Favorite Restaurants

The criterion that defines a favorite restaurant for us is whether we thought the food good enough that we would return. We rarely eat at chain restaurants, so you won't find many here. We go for mom and pops, dives and other unique eateries without much consideration given to ambiance. It's all about the food. We tend to avoid restaurants that are very expensive, so you won't find the five-star places here. Only a few of those listed would run you over $50 for a dinner for two. Most are far less costly and yes, we have eaten at all of them, except for a very few whose reviewers are trusted friends.

By the way, if you find that any of these have closed down, please let me know by sending me an email at mikemills159atpm.me.

Restaurants listed in boldface are all time favorites and are not to be missed if we are nearby.

Updated 4/13/2023

Alabama

Decatur - Big Bob Gibson's BBQ
Decatur - Mel's Sweet Treats
Muscle Shoals - Mr. Hui's (Formerly Peacock)

Arizona

Mesa - Bosa Donuts
Mesa - Tum Nak Thai
Prescott - Thai House Cafe
Show Low - Branding Iron
Show Low - Aunt Nancy's
Tucson - Daisy Mae's
Tucson - El Charro
Tucson - El Torero
Tucson  - Miss Saigon
Yuma - Chili Pepper's
Yuma - Yuma Thai Cuisine
Yuma - Yuma's Donuts

Arkansas

Carlisle - Nick's
Eureka Springs - Catfish Cabin
Eureka Springs - Fresh
Eureka Springs - Ermiliano's
Hot Springs - McClard's BBQ
Hot Springs - Fisherman's Wharf

California

La Quinta - Palm Tree Palace (Chinese)
Palm Desert - Sherman's Deli
Palm Springs - Pepper's Thai Cuisine
San Diego - 100s Seafood Grill and Buffet

Colorado 

Colorado Springs - Nairi Siam
Colorado Springs - Pizzeria Rustica
Colorado Springs - Green Line Grill
Colorado Springs - Hacienda Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs - Jun Sushi and Noodles
Colorado Springs - Kura Hibachi and Sushi
Colorado Springs - Paravicini's
Denver - Chowder House
Denver - Star Thai Restaurant
Denver - Sweet Action (Ice Cream)
Denver - Szechuan Restaurant
Denver - Taste of Denmark Bakery

Dolores - Whistler's Walk
Durango - The Irish Pub
Durango - The Ore House
Estes Park - Antonio's New York Pizza
Estes Park - The Grubsteak
Estes Park - Laura's
Estes Park - Café de Pho Thai
Estes Park - Smokin' Daves

Gunnison - The Old Miner

La Veta - Legends

Marble - Slow Groove BBQ
Morrison - The Cow

Rico - Enterprise Bar and Grill

Ridgway - Jane's Place

Georgia

Rossville - Thai Garden

Hawaii

Honolulu - Hula Grill
Honolulu - Marukame Udon

Idaho

Boise - Chandlers

Coeur d' Alene - Asian Twist

Indiana

Elkhart - Bangkok Thai Restaurant

Louisiana

Baton Rouge - Parrain's
Baton Rouge - TJ Ribs BBQ
Henderson - Pat's Fisherman's Wharf
Kaplan - Suire's
New Orleans - Drago's

Maine

Bar Harbor - Westside Café

Massachusetts

Boston - Belle Isle Seafood 
Boston - Legal Seafood

Michigan

Grand Rapids - Chopstick House
Grand Rapids - Nantucket Baking Company
Interlochen - Moomer's Ice Cream
Montague - Pekadill's Deli
Munising - Taco Primo
St. Ignace - Bessie's, Clyde's
Traverse City - Apache Trout Grill


Mississippi

Belmont - Sparks
Belmont - Fish Place
Biloxi - Bozo's
Biloxi - Wentzel's
Clarksdale - Ramon's
Jackson - Mr. Chen's Chinese
Natchez - The Donut Shop
Natchez - Jughead's Fish Fry and More
Tupelo - Simply Sweet Bakery

Missouri

Branson - Billy Bob's Dairyland
Branson - Big D BBQ
Branson - Flat Creek Cafe (in Cape Fair, MO)

Branson - Landry's
Lebanon - Dowd's Catfish and BBQ
Lebanon - Master Donuts

Montana

Butte - Casagranda Steak House (Yes, that's the way it's spelled.)

Butte - Talk of the Town Bakery

West Yellowstone - Wild West Pizzeria

Nevada

Las Vegas - Lotus of Siam (Best Thai Food EVER!)

New Mexico

Albuquerque - Frontier Restaurant
Albuquerque - Pad Thai
Albuquerque - California Pastrami
Albuquerque - Crackin' Crab
Raton - El Matador
Santa Fe - Ranch House BBQ
Santa Fe - Maria's
Santa Fe - The Wok
Santa Fe - Dr. Field Goods 
Santa Fe - Upper Crust Pizza
Silver City - Jalisco's

New York

New York City - Katz's

North Carolina

Asheville - White Duck Taco Shop
Asheville - The Lobster Trap
Asheville - Bean Thai

Oklahoma

Ardmore - Catfish Corner/El Palacio (same restaurant)

Oregon

Port Orford - The Crazy Norwegian
Portland - Authentic Thai
Portland - Sayler's Old Country Kitchen
Portland - The Fisherman's Wife
Portland - Seasons and Regions
Reedsport - Harbor Light
Wilsonville - Rice Time

South Carolina

Myrtle Beach - The Original Benjamin's and/or Captain George's Seafood Buffets

Tennessee

Chattanooga - Zarzour's Hamburgers
Chattanooga - Champy's
Chattanooga - Lupi's Pizza Pies
Memphis - Gus's Fried Chicken
Memphis - Rendezvous
Memphis - Tokyo Grill
Pigeon Forge - Old Mill Pottery House and Café
Sevierville - Thai Basil

