18 Foods That Are Bigger and Better in Texas

Beef is the primary protein of choice in Texas, and it’s not hard to find a great steak, no matter which part of the state you’re visiting. If you’re up for a big challenge, stop by The Big Texan for their famous 72-ounce steak.

Can you even call it a Tex-Mex meal if you’re not starting it off with a heaping bowl of melty cheese and fresh tortilla chips? Queso gets even better when you add optional ingredients like guacamole, pico de gallo, or seared beef.

Believe it or not, the hamburger was invented in Texas, so you could say they know a thing or two about grilling great – and huge – burgers.

With patio season making up a majority of the year in most Texas cities, there’s no wrong time to wash down a delicious Mexican meal with a frothy margarita.

Just north of Austin, Round Rock Donuts specializes in donuts the size of your face.

Dirt Road Cookers makes eight-foot (2.4-meter) pizzas that can feed multiple families. Their mobile cooker allows them to take this dish on the road, and you can both help make it and grab a slice if you find them at the right time.

It doesn’t matter how you slice it – if you order a barbecue plate in Texas, you’re not going to go hungry for at least the rest of the day.

This cinnamon roll from Lulu’s Bakery and Cafe in San Antonio weighs in at a hefty three pounds (1.3 kilograms). You don’t have to visit Texas to get your mouth on one of these – Lulu’s ships their cinnamon rolls nationwide.

Are you catching on to the Mexican food theme here? Thanks to the state’s proximity to Mexico’s border and large Mexican population, Mexican food can be found all around Texas, and it’s authentic and delicious. If these nachos from Casa Maria in Austin are making your mouth water, check out these other top spots to grab Mexican food in Austin.

The food at the Texas State Fair is an integral part of the whole experience, especially the footlong, freshly made corndogs.

Breakfast, brunch – whenever you eat it, you can find a Texas spot to serve up a full selection, complete with creamy grits, fluffy biscuits, and chicken and waffles.

Tacos don’t have to be filled with meat to be huge – and delicious. You can find different types of tacos all around Texas, but the breakfast variety is an excellent and satisfying way to start your day.

This cake is made to share, and you’ll find it at most Texan potlucks and picnics. It’s a large, flat sheet cake usually made with sour cream, unsweetened cocoa powder, and walnuts.

If you’re driving on I-35 between Dallas and Austin, you should plan your pit stop in West, Texas to try one of Czech Stop‘s famous kolaches. While most Texans designate kolaches as any treat made with this savory dough, these treats are technically fruit-filled, while klobasnek are the sausage-filled variety. Whatever you call them, they’re a must-try.

Finish off your Tex-Mex meal with a sopapilla, a fried pastry coated in cinnamon sugar or honey and usually accompanied by whipped cream or ice cream.

Not to be confused with your average steak, chicken fried steak is a piece of tenderized beef coated and deep fried in the same manner you would make fried chicken. It’s not complete without a huge ladle of gravy – Tip Top Cafe in San Antonio serves it under their enormous chicken fried steak to make it a bit easier to consume.

No trip to a Southern state is complete without a good seafood basket, usually containing catfish or shrimp, hushpuppies, French fries, and the essential condiments.

What better way to wash down all of this oversized, delicious food than with a Texas-brewed beer? Shiner Bock is the most well-known Texan beer, but there are also many craft breweries around the state that you can tour.