Restaurants in Center, Texas
Listings checked against Texas Comptroller permit data · Updated October 2026
Center's directory lists more than 30 restaurants, cafés and bars, from family Mexican kitchens and a long-running barbecue and catfish spot to a cluster of downtown cafés a block off the Shelby County Courthouse, the Irish-castle-style courthouse J.J.E. Gibson built in 1883–85.
Here's where to eat in Center, sorted by street and style.
Mexican Kitchens
Center has seven Mexican kitchens, plus an elote stand:
- Rancho Grande (816 Tenaha St) — fajitas and chile rellenos, a full bar, and a lot big enough for trucks and trailers.
- Las Palmas Mexican Grill & Cantina (1135 Hurst St) — nachos and chile rellenos, with a sports-bar side.
- Las Margaritas (110 Nacogdoches St) — fajitas and Tex-Mex plates downtown.
- Mi Casita (133 Tenaha St) — small family-run Tex-Mex: tacos, burritos, flautas.
- La Pasadita (1987 Tenaha St) — a small kitchen noted for its tamales.
- Taquería Mi Sabino (714 Shelbyville St) — birria tacos.
- Martinez Billar Cocina Mexicana (310 Travis St) — a pool hall with a kitchen serving enchilada plates.
- Elotes Monterrey (417 Hurst St) — grilled elotes, strawberries and cream, and ice cream.
Barbecue, Burgers and Home Cooking
- Chaps Bar-B-Q (823 Hurst St) — long-running barbecue and catfish, known for chopped-beef brisket sandwiches.
- BBQ Joint (500 Cora St) — takeout brisket plates; its online menu also lists Caribbean dishes.
- Family Traditions (411 Hurst St) — cheeseburgers, onion rings and home cooking.
- Fancy's Cafe (1003 Hurst St) — home-style American plates.
- T/R's Steaks and More (892 Hurst St) — lunch, dinner and weekend buffets in the former Golden Corral building, with a seafood buffet on Fridays and Saturdays.
- J's Bar And Grill (1510 Southview Cir) — steaks and drinks in the old Sundowner Private Club building.
- Royal Buffet (902 Hurst St) — Chinese buffet.
Downtown Around the Square
Several of Center's newer spots sit on Tenaha, Nacogdoches and San Augustine streets near the courthouse:
- The Pizzeria (225 San Augustine St) — open since 1993, under new owners since 2023.
- TCS Bistro (315 Tenaha St) — burgers, chicken-fried steak and fried pickles inside The Century Shoppe.
- Diamond B Cafe (246 Tenaha St) — breakfast and lunch, opened January 2026 by the owner of Diamond B Coffee (500 Hurst St).
- Mr. Doggo (130 Nacogdoches St) — hot dogs and seafood boils, with a bar.
- Art & Wine (132 Nacogdoches St) — an art-and-wine venue next door.
The East Texas Poultry Festival fills the downtown square each October; 2026 was its 50th year, running October 1–3.
Quick Stops, Sweets and Drinks
- Donut Palace (813 Hurst St) — fresh donuts and custom decorated sets.
- Center's Spuddies (712 Shelbyville St) — loaded baked potatoes.
- Center Nutrition Spot (500 Hurst St) — loaded teas and shakes, open since 2016.
- Dirty Pop (766 Hurst St) — a drink shop that opened February 2026.
- Chains along Hurst and Tenaha streets include Whataburger, McDonald's, Sonic, Dairy Queen, Chicken Express, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Little Caesars and a Subway inside Walmart.
Restaurant Directory: Center
A directory of 32 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.
Barbecue (2)
- BBQ Joint ↗
Takeout barbecue joint on Cora Street selling brisket plates and sides, with an online-ordering site that also lists Caribbean dishes.
500 Cora St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 591-8827
- Chaps Bar-B-Q
Long-running local barbecue and catfish spot on Hurst Street serving chopped-beef brisket sandwiches and plates.
