Food between Austin, TX and IL?

I will be flying to Texas later this week, going to visit some family, then driving my grandfathers truck back home with my mother. 1992 Chevy 3/4 ton with a new engine ~10k ago. I believe it is a single cab, long bed, stick shift.

Anyway it is about 16 hours from outside of Austin to my hometown Urbana, IL. I think we will do I30 to Memphis then I57 straight up, which puts us through Austin, Dallas, Texarkana, Little Rock, Memphis to Urbana.

If anyone knows some good places to eat along that route, in a nearby city or town let me know. There have been a lot of suggestions in other threads for BBQ in Memphis, so I should be covered there.

Hickory river should be on your route home unless you get off on Curtis road

At least you have Papa Dell's when you get home!

Should be a Waffle House somewhere along the way

In reply to fritzsch:

About 45 minutes from Austin you have the town of Lockhart with some of the best BBQ in Texas, try Smitty's or Black's. Or both. Very good brisket, ribs, sausage, smoked pork chops. Different ambiance and both very rustic, as in no plates or utensils in Smitty's, i always bring a pocket knife to cut sausages etc.

A plus is that there is a new toll road from Austin through Lockhart with an 85mph limit.

In Austin there is plenty of good tex mex (Chuy's is commercial but still good) and now tons of food trucks.

In Dallas Cuquitas in a few locations is great Mexican. Use yelp to find it or another wiith good reviews.

Good luck on the drive.

Rudy's BBQ is a chain in central TX. Great brisket, and the creamed corn is a MUST.

Salt Lick opened a satellite restaurant in Round Rock that is 90% as good as the original

There is a good BBQ joint on I-30 in Sulfur Springs. Can't remember the name, but its at the Rt 19 exit on the north frontage road of 30.

Can you tell I'm partial to BBQ?

If you were on I55, I'd suggest Lambert's in Sikeston, MO.

Pretty sure you're going I40 to Memphis? If so you'll have to take I55 up to I57. It's worth it to go to Lambert's. I make that I55-I57 run at least once a year.

No Brakes is right. Curtis is wrong. Smitty's BBQ is my favorite, as Clarkson says, in the world. I've been to all the famous BBQ places in Memphis, and I don't like any of them. There is a good home cooking place and a good fried chicken place near downtown Memphis. Mia's is my favorite mexican in Dallas, but I can give you a recommendation for any food in the Dallas area. You can stop for a snack of kolaches in West. I can't help between Dallas and Memphis.

In reply to everyone:

Thanks for the tips/recommendations. I will be doing I40 -> I55 -> I57 I just didn't want to write all that out. Ill have to check into Lamberts, thanks! We aren't looking soley for BBQ so btp76 what are the places you know of in Memphis?

The Cupboard for home cooking, Gus's fried chicken.

Mean Pig in Cabot, AR (just east of Little Rock). Tasty, tasty BBQ. And Lambert's is awesome. Don't eat breakfast before you go, and expect to wait a while for a table.

For Lambert's if it isn't lunch time or the weekend the wait isn't bad. As for BBQ the crappier the place looks the better the food. Go to Top's, other than that hit Beale st. and go to BB King's for some good blues.

Big Os in Waco, colaches in between, Rudy's where you can find it, bodacious BBQ in east tx, what's burger at least once, fried pies in arkadelphia/caddy valley ar, there's a great Indian place in little rock, BBQ again in Russellville. Past there I've got nothing.

There's a big-ass truck stop just on the MO side of the IL state line...Boom City or something similar? Yeah, that's definitely worth the stop. Lots of good food, entertaining environment, and a massive store as well.

mtn wrote: Should be a Waffle House somewhere along the way

Jesus, no. What is wrong with you people? Ate there with some friends late Saturday after doing a bit of boozing........food wasn't bad, but the next 36 hours were less comfortable for my insides.

Forgot one, does eat place in little rock.

z31maniac wrote:

mtn wrote: Should be a Waffle House somewhere along the way

Jesus, no. What is wrong with you people? Ate there with some friends late Saturday after doing a bit of boozing........food wasn't bad, but the next 36 hours were less comfortable for my insides.

I have never had this issue before with Waffle House. White Castle on the other hand... Which reminds me, I need to go eat some white castle

MMMM white castle. Is there one in Blo-no?

nocones wrote: MMMM white castle. Is there one in Blo-no?

Sadly, no. I think that Dave (Dnace) looked into opening one in BloNo, but the logistics don't work out with food distributors and whatnot.

When traveling through Texas, make sure to stop at at least one Buc-ee's.  Tons of good food options (many made to order), snacks, drinks, bbq pits, shirts, shorts, camping equipment, etc.  They're an adventure in themselves.  However, keep an eye on gas prices.  Buc-ee's is always 10-20 cents more than other stations.

-Rob

In reply to rob_lewis :

I hope he's back by now.

Cooter said:

In reply to rob_lewis :

I hope he's back by now.

Ooops, I guess a zombie thread popped it back up and I missed the date.....

-Rob