Any highway exit in Texas can hand you a bucket of fried chicken, but the best birds usually come from kitchens with one location and a loyal hometown following. This list rounds up seven small-town spots where fried chicken, chicken fried chicken, and the classic Southern sides get real attention.
You will find a historic hotel dining room in Hico, a walk-up favorite in Mexia, a drive-thru in Brenham, and a country stop near Rosanky that only opens two days a week. There is also a home-cooking kitchen in Schulenburg, a longtime roadside cafe in Strawn, and a Bandera institution that has been feeding cowboys and travelers since 1921.
Some keep short hours, so planning ahead pays off. Save this one for your next road trip, and maybe send it to the friend who always argues about who makes the best fried chicken in Texas.
1. The Chop House, Hico, TX
A steakhouse might seem like an odd place to start a fried chicken list. The Chop House earns its spot anyway, thanks to fried chicken served with bacon gravy and collard greens.
The restaurant sits inside the historic Midland Hotel at 103 N Pecan St, right on the main drag of Hico. The town has about 1,300 people and plenty of cowboy heritage, so the old building fits right in.
The chef runs a menu that mixes traditional plates with a few creative twists. Smoked meatloaf, chicken fried steak, and chicken fried tenderloin all share the spotlight with the fried chicken, and portions lean generous.
I would save this one for a date night or a slower weekend lunch. The setting is a bit more polished than a typical chicken joint, yet still casual enough for families, with a kids’ menu and high chairs available.
Plan around the schedule. It is closed Monday through Wednesday, open Thursday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, and serves Sunday lunch until 3 PM.
Reservations are accepted, and free parking is usually easy to find.
2. Jim’s Krispy Fried Chicken, Mexia, TX
Cars in the lot and a line at the window are pretty much a permanent sight at Jim’s. In a railroad town of about 7,400, that steady traffic tells you plenty.
The chicken is cooked to order, so it comes out hot and crispy. Sides include fresh-cut fries and corn nuggets, which are a fun change from the usual lineup.
Chicken is the headliner, but the fried catfish and hushpuppies have their own fan club. Tenders round out the menu for anyone who prefers boneless.
Prices stay friendly, usually around $10 to $20 per person. Service is counter-style and quick, and there is seating if you want to eat on the spot.
Jim’s is open every day from 10 AM to 9 PM at 312 E Milam St. Weekday mornings are the quietest, while Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons get busy, so expect a short wait at peak times.
3. L.A. Chicken Shack, Brenham, TX
Early birds, this one is for you. L.A.
Chicken Shack opens at 7 AM on weekdays, which makes it a handy stop before a day of exploring Washington County.
The menu covers fried chicken, chicken tenders, and fried fish, with catfish getting plenty of attention. Creamy mac and cheese and fried okra are popular sides, and the boudin rolls add a little Louisiana flair.
Need to keep moving? The drive-thru handles quick orders, and delivery and catering are available too.
Inside, the building is clean, calm, and casual. The quiet setting makes a nice break from busy highways.
You will find it at 100 N Chappell Hill St, with free parking. Hours are 7 AM to 7 PM Monday through Friday, 7 to 11 AM Saturday, and 11 AM to 3 PM Sunday, so check the clock before a weekend visit.
4. Meuth’s Place, Bastrop, TX
Two days a week. That is all the time you get at Meuth’s Place, so mark Friday or Saturday on the calendar.
This locally owned spot sits along FM 535 in southern Bastrop County near the hamlet of Rosanky. Cattle ranches and two-lane roads surround it, which makes the drive part of the fun.
The family-style menu centers on fried chicken, plus hearts and gizzards for the adventurous. Fried catfish and shrimp are also on offer.
Sides read like a Sunday supper: buttered potatoes, fried okra, green beans, and coleslaw. Save room for peach cobbler or banana pudding.
Prices are among the lowest on this list. Meuth’s has a drive-thru, outdoor seating, and dine-in tables, and it opens Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 2 PM and again from 5 to 8 PM.
5. Garrett Cooks, Schulenburg, TX
Nearly 50 years of cooking experience stands behind the kitchen at Garrett Cooks. The famous fried chicken is the dish that brings people back.
Schulenburg is a Czech-German farming town of about 2,600 in Fayette County. Garrett Cooks fits its down-home character with home-cooked food built for pickup, delivery, and catering.
There is no big dining room to linger in here. Order ahead, grab curbside pickup, or have it brought to you, which works well for families or a hotel night in town.
Fried chicken often shares the order with pizza, a combo that might surprise first-timers. Desserts and a kids’ menu are also available.
Hours vary, so check before heading over to 610 Wolters Ave. It opens Wednesday and Saturday evenings, Thursday and Friday for lunch and dinner, and Sunday from 11 AM to 1:30 PM, with Monday and Tuesday off.
6. Mary’s Cafe, Strawn, TX
Strawn has roughly 600 residents, yet Mary’s Cafe has been drawing road-trippers to this Palo Pinto County town for over 37 years.
The cafe is best known for its oversized chicken fried steak. Fried chicken fans have plenty to like too, from chicken fried chicken with a baked potato and salad to classic fried chicken plates.
Portions are huge. Plan on sharing, or plan on leftovers.
The menu goes wider than most stops on this list. Burgers, fried fish, frog legs, calf fries, fried green tomatoes, and homemade ranch all make appearances, and a combo plate pairs chicken fried steak with enchiladas.
Mary’s sits at 119 Grant Ave and opens daily at 11 AM. Weekends get busy, especially Saturday afternoon and Sunday, but reservations are accepted and a private dining room helps with larger groups.
7. O.S.T. Restaurant, Bandera, TX
Saddles for bar stools. A room dedicated to John Wayne.
Welcome to O.S.T., a Bandera fixture since 1921.
Bandera calls itself the Cowboy Capital of the World, and this Main Street restaurant leans right into that frontier character. Its chicken fried chicken is a standout, with chicken fried steak close behind.
Breakfast is a big deal here too. Biscuits and gravy, grits, egg enchiladas, and the Bandera Omelet start the day, and the doors open at 7 AM.
Later in the day, try the bacon chicken ranch sandwich or bean and cheese nachos. A salad bar, pies, and cobbler round things out, all at reasonable prices.
Find it at 311 Main St. It closes at 2 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday and stays open until 8 PM the rest of the week, with weekend mornings the busiest time.
Small towns keep fried chicken personal, and these seven kitchens prove it. Pick a route, check the hours, and bring an appetite.
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