Football and food. That’s what my April is about each year as I build the FBS sections for the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football summer magazine. I stop at each of the 13 schools in the state to interview the head coach, the coordinators, and a couple of star players. I also stop at some of the best spots around campus and figured I’d rank my favorites from this year’s trip. Although, this year I unfortunately didn't make it to El Paso and did the UTEP stop on Zoom or the L&J Cafe next to the cemetery  would be No. 1 on the list. 

I covered nearly 2,000 miles and ate a couple dozen meals along the way, although most were hotel breakfasts and quick stops to eat a sub sandwich. Here are my favorite 10 sitdown meals from the 2026 tour. I’m usually only in each city for 24 hours so forgive me if I didn’t stop at your go-to establishment, but feel free to let me know where I missed and I’ll try and get there in 2027. I also don't always pick the places to eat, so blame some of the SIDs and coaches if I missed the area's best spots! 

1. El Tiempo

The location: 2360 S Loop W, Houston, TX 77054 (Kirby Location) 
The stop: Houston/Rice   
The order: Chicken & Beef Fajitas 

The best fajitas in Houston for my money, especially when you factor in the location on Kirby, which is two miles from my preferred hotel when I’m in town for Rice or Houston stops. I arrived from my UTSA visit on a Tuesday night with stops at Houston on Wednesday and Rice on Friday, but my first priority was the chicken and beef fajitas at El Tiempo. The melted butter that it’s served with puts it over the top. Maybe it was because I was starving after a nearly four-hour drive from San Antonio through traffic, but it was my favorite bite on my tour. 

2. Dirk’s Signature Chicken & Bar

The location: 1636 13th Street, Lubbock, TX 79401 
The stop: Texas Tech 
The order: Bone-In Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes and jalapeño bacon gravy and Brussels sprouts 

Legendary local cartoonist, Dirk West, is responsible for many of the best caricatures of collegiate mascots and those drawings litter the walls at Dirk’s, which is run by Chef Cameron West, Dirk’s grandson. The food is great and the menu is small, something I enjoy. Dirk’s has become my favorite food joint in Lubbock and a place I make a point to visit on nearly every trip to Texas Tech. I went with the bone-in fried chicken this time but I usually get the half-and-half plate with chicken tenders and chicken fried steak strips. There are multiple dipping sauces to pick from. 

3. Burgertology 

The location: 1425 La Salle Ave., Waco, TX 76706  
The stop: Baylor 
The order: The Pearl Jam 

The burgers at Burgertology in Waco are huge and named after popular musical artists. The menu is overwhelming so my advice is to pick your favorite musician and then go from there. The “Pearl Jam” is a single-patty burger topped with grilled onions, bacon jam cheddar cheese, a ton of bacon, and lettuce and tomato. It rocked. The French fries were also solid, and they sold sparkling waters, which is one of the keys to my heart. A very cool location amid other food trucks and outside seating. 

4. Frenchy’s Chicken 

The location: 3602 Scott St., Houston, TX 77004 
The stop: Houston 
The order: A Campus (three piece mixed) with red beans and cornbread

I spent my elementary years in South Houston and a stop at the old Frenchy’s location in Third Ward was a ritual in my household after baseball tournaments or basketball games. The new building is great and directly across from the Houston campus, which makes it my go-to lunch spot if I’m chatting with the Cougars. I get the “Campus” with a mix of white and dark meat with a side of red beans and rice and cornbread. It’s also served with a jalapeño and a fountain drink. 

5. Taco Joint 

The location: 2809 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78705 
The stop: Texas 
The order: A street taco and an El Senor Crockett 

I admit that I’m biased here. I love Taco Joint. There are two locations in Austin and one of them was in the same parking lot of the Austin American-Statesman, my former employer. It also shared a parking lot with the Texas Department of Transportation, which is where my wife works. We met at that Taco Joint on a lunch break and it holds a special place in my heart. And my stomach. I changed locations and went to the one on Texas’ campus but kept my order the same. Two thumbs up. 

6. Herbert’s Taco Hut

The location: 419 Riverside Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666
The stop: Texas State 
The order: Lunch Special (Taco Dinner) 

My tour kicked off in San Marcos and a trip to one of my favorite spots in Central Texas – Herbert’s. My college girlfriend went to Texas State and this is where I’d always pick when I was in town and that’s remained true 20 years later. I tend to get the lunch special wherever I stop and it was a Monday when I was with the Bobcats. The taco dinner comes with two tacos – crispy or soft – topped with lettuce and tomato. Cheese is available for 75 cents more. Never bad to be completely full for a $13 meal after tip and tax. 

7. Local Foods 

The location: 2424 Dustan Road, Houston, TX 77005 
The stop: Rice 
The order: The “Crunchy” Chicken sandwich with pickle spears and potato salad 

Houston is the best food city in Texas so I’m not surprised that three of my seven favorite spots on this year’s tour were over the 2.5 days I was there to talk with the Cougars and the Owls. Local Foods is my go-to spot in Rice Village – which is an awesome place to spend some time and eat some food. The “Crunchy” chicken sandwich is the staple. The crunch comes from crushed chips that are used to make the chicken breast crispy. The pretzel bun is delicious. Potato salad is one of my favorite sides and Local Foods has a unique version that I dig. 

8. LSA Burger  

The location: 113 W Hickory St., Denton, TX 76201 
The stop: North Texas 
The order: The Ready Freddie 

Okay, maybe I’m a sucker for a burger named after one of my favorite musicians. I grew up listening to blues music in my grandfather’s garage while he and my great uncle worked on antique Mercury cars (shout out Mercury Charlie) and Freddie King was a staple on the old tape deck radio that blared away from dusk to dawn. This burger came with Dr Pepper BBQ sauce, cheddar, bacon, grilled onions, house mayo, and lettuce and tomato. The burger was great and the location right on the Denton Square is perfect. 

9. Farmhouse Café & Bakery 

The location: 1004 14th Street, Huntsville, TX 77340
The stop: Sam Houston 
The order: Blue Plate Special (Chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and fried okra) 

I have a three- or four-spot rotation in Huntsville and Farmhouse is at the top of that list. Great food. Great service. No hassle. Just an easy place to stop and eat some lunch while covering the Bearkats. I stopped here before my afternoon visit with Phil Longo & Co. so I skipped dessert, which was a mistake. The pies are tremendous. My favorite is the peanut butter pie. 

10. B-Daddy’s BBQ 

The location: 14436 Bandera Rd., Helotes, TX 78023
The stop: UTSA 
The order: Turkey plate with potato salad and creamy coleslaw 

I’ve eaten at B-Daddy’s food truck on multiple occasions but this was my first time at the brick and mortar in Helotes, which is like 10 or 15 minutes from the Loop 1604 campus. I went with the turkey plate because I had a few more interviews to do at UTSA and a nearly four-hour drive ahead of me to Houston and didn’t want to take a chance with brisket grilled cheese.