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    Cleburne Cafeteria

    3.7 (801 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Cleburne Cafeteria Photos

    Business Info

    CLEBURNE CAFETERIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Cleburne Cafeteria

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    Cheesesteak
    Chris L.

    Oh my goodness ! This place is amazing. It is a next level Piccadilly and great portion sizes. More on expensive side but very worth it. They come to tables offering to go boxes and refills on drinks as well. You go through line and pay for everything. Then you immediately take everything off trays for staff to collect. They have been going for 80+ years and had some signs to suggest they were featured on GMA!

    Jarek M.

    Homely and hearty food. Service and atmosphere: The service was outstanding. Everyone was very friendly and super helpful. The staff was offering to carry food to the table. The restaurant is big, clean and well organised. Food and drinks: The food was very tasty and delicious. They offer home made style dishes with great variety of meats, vegetables, salads and desserts. I had turkey. The meat was very succulent and well cooked. I would recommend salad with cheek peas and feta cheese. You can opt for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Pricing: $$ - super worth it!

    Baked chicken, banana pudding, chickpea salad, and an iced tea.

    Lovely banana pudding - the best I've had in Texas so far. The wafers and the vanilla pudding paired perfectly, the pudding so SO creamy! We love Cleburne every time we go, and it has become a staple in our family. Baked chicken was cooked perfectly, and the chickpea salad was refreshing and a delicious pairing. The staff behind the counter were so nice and very helpful! It really seemed like a family operated business. Going back to my table I felt like I was a part of the community, the atmosphere was so welcoming.

    Jeremy C.

    Having been here a few times years ago the level of inconsistency has me discouraged and kind of over ever returning but recently found myself nearby and hungry I thought what the heck it just opened. Well let me say I don't know if it's new ownership or just now paying attention to detail but my visit this time was a lot different. We got the turkey a salmon and both were very good. Lines move fast the workers very friendly and only gripe was the mashed potatoes as gravy had no flavor an were kind of runny.

    My friend's green beans looked like they didn't cut the beans.
    Lou C.

    I went to Cleburne Cafeteria with a group of friends who reserved a room for a quick gathering. That was on a Wednesday and the restaurant was about half filled during the dinnertime. I was surprised that I drove by here thousands of times and never knew such wonderful restaurant existed. According to a friend, this restaurant started 1940's. I know that's not his age, but he is more knowledgeable to the history in Houston than me. The portions appear to be huge but it's a perception because the dishes are too small. Everything was overfilled. They look kind of disgusting to me actually. They look like my fat belly spilling over my belt. Ugh. The prices were good, though. I ordered Chicken Dumplings ($10.79) and Kale Salad ($4.25). The bill only came out $16.29 with tax. I love the flavor of the dishes, however, they didn't look appealing as they overfilled everything. I also liked the way they serve drinks. There were water no ice, water with ice and iced tea on the drink counter. I couldn't take a picture because an old hangry man standing behind me like I slowed him down in the line, while there were just us 2 in the line. lol I think I would pay a special visit to come back during lunchtime to check out other dishes. Maybe I'll bring a friend or two.

    Spread
    Abigail R.

    My second time! I came back because I never stopped thinking about that fried chicken. Its a long drive for me but worth it completely . They have the best fried chicken. Lots of delicious options and everything is fresh! The service is excellent. I didn't need help but a lady insisted on taking my tray to find my family and I a table so I could continue to pay. She insisted and that was a great touch. Always someone coming around with a cart of necessities from refills, to go plates and more! Genius idea for a great experience l. Restaurant is beautiful and they outdoor seating was ideal for a very large family. I didn't even mention the giant salad bar and desserts!

    Allison L.

    Having been around for a LONG time, Cleburne Cafeteria has the process and recipes down pat! You walk in, step up and grab a tray, try not to be overwhelmed with the options and home-cooked smells, and start ordering. I have to order fried okra and I usually order other side dishes/veggies. Their mashed potatoes are great and you can pick brown or cream gravy. The rolls and cornbread are fresh and hot. Then you slide your tray down to the dessert selection. Then, pick your beverage. They have iced water, water with no ice, iced tea, and a soda fountain. Checkout and pay, then go find a seat. The helpful staff will help you carry your (by now heavy) tray to your table. They have staff available picking up trays, refilling your drinks, providing extra plates or silverware, butter, lemons, whatever you may need! Great service and delicious home-cooked food!!!

