The Best Bites In Waco, Texas

It goes without saying that part of the incentive of visiting Texas is indulging in some proper Texan cuisine. Well known for their barbecue, Tex-Mex, comforting desserts, Southern fare, and more, Texas is a foodie destination for all hungry travelers. Texas is a large state, so while calling it a “foodie destination” might be true, it is also vague. For those looking to narrow down which cities or towns to dive in for culinary excellence, might I suggest you start with Waco. I recently went on a Texas road-trip, where I visited four cities in total, and Waco, by a long shot, blew my food expectations out of the water. Here are the best bites I ate in Waco, Texas (all within about 48 hours; if you’re coming to Texas, bring an appetite!).

The Chocolatier Cupcake at Silos Baking Co.

There is a reason Magnolia Market is so popular, and it’s not only because of Chip and Joanna Gaines. The cupcakes at Silos Baking Co., located on premise at Magnolia, are, without a doubt, one of the best cupcakes I’ve had in my life. This is saying something; I even have a tattoo of a cupcake on my back to honor my obsession with these trendy treats. While the most popular option is their lemon lavender cupcake, I simply cannot resist anything with chocolate in it. I do not regret this decision. The chocolatier cupcake is incredibly rich, slightly bitter due to the intensity of the chocolate, and so addictive that I almost got two.

• Address: 601 Webster Ave, Waco, TX 76701

Burgers, Tots, and Shake at Health Camp

After trying the cupcake from Silos, the urge to dine at Magnolia Table became stronger. However, they’re only open until 3PM, and they’re located a few miles away from Magnolia Market. I did not get over to the area in which they are located until about 5PM, and since they were closed, I needed a Plan B. Sometimes, Plan B is indeed the best plan. Located within the same traffic circle as Magnolia Table is an old-school burger joint, appropriately named Health Camp. Spoiler alert: there’s nothing healthy about this place. The menu is no-frills perfection: burgers, tots, shakes, hotdogs. I got a cheeseburger, tots, and as per recommended by the over-enthusiastic staff, a banana pudding milkshake. Life-changing simplicity is the best way to describe it.

• Address: 2601 Circle Rd, Waco, TX 76706

Lunch Plate at Jake’s Texas Tea House

Recommended by a friend for a Texan-size lunch, I simply had to stop by Jake’s Texas Tea House, a 50s-inspired diner-like atmosphere. Make sure to plan accordingly, as they’re only open from 11AM-2:30PM Tuesday-Sunday, and are closed completely on Mondays. This unsuspecting spot is filled with quirky decor, from 1950s style cars to bright blue painting on the walls to random traffic signs. It’s definitely a great spot for the ‘gram if you’re looking to up the photo game in your feed. Decor aside, the food is fresh and the service is fast. I had been eating a fair amount of heavy food, and maybe a place known for their “Texan-sized lunches” wasn’t the place to go for something nutritious, but I had to at least try. I ordered grilled chicken with avocado and melted cheese, a broccoli salad, and a Vietnamese rice noodle salad, which sounded quite interesting for a typical Texas place. Within minutes, out came my lunch, and it certainly was Texan-sized. The Vietnamese noodle salad had chopped olives mixed throughout which rounded out the flavor, and the broccoli slaw was exactly what the doctor ordered: fresh, crisp, but still with a little bit of guilty pleasure due to the creamy consistency. This place is a must when visiting Waco.

• Address: 613 Austin Ave, Waco, TX 76701

Sweet Tea From The Alabama Sweet Tea Company

In the back of Magnolia Market, a wide variety of food trucks are lined up, ranging from pizza to more cupcakes to burgers. Since I had just indulged in a cupcake from Silos Baking Co., my appetite wasn’t as high as it usually is, so I opted to try a true southern-style sweet tea, something that’s somewhat impossible to find in the northern parts of the USA. Insert The Alabama Sweet Tea Company. I approached the counter, and for around $9, I was given a Texan-sized mason jar filled to the top with sweet tea. $9 seemed like a steep price for Waco, which is generally affordable, but it made sense, as I got to keep the mason jar (which is the largest mason jar I have ever seen). And despite its large size, of course, I had no problem finishing it. Perks to visiting Alabama Sweet Tea Company aside from the tea itself is that it’s Black-owned and woman-owned.

