5 Best Comfort Food Restaurants in Waco, Texas

Waco’s comfort food scene blends classic Texas plates with a modern, Magnolia-adjacent polish.

Expect homey diners, hulking burgers, Tex-Mex institutions, and barbecue that perfumes the air long before you see the sign.

Café Homestead

Tucked within Homestead Heritage, this farm-to-table café transforms simple ingredients into deeply comforting plates—smoked turkey sandwiches on house bread, grass-fed burgers, and silky tomato basil soup.

The pot roast with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables is a Sunday dinner vibe any day of the week. Warm cornbread, house jams, and pie seal the deal.

Vitek’s BBQ

Part barbecue joint, part Waco rite of passage, Vitek’s is home to the Gut Pak—a Frito pie gone big: Fritos layered with chopped brisket or sausage, beans, cheese, pickles, onions, and sauce.

It’s unpretentious, fun, and surprisingly balanced. Traditional plates deliver, too—tender brisket, meaty ribs, and plenty of sides like mustardy potato salad and creamed corn.

George’s Restaurant & Bar

Classic Waco comfort with a sports-bar soul, George’s is where chicken-fried steak arrives bigger than the plate, gravy cascades, and Big O beers sweat cold.

Enchiladas, burgers, and hearty breakfasts make it an all-day player. It’s loud, lively, and perfect for family gatherings or game-day fuel.

Jasper’s BBQ

Jasper’s is a low-key favorite for smoked meats and old-school sides.

The brisket plates with buttery rolls and pinto beans are the move, and the turkey is juicy enough to convert skeptics.

Add peach cobbler for dessert and you’ve got the textbook Texas comfort lineup done right.

Milo

Modern Southern comfort with a chef’s touch, Milo reimagines classics with local ingredients: hot honey chicken on biscuits, shrimp and grits with depth, and mac and cheese with a satisfying pull.

The fried chicken sandwich is a star, and weekend brunch brings pancakes, biscuits, and plenty of coffee in a bright, airy room that still feels cozy.