Restaurants in Rusk, Texas
Listings checked against Texas Comptroller permit data · Updated September 2026
Restaurant Directory: Rusk
A directory of 16 restaurants, 9 food trucks, and 1 bar & nightlife spot, built from active Texas sales-tax permits, grouped by cuisine where the name makes it clear.
Barbecue (1)
- All Star Bar-B-Q ↗
Local barbecue joint on S Dickinson Dr serving smoked brisket, ribs and beef since 1993.
Mexican & Tex-Mex (3)
- Taco Bell ↗ chain $
Taco Bell fast-food outlet on N Dickinson Dr (US-69) serving tacos, burritos and quesadillas; operated by franchisee Southern Multifoods (store #20132).
- Abuela's Mexican Restaurant
Family-run Tex-Mex restaurant on N Main St serving burritos, fajitas and plates.
- La Charra Mexican Restaurant ↗
Home-style Tex-Mex restaurant on E 6th St serving fajitas, lunch specials and guacamole, with indoor and outdoor seating; open Monday–Saturday.
Burgers & American (3)
- McDonald's ↗ chain $
McDonald's fast-food outlet on N Dickinson Dr (US-69) serving burgers, fries and breakfast.
- Sonic Drive-In ↗ chain $
Sonic drive-in on N Dickinson Dr serving burgers, hot dogs, tots and slushes; operated by Soar Restaurants (store #3735).
- Whataburger ↗ chain $
Whataburger outlet (#769) on N Dickinson Dr serving burgers, chicken and breakfast taquitos, with curbside pickup.
Chicken & Wings (1)
- Julio's Chicken and Fish
Fried chicken and fish restaurant on N Henderson St that opened in June 2026.
Seafood & Cajun (1)
- KT Seafood Grill
Locally owned seafood grill on S Dickinson Dr serving fried and blackened fish, shrimp, gumbo and frog legs.
Pizza & Italian (1)
- Pizza Hut ↗ chain $
Pizza Hut delivery and carryout outlet on N Main St serving pizza, wings and pasta; operated by franchisee Tall Timbers Pizza Hut.
Breakfast & Diner (1)
- Town Square Cafe ↗
Downtown Rusk cafe opened in October 2024 serving breakfast plus comfort food such as hamburgers, chicken-fried steak and salads.
Sandwiches & Delis (1)
- Subway ↗ chain $
Subway sandwich shop on N Dickinson Dr serving made-to-order subs and salads.
Coffee, Sweets & Bakery (4)
- Joy Filled
Small snack and drink shop on S Dickinson Dr run by the Alto boutique company Kate & Company Designs.
- Rusk Donut Shop
Donut shop on N Dickinson Dr serving donuts and kolaches.
- The Daily Grind ↗ $
Downtown Rusk coffeehouse on W 5th St serving espresso drinks, muffins and lunch items like chicken salad; open since 2006.
- Yellowwood Coffee
Coffee shop on N Main St in Rusk.
Food Trucks & Trailers (9)
- Bean Wild Coffee Us Highway 84 E · permit since 2025
- Eagles Den Sherman St · permit since 2026
- Fasean N Main St · permit since 2025
- Hassell Cattle Company Fm 23 W · permit since 2020
- Lissas Taqueria Loop 343 · permit since 2024
- Sno On Tha' Go Concessions Us Highway 84 W · permit since 2022
- Southern Native County Road 2446 · permit since 2025
- Taqueria La Fuente N Dickinson Dr · permit since 2024
- World Class Concessions County Road 2209 · permit since 2022
Bars, Pubs & Nightlife (1)
- Joe's Sports Bar & Grill Bar & Grill $
Downtown Rusk sports bar and grill on S Henderson St serving burgers and bar food.
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)
Rusk is the Cherokee County seat and the eastern end of the Texas State Railroad. Most of its restaurants sit downtown or along N and S Dickinson Dr (US-69). Our directory lists more than 25 places in town. Here's where to eat.
Barbecue, seafood and Tex-Mex
All Star Bar-B-Q at 267 S Dickinson Dr has served smoked brisket and ribs since 1993. Down the same road, KT Seafood Grill (145 S Dickinson) is locally owned and serves fried and blackened fish, shrimp, gumbo and frog legs. Julio's Chicken and Fish opened on N Henderson St in June 2026.
For Tex-Mex, La Charra at 184 E 6th St serves fajitas and lunch specials with indoor and outdoor seating, Monday through Saturday. Abuela's Mexican Restaurant, a family-run spot at 655 N Main St, does burritos, fajitas and plates.
Downtown and coffee
Town Square Cafe at 121 S Henderson St opened in October 2024 and serves breakfast plus hamburgers, chicken-fried steak and salads. Joe's Sports Bar & Grill is down the block at 193 S Henderson. The Daily Grind at 104 W 5th St has been Rusk's coffeehouse since 2006, serving espresso, muffins and lunch items like chicken salad.
For something sweet, Rusk Donut Shop on N Dickinson Dr has donuts and kolaches, and Yellowwood Coffee is on N Main St.
The depot café
At the Texas State Railroad's Rusk depot, the Mail Car Café is built inside a vintage Texas & Pacific mail and express car beside the tracks, with shaded outdoor seating. It works best as part of a train day, so check the railroad's schedule before you go.
Chains and nearby towns
Whataburger, Sonic and Subway are on N Dickinson Dr. Jacksonville and Tyler have their own directories with more choices.
FAQ: Dining in Rusk
For barbecue, All Star Bar-B-Q on S Dickinson Dr (since 1993). For Tex-Mex, La Charra on E 6th St or Abuela's on N Main St. For breakfast and comfort food, Town Square Cafe downtown. For seafood, KT Seafood Grill.
It's a café built inside a vintage Texas & Pacific mail and express car at the Texas State Railroad's Rusk depot, with shaded outdoor seating. Check the railroad's schedule before you go.
Yes. All Star Bar-B-Q at 267 S Dickinson Dr has served smoked brisket and ribs since 1993.
The Daily Grind at 104 W 5th St has been downtown since 2006. Yellowwood Coffee is on N Main St, and Rusk Donut Shop on N Dickinson Dr serves donuts and kolaches.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Rusk 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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