823 Hurst St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 598-4404
Mexican & Tex-Mex (9)
- Las Palmas Mexican Grill & Cantina bar $
Mexican grill and cantina on Hurst Street with a sports-bar side, known for nachos and chile rellenos.
1135 Hurst St Ste 600, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 590-4841
- Taco Bell ↗ chain $
Taco Bell fast-food restaurant with dine-in and drive-thru on Tenaha Street.
1315 Tenaha St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 598-3909
- Elotes Monterrey $
Snack shop on Hurst Street selling grilled elotes, sweet potatoes, strawberries and cream and ice cream.
417 Hurst St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 657-9697
- La Pasadita
Small Mexican restaurant on Tenaha Street, noted for its tamales.
1987 Tenaha St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 427-2244
- Las Margaritas
Downtown Mexican restaurant on Nacogdoches Street serving fajitas and Tex-Mex plates.
110 Nacogdoches St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 590-4363
- Martinez Billar Cocina Mexicana $
Pool hall on Travis Street with a Mexican kitchen serving enchilada plates.
310 Travis St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 591-0312
- Mi Casita $
Small family-run Tex-Mex restaurant on Tenaha Street serving tacos, burritos and flautas.
133 Tenaha St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 591-8399
- Rancho Grande bar
Mexican restaurant on Tenaha Street with a full bar and a large lot that fits trucks and trailers; serves fajitas and chile rellenos.
816 Tenaha St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 590-9607
- Taquería Mi Sabino $
Taqueria on Shelbyville Street known for birria tacos.
714 Shelbyville St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 598-9119
Burgers & American (8)
- Fancy's Cafe $
Family cafe on Hurst Street serving home-style American meals.
1003 Hurst St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 427-5008
- Dairy Queen Grill & Chill ↗ $
Dairy Queen Grill & Chill serving burgers, chicken strips and Blizzard treats on Tenaha Street.
401 Tenaha St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 598-5207
- Family Traditions
Local burger and home-cooking restaurant on Hurst Street, known for cheeseburgers and onion rings.
411 Hurst St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 280-9935
- McDonald's ↗ chain $
McDonald's fast-food restaurant on Hurst Street.
812 Hurst St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 591-0400
- Mr. Doggo bar
Downtown spot on Nacogdoches Street serving hot dogs and seafood boils, with a mixed-beverage bar.
130 Nacogdoches St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 657-4186
- Sonic Drive-In ↗ chain $
Sonic drive-in serving burgers, hot dogs, tots and slushes with carhop stalls and a drive-thru on Tenaha Street.
715 Tenaha St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 598-9110
- TCS Bistro $
Downtown bistro inside The Century Shoppe serving burgers, chicken-fried steak and fried pickles, with a mixed-beverage permit.
315 Tenaha St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 598-4453
- Whataburger ↗ chain $
Whataburger fast-food restaurant serving made-to-order burgers, chicken sandwiches and breakfast, with dining room and drive-thru.
864 Hurst St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 590-9898
Steakhouse (1)
- T/R's Steaks and More ↗ $$
Buffet restaurant in the former Golden Corral building on Hurst Street, with lunch, dinner and weekend buffets, a Friday–Saturday seafood buffet and catering.
892 Hurst St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 598-4115
Chicken & Wings (1)
- Chicken Express ↗ chain $
Chicken Express franchise serving fried chicken tenders, sides and sweet tea on Tenaha Street.
323 Tenaha St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 598-9100
Pizza & Italian (3)
- Little Caesars ↗ $
Little Caesars carryout pizza shop in the Hurst Street shopping center.
854 Hurst St Ste 112, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 427-5170
- Pizza Hut ↗ chain $
Pizza Hut restaurant offering pizza, wings and pasta for delivery, carryout and dine-in on Hurst Street.
1007 Hurst St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 598-6303
- The Pizzeria $
Longtime local pizza restaurant on San Augustine Street, operating since 1993 and under new ownership since 2023.
