Restaurants in Carthage, Texas
Listings checked against Texas Comptroller permit data · Updated October 2026
Carthage, the Panola County seat near the Louisiana line, has a short list of restaurants worth seeking out. There's a Texas Monthly–reviewed barbecue joint out by Lake Murvaul and a downtown brewery-winery with a Cajun-leaning kitchen. Add Tex-Mex and a row of local cafes and coffee shops along W Panola St.
Here's where to eat in Carthage.
Barbecue
Chuck's Country Smoke House is southwest of town on FM 1970, near Lake Murvaul. You'll know it by the metal bull on the roof and the hand-painted sign. Owner Chuck Terrell left a medical-equipment sales job in Dallas to come home and open it, and Texas Monthly has written it up. The chalkboard menu covers the usual smoked meats plus smoked boudin and a half dozen sandwiches. The Susie Q is billed as the best seller. In town, Big Ant's Barbque and Catering also does barbecue and catering.
Downtown: Brewery, Wine and Pops Kitchen
Grind & Grain Beverage Co. at 108 W Sabine St brews its beer in-house, including the White Room Cream Ale and the One if by Land IPA. It also pours its own wines, such as Gary City Grigio and Cordy's Cab Sav, and keeps a big shelf of board games. The food comes from Pops Kitchen, run by the same family, which leans Cajun with po'boys and fried pickles.
The Texas Tea Room sits on the downtown square at 100 E Sabine St.
Tex-Mex, Cafes and Coffee
Jalapeño Tree, part of the East Texas Tex-Mex chain, has been in Carthage since 1997 and has a full bar. Main Street Cafe on W Panola St is a family-run breakfast-and-lunch diner, closed Sundays. Circle M Cafe nearby is locally owned. Milano's serves pizza, pasta and wings; it is the Carthage store of a small East Texas group with sister stores in Longview and Tatum. Broken Arrow Pizza is on N St Mary St, and Sjohn's Fried Chicken is a locally owned fried-chicken shop on W Panola.
For coffee, The Master's Blend on W Panola St serves hand-crafted espresso plus breakfasts and lunches (sandwiches, paninis, soups and homemade desserts). Beans & Blooms Cafe on W Holland St opened in 2026. 903 Bakery, Donut Deluxe and Sony's Donuts cover the pastries, and the Sonic on W Panola has been at that address since 1975.
Restaurant Directory: Carthage
A directory of 28 restaurants, 9 food trucks, and 6 bars & nightlife spots, built from active Texas sales-tax permits, grouped by cuisine where the name makes it clear.
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.
Mexican & Tex-Mex (2)
- Taco Bell ↗ chain $
Taco Bell fast-food outlet on W Panola St serving tacos, burritos and quesadillas, operated by franchisee Southern Multifoods.
1529 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 693-3431
- Jalapeño Tree ↗ bar $$
Carthage location of the East Texas Jalapeño Tree Tex-Mex chain, open since 1997, offering dine-in, to-go and catering with a full bar.
510 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 694-2219
Burgers & American (7)
- Circle M Cafe
Locally owned cafe on W Panola St.
1122 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 631-2121
- Sonic Drive-In ↗ $
Sonic Drive-In on W Panola St serving burgers, hot dogs, tots and slushes from carhop stalls; a Sonic has operated at this address since 1975.
710 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 693-5181
- Jucy's Hamburgers ↗ $
Carthage outlet of the Longview-based Jucy's Hamburgers chain, known for fresh-ground burgers, fries and shakes.
1511 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 263-0911
- McDonald's ↗ chain $
McDonald's fast-food restaurant on W Panola St serving burgers, fries and breakfast.
1415 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633
- The Texas Tea Room
Tea room on the downtown Carthage square at E Sabine St.
100 E Sabine St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 693-8689
- Wendy's ↗ $
Wendy's fast-food restaurant open 24 hours at the Love's Travel Stop on E Sabine St, serving burgers, chicken sandwiches and Frosty desserts.
975 E Sabine St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 631-2034
- Whataburger ↗ chain $
Whataburger #937 on W Panola St serving made-to-order burgers, taquitos and breakfast.
819 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 690-9600
Chicken & Wings (1)
- Sjohn's Fried Chicken $
Locally owned fried-chicken shop on W Panola St.
1517 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633
Pizza & Italian (4)
- Little Caesars ↗ $
Little Caesars carryout pizza store on the NW Loop known for Hot-N-Ready pizzas and Crazy Bread.
4399 NW Loop, Carthage, TX 75633
- Broken Arrow Pizza ↗
Pizzeria at 226 N St Mary St in Carthage offering carryout and online ordering.
