Restaurants in Athens, Texas
Listings checked against Texas Comptroller permit data · Updated October 2026
Restaurant Directory: Athens
A directory of 56 restaurants, 16 food trucks, and 13 bars & nightlife spots, built from active Texas sales-tax permits, grouped by cuisine where the name makes it clear.
Barbecue (2)
- Danny's Smokehouse Bar-B-Q ↗ $$
Long-running local barbecue smokehouse on E Corsicana St, run by the same company since 1999.
- Smoky B Barbecue
Local barbecue brand from Athens-based Southern Union Market LLC, with outlets on S Palestine St downtown, at the Lake Athens marina and on Maryland Dr.
Marina Dr · S Palestine St · Maryland Dr · permit since 2020
Mexican & Tex-Mex (11)
- El San Luis Bar & Grill ↗ bar
Mexican restaurant and bar on E Tyler St serving Tex-Mex plates, tortas and drinks, open since 2018.
- Taco Bell ↗ chain $
Taco Bell drive-thru on E Corsicana St (store #4787), run by the franchisee Southern Multifoods.
- Chely's Cafe ↗ $
Cafe on N Prairieville St, opened in 2025 in the former La Fondita space.
- Tilo's Cuisine & Bakery $
Mexican restaurant and bakery in the E Tyler St shopping center, open since 2008.
- Cinco De Mayo Restaurant & Bar bar
Tex-Mex restaurant and bar on W Corsicana St, open since 2023 in the former Ole West Bean-N-Burger space.
- Jalapeño Tree ↗ bar
Location of the East Texas Tex-Mex chain Jalapeño Tree on E Tyler St, open since December 2006, with a patio and full bar.
- Los Arquitos Cocina Mexicana $
Mexican restaurant on N Pinkerton St, next door to Mariscos El Rincon, open since 2022.
- Neza Mexican Cuisine ↗ $
Mexican restaurant on S Palestine St south of downtown, open since 2020.
- Ochoa's Mexican Restaurant ↗ bar $
Family-owned Tex-Mex restaurant on US-175 W serving enchiladas, tamales and fajitas, plus steaks and chicken-fried steak. The Ochoa family started it as a small cafe on Cedar Creek Lake in 1969.
- Restaurant y Taquería Jalisco's $
Local Mexican restaurant and taqueria on W Corsicana St, run by the same owner since 2011.
- Taco Casa ↗
Taco Casa #122, a Texas fast-food Tex-Mex chain store serving tacos, burritos, nachos and taco salads, with a drive-thru.
Burgers & American (11)
- Twisted Root Burger Co. ↗ $
Athens outpost of the Dallas-born Twisted Root Burger Co., serving made-to-order burgers, fries and house-made root beer, with a full bar.
- Burger King ↗ chain
Burger King fast-food restaurant on East Tyler Street serving flame-grilled Whoppers, fries and breakfast, with a drive-thru.
- Cotton Patch Cafe ↗
Texas-based Cotton Patch Cafe serving scratch-made Southern comfort food such as chicken-fried steak, fried catfish and hot yeast rolls.
- Applebee's Grill + Bar ↗ bar chain
Applebee's casual-dining chain restaurant serving burgers, riblets, steaks and appetizers, with a full bar.
- Athens Boathouse Bar & Grill ↗ bar $$
Lakeside bar and grill at the Lake Athens marina serving Southern-inspired American food, with deck seating and a full bar.
- Benson's Eats & Treats $
Local burger and ice-cream stand on South Palestine Street serving burgers such as the Hornet Stinger, chicken-strip and steak-finger baskets, nachos and sundaes.
- Bob White's ↗ bar
Downtown restaurant and bar on N Palestine St, opened in May 2026.
- Chili's Grill & Bar ↗ chain
Chili's casual-dining chain restaurant serving burgers, fajitas, baby back ribs and margaritas.
- McDonald's ↗ chain $
McDonald's fast-food restaurant on East Tyler Street serving burgers, fries and breakfast, with a drive-thru.
- Sonic Drive-In ↗ chain
Sonic drive-in fast-food chain serving burgers, hot dogs, tots and flavored drinks and slushes from carhop stalls.
S Palestine St · Us Highway 175 W · permit since 1982 - Whataburger ↗ chain
Whataburger #613, the Texas burger chain's Athens store serving made-to-order burgers, chicken sandwiches and breakfast taquitos.
