William
The best restaurants in Pecos, Texas, have a more diverse menu than you imagine. Of course, it is natural to get skeptical: what can a small town of little more than 12,000 offer? A few minutes of reading this concise post will give you the answer.
Situated next to several vital highways, Pecos is a convenient stop for tourists or travelers on road trips. Whether this city is on your travel plan or you’re just passing by, you can always expect a tasteful meal in a friendly space with hometown vibes.
A Tour Of Pecos: Where to Eat And What To Order
Before delving into the most fantastic restaurants Pecos has to offer, let’s have a look at their names first.
- Arti’s Italian Restaurant
- La Nortena Tamale Factory
- Pody’s BBQ
- Bush’s Chicken – Pecos
- La Fiesta Express/ La Fiesta Mexican Food Restaurant
- Dairy Queen Grill & Chill – Pecos
- Burrito Depot
- Dairy Mart
- Cocina Salgado
- Dickey’s Barbecue Pit – Pecos
- The King Shark Seafood And Mexican Kitchen
- Alfredo’s Restaurant
- La Bodega
Top Places To Have A Meal In Pecos
This West Texas city boasts superb Tex-Mex eats and juicy BBQ meat, but its culinary magic doesn’t stop there.
1. Arti’s Italian Restaurant
This family-run Italian restaurant is a favorite hangout for locals, with recipes from different regions of Italy. Its pizzas are especially delicious.
Why choose this restaurant:
Anyone used to the busy atmosphere and dazzling glamor of the big restaurants in the neighboring metropolis will find the small-town vibes at Arti’s Italian Restaurant a refreshing change. You will feel like you’re coming home after a long time.
Many local inhabitants like to go to this place, from families with kids to oil workers in baseball caps, which adds to the friendly atmosphere of the place. Though the menu includes pizzas, calzones, and pasta, it also contains tasty main dishes, desserts, and snacks.
What to eat:
Besides the option to build your own pizza, you can order from many specialty choices, like margarita pizzas or supreme pizzas. Do you know about the restaurant’s famous Tour of Sicily? It’s a pasta dish of lasagna, chicken parmesan, and fettuccine Alfredo.
Other delightful selections are Arti’s chicken (cooked with sauteed mushrooms and artichokes), spaghetti with meatballs, and any type of calzone you like.
Price range: $$ – $$$
Food style: Italian
Location: 214 S Oak St, Pecos, TX 79772
Website: https://www.artisitalianrestaurant.com/
Phone: +14324459945
2. La Nortena Tamale Factory
Besides tamales, this family-owned restaurant offers many other types of delicious Mexican food.
Why choose this restaurant:
Made-from-scratch tamales are the soul of La Nortena Tamale Factory, a Mexican restaurant whose history dates back to 1966. Many decades of service are proof of its enduring excellence, but your taste buds should give this place the ultimate test.
The spongy tamales with deep, really spicy flavors won’t let you down. Want a more filling meal? There are a few tasty Mexican dishes on the menu to choose from. If you are on a trip to the Guadalupe Mountains or Carlsbad Caverns, making a stop here will be the right decision.
What to eat:
The tamales at this joint are traditional and only come in two varieties: one with pork and red chile and one with chicken, cheese, and green chile. For other dishes, you should choose barbacoa and briskets, plus Spanish rice on the side.
Price range: $$ – $$$
Food style: Mexican
Location: 211 E 3rd St, Pecos, TX 79772
Website: https://lanortenatamales.com/
Phone: +14324453273
3. Pody’s BBQ
Texas means fantastic BBQ restaurants in every nook and cranny, including the quiet city of Pecos. Here, the best place to have grilled meat is probably the renowned Pody’s BBQ.
Why choose this restaurant:
This nice BBQ joint is housed in a nondescript building that would be easy to miss but for the unmistakably irresistible smell of Texas BBQ. Its space is a little small, contrary to the generous sizes of meat and extras you will get from the friendly staff members.
The tender, succulent meat is so good that you won’t need a knife to tear it apart. Putting it in sandwiches is another terrific idea. The only downside is that the restaurant sometimes runs out of juicy briskets before closing, so you may want to get there early.
What to eat:
My favorite choices are pulled pork sandwiches or chopped brisket sandwiches. Regarding sides, I recommend green chili hominy and potato salad.
Price range: $$ – $$$
Food style: BBQ
Location: 1330 S Cedar St, Pecos, TX 79772
Website: https://www.facebook.com/
Phone: +14324484635
4. Bush’s Chicken – Pecos
This fast food restaurant chain is a popular name with many fried chicken lovers in Texas. It has over 75 stores in the state, including one in Pecos.
Why choose this restaurant:
The careful marinating and cooking process that Bush’s Chicken employs makes sure that everything you taste is as excellent as chicken can get. Several other Southern comfort dishes are also available on the menu, plus the famous iced tea by the gallon.
