Waxahachie eats better than a town its size has any right to. You'll find sandwiches and homemade pie on the courthouse square, seafood boils and hibachi on N. Hwy 77, Texas barbecue, Tex-Mex for every budget, and coffee shops in an old train depot and a historic downtown hotel.
We're the hosts of a tiny home about 8 minutes from downtown, and these are the places we send our guests. We only list spots with strong reviews (4.3 stars and up when we checked), and we mostly skip the big national chains.
At a glance
- Our family's favorite
- Lunch and homemade pie at The Dove's Nest, downtown
- Our other family picks
- Country Cafe, Atkins Seafood, and Ida Mae's
- Best seafood boil
- Cajun Bros, about 10 minutes away, open daily
- Special-occasion dinner
- Panza's Tapping Italy, D Restaurant, or Presto Continuous Italian in Red Oak
- Best coffee
- Bloom & Pour and Vita Coffee House, both downtown
- Plan around
- Many local spots close Sunday or Monday; check hours
- Groceries
- H-E-B, about 8 minutes away, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
From Google listings and each restaurant's posted hours, checked October 1, 2026. Hours change, so call ahead.
Our family's picks
The Dove's Nest
105 W. Jefferson St., downtown · about 8 min
Our family's favorite lunch downtown: sandwiches, soups, homemade pies, and a gift shop attached. Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Country Cafe
217 US-77 · about 8 min
A mom-and-pop, home-cooked breakfast. Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m.; closed Sunday.
Atkins Seafood
400 W. Main St., downtown · about 8 min
A longtime local seafood spot with a casual dining room. Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Ida Mae's
220 S. US Hwy 77, just south of downtown · about 8 min
Fried chicken, catfish, smothered pork chops, candied yams, and banana pudding cheesecake. Wednesday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown on the square
About 8 minutes from the tiny home. Park once and walk.
Panza's Tapping Italy
107 N. Rogers St.
A small Italian spot just off the square, with sidewalk tables. Dinner Wednesday to Saturday from 4 p.m.
D Restaurant Latin Cuisine
500 W. Madison St.
Latin and Tex-Mex cooking from owners who check on every table. Try the queso enchiladas stuffed with brisket. Monday to Saturday; closed Sunday.
Prime 115
114 S. Rogers St.
Steaks, a full bar, and a popular Sunday brunch from 10:30 a.m. Lunch from 11 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday; dinner nightly.
John's Place
100 N. College St., in the Rogers Hotel
A warm, hometown-feeling dining room inside the historic Rogers Hotel. Wednesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Farm Luck Soda Fountain
109 W. Franklin St.
An old-fashioned soda fountain with sandwiches and salads. Open daily, until 3 p.m. on Sunday.
El Mexicano Grill
114 E. Franklin St.
A busy downtown Tex-Mex spot, open from 9 a.m. until midnight most nights.
Breakfast and brunch
- Eggsquisite Cafe, 1980 N. Hwy 77 (about 10 minutes): breakfast and brunch daily, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Reservations online for 6 or fewer; call for bigger groups.
- First Watch, 1760 N. Hwy 77 (about 10 minutes): daily, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Country Cafe, 217 US-77 (about 8 minutes): our family's pick, Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m.
- Cocina La Esquinita, 5330 N. I-35E (about 15 minutes): Mexican breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m., Monday to Saturday.
- Butter & Grace, 1585 N. Hwy 77, plus "The Mini" downtown at 109 W. Franklin St.: breakfast and lunch from early morning.
- Morning Table, 2002 Enterprise Pkwy.: a local brunch spot that also does dinner. Call for hours.
- Prime 115 downtown: Sunday brunch from 10:30 a.m.
- Donuts: Donut Time, Snowflake Donuts, and Donut Palace all open at 5 a.m.
Barbecue
Bluebonnet BBQ
3921 US-287
A local favorite for brisket and ribs. Thursday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday until 8 p.m.; closed Monday to Wednesday.
Fingers 2 Tha Bone BBQ and More
300 Ferris Ave.
Smoked meats and big plates near downtown. Wednesday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday until 4 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday.
True Texas BBQ
Inside H-E-B, 800 US-77
H-E-B's own barbecue counter. An easy weeknight dinner while you shop.
A.D. Franks Holy Smoke BBQ
705 W. Main St., Ovilla
A small-town barbecue stop north of Waxahachie. Monday to Saturday from 10:30 a.m.; closed Sunday.
Tex-Mex and Mexican
- D Restaurant Latin Cuisine, 500 W. Madison St. (about 8 minutes): our top pick. See downtown.