Texas

Abilene - Lytle Land and Cattle Co.
Alamo Springs - Alamo Springs Cafe
Alpine - Alicia's
Alpine - Texas Fusion
Amarillo - Coyote Bluff Cafe
Amarillo - Thai Star
Amarillo - Bangkok Tokyo
Aransas Pass - Redfish Willie's

Arlington - Istanbul Grill
Arlington - Mercado Juarez
Austin - Franklin's BBQ

Austin - Freda's
Austin - (Spicewood) - Opie's BBQ
Austin - Verde's Mexican Parilla
Belton - The Gin
Belton - Crow's Hamburgers
Belton - Shoepf's BBQ
Burnet - Cooper's BBQ
Canton - Buttermilk Cafe
Canton - Four Winds Steak House (Wills Point)
Canton - Easley's Steak House
Canton - Street Taco Shack (Next door to Mill Creek Ranch RV Park)

Chandler (Near Tyler) - Wade's Place
Cleveland - Ranch Hand

Conroe - Hunan Village

Conroe - Las Palma Taco
Conroe - Vernon's Kuntry Katfish
Corpus Christi - B and J Pizza
Corpus Christi - Z Counter Asian Deli
Corpus Christi - King Seafood
Corpus Christi - Hibachi Grill and Supreme Buffet
Corpus Christi - Snoopy's
Corsicana - Old Mexican Inn
Crystal Beach - Stingaree's
Decatur - Catfish O'Harley's
Denison - Huck's Catfish
Elgin - Southside Market BBQ
Forney - Doe Belly's Catfish
Fort Worth - Angelo's BBQ
Fort Worth - Gypsy Scoops Ice Cream
Fort Worth - Horseshoe Hill Cafe
Fort Worth - Riscky's Steakhouse
Fort Worth - Saigon Kitchen (Hurst)
Fort Worth - Thai and Fusion
Fort Worth - Thai Pakse
Fulton - Bellino's
Fulton - The Boiling Pot
Galveston - Cajun Greek Restaurant
Galveston - Miller's Seawall Grill
Galveston - Original Mexican Inn
Georgetown - Monument Inn
Grapevine - Country Donuts
Harlingen - Las Vegas Cafe

Hondo - Heavy's BBQ

Hondo - Hondough Pizza

Houston - Le Pam Creole Restaurant

Humble - Humble Pie

Humble - Italiano's
Irving - Vito's Italian
Keller - Thai Fusion
Kerrville - Billy Gene's
Killeen - Peking Chinese
Kingsland - Spyke's BBQ

Kress - Jeff's Restaurant
La Marque - Rose Garden Chinese
LaPorte - Monument Inn
Livingston - Hughes Catfish Inn
Lockhart - Black's BBQ
Magnolia - Gringo's Mexican Cafe
Marble Falls - Bluebonnet Cafe
McAllen - Dai Tung
McAllen - Sante Fe Steak House
Mercedes - Alicia's
Mercedes - Don Beto's Café
Mercedes - The Smoking Oak BBQ
McKinney - Hutchins BBQ
New Braunfels - Oma's Haus

New Caney - Fish Tales
Port Aransas - Avery's Kitchen
Port Aransas - Fin's
Port Aransas - The Roosevelt Room at the Tarpon Inn
Port Aransas - Irie's
Port Isabel - Joe's Oyster Bar
Riverside - Tallent's Smokehouse (sausages - store takeout only)
Robstown - Taqueria Los Altos de Jalisco
Robstown - Cotton's BBQ
Rockport - Charlotte Plummer's
Rockport - The Shack
Rockport - Pier 19
Rockport - Shempy's Grill

San Antonio - Fish City Grill
San Antonio - Fishland
San Antonio - Henry's Puffy Tacos
San Antonio - Los Barrios
San Antonio - Paesano's
San Antonio - Pho Garden
San Antonio  - Thai Dee
San Antonio - The Original Blanco Cafe
San Antonio - The Original Donut Shop
San Marcos - Herbert's Taco Hut
San Marcos - Hays County BBQ
Shenandoah - Babin's Seafood
South Padre Island - Dirty Al's Seafood
South Padre Island - Pier 19 Seafood
Spring - Ba Mien 2 Mongolian BBQ
Spring - El Palenque 
Spring - 5 Ate Café
Sulphur Springs - Burton's Family Restaurant
Sweetwater - Allen's Fried Chicken
Temple - Best Quality Meats and Sausage Shop
Temple - Oscar Store
Temple - Pignetti's
Terlingua - Chile Pepper

The Woodlands - Baja Cantina
Tomball - Goodson's Restaurant

Waskom - Jim's BBQ and Catfish

Weatherford - Pasta Fina

Weslaco - Nana's Tacos
Weslaco - Casa De Mariscos
Weslaco - Monterrey Cafe

Tennessee

Memphis - Gus's Fried Chicken
Memphis - The Rendezvous
Nashville- The Pancake Pantry

Utah

Moab - Eklelectica
Moab - Szechuan
Moab - Devran's
Salt Lake City - Moochie's
Salt Lake City - Nico's
Salt Lake City - Oh Mai
Salt Lake City - R and R BBQ
Salt Lake City - Spitz SLC

Salt Lake City - Wann Jale

Washington

Seattle - Hue Ky Mi Gai

Seattle - Bakery Nouveau 

Tacoma - The Fish Peddler

Wyoming

Alpine - Brenthoven Restaurant

Casper - Fire Rock Steakhouse

Cody - Michael's Tacos