• Address: 601 Webster Ave, Waco, TX 76706

Trashy Trailer Park Tacos From Torchy’s Tacos

While on a tour with Waco Tours, we passed a place called Torchy’s Tacos. I had seen a few Torchy’s Tacos on my drive from Dallas to Waco, insinuating that it is indeed a chain restaurant. If I’m in a place where there’s a chain restaurant that I do not have back home, I personally have no problem visiting them. Our tour leader informed us that Torchy’s Tacos had something called the “trailer park taco,” which is loaded up with fried chicken and all of the fixins. He then informed us that you can make it a TRASHY Trailer Park Taco by adding queso. Take my money, Torchy’s. I visited the next morning on my way out of Waco, and promptly ordered one trashy trailer park taco, as well as their special for the month of March, The Sanchez, which was a fried poblano pepper taco mixed with egg and cheese. Hardly a taco, but the trashy trailer park taco was truly one of the best bites I had not just in Waco, but all of Texas. The queso was out of this world, and the crunch from that fried chicken brought my hungry little heart a good heap of happiness.

• Address: Several, but I went to 801 S 5th St, Waco, TX 76706

Tejas Combo At Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant

When I was in Dallas prior to visiting Waco, I met a woman who was born in Waco, and informed me her favorite restaurant in town was Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant. “It’s more of an experience than a restaurant, but it’s a classic Waco joint,” she went on to tell me. I drove to Waco a few days later, and to my surprise, Ninfa’s was directly across from my hotel, Hilton Downtown Waco (which, side note, I highly recommend). Since it was so close and it had already been recommended, Ninfa’s was actually my first meal in Waco. I ordered a Tejas combo plate, which, in true Texan-fashion, was HUGE. It came with tender beef fajitas, a beef taco, a cheese enchilada, Mexican rice, and refried beans. It was nearly impossible to finish, but I managed to do pretty well since it was so damn delicious.

• Pro-tip: Go big or go home, and get a margarita to go with your order.
• Address: 220 S 3rd St, Waco, TX 76701

S’mores Ice Cream From Heritage Creamery

Once again, a nod to Waco Tours, I would likely never have discovered this place had I not taken a tour with them. Nearby to notorious Christian university, Baylor University, is the sweet spot of Heritage Creamery. Locally owned by Blake and Kimberly Batson, their story begins with Blake’s father, Mark, and his irresistible chocolate chip cookies. Blake and Kimberly already owned the coffee shop next door, Common Grounds (another must in Waco, where live music happens frequently out back!), so when the space opened up, Heritage Creamery was born. They do indeed sell chocolate chip cookies, but they’re best known for their ice cream. There are many flavors to choose from, but I’m a sucker for s’mores, so s’mores it was. No regrets in my choosing, it was irresistibly creamy with flecks of chocolate throughout, and call it cliche, but I could actually taste the love in every bite. There’s a huge difference when eating food made with locally sourced ingredients, and Heritage Creamery is prime proof.

• Address: 1125 S 8th St, Waco, TX 76706

Kolache From Czech Stop (On The Drive In Or Out)

While not technically in Waco but about 18 miles north on I-35 is Czech Stop, an unsuspecting Czechia bakery inside of a Shell gas station. How’s that for quirky? So, why is there a Czech bakery in the middle of Texas? Czechs first started to migrate to Texas in the 1840s, and to this day, it’s estimated that around 12,000 Texans speak the Czech language. Sadly, the Czechs of Texas have faced cultural assimilation, but in this part of Texas, there’s still a great deal of Czech influence. One of the greatest spots to showcase the blend of Czech and Texan heritage is Czech Stop. Most famous for their kolaches, a Czech pastry which can be served either sweet or savory, I tried both a chocolate chip kolache and a jalapeño cheddar sausage kolache. The total was less than $3, and they were just what the doctor ordered. The chocolate chip had a cannoli like filling, and the pastry itself was more like a bread than a donut or a croissant. The jalapeño cheddar sausage, somewhat confirming my claim of cultural assimilation, is a marriage between Eastern European and Texan fare, which, luckily for visitors to Czech stop, is a match made in heaven.

• Address: I-35 Exit 353, West, TX 76691

DISCLAIMER: The City of Waco sponsored my visit to Waco, Texas.

DISCLAIMER II: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!