- Mi Casa Mexican Cuisine, 2760 Venture Way (about 10 minutes): Tuesday to Sunday.
- Cocina La Esquinita, 5330 N. I-35E (about 15 minutes): homestyle breakfast and lunch.
- Mariscos Muelle 77, 1102 Ferris Ave. (about 8 minutes): Mexican seafood, from ceviche to molcajetes. Open daily.
- Campuzano's Fine Mexican Food, 2167 N. Hwy 77 (about 10 minutes): a big, busy Tex-Mex dining room, open daily.
- El Mexicano Grill, 114 E. Franklin St., downtown: open from 9 a.m. until midnight most nights.
Italian and pizza
- Panza's Tapping Italy, downtown: dinner Wednesday to Saturday. See downtown.
- Presto Continuous Italian, 205 Main St., Red Oak (about 20 minutes): Italian served like a Brazilian steakhouse. Sit back while the courses keep coming. Open daily.
- Roma's Italian Restaurant, 2760 Venture Way (about 10 minutes): pasta and pizza, open daily.
- Tuscan Slice, 401 N. Hwy 77 (about 8 minutes): pizza and pasta, open daily.
- Milano's Pizza, 1309 W. Main St. (about 10 minutes): neighborhood pizza; closed Monday.
- Omar's Pizza House, 106 N. Main, Palmer (about 20 minutes): a small-town pizza house with big reviews; closed Monday.
Seafood and Cajun
Cajun Bros
507 N. Hwy 77
Seafood boils and Cajun plates, open every day, and one of the highest-rated restaurants in town. The big, messy group dinner.
Atkins Seafood
400 W. Main St., downtown
Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Mariscos Muelle 77
1102 Ferris Ave.
Mexican-style seafood, open daily until 10 or 11 p.m.
Wilson's Seafood & Grill
322 E. Avenue F, Midlothian
A date-night seafood spot with crab cakes and crawfish empanadas. Dinner Tuesday to Thursday, lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday, and lunch only on Sunday.
Asian and hibachi
- Fun Noodle Bar, 791 N. Hwy 77 (about 8 minutes): noodles, soup dumplings, and beef buns. Open daily.
- Osuba, 606 N. Hwy 77 (about 10 minutes): hibachi grill tables and sushi. Kids love the show.
- Hibachio, 503 N. Hwy 77 (about 10 minutes): quick hibachi plates, open daily.
- Ohana Sushi, Ramen, and Poke, 1101 US-287 Bypass (about 10 minutes): fresh sushi and ramen, open daily.
- Sunny Thai, Cedar Hill (about 30 minutes): curries and Thai favorites, open daily.
Special-occasion dinners
Within 30 minutes and rated 4.7 stars and up. Book ahead on weekends.
- Panza's Tapping Italy, downtown Waxahachie (about 8 minutes).
- D Restaurant Latin Cuisine, Waxahachie (about 8 minutes).
- Cajun Bros, Waxahachie (about 10 minutes), for a celebratory seafood boil.
- Presto Continuous Italian, Red Oak (about 20 minutes): great for groups.
- Fern in the Wild, 211 W. Knox St., Ennis (about 20 minutes): a pretty downtown restaurant with a gift shop inside. Wednesday to Sunday.
- Cork House Winery, downtown Waxahachie: wine and cheese boards, Thursday to Saturday. See our nightlife guide.
Just past 30 minutes
- Vila Brazil, Cedar Hill (about 35 minutes): a Brazilian steakhouse with a big side-dish bar.
- Vault Seafood & Steakhouse and Meehan's Chophouse, Mansfield (about 35 minutes): white-tablecloth steak dinners.
- Radici Wood Fired Grill, EpicCentral, Grand Prairie (about 45 minutes): anniversary-dinner territory, Tuesday to Sunday from 5 p.m.
Worth the short drive
Midlothian (about 20 minutes)
- Twisted Sisters Tap House, 138 N. 8th St.: pizza people drive for, in old downtown. Closed Monday.
- Mo and Hari's Neighborhood Bistro, 4470 US-287: Italian-American family dinners. Closed Monday.
- Bellucci's Italian, 2000 FM 663: open daily.
- Wilson's Seafood & Grill, 322 E. Avenue F. See seafood.
Ennis (about 20 minutes)
- Fern in the Wild, 211 W. Knox St.: lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, with a gift shop.
- Ashleigh's Downtown Kitchen + Bar, 119 S. Dallas St.: pizza and plates with live music some nights. Open daily.
- Wings Over USA, 203 I-45: wings, open daily.
- Fresh Donuts, 415 S. Clay St.: donuts and kolaches from 5 a.m.
