Waco has become a popular destination in recent years due to the popularity of the home renovation show Fixer Upper. It’s perfect as a day trip form Austin or Dallas, as both are only an hour and a half away. With so many great local spots, you’ll have a hard time narrowing down which restaurants to try! You can’t go wrong with these 15 best restaurants in Waco.

Breakfast/Brunch

1. Café Cappuccino

Don’t miss the gigantic specialty pancakes in flavors like gingerbread pecan, chocolate chip banana, and sweet potato. Café Cappuccino also serves a variety of omelets, crepes, waffles, and benedicts, all at very reasonable prices.

2. Olive Branch

This counter-service café offers breakfast and lunch dishes like omelets, croissants, salads, and sandwiches. Located under Spice Village boutique, it’s a perfect spot for a girls’ outing of shopping and brunch.

3. Butter My Biscuit

This quirky restaurant shares its an unassuming space with a gaming store. As its name indicates, this family-owned restaurant serves the most perfectly soft and fluffy biscuits!

Lunch

4. Schmaltz’s

This delicious local sandwich shop in downtown Waco is only open during lunch hours on weekdays, but it’s definitely worth a stop if it works with your schedule.

5. Vitek’s

This BBQ restaurant in a rustic, industrial building serves delicious meats and sides like baked potatoes and mac and cheese, but they are famous for their Gut Pak (similar to Frito pie). Note: Vitek’s is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

6. Magnolia Table

You won’t be disappointed by the rich southern cuisine served at one of the most well-known restaurants in Waco, owned by famous Fixer Upper couple Chip and Joanna Gaines. They are open for both breakfast and lunch, but the wait gets very long (often several hours long). Luckily, you can leave your phone number with the staff, go walk around Baylor’s campus or check out some shops, and wait for the text that your table is ready.

Dinner

7. George’s

Home of the “Big ‘O'” beer and margaritas, enjoy American fare like burgers and fried chicken in a fun, casual environment. If you’re a night owl, this is your spot! George’s is open until midnight Mondays through Saturdays (closed Sundays).

8. Ninfa’s

This lively Tex Mex spot is one of the best restaurants in Waco for groups of any size. If you’re hosting an event like a business dinner or graduation party, ask about their rental spaces.

9. Baris

Sometimes hole-in-the-wall restaurants have the most unexpectedly great food, and Baris is no exception! This BYOB, reasonably-priced Italian spot serves pasta and pizza dishes alongside huge, fluffy garlic butter rolls.

Coffee and Treats

10. Common Grounds

The go-to coffee shop for Baylor students, this charming house-turned-café on the edge of campus has plenty of variety of drinks and small snacks. If you have a sweet tooth, don’t miss the iced Cowboy Coffee!

11. Heritage Creamery

Treat yourself to ice cream in one of the best homemade waffle cones you’ll ever taste at this dessert spot right next to Common Grounds. If someone in your party needs some caffeine, send them next door while you wait for your order.

12. Dichotomy

This downtown venue is set up as a coffee shop during the day but transforms into a bar at night! Check it out on two separate occasions to get the full experience.

13-14. Magnolia Press & Silos Baking Co

Need a pick-me-up after shopping at the silos? These great choices for coffee and pastries are right on-site, but be prepared to wait in a long line.

15. Katie’s Frozen Custard

For a perfect way to spend a warm, summer evening, grab a cold treat and relax in the outdoor picnic pavilion. There’s no indoor seating, but Katie’s is open until 11pm on weekdays and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, so wait until the sun goes down (and the temperature drops at least a few degrees!) for the best experience.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, be sure check out this post on my favorite ice cream and gelato spots in the world (which includes one spot in Waco!).

Part of the charm of Waco is the great local restaurants. No matter which of these spots you end up trying, you’re sure to be treated to delicious eats and treats while exploring this fun and unique town.