Must-Visit Healthy Cafés & Restaurants Around Texas

Laid-back dining and healthy fare are Tanji’s go-tos when she’s on the road, but you won’t find her sacrificing good food for speed and convenience. Compared to these great healthy cafés and small local businesses serving fresh sandwiches, crunchy salads, and delicious wraps, fast-food chains just don’t stack up. Here are some of Tanji’s favorite healthy cafés and restaurants to dine at across the state.

Pharm Table – San Antonio

Pharm Table is a plant-forward restaurant focused on promoting an overall better quality of life for its visitors. That takes the form of botanical cocktails, natural wines, and locally and globally sourced ingredients and spices. Try the Mezze Tartine, Super Seed Hummus, or any of the smoothies the next time you visit. 

Vinaigrette – Austin

Nestled under the shade of one of the oldest live oaks in the area, you’ll find Vinaigrette, a mission-driven restaurant serving up bright, zingy, beautiful, and balanced meals. Expect dishes featuring seasonal vegetables, herbs, fruits, and heritage grains. Tanji recommends the Reuben sandwich and any salad on the menu.

Hungry’s Cafe – Houston

Hungry’s Cafe prides itself on bringing market-fresh flavors to Houston diners for 45 years and counting. Hungry’s breakfast dishes, including the Farmer’s Goat Cheese Omelette and Prosciutto Eggs Benedict, are completely irresistible, but you’ll flip for daytime dishes like the light and fresh Kabob Plate too.

Island Grill – Houston

Island Grill brings Mediterranean-American flavors to Houston through dishes like their Breakfast Pitas, which are akin to breakfast tacos wrapped in fluffy naan, and the Grilled Salmon Plate piled high with cucumber, broccoli, and mushrooms. Every dish combines exceptional flavors with ingredients that make diners feel good long after they’ve left the restaurant.

Mac & Ernie’s – Tarpley

Mac & Ernie’s, which started out as an outdoor kitchen, has a laid-back, fun vibe just like its chef/owner, Naylene Dillingham. She’s always changing the menu depending on what she feels like eating, but you’ll always find the famous ancho chili honey-basted quail. This country kitchen has even been featured on Food Network’s popular Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and on Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern on The Travel Channel.

Rails – Kerrville

Housed inside a fully-restored 1915 Kerrville Train depot, Rails‘ attention to detail in their restaurant and food is unmatched. This cozy little spot was the winner of the 2004 Texas Downtown Association award for its authentic historic restoration. The owner, Melissa Southern, is a trained dietitian sourcing as many organic ingredients as possible for their fresh wraps and pastas. But do save room for The Sweeter Side of Rails, the one-of-a-kind bakery next door turning out 12–15 desserts daily!

Greenhouse Craft Food – Round Rock

Casual, counter-service spot Greenhouse Craft Food sources its ingredients from local Texas farms that are only 5 minutes away! The concept was developed because the owners felt there was a need for affordable and healthy fast food. Taco Tuesdays are a big draw here. For just $2, you get the special taco of the week, which varies from beef short rib barbacoa to a 24-hour-smoked pork shoulder with housemade salsas.

Cafe at the Gardens – Midland

Visit an “oasis in the desert” at Cafe at the Gardens, nestled right inside the largest nursery and garden center in Midland. The dining room is surrounded by lush greenery and a snaking koi pond that winds in between the tables. The produce is as fresh as it comes, picked daily from the garden and used in everything from their stacked sandwiches to the rotating desserts.

Picnikins Cafe – San Antonio

By day, Picnikins Cafe & Catering is a fast-casual spot with soups, sandwiches, and salads made from scratch. By night, it’s a full-service restaurant with the same fresh lunch menu, plus dishes like Cape Malay Beef Curry and Malva Pudding from the owners’ home country, South Africa. Grab a stool at the bar, cozy up in a booth, or take your food and drinks outside to the expansive patio and play cornhole.

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