The Lone Star State is as well-known for its food as it is for its vast stretches of road — and sometimes the grub and road share real estate in historic and humorous ways.
Here are a handful of our favorite roadside culinary stops along Texas byways.
Midpoint Café and Gift Shop
It’s 1,139 miles to Chicago and 1,139 miles to Santa Monica, California, at this legendary restaurant sitting on the geographic center of Route 66. Pies are the classic order, and former owner Fran Houser was the inspiration for the character Flo in Disney-Pixar’s Cars. 305 W. Historic Route 66, Adrian, 806.538.6379, facebook.com/midpointcafe
Tamale Statue
Travelers hankering for tamales do not have to look hard for this sombrero-wearing statue of a maraca-holding tamale in front of a walkup tamale vendor. 19753 S.H. 35, Alvin
World’s Largest Teapot
The painted white teapot appointed with flowers and cat silhouettes advertises for Martha’s Bloomers home and garden store in Navasota. Pick up a pot of begonias after a cup of tea at the shop’s café. 8101 S.H. 6 Bypass, Navasota, 936.825.7400, marthasbloomers.com
Czech Stop and Slovacek’s
Travelers driving Interstate 35 can hit one of these renowned West, Texas, kolache purveyors. One is on the northbound side, the other on the southbound side. Czech Stop, 104 S. George Kacir Drive, West, 254.826.4161, czechstop.net; Slovacek’s, 214 Melodie Drive, West, 254.826.4525, slovacekwesttexas.com
Photography (From top): Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop/Facebook, Martha’s Bloomers/Facebook
From the July 2019 issue.