Red Oak and Palmer (about 20 minutes)
- Presto Continuous Italian, Red Oak. See Italian.
- Roma's Italian, 102 E. Ovilla Rd., Red Oak: closed Monday.
- Omar's Pizza House, Palmer: closed Monday.
Out in the country (about 15 minutes)
- Rockett Cafe & Club, 5790 FM 813: a country cafe famous for its chicken-fried steak and a 1-pound burger. Wednesday to Saturday 5 to 9 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come hungry and don't be in a rush.
Coffee
Downtown Waxahachie (about 8 minutes)
Bloom & Pour
100 S. Rogers St.
A coffee bar and florist on the square. Pick up lattes and a bouquet in one stop. Monday to Saturday; closed Sunday.
Vita Coffee House
210 N. Monroe St.
Known for its espresso and an iced lavender matcha the regulars rave about. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Rhythm & Brew
100 N. College St., in the Rogers Hotel
A small coffee bar in the old hotel, just off the courthouse square.
White Rhino Coffee
414 W. Main St.
Coffee, avocado toast, and banana bread in a cozy old house turned coffee shop. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fresh Market Coffee
501 S. Rogers St., historic MKT Depot
Coffee and pastries baked in-house, in the old train depot. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Around Ellis County
- HTeaO, 502 N. Hwy 77, Waxahachie: iced tea in dozens of flavors.
- The Flamingo Nest, 1107 Ferris Ave., Waxahachie: fresh coffee while the kids play.
- Midlothian (about 20 minutes): Moravian Coffee, 1404 N. 9th St., and Roasted Beeanery Coffee Bar, 1001 E. Main St.
- Ennis (about 20 minutes): Sunshine Brews, La 57, and Feef & Bean, a coffee lounge that also pours drinks later in the day, all downtown.
- Drive-thru: 7 Brew in Red Oak and Ennis.
Sweets and treats
- Georgie Boy's Ice Cream, 1107 Ferris Ave. (about 8 minutes): open daily from noon.
- The Dessert Spot, 100 N. College St., in the Rogers Hotel: cookies, cheesecake, and ice cream, Tuesday to Saturday. There's a second shop in downtown Ennis.
- Farm Luck Soda Fountain, 109 W. Franklin St.: floats and shakes on the square.
- Mochinut, 2801 N. Hwy 77 (about 10 minutes): mochi donuts, Korean corn dogs, and fruit teas.
- The Sundae Social, Red Oak (about 20 minutes): sundaes, Tuesday to Sunday.
- Donuts: Donut Time (2100 Brown St.), Snowflake Donuts (2251 Brown St.), and Donut Palace (401 N. Hwy 77), all from 5 a.m.
- Buc-ee's, 1402 I-45, Ennis (about 25 minutes): brisket sandwiches, fudge, Beaver Nuggets, and a road-trip ritual. Open 24 hours.
Groceries for the tiny home kitchen
- H-E-B, 800 US-77 (about 8 minutes): Texas's favorite grocery store, open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., with a sushi bar, True Texas BBQ, and ready-made meals.
- Waxahachie Farmers Market, 701 Howard Rd. (about 8 minutes): Saturday mornings in season, under a covered pavilion. Produce, baked goods, and local salsas.
- The tiny home's full kitchen is ready for home-cooked dinners, and the porch is the best table in Ellis County.
A day of eating in Waxahachie
- 8 a.m.CoffeeVita Coffee House (9 a.m. on weekends) or White Rhino, then a walk around the courthouse square.
- 10 a.m.BrunchEggsquisite Cafe or First Watch on N. Hwy 77.
- 1 p.m.Lunch and pieThe Dove's Nest downtown, Monday to Saturday.
- 3 p.m.Something sweetA float at Farm Luck Soda Fountain or a cone at Georgie Boy's.
- 6 p.m.DinnerPanza's Tapping Italy (Wednesday to Saturday), D Restaurant, or a seafood boil at Cajun Bros.
- NightPorchBack to the tiny home for stars and leftovers.