Chicken & Wings (5)
- Chicken Express ↗ chain
Chicken Express, the Texas fried-chicken chain, serving tenders, bone-in chicken, sides and sweet tea, with a drive-thru.
- Wingstop ↗ chain
Wingstop chain restaurant serving cooked-to-order chicken wings and tenders in a range of flavors, with seasoned fries.
- Julio's Market Chicken & Fish $
Counter-service spot on East Tyler Street frying chicken, chicken livers, catfish and tenders, served with sides like mashed potatoes, okra and peach cobbler.
- KFC ↗
KFC fried-chicken chain store serving Original Recipe chicken, tenders, pot pies and biscuits, with a drive-thru.
- Popeyes ↗ chain $
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen chain store serving spicy fried chicken, chicken sandwiches, biscuits and Cajun sides.
Seafood & Cajun (2)
- Mariscos El Rincon Bar & Grill bar $$
Mexican seafood restaurant and bar (mariscos, plus Tex-Mex plates) on N Pinkerton St, open since 2016.
- Tia Juanita's Fish Camp ↗ bar $$
Cajun and Creole seafood restaurant with a full bar on SH-31 E. Part of an Oklahoma-based fish-camp chain; the Athens store opened in August 2024.
Pizza & Italian (4)
- Little Caesars ↗
Little Caesars carryout pizza chain store in the E Tyler St strip center.
- Pizza Hut ↗ chain
Pizza Hut chain store offering pizza, wings and pasta for carryout, curbside and delivery.
- Domino's ↗ chain
Domino's pizza delivery and carryout chain store (#8036) in the Crestway shopping center.
- Rounders Pizza
Location of Rounders Pizza, a regional pizza chain, operating on S Palestine St since 2004.
Asian (5)
- Hunan Buffet ↗ $
Chinese buffet in the S Palestine St shopping center.
505 S Palestine St Ste 108, Athens, TX 75751 · (903) 677-1989
- Asian Garden ↗ $$
Chinese restaurant that also serves Japanese dishes and sushi. Open since 2016 in the E Tyler St strip center, with dine-in, takeout and delivery.
- Kei Asian Kitchen $$
Asian kitchen in the Crestway St shopping center, next to McAlister's Deli.
- Panda Express ↗ chain
Panda Express American-Chinese fast-food chain store (#3230), serving orange chicken, chow mein and fried rice.
- Yamato Japanese Sushi & Hibachi
Japanese restaurant serving sushi and hibachi on W Corsicana St.
Breakfast & Diner (2)
- Athens Livestock Cafe
Cafe at the livestock auction barn on State Highway 31 W, serving home-style meals on sale days.
- The Athens Cafe & Bar $
Local cafe on East Tyler Street serving breakfast, lunch and Tex-Mex plates such as huevos plates, breakfast tacos and biscuits.
Sandwiches & Delis (5)
- Firehouse Subs ↗ chain $
Firehouse Subs chain store serving hot, steamed subs such as the Hook & Ladder, plus salads and chili.
- McAlister's Deli ↗ chain
McAlister's Deli #515, a fast-casual chain serving deli sandwiches, spuds, soups, salads and sweet tea.
- Shenanigans Deli ↗ $
Local deli on South Palestine Street serving sandwiches on fresh-baked bread plus a case of sweet treats.
- Schlotzsky's ↗ chain
Schlotzsky's chain deli serving toasted sandwiches on house-baked sourdough buns, flatbread pizzas and salads.
- Subway ↗ chain
Subway sandwich shop chain with two Athens stores: one at 306 S Palestine St and one inside Walmart at 1405 E Tyler St.
E Tyler St · S Palestine St · permit since 2011
Coffee, Sweets & Bakery (9)
- Cafe Barista Cherry Laurel
- Donut Supreme
Donut shop on E Tyler St.
E Tyler St · S Palestine St · permit since 2019 - Dutch Bros ↗
Dutch Bros drive-thru coffee chain store (TX4606), serving espresso drinks, Rebel energy drinks and smoothies.
- Mix It Up Nutrition $
Herbalife nutrition club in downtown Athens serving protein shakes, smoothies and loaded teas.
205 N Murchison St Ste 105, Athens, TX 75751 · (903) 539-9392
- Munchies Mexican Treats $
Mexican snack and treats counter on W Tyler St, open since 2020.
