If any Texas town is truly “deep in the heart of Texas,” it would be Brownwood. This tight-knit community is only 27 miles from the geographic center of our state, and metaphorically, Brownwood embodies the very uniqueness and charm that represents the Texas Hill Country. Not only is Brownwood your destination for year-round hunting, shopping, water sports, and just general rest and relaxation, but it also boasts an impressive number of restaurants offering cuisine that will have you more than ready to plan your next visit.
Here are eight restaurants in Brownwood that are more than worth the visit!
Photo: VisitBrownwood
The Runaway Train Cafe is perhaps the most unique eatery in Brownwood. Offering delicious burgers, sandwiches and much more—all from inside an old dining train car—the Runaway Train Cafe will delight everyone, young and old, with an air of nostalgia and whimsy.
Photo: Visit Brownwood
Recently named by Yelp as one of the Top 100 Places to Eat in Texas, Steves’ Market & Deli cranks out comfort food with an eclectic and gourmet twist. Come for the Ray Bourbon Club Sandwich but stay for the incredible dessert selections.
3. The Turtle Restaurant/Gelateria/Enoteca
Photo: Visit Brownwood
The Turtle Restaurant encompasses all the class and culinary prowess of a restaurant in a much bigger city, all packaged in a lovely venue, including a Gelateria (Italian ice cream shop) as well as an Enoteca (a wine repository) in this charming Hill Country town. With a wine list that will impress even the most attuned connoisseur, as well as the freshest food, prepared with love and care, your experience at The Turtle will leave lasting memories for years to come—or at least until your next visit.
4. Studebaker’s Cafe & Grill
Photo: Visit Brownwood
If you have a hankering for some real, stick-to-your-ribs, southern dining, Studebaker’s Cafe & Grill is your place! With many handmade menu items, Studebaker’s Cafe & Grill is your destination for filling your belly after a fun day on the lake or shopping. Oh, and counting calories isn’t allowed at Studebaker’s!
Photo: Visit Brownwood
Delicious and hearty breakfasts, plus later-in-the-day favorites like shrimp tacos, baked goods, and dessert items make Tr3s leches bakery a favorite among locals and visitors. You’ll have to see it to believe the beautiful empanadas that grace the cases of Tr3s leches bakery—so plan your visit today!
Photo: Visit Brownwood
If barbecue is what you’re after, then Underwood’s is your place. Operating since 1946, Underwood’s Bar-B-Q has cornered the market on Hill Country tastiness with their famous Bar-B-Q beef steak. This cafeteria-style eatery is a Texas favorite, feeding hundreds of thousands of visitors over the years.
7. Common Grounds Coffeehouse and Deli
Photo: Visit Brownwood
Founded in 2011, Commons Grounds Coffeehouse and Deli offers Mexican-American cuisine alongside several other styles of delicious food. Their specialty items are locally-sourced, fair-trade organic coffee and their tasty, made-from-scratch tortillas and breakfast burritos.
8. Lemongrass Asian Cuisine
Photo: Visit Brownwood
Yet again, another anomaly in an area dominated by burgers and Bar-B-Q, Lemongrass Asian Cuisine offers guests a taste of traditional Asian fare. As their name indicates, Lemongrass Asian Cuisine is famous for their dishes featuring the herb lemongrass, which is a staple in many Asian meals and offers health benefits such as strengthening the immune system and pain relief.
Photo: Facebook/Fiesta Filipino
One might not expect to find incredible Filipino food in the center of Texas, but at Fiesta Filipino, you’ll find just that. This tea room and specialty grocer has the best bubble teas and smoothies in town, not to mention their perennially favored jalapeno lumpias, which are crispy little eggrolls.
While Brownwood has more great restaurants than the average visitor can probably explore in a weekend, the areas surrounding town have their own stake in the restaurant game. The following Brownwood-area restaurants would make great stops during a day trip through the area.
Humphrey Pete’s in Early, Texas
Diamond R Store & Cafe in Zephyr, Texas
Whistle Stop General Store in Blanket, Texas
Wild Duck Marina at Lake Brownwood
The Hideout at Lake Brownwood
Spring is the perfect time to visit Brownwood with its pleasant temperatures and an abundance of wildflowers and wildlife. In fact, many head to Brownwood to cycle their way across the Texas Hill Country. This charming town is home to many bike trails and cycling clubs which offer a great way to tour the prettiest part of the leading edge of the Hill Country. Check out the Brownwood Convention & Visitor’s Bureau to locate accommodations and restaurant listings in the area.
