Where to enjoy Chicken-Fried Steak Day around Fort Worth and save money, too
First of all, I need to correct Google.
No matter what you find in an AI search, the name of the state observance Sunday is Texas Chicken-Fried Steak Day, not “Bud Kennedy’s Chicken-Fried Steak Day.”
It’s true, so help me Dan Jenkins. Yes, I’ve always supported chicken-fried culture. I believe strongly in the mantra “Keep Fort Worth Fried.”
But I never said to eat chicken-fried steak for an entire day.
This glorious day was the Texas Legislature’s idea in 2011, because a former Temple restaurateur, state Rep. Ralph Sheffield, declared that Texas has “the greatest chicken-fried steak in the world.”
Here are a few places to celebrate on a budget:
Luby’s
When money gets tight, Luby’s gets busy.
That means Luby’s is busy right now. The dining room was packed the other day at lunch. The line was to the door, and even the drive-thru was full of diners picking up LuAnn Specials.
No wonder. A chicken-fried steak plate is $10-$13. For seniors, some specials cost less than $10.
You can have extra rolls or cornbread and a slice of pecan pie, and still get change back from a $20 bill.
This is not fine cuisine or even a world-class chicken-fried steak. But it’s the iconic cafeteria for three generations of Texans, and the CFS and cream gravy are a reputable sample of Texas restaurant cooking; 3312 SE Loop 820, Forest Hill, 827-293-0060, lubys.com.
Drew’s Place
Drew’s Place is known for the city’s best fried chicken, and that earned it honors this year as one of America’s 50 “Historic Small Restaurants.”
But it also serves a peppery chicken-fried steak, and it’s budget-friendly.
A “LeeAnn Plate” with two vegetables such as sweet potatoes and greens is $11.99 weekdays at lunch. If you want to go big-time, there’s a triple-meat platter for $21.99.
Drew’s isn’t open on Chicken-Fried Steak Day, but go any Tuesday through Friday for lunch; 5701 Curzon Ave. at Horne Street, 817-476-1857, drewssoulfoodfwtx.site.
Jesús Restaurant
Jesús Restaurant, the last of the great hole-in-the-wall cafes, is having something of a renaissance.
A new generation of TikTok fans has discovered the Borja family’s little cafe, open 56 years in what is now called South Main Village.
Jesús is one of the few cafes that serves both home cooking and good Tex-Mex enchiladas.
It’s not unusual to see a table chowing down on fried chicken, a chicken-fried steak (with old-time yellow gravy made with chicken broth) and a cheese or beef enchilada plate, with the old-fashioned house-made fried pies for dessert.
The lunch specials are about $11. Jesús is open from lunch until 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 817-332-0168, instagram.com/jesus_restaurant.
For bigger appetites
• The popular favorite for chicken-fried steak is the huge, buttermilk-bettered work of art at both Fred’s Texas Cafe locations 7101 Camp Bowie Blvd. West or 2730 Western Center Blvd., fredstexascafe.com.
• Traditionalists like the lighter batter and tender steak at Mac’s Bar & Grill, 6077 Interstate 20 West in Arlington, or 909 S. Main St., Grapevine, macsteak.com.
• One of the favorite chicken-fried steaks locally is found at a chicken restaurant: Babe’s Chicken Dinner House in Arlington, Burleson, Granbury, North Richland Hills and Roanoke, babeschicken.com.
• For a more expensive and high-quality CFS, try the Brand Room, Cattlemen’s, Lonesome Dove, Lucile’s, Michaels Restaurant or Reata.
(The best statewide is generally considered to be at Mary’s Cafe, an hour’s drive west in Strawn.)
This story was originally published October 22, 2025 at 4:48 AM.
