Texas Hill Country: Take a tasty Hill Country loop

Influenced by Germans, Mexicans, cowboys and more, the cuisine you’ll encounter on this route through Texas’ picturesque Hill Country is sure to surprise you. Steer-sized steaks abound, but it’s the Tex-Mex dishes, innovative barbecue and international offerings that will keep your taste buds hungry for more.

Drive 196.6 miles, 3 hours, 59 minutes

1. San Antonio

Starting Point

The home of the Alamo has long served as a crossroads of culture, and there is no better way to understand a place than through its food. In San Antonio, that means Tex-Mex, a fusion of American and Mexican styles and tastes that has come to define the city’s cuisine. The Tex-Mex offerings in this bustling city here are strong, with institutions like the 60-year-old Casa Rio and innovative newbie Acenar attracting locals and visitors alike.

Getty Images/iStockphoto

2. Fredericksburg

70.1 miles, 1 hour, 1 minute

The proud German heritage in the region is preserved through attractions like the Pioneer Museum and the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, but if you really want to trace the old-European traditions all the way to modern day, you’ll have to do it at the dinner table. Auslander Restaurant on East Main Street offers a wide-variety of German beers, schnitzels and wursts. Save room for apple strudel at the historic Der Lindenbaum.

3. Johnson City

30.2 miles, 30 minutes

At the Hye Market Restaurant and Tasting Room, you can talk shop with one of the neighbors while sipping bourbon distilled right in town. This is also the heart of the burgeoning Texas wine scene, so the try-before-you-buy mentality will come in handy as you discover your favorite local grape. So belly up to the bar, chat with the locals and enjoy bold new flavors.

Getty Images/iStockphoto

4. Austin

47.9 miles, 52 minutes

Juan in a Million, Torchy’s Tacos and Polvos hold their own in the Tex-Mex department, and La Barbecue and County Line on the Hill are barbecue favorites, but it’s Austin’s global flair that keeps visitors coming back. Indeed, the city’s food offerings reflect the ecclectic culture of the Lone Star State’s capital city. Try a Creole breakfast at the Cherrywood Coffeehouse, followed by French-inspired classics for lunch at Epicerie Café & Grocery. Top it off with dinner at the popular East Side King Asian-fusion food truck for some truly wild flavor combinations.

RECOMMENDED STOPOVERS 

La Hacienda RV Resort
Austin, TX
(512) 266-8001

5. New Braunfels

48.4 miles, 40 minutes

Visit in November to experience the 10-day Wurstfest, a must-see celebration of the city’s Bavarian heritage. Sausages, beer and live music are the main draws here, but be sure to stay for the surprisingly entertaining polka dance contest. The family-owned New Braunfels Smokehouse is another Texas institution that doubles as both a wholesale business and popular restaurant.