- SnoBunnies Shaved Ice ↗ $
Shaved-ice stand in downtown Athens on S Palestine St.
- Star Donut $
Donut shop on E Corsicana St, open since 2010.
- Starbucks ↗ chain $
Starbucks coffeehouse (store #66251) on E Tyler St, serving espresso drinks, brewed coffee and pastries.
- Panaderia y Cafeteria Athens ↗
Mexican bakery on S Palestine St selling pan dulce and other traditional pastries, plus coffee and juices.
Food Trucks & Trailers (16)
- Boss Dog BBQ E Corsicana St Apt 201 · permit since 2023
- Casey's BBQ County Road 4612 · permit since 2022
- Cd's Land Grant Trl · permit since 2023
- Didi's Eatz & Treatz Lucas Dr · permit since 2026
- Gooey Gold Singletree Trl · permit since 2024
- Hatcreek Outfitters County Road 3707 · permit since 2011
- Lemons N' Hearts Lemonade Meadowview St · permit since 2024
- R & R Landscape & Lawn Service Jonathan St · permit since 2017
- Sip N Chill N Palestine St · Trail Ridge Rd · permit since 2025
- Soda-Licious Lacosta St · permit since 2025
- Southern Chic Beauty Boutique Suncrest Dr · permit since 2024
- Tacos Molinero Dusty Rd · permit since 2021
- Texpresso Coffee Fm 59 · permit since 2025
- The Burger Barn Fm 59 · permit since 1994
- The Meat Machine BBQ Frizzell St · permit since 2025
- Tod & Copper County Road 3715 · permit since 2022
Bars, Pubs & Nightlife (13)
- 1850 Ice House Icehouse
Downtown ice house bar in a historic building on N Palestine St, with a kitchen serving burgers, wings, pizza and wraps until about 8 pm and pizza by the slice after that.
- The Anchor Lounge Lounge
Bar and lounge on E Tyler St, in the building that housed the Caballero Club and Royal Athens Club.
- Applebee's Grill + Bar American + full bar chain
Applebee's casual-dining chain restaurant serving burgers, riblets, steaks and appetizers, with a full bar.
- Athens Boathouse Bar & Grill American + full bar $$
Lakeside bar and grill at the Lake Athens marina serving Southern-inspired American food, with deck seating and a full bar.
- Bob White's American + full bar
Downtown restaurant and bar on N Palestine St, opened in May 2026.
- Cinco De Mayo Restaurant & Bar Tex-Mex + full bar
Tex-Mex restaurant and bar on W Corsicana St, open since 2023 in the former Ole West Bean-N-Burger space.
- El San Luis Bar & Grill Tex-Mex + full bar
Mexican restaurant and bar on E Tyler St serving Tex-Mex plates, tortas and drinks, open since 2018.
- Jalapeño Tree Tex-Mex + full bar
Location of the East Texas Tex-Mex chain Jalapeño Tree on E Tyler St, open since December 2006, with a patio and full bar.
- Mariscos El Rincon Bar & Grill Seafood + full bar $$
Mexican seafood restaurant and bar (mariscos, plus Tex-Mex plates) on N Pinkerton St, open since 2016.
- Ochoa's Mexican Restaurant Tex-Mex + full bar $
Family-owned Tex-Mex restaurant on US-175 W serving enchiladas, tamales and fajitas, plus steaks and chicken-fried steak. The Ochoa family started it as a small cafe on Cedar Creek Lake in 1969.
- Tia Juanita's Fish Camp Seafood + full bar $$
Cajun and Creole seafood restaurant with a full bar on SH-31 E. Part of an Oklahoma-based fish-camp chain; the Athens store opened in August 2024.
- Athens Country Club Country Club members only
- VFW Post 7103 Veterans Post members only
Sourced from the Texas Comptroller's active permit records. A spot that recently closed or changed hands may occasionally still appear — let us know and we'll fix it.
Source: Texas Comptroller — Active Sales Tax Permit Holders (NAICS 722)
If any town should take its burgers seriously, it's Athens. It claims a local cafe owner, Fletcher Davis, invented the hamburger, and in 2007 the Texas Legislature passed a resolution naming it the Original Home of the Hamburger. The burgers here are backed up by local barbecue, a lakeside grill on Lake Athens and a long list of Tex-Mex and Mexican kitchens.