226 N Saint Mary St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (318) 770-6442
- Milano's ↗
Family pizza, pasta and wings restaurant; the Carthage store of a three-location East Texas group with sister stores in Longview and Tatum.
467 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 693-7747
- Pizza Hut ↗ chain $
Pizza Hut delivery/carryout store (#033824) on W Panola St, operated by franchisee Arnold Family of Restaurants.
1208 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 693-4331
Asian (2)
- Golden Dragon Buffet
Chinese buffet on W Panola St in Carthage.
617A W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633
- Panda Express ↗ chain $
Panda Express counter-service American Chinese restaurant (store #2967) on W Panola St.
1531 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633
Breakfast & Diner (2)
- Main Street Cafe
Family-run diner on W Panola St serving breakfast and lunch; closed Sundays.
433 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 694-9955
- Denny's ↗ chain $$
24-hour Denny's diner on US-59 S serving breakfast all day, burgers and comfort plates.
1058 US 59 S, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 690-0330
Sandwiches & Delis (2)
- Pops Kitchen
Kitchen at the Boo-Yay's shop on W Sabine St downtown.
108 W Sabine St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 263-0297
- Subway ↗ chain $
Subway sandwich shop on W Panola St serving made-to-order subs and salads.
1018 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633
Coffee, Sweets & Bakery (8)
- 903 Bakery
Local bakery on N Daniels St in Carthage.
509 N Daniels St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 631-2062
- Beans & Blooms Cafe
Coffee cafe on W Holland St in Carthage, opened in 2026.
800 W Holland St, Carthage, TX 75633
- Dawg Nation Nutrition
Nutrition shake and energy tea shop on N Pecan St in Carthage.
303 N Pecan St, Carthage, TX 75633
- Donut Deluxe $
Donut shop on W Panola St in Carthage.
712 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633
- Oh My Boba
Boba tea shop on W Panola St in Carthage.
1004 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633
- Sony's Donuts $
Donut shop on N St Mary St (US-59) in Carthage.
701 N Saint Mary St, Carthage, TX 75633
- Southern Bliss
Nutrition shake and energy drink shop on N St Mary St in downtown Carthage.
113 N Saint Mary St, Carthage, TX 75633
- The Master's Blend ↗
Coffee house serving hand-crafted espresso plus breakfasts and lunches (sandwiches, wraps, paninis, soups, homemade desserts).
1128 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 693-2288
Food Trucks & Trailers (9)
- Bans Crawfish Private Road 627 · permit since 2024
- Big Ant's Barbque And Catering State Highway 149 · permit since 2026
- Dbone & More Fm 31 S · permit since 2023
- Gail's Place W Panola St · permit since 2009
- Kleen Sweep County Road 279 · permit since 2009
- La Buena Birria Sabor Mexico S Shelby St · permit since 2025
- Nenes W Holly St · permit since 2021
- The Busy Bean Private Road 5192 · permit since 2024
- The Swig Rig Lynnwood Dr · permit since 2025
Bars, Pubs & Nightlife (6)
- Hwy 59 Daiquiri Daiquiri Bar
Daiquiri bar on N St Mary St (US-59) in Carthage.
601 N Saint Mary St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 265-1752
- Rancho Grande Bar
- Rip Club Club
- Jalapeño Tree Tex-Mex + full bar $$
Carthage location of the East Texas Jalapeño Tree Tex-Mex chain, open since 1997, offering dine-in, to-go and catering with a full bar.
510 W Panola St, Carthage, TX 75633 · (903) 694-2219
- American Legion Panola County Post 353 Veterans Post members only
- American Legion Panola County Post 353 Veterans Post members only
American Legion Post 353 veterans' post and members' bar on the SE Loop in Carthage.
1520 SE Loop, Carthage, TX 75633
Source: Texas Comptroller — Active Sales Tax Permit Holders (NAICS 722)
FAQ: Dining in Carthage
Chuck's Country Smoke House, southwest of town on FM 1970 near Lake Murvaul, is the one Texas Monthly has written up. It's known for its Susie Q sandwich and smoked boudin, and you'll spot it by the metal bull on the roof.
Yes. Grind & Grain Beverage Co. at 108 W Sabine St downtown brews beer in-house (such as the White Room Cream Ale and One if by Land IPA) and pours its own wines. Food comes from the family's Pops Kitchen, with Cajun-leaning po'boys.
Main Street Cafe on W Panola St is a family-run breakfast-and-lunch diner (closed Sundays). The Master's Blend coffee house serves breakfasts and lunches with espresso, and Donut Deluxe and Sony's Donuts handle donuts.
Jalapeño Tree, part of the East Texas Tex-Mex chain, has operated in Carthage since 1997 and has a full bar.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Carthage 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?
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