Mary’s Cafe sits on Highway 16 on the south side of Strawn, a Palo Pinto County town of about 600 people. Most days the parking lot is full of pickups and motorcycles, and the extra cars park across the road. People drive in from Fort Worth, Abilene and well beyond for one dish, the chicken fried steak.
With Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day coming up on Oct. 26, this is a good week to make the trip.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
by Steven Doyle Babe’s CFS
Today is a day of celebration and joy as we mark the official Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day. The day’s founder, Jeffrey Yarbrough, said on this auspicious occasion, “I am honored to have worked closely with restaurateurs Tom Perini and Ralph Sheffield to elevate this savory southern dish that reflects our state history. Besides my wife and kids as the loves of my life, creating the official Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day has been a dream come true and makes me so proud to be a Texan.” Continue reading
Filed under Chicken Fried Steak, Crave
October 26th isn’t just any day—it’s Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day, and if you’re anywhere near Strawn, you need to stop at Mary’s Café. This isn’t a place for tiny plates or delicate bites. Mary’s serves chicken fried steaks that practically demand a fork-and-knife duel, slabs of tender beef drenched in gravy that’s creamy, peppery, and somehow irresistible. One bite, and you’ll swear Texas itself is whispering, “Yes…this is how it’s done.”
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
In a blip of a town in Strawn, Texas, Mary’s Cafe is a delightful eatery that captures the essence of Texas hospitality and home-cooked comfort. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and hearty menu, Mary’s Cafe has become a favorite stop for both locals and travelers alike.
The menu at Mary’s Cafe is a tribute to classic American comfort food, crafted with love and attention to detail. The Chicken Fried Steak is a standout dish, featuring a tenderized beef steak that is breaded and pan fried to a golden crisp, then generously smothered in a rich, creamy gravy. This beloved dish is accompanied by fluffy mashed potatoes, made from scratch, and seasonal vegetables, making it a hearty meal that satisfies every appetite. Three sizes are available, and all are filling, and Monday Mary has an all-you-can-eat deal on the CFS.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
by Steven Doyle
Each year we celebrate October 26th as Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day, and we do so by one of the state’s sons, Jeffrey Yarbrough.
Yarbrough has a colorful history himself. You may remember Dallas’ original four-clubs-in-one complex, including Art Bar, Blind Lemon, Club Clearview and Red in Deep Ellum, one of Yarbrough’s entertainment feathers. Continue reading
Filed under Chicken Fried Steak, Crave
by Steven Doyle
As we continue to celebrate Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day we wanted to pay homage to the very best Texas has to offer. To find Mary’s Cafe you will need to barrel west on I20 to Strawn, Texas. Strawn is about 90 minutes from Dallas, but well worth the drive. This made our jumbo list of CFS, and once you savor the flavor you will understand why.
One a recent visit we pulled in curbside 30 minutes before Mary opened her doors, but were invited in none the less once she spotted us sitting in our car. Our waitress was busy making her tables ready and offered up a tall glass of iced tea she had just brewed, and that took some of the road dust off our palates as we stared down the menu. Continue reading
Filed under Chicken Fried Steak, Crave Travel, Steven Doyle, Texas