What to eat:
Fried chicken tenders available in many sizes are the main appeal: individual packages with 4 – 6 tenders or family meals with dozens of pieces. Choices of sides include green beans, jalapenos, okra, kids-love-it mac and cheese, etc.
Mac and cheese
Price range: $$ – $$$
Food style: Fast food
Location: 924 S Eddy St, Pecos, TX 79772
Website: http://www.bushschicken.com/
Phone: +14324470065
5. La Fiesta Express/ La Fiesta Mexican Food Restaurant
Here is a simple Mexican restaurant to stop by during a road trip. It also doubles as a convenience store, so you can buy odds and ends here as well.
Why choose this restaurant:
While this eatery doesn’t have a fancy facade, its Mexican grub is packed with flavors and has a sizable amount of stimulating spiciness. The interior is full of homely vibes for a cozy meal, though the prices are a little high, with no complimentary chips and salsa.
What to eat:
At La Fiesta Express, Mexican staples like burritos, fajitas, and enchiladas are quite tasty. You can choose between chicken and beef stuffings.
Price range: $$ – $$$
Food style: Mexican, Tex-Mex
Location: 1313 S Cedar St, Pecos, TX 79772
Website: Not available
Phone: +14324457749
6. Dairy Queen Grill & Chill – Pecos
Founded in 1940, the soft-serve ice cream and fast food chain has thousands of stores in the United States and many other countries.
Why choose this restaurant:
All the Dairy Queen stores are family-friendly facilities where children will have a whale of a time. But the menu varies between the regions, so the Pecos location probably serves something different from what you know at home.
Of course, it will be cruel to buy mellow, melt-in-your-mouth ice cream for your kids but not for yourself. You’re never too old to appreciate its cooling, refreshing goodness. Plus, there are more than a dozen varieties to choose from.
What to eat:
You can order the Mint Brownie Blizzard Treat, a blend of brownie pieces, mint, and choco chunks. If you prefer something more classic, churro dipped cones, strawberry sundaes, or banana splits all make good candidates for a sweet treat.
In terms of savory dishes, it is a good idea to go for FlameThrower hamburgers (with seasoned beef patties, bacon, melted Pepper Jack, etc.) or fried chicken with onion rings and french fries. The kid’s options consist of hot dogs, hamburgers, and fried chicken.
Price range: $$ – $$$
Food style: Ice cream, Fast food
Location: 1226 S Eddy St, Pecos, TX 79772
Website: https://www.dairyqueen.com/
Phone: +14324476760
7. Burrito Depot
Burrito Depot is a little burrito fixture near Interstate Highway 20 that locals and roadtrippers alike frequently visit.
Why choose this restaurant:
The somewhat expensive cost of its fare doesn’t stop anyone in love with top-notch burritos from flocking to Burrito Depot. The tender chunks of meat wrapped in crunchy tortillas and dipped in the homemade sauce are so good to miss out.
Another great delight is that they often come out piping hot and excellent for a hearty breakfast. While this restaurant has a small space and limited seating, it is very conveniently located next to one of the major gas stations in the area.
What to eat:
Every item on the long list of burrito varieties is worth your time, but I advise starting with brisket burritos and chile verde burritos (with or without beans). Most customers seem to like them very much.
Price range: $$ – $$$
Food style: Mexican
Location: 2340 S Bickley Ave, Pecos, TX 79772
Website: https://m.facebook.com/
Phone: +14324473328
8. Dairy Mart
Dairy Mart is a classic burger joint that operates from noon to late at night. Besides hamburgers, it also serves other fast food items and milkshakes.
Why choose this restaurant:
Do you remember the old days of getting your tasty, greasy from a smiling car hop? Dairy Mart will help you relive those memories. Of course, it is acceptable to step into the clean dining room and listen to catchy music tunes while waiting for your order.
What to eat:
At this hole-in-the-wall restaurant, there are many dishes that match the deliciousness of old-fashioned hamburgers with french fries. You can order ham sandwiches, tacos (I recommend the double cheese double meat version), and shrimp baskets.
Price range: $$ – $$$
Food style: Fast food
Location: 920 W 3rd St, Pecos, TX 79772
Website: https://www.facebook.com/
Phone: +14324453894
9. Cocina Salgado
If you like to enjoy spicy Mexican food at reasonable prices, Cocina Salgado will make an excellent spot.
Why choose this restaurant:
This Mexican restaurant boasts a charming atmosphere and friendly staff members that any good family-owned eatery should have. It is open for breakfast and lunch and scores well in both aspects. Food is hot in both flavor and temperature, creating an unforgettable experience.
What to eat:
For breakfast, huevos divorciados and huevos rancheros are the most sought-after items. They are both egg-based dishes, but the former also comes with tortillas, chile verde, beans, and other ingredients.