    Beef Stroganoff- daily special
    Mickey B.

    First visit on a visit home to Houston. I had never heard of this place until living out of state. This is a really nice Cafeteria. It reminds us of the Wyatt's Cafeteria we had growing up in Pasadena. The building itself is really nice and you enter into a nice spacious lobby with a history timeline of the restaurant on one wall and paintings by one of the longtime owners around the other walls. You begin your journey by choosing whether or not you would like a salad before choosing your entree. Tonight we chose one of the daily specials, Beef Stroganoff ($14.95) which was really tasty. We also chose the Chicken Fried Steak with White Cream Gravy ($13.95). We ordered more sides than we needed so we had lots to take home. We ordered Macaroni & Cheese ($4.25), Squash Casserole ($4.45) , Bowl of Fruit ($4.45), Deviled Eggs ($3.95), Greek Salad($4.25), Bowl of Vegetable Soup ($5.99), slice of Apple Pie ($5.45), Slice of Strawberry Cream Cake ($6.45), dinner roll ($1.15). They had staff members walking around refilling drinks and checking on us throughout our meal. All of the staff members looked professional and polished and were very helpful. This was an excellent experience all around. The restrooms were very clean and fresh too. While we ordered much too much food due to our excitement over how amazing everything looked, smelled and tasted...we had plenty to bring home to eat again over the next couple of days. This is a restaurant that we recommend and will be excited to experience again on our future visits. There is nothing that I would not order again!

    Lauri B.

    12/2/2025: I like cafeterias. I was raised on them with my grandparents, so they hold a special memory for my taste buds. Cleburne definitely has great service and large portions, but I wasn't crazy about the food. My fish, casserole, mushrooms, and tea were $25.89! Yes, the portions are large, but they were so large I could not finish them and I had plans after, so I could not take my leftovers. I wouldn't have anyway because they would heat well. So, for my money side, I was not impressed. The fish is not even close to being as good as Luby's, the casserole was made with fresh green beans, so it was a little firm, and the mushroom were a little lacking in flavor. They don't have a lot of options like other cafeterias. It was very basic on the sides options. They have okra, but it is not fried okra. I wasn't impressed, so I am giving them 3 stars.

    Claire K.

    great atmosphere , HUGE portion sizes of super yummy food! will def come back if given the chance!

    Fried Chicken & Mashed Potatoes

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

    Delicious cranberry salad. Amazing meat loaf. Great blueberry muffins. The best peach cobbler!!! Highly recommend.

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    10 months ago

    Love that we still have a cafeteria style restaurant. Value is awesome as is the service.

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    1 year ago

    So very yummy! Southern comfort food at its best. I've never had a bad meal here. Huge portions.

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    Page 2 of 21

    Ask the Community - Cleburne Cafeteria

    Do you take Apple Pay?

    Yes of course we do!

    I would buyvgift certificate but need to send it to m e in florida. Will youmailittome?

    Yes

    Do you have delivery?

    We do not provide delivery service. We definitely will look into it. Thank you for your question.

    Do you have a gf menu?

    We do not have a gluten-free menu per se, but we do offer many many items that are gluten-free. Thank you.

    Do you offer a senior discount? What days do you serve liver & onions?

    My apologies we do not offer any senior discounts whatsoever. Liver and onions is served two days a week. It’s usually the chefs choice. We don’t have a certain day for liver and onions. Thank you for your questions.

    How are the chicken and dumplings? I see them on the menu. I've never been to this place, but I think I will try it next week. Can anyone speak to the Chicken and dumplings?

    They serve them on Tuesdays at least I know they did. They are great but lately the staff have been rude! I don't care how good the food is I don't patronize rudeness!!!

    Do y'all still serve instant mash potatoes I was was there in the late 80s y'all serviced instant mash potatoes correct me if I am wrong thanks?

    I eat regularly at Cleburne Cafeteria. All food is made from scratch. No instant anything.… 

    Will there be any holiday dishes tomorrow or the regular items?

    On Christmas Day, Cleburne Cafeteria will have usual favorites-turkey and dressing, baked ham and a variety of fish. Special holiday menu will include Cornish hen and rice, prime