How far is everything from the tiny home?
| From the tiny home to | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Waxahachie (Dove's Nest, Panza's, coffee) | 3.7 mi | About 8 min |
| H-E-B and True Texas BBQ | 3.8 mi | About 8 min |
| Ida Mae's | 4.4 mi | About 8 min |
| Fun Noodle Bar, Osuba, Hibachio, Tuscan Slice (N. Hwy 77) | 4.6 to 5.5 mi | About 8 to 10 min |
| Cajun Bros | 5 mi | About 10 min |
| Eggsquisite Cafe and First Watch | 5.3 mi | About 10 min |
| Bluebonnet BBQ | 7.6 mi | About 10 min |
| Roma's Italian and Mi Casa (Venture Way) | 6.5 mi | About 10 min |
| Cocina La Esquinita | 7.6 mi | About 15 min |
| Rockett Cafe & Club | 9.4 mi | About 15 min |
| Omar's Pizza House, Palmer | 10.8 mi | About 20 min |
| Presto Continuous Italian, Red Oak | 11 mi | About 20 min |
| Downtown Midlothian (Twisted Sisters, Wilson's) | 14.3 mi | About 20 min |
| A.D. Franks Holy Smoke BBQ, Ovilla | 13.8 mi | About 25 min |
| Downtown Ennis (Fern in the Wild, coffee, kolaches) | 15.4 mi | About 20 min |
| Buc-ee's, Ennis | 18.1 mi | About 25 min |
| Sunny Thai, Cedar Hill | 23.1 mi | About 30 min |
| Vila Brazil, Cedar Hill | 24.3 mi | About 35 min |
| Vault and Meehan's, Mansfield | 27.1 mi | About 35 min |
| Radici, Grand Prairie | 35.3 mi | About 45 min |
Estimated drive times without traffic, October 2026.
Questions we get
What is the best restaurant in Waxahachie?
It depends on the night. For a special dinner, our picks with outstanding reviews are Panza's Tapping Italy and D Restaurant Latin Cuisine downtown, Cajun Bros for a seafood boil, and Presto Continuous Italian in Red Oak. For lunch, The Dove's Nest downtown is our family's favorite.
Where should we eat in downtown Waxahachie?
The Dove's Nest for lunch and homemade pie, Atkins Seafood on W. Main St., Panza's Tapping Italy for dinner, Prime 115 for steaks and Sunday brunch, John's Place in the historic Rogers Hotel, and D Restaurant Latin Cuisine a few blocks off the square.
Where is the best barbecue in Waxahachie?
Fingers 2 Tha Bone on Ferris Ave. and Bluebonnet BBQ on US-287 are the local favorites. True Texas BBQ inside H-E-B is an easy weeknight option.
Where can we get breakfast or brunch in Waxahachie?
Eggsquisite Cafe and First Watch on N. Hwy 77 (both 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily), Country Cafe for a mom-and-pop breakfast, Cocina La Esquinita for breakfast tacos, and Prime 115 for Sunday brunch downtown.
Where is the best coffee in Waxahachie?
Downtown: Bloom & Pour, Vita Coffee House, Rhythm & Brew in the Rogers Hotel, White Rhino Coffee in an old house on W. Main St., and Fresh Market Coffee in the historic MKT Depot.
What are good restaurants for kids in Waxahachie?
Hibachi at Osuba or Hibachio, pizza at Roma's Italian or Tuscan Slice, barbecue at Bluebonnet BBQ, breakfast at First Watch or Eggsquisite, and ice cream at Georgie Boy's. See our family guide for more.
Where can we get a seafood boil near Waxahachie?
Cajun Bros on N. Hwy 77, about 10 minutes from the tiny home, is open daily and is one of the highest-rated restaurants in town. Atkins Seafood downtown and Mariscos Muelle 77 for Mexican-style seafood are good too.
Are there good restaurants open on Sunday in Waxahachie?
Yes, though several local favorites close on Sunday or Monday. Sunday options include Cajun Bros, Prime 115 (brunch from 10:30 a.m.), Eggsquisite and First Watch for breakfast, Roma's Italian, Fun Noodle Bar, Bluebonnet BBQ, and Fresh Market and White Rhino for coffee.
Where can we get kolaches near Waxahachie?
Ennis, about 20 minutes away, is the Czech heart of Ellis County. Fresh Donuts in Ennis makes kolaches along with its donuts, opening at 5 a.m.
Is there a Buc-ee's near Waxahachie?
Yes. Buc-ee's at 1402 I-45 in Ennis is about 25 minutes from the tiny home and open 24 hours.
Where can we buy groceries near the tiny home?
H-E-B at 800 US-77 is about 8 minutes away and open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., with an in-store sushi bar and True Texas BBQ. The Waxahachie Farmers Market runs Saturday mornings in season at 701 Howard Rd.
Why isn't my favorite restaurant on this list?
We only list places with strong reviews, 4.3 stars and up when we checked on October 1, 2026, and we mostly skip big national chains. Ratings change, so we'll update the list as they do.
About this guide
Written by the hosts of The Waxahachie Tiny Home, a family-run rental on farmland just outside Waxahachie. We checked the details on this page against official sources and update it as things change. Hours, prices, and dates move around, so confirm before you go.
Last updated October 1, 2026
