Places to Eat

3 Great Places to Get a Chicken Fried Steak in the Texas Hill Country You Need to Know About

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Tony Maples Photography

 

A visit to the Texas Hill Country without a taste of chicken fried steak is akin to committing a sin! Just kidding, but it’s darn close. A staple in the Lone Star State (to the point of the state legislature declaring October 26th Chicken Fried Steak Day), having one in the Texas Hill Country doesn’t require a lot of know-how, but simply a great appetite. Plenty of locals will have their personal recommendations for where to get the best one, and here are a few examples of such we think are worth a try.

1. Hill Country Cupboard, Johnson City

Crispy & Creamy Chicken Fried Steak in the Texas Hill Country

Photo: Pinterest/Joseph Manley

Served with a choice of sides (including okra and country potatoes), the Hill Country Cupboard in Johnson City offers up a great chicken fried steak in the perfect small-town diner atmosphere. Their batter is crisp and their gravy is creamy, and those are two things you can’t live without on this dish!

2. The Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar, Gruene

Crispy & Creamy Chicken Fried Steak in the Texas Hill Country

Photo: Facebook/Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar

Located in historic downtown Gruene, the Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar often has people lined up just to get in and taste their chicken fried steak! Their version is rumored to be well worth the wait, and your taste buds are sure to be satisfied.

3. Threadgill’s, Austin

Crispy & Creamy Chicken Fried Steak in the Texas Hill Country

Photo: Facebook/Threadgill’s

The very same place that Janis Joplin developed and perfected her legendary musical style is legendary for its chicken fried steak as well! Threadgill’s in Austin features this dish with a side of “oh man!” They give credit to the quality of their meat for their CFS’ flavor and downright goodness. They also recognize the requirement for good quality gravy, as opposed to making something that simply covers a dish. Their creamy gravy combined with the crispiness of the batter is a one-two punch!