At lunchtime, you will do well with Supreme Dinner (chile verde, tacos, and cheese enchiladas) or any kind of burrito on offer. My preferred options are chorizo-and-egg and potato-and-spam ones.
Price range: $$ – $$$
Food style: Mexican
Location: 922 S Cedar St, Pecos, TX 79772
Website: https://www.facebook.com/
Phone: +14324452801
10. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit – Pecos
The largest BBQ franchise in America, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has over 650 stores all over America. The location in Pecos offers both dine-in and drive-through services.
Why choose this restaurant:
Boasting a convenient location near Interstate Highway 20, this restaurant is an excellent stop for anyone visiting Pecos or just passing through the city. It is a must-try if you like authentic Texas slow-cooked meat made on a hickory wood-burning pit.
You will enjoy the wonderful BBQ recipes that have captivated countless eaters since 1941, when the first Dickey’s Barbecue Pit was founded. Besides smoked meats, chicken wings, baked potatoes, and sandwiches are other pleasant eats to discover at this place.
You can also get a free ice cream serving if sitting down in the dining room. Do you want to come here with kids? Do so on Sunday because if your order is more than $12, a free kid’s meal will be available for anyone under 13!
What to eat:
While all kinds of pit-smoked meats Dickey’s Barbecue Pit offers are incredibly delicious, its briskets, pulled pork, and jalapeno cheddar sausage are the top choices. The Build Your Own Plate deal, with many choices of meat plates, is also a tempting choice.
Price range: $$ – $$$
Food style: BBQ
Location: 126 Raul Flores Blvd, Pecos, TX 79772
Website: https://www.dickeys.com/
Phone: +14326145445
11. The King Shark Seafood And Mexican Kitchen
This hole-in-the-wall spot offers seafood and Mexican specialties with milder flavors than usual.
Why choose this restaurant:
Situated in West Texas, Pecos is pretty far from the seas and probably the last place to have seafood on some diners’ minds. But this no-frills seafood restaurant is sure to delight you with its tasty dishes, especially when they are mixed with memorable Mexican fare.
What to eat:
Many patrons agree that tacos de camaron (shrimp tacos) and tacos de pescado (fish tacos) are the best dishes at the King Shark Seafood And Mexican Kitchen. But you should also try the quesadillas, which can be made with shrimp or birria (meat stew).
Price range: $$ – $$$
Food style: Seafood, Mexican
Location: 215 E 4th St, Pecos, TX 79772
Website: https://www.facebook.com/
Phone: +14324455890
12. Alfredo’s Restaurant
Alfredo’s Restaurant is a family-owned Mexican restaurant that charms its customers with home recipes and a friendly atmosphere.
Why choose this restaurant:
Pecos may be quiet, but Alfredo’s Restaurant isn’t, especially at lunchtime. In this old yet clean and homely place, you can enjoy fajitas, steaks, hamburgers, and more tasty dishes prepared in authentic Mexican style.
The restaurant offers regular lunch specials: you can check its Facebook page for updates on the best dish of the day.
What to eat:
Chicken fried steak served with chopped hatch chiles and cheese is the most recommended dish at this place. Other excellent choices include enchiladas (chicken, cheese, or beef), chicken fajita plate, or chip and salsa.
Price range: $$ – $$$
Food style: Mexican, Tex-Mex
Location: 1002 S Cedar St, Pecos, TX 79772
Website: https://www.facebook.com/
Phone: +14324457776
13. La Bodega
This low-key, old-school Mexican restaurant is everything you need for a delicious, no-frills meal at fair prices.
Why choose this restaurant:
If you don’t care for big names, you will find a lot of terrific eateries for breakfast and lunch in Pecos, such as La Bodega. While fancy eaters may find its basic decor not worth writing home about, the excellent-tasting, reasonably-priced menu items are a completely different story.
What to eat:
Breakfast burritos are the most sought-after dishes at this hidden gem. You can choose from a sizable list of fillings, like barbacoa, asado, bean and cheese, spam and potatoes, etc. Enchilada plates with chicken and red/ green enchiladas are also worth a try.
Price range: $$ – $$$
Food style: Mexican
Location: 505 W 3rd St, Pecos, TX 79772
Website: https://www.facebook.com/
Phone: +14329403119
Delicious Food With Small-Town Feel In Pecos
Though many people describe Pecos as a small, sleepy town, its food scene is anything but.
Whereas the wonderful spiciness of Tex-Mex eats and fall-of-the-bone BBQ meat are the two key characteristics of local restaurants, you can find a decent level of variety at Arti’s Italian Restaurant or Dairy Queen Grill & Chill.
If you feel like some deserving restaurants in Pecos are missing from this post, please let me know in the comment section. Feel free to share this post with your friends in case they travel near the city and need a good place to eat. Many thanks, and see you soon!
