food for every diet. If house-made Pho or Korean Bulgogi Tacos don’t pique your interest, maybe their sister restaurant Maklemore’s Ale House & Bistro will do the trick with sinfully delicious Fried Mak ‘n’ Cheese Balls. A popular hang out on the weekends, Maklemore’s often has live music and specials on their impressive rotating beer selection.
If you’re in Texas, you’re probably looking for good BBQ. Don’t worry, we have it. Brendyn’s BBQ started as a Food Truck catering events and parking at the local winery. Articles in magazines like Texas Monthly launched Brendyn’s to success and helped him establish his brick & mortar location in Downtown Nacogdoches. Visitors know the name before they arrive, and locals are just as big of fans. Get the Pig Apple with a side of potato salad for the full experience, and if you’re lucky, a fresh batch of jalapeño pepper jack sausage will be on special.
Like good Southerners, we’ve got the fried thing down. The best Onion Rings you’ll ever have are at Clear Springs, along with favorites like Chicken Fried Steak and Fried Catfish. Just next door is Auntie Pastas, an eclectic eatery with craft cocktails and Italian favorites with a twist. Voted as the best place for a first date in Nacogdoches, Auntie Pastas features a “Filet Gorgonzola,” a juicy beef tenderloin topped with gorgonzola cheese and a balsamic reduction.
Visitors are always impressed with the amenities and restaurants at the mid-century modern masterpiece, The Fredonia Hotel. Check out our Restaurant Spotlight in this issue to learn more about the boutique luxury hotel.
Nacogdoches is the proud home to several food trucks, ranging from La Biblioteca Coffee to Shali’s Indian Kitchen on Wheels. The mobile eateries rotate through venues around town like the Fredonia Brewery, Red House Winery and Front Porch Distillery. The food truck scene brought so much diversity to Nacogdoches, that “Nac Snack Friday” became a monthly event. On the fourth Friday of every month you can find 4-5 trucks parked around the Downtown Square for lunch and dinner, with live music in the evening. To keep things fresh, food trucks from all over the region come to participate. The flavor our food trucks bring is like nothing else, and the personal touches set us apart. The owner of Rice Queen Street Food, Janae Osborn, created her menu from her Korean grandmother’s recipes and added her own twist. Nacogdoches fell in love with her creations like “Bungeo-Ppang,” a vegan sweet waffle in the shape of a fish stuffed with peanut butter, jellies, and other fun fillings. The Rice Queen brings new recipes on a regular basis, always keeping her customers excited to try something outside the box.
Nacogdoches has always been known for History, Charm and Natural Beauty—but there’s another side to the Oldest Town in Texas, and it’s a tasty one. Come visit us for a relaxing vacation and let us dazzle your taste buds. Let us help you plan your trip at visitnacogdoches.org