Where to Eat in Gilmer, Texas
Gilmer's dining is classic small-town East Texas — friendly local spots serving burgers, Tex-Mex, barbecue, and home cooking around the historic courthouse square. As the seat of Upshur County and a town with a big festival in its blood, it eats well for its size, and Longview's broader scene is a short drive south.
Here's where to eat in Gilmer.
Local Favorites
Gilmer has the kind of hometown spots locals swear by. Bubba's Fat Burger is a go-to for a hearty, made-to-order burger, and La Finca serves up the Tex-Mex and Mexican plates — enchiladas, fajitas, and more — that are a staple of any East Texas town. These casual, friendly places are where neighbors gather for an easy lunch or a weeknight dinner.
They're the heart of everyday dining in Gilmer — unpretentious, affordable, and full of local character.
Barbecue and Home Cooking
Like the rest of the region, Gilmer runs on barbecue and Southern home cooking. Local spots smoke brisket, ribs, and sausage, and cafes serve up chicken-fried steak, catfish, and from-scratch sides — the comfort food that anchors small-town Texas dining.
These hometown restaurants near the square are where locals gather for plate lunches and Sunday dinners, the reliable, satisfying core of the Gilmer dining scene.
Yamboree and Beyond
Once a year, dining in Gilmer goes big. The East Texas Yamboree each October brings the Yamboree Barbecue and a square full of food vendors and yam-inspired treats — a delicious way to experience the town at its liveliest.
The rest of the year, beyond the local favorites, Gilmer has the usual diners and quick-service options, and Longview's full range of restaurants is only about a half-hour south. Between the hometown spots, the festival fare, and Longview nearby, Gilmer keeps its residents and visitors well fed.
The Food Scene
- Plate lunch spots and diners are the backbone of eating in Gilmer — fried catfish, chicken fried steak, and cobbler
- Barbecue is taken seriously here, as it is everywhere in East Texas
- Mexican restaurants with loyal followings dot the town
- Most places are cash-friendly, family-run, and closed on Sundays
- Don't expect trendy — expect portions that make you reconsider your afternoon plans
Local Favorites
- Home-style diners serving daily plate lunch specials
- Local barbecue joints with brisket and smoked sausage
- Tex-Mex and Mexican family restaurants
- Small-town burger spots with hand-formed patties
- Church and community fish fries on Friday nights
Every Restaurant in Gilmer
A complete directory — 37 restaurants, 7 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)
- Longhorn Smokehouse ↗ Miles North Of Big Sandy On Hgy 155 · since 1997
- Bodacious Bar-B-Q N Wood St · since 1996
Mexican & Tex-Mex (5)
- Taco Bell ↗ chain N Wood St · since 1996
- Chayo's ↗ Us Highway 271 N · since 2025
- La Carreta Cocina Mexicana bar W Tyler St · since 2022
- La Finca Foods ↗ Warren St · since 2025
- Mary's Authentic Mexican Restaurant ↗ E Jefferson St · since 2017
Burgers & American (7)
- Poco Loco Bar & Grill ↗ bar Fawn Crossing Rd · since 2023
- Dairy Queen ↗ chain Us Highway 271 S · since 2024
- Jack in the Box ↗ chain N Wood St · since 2025
- Jucy's Highway 271 ↗ Us Highway 271 S · since 2022
- McDonald's ↗ chain N Wood St · since 2018
- Rsdi Gilmer, TX (909 N. Wood Street) ↗ N Wood St · since 2010
- Wab 1029 ↗ N Wood St · since 2021
Chicken & Wings (1)
- Chicken Express ↗ chain Us Highway 271 N · since 2019
Pizza & Italian (3)
- Pizza Hut ↗ chain N Wood St · since 2018
- Domino's ↗ chain Us Highway 271 N · since 2024
- Fetanettis ↗ W Tyler St · since 2025
Asian (1)
- Sushito's ↗ Henderson St · since 2021
Breakfast & Diner (1)
- Midway Cafe Us Highway 271 N · State Highway 155 N · since 2018
Sandwiches & Delis (2)
- Dmfh Restaurant ↗ Us Highway 271 N · since 2016
- Subway ↗ chain Us Highway 271 S · since 2018
Coffee, Sweets & Bakery (12)
- Cozy Coffee Station ↗ Us Highway 271 N · since 2023
- Cozy Coffee Station- Harmony ↗ State Highway 154 W · since 2024
- Gilmer Donut Us Highway 271 N · since 2014
- Huey's Coffee ↗ Us Highway 271 N · since 2022
- Provision Farm ↗ E Marshall St · since 2025
- Smoothie Hut ↗ E Harrison St · since 2025
- Sundae Social Ice Cream ↗ Us Highway 271 N · since 2024
- Teapsy Texas On Clouds ↗ Amaryllis Rd · since 2023
- The Cozy Coffee Wagon ↗ Warren St · since 2021
- Daylight Donuts ↗ Us Highway 271 N · since 2017
- Starbucks ↗ chain Us Highway 271 N · since 2023
- West Side Baking ↗ W Tyler St · since 2023
Other (3)
- Aileral Services Us Highway 271 N · since 2019
- Ruthy's Art Bar ↗ bar Buffalo St · since 2023
- Smallwood Operating Fm 1650 · since 2021
Food Trucks & Trailers (7)
- Addie B Winn Titus St · since 2022
- Burgers On A Mission Mitchell St · since 2024
- East TX Rust BBQ W Tyler St · since 2024
- First Assembly Of God Of Gilmer, Texas Us Highway 271 N · since 2007
- Krawdaddy's Crawfish E Scott St · since 2022
- Petty's On Wheels Private Road 1118 · since 2016
- Tacos Boca Hawthorne Rd · since 2023
Bars, Pubs & Nightlife (6)
- Davidsons Bar
- La Finca Restaurant Bar
- The Pro Shop Bar
- La Carreta Cocina Mexicana Tex-Mex + full bar W Tyler St · since 2022
- Poco Loco Bar & Grill American + full bar Fawn Crossing Rd · since 2023
- Ruthy's Art Bar Other + full bar Buffalo St · since 2023
Source: Texas Comptroller — Active Sales Tax Permit Holders (NAICS 722)
FAQ: Dining in Gilmer
Local favorites include Bubba's Fat Burger for hearty burgers and La Finca for Tex-Mex and Mexican food, alongside the town's barbecue joints and home-cooking cafes near the courthouse square. Longview's broader dining scene is a short drive south.
Yes, for a town its size. Gilmer offers local favorites like Bubba's Fat Burger and La Finca, plus barbecue, home cooking, and Tex-Mex around the historic square, with Longview's fuller restaurant scene about a half-hour away.
Yes. The East Texas Yamboree each October features the Yamboree Barbecue and fills the town square with food vendors and yam-inspired treats — a fun, tasty way to experience Gilmer at its liveliest.
Yes. La Finca is a local favorite for Tex-Mex and Mexican food in Gilmer, serving enchiladas, fajitas, and more — a staple of the town's dining scene alongside its burgers, barbecue, and home cooking.
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