225 San Augustine St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 598-7117
Asian (1)
- Royal Buffet $
Chinese buffet on Hurst Street serving fried rice, General Tso's chicken and fish and shrimp dishes.
902 Hurst St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 591-8897
Breakfast & Diner (1)
- Diamond B Cafe
Breakfast and lunch cafe on Tenaha Street from the owner of Diamond B Coffee, opened in January 2026.
246 Tenaha St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 488-6006
Sandwiches & Delis (1)
- Subway ↗ chain $
Subway sandwich shop inside Walmart #364 serving subs, wraps and salads.
810 Hurst St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 598-5686
Coffee, Sweets & Bakery (4)
- Center Nutrition Spot
Herbalife nutrition club on Hurst Street serving loaded teas, meal-replacement shakes and protein snacks; open since 2016.
500 Hurst St # A, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 615-4188
- Diamond B Coffee $
Local coffee shop on Hurst Street; the owner also runs Diamond B Cafe.
500 Hurst St # 2, Center, TX 75935 · (972) 877-8468
- Dirty Pop
Drink shop on Hurst Street that opened in February 2026.
766 Hurst St, Center, TX 75935
- Donut Palace $
Donut shop on Hurst Street making fresh donuts and custom decorated sets.
813 Hurst St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 598-8994
Other (1)
- Center's Spuddies
Loaded baked-potato shop on Shelbyville Street.
712 Shelbyville St, Center, TX 75935
Food Trucks & Trailers (9)
- Angel's Tacos & Caterings Cathy St · permit since 2024
- Emilio Gomez County Road 1510 · permit since 2018
- Granny B's Tenaha St · permit since 2008
- J's Custom Eats County Road 3090 · permit since 2022
- Lee Snacks Fm 711 · permit since 2022
- Rae Sterling County Road 1286 · permit since 2022
- Taqueria Estrella Tenaha St · permit since 2024
- The Dapper Dog County Road 1286 · permit since 2021
- The Sweet Enchantment Tenaha St · permit since 2025
Bars, Pubs & Nightlife (6)
- Art & Wine Wine Bar
Downtown art-and-wine venue on Nacogdoches Street.
132 Nacogdoches St, Center, TX 75935
- J's Bar And Grill Bars & Nightlife + full bar $
Sports bar and grill on Southview Circle serving steaks and drinks, in the former Sundowner Private Club building.
1510 Southview Cir, Center, TX 75935
- Las Palmas Mexican Grill & Cantina Tex-Mex + full bar $
Mexican grill and cantina on Hurst Street with a sports-bar side, known for nachos and chile rellenos.
1135 Hurst St Ste 600, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 590-4841
- Mr. Doggo American + full bar
Downtown spot on Nacogdoches Street serving hot dogs and seafood boils, with a mixed-beverage bar.
130 Nacogdoches St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 657-4186
- Rancho Grande Tex-Mex + full bar
Mexican restaurant on Tenaha Street with a full bar and a large lot that fits trucks and trailers; serves fajitas and chile rellenos.
816 Tenaha St, Center, TX 75935 · (936) 590-9607
- Center Country Club Country Club members only
Source: Texas Comptroller — Active Sales Tax Permit Holders (NAICS 722)
FAQ: Dining in Center
Center has seven Mexican kitchens — Rancho Grande, Las Palmas, Las Margaritas, Mi Casita and others — alongside barbecue and catfish at Chaps Bar-B-Q and home cooking at spots like Family Traditions and Fancy's Cafe.
Near the courthouse square you'll find The Pizzeria (since 1993), TCS Bistro inside The Century Shoppe, Diamond B Cafe (opened January 2026), Las Margaritas, Mr. Doggo and Art & Wine.
Yes. Chaps Bar-B-Q on Hurst Street is a long-running barbecue and catfish spot, and BBQ Joint on Cora Street sells takeout brisket plates.
It's held on the downtown Center square in early October. The 50th annual festival ran October 1–3, 2026.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Center in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
Best Restaurants in East Texas
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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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