Here's where to eat in Athens.
The Hamburgers
You have to eat a burger in the Original Home of the Hamburger. Callaway's Coffee & Bistro at 613 S Prairieville St lists an "Award Winning Burger" on its menu and is the spot most often pointed to when people talk about living up to the town's burger legacy.
Downtown, Benson's Eats & Treats on S Palestine St is a local burger and ice-cream stand. Its menu runs from burgers like the Hornet Stinger to chicken-strip and steak-finger baskets and sundaes. On E Tyler St, Twisted Root Burger Co., a chain born in Dallas, makes burgers to order and brews its own root beer.
Barbecue
Danny's Smokehouse Bar-B-Q at 850 E Corsicana St is the long-runner. The same company has run it since 1999. Smoky B Barbecue is a local brand with outlets on S Palestine St downtown and at the Lake Athens marina. For barbecue, those two are where to start.
Lakeside Dining
One of the pleasures of an Athens meal is eating by the water. Athens Boathouse Bar & Grill at 5401 Marina Dr sits at the Lake Athens marina. It serves Southern-inspired American food, with deck seating and a full bar. The Cedar Creek Lake towns to the northwest add more lakeside restaurants.
Tex-Mex, Mexican and Seafood
Athens has a deep Mexican bench. Ochoa's Mexican Restaurant on US-175 W is family-owned; the Ochoa family started it as a small cafe on Cedar Creek Lake in 1969. Its menu covers enchiladas, tamales and fajitas, plus steaks and chicken-fried steak. Restaurant y Taquería Jalisco's on W Corsicana St has had the same owner since 2011, and Tilo's Cuisine & Bakery on E Tyler St has been open since 2008. Jalapeño Tree, the East Texas Tex-Mex chain, has been on E Tyler St since December 2006 and has a patio and full bar.
On N Pinkerton St, Mariscos El Rincon Bar & Grill serves Mexican seafood, and Los Arquitos Cocina Mexicana is next door. For Cajun and Creole seafood, Tia Juanita's Fish Camp opened on SH-31 E in August 2024. For pan dulce and coffee, try Panaderia y Cafeteria Athens on S Palestine St.
FAQ: Dining in Athens
Callaway's Coffee & Bistro at 613 S Prairieville St lists an award-winning burger on its menu. Benson's Eats & Treats, a local burger and ice-cream stand on S Palestine St, and Twisted Root Burger Co. on E Tyler St are other options in the town the Texas Legislature named the Original Home of the Hamburger.
Danny's Smokehouse Bar-B-Q at 850 E Corsicana St has been run by the same company since 1999. Smoky B Barbecue, a local brand, has outlets on S Palestine St downtown and at the Lake Athens marina.
Yes. Athens Boathouse Bar & Grill at 5401 Marina Dr is at the Lake Athens marina. It serves Southern-inspired American food, with deck seating and a full bar. The Cedar Creek Lake communities northwest of Athens have more lakeside restaurants.
Yes. In 2007 the Texas Legislature passed a resolution (HCR 15) naming Athens the Original Home of the Hamburger, crediting local cafe owner Fletcher Davis. The town has also held Uncle Fletch's hamburger cook-off since 1984.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Athens in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
Best Restaurants in East Texas
Where to eat in East Texas, with sourced facts: Stanley's Famous Pit Bar-B-Q and Rick's on the Square in Tyler, Athens and the hamburger, Tyler-born Mercados and Posados, First Monday in Canton, and Moore's Store in Ben Wheeler.
Read Guide →East Texas BBQ: The Best Smokehouses and Pits
East Texas BBQ explained: chopped, sauced, pork as often as beef — how it differs from Central Texas style, plus Tyler's Stanley's and Pat Gee's.
Read Guide →East Texas Farmers Markets and Local Produce
East Texas farmers markets and u-pick farms, with sources: Tyler's Rose City Farmers Market, the Whitehouse market, Jacksonville's Tomato Fest, and the berry farms on KLTV's 2025 u-pick list.
Read Guide →East Texas Festivals and Annual Events
Season-by-season guide to East Texas festivals and events — Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas Rose Festival, the Yamboree, Wonderland of Lights and more, checked against each host's own site.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
Want Your Business Featured in Athens?
People are searching for businesses like yours in Athens. Get listed in our city guide and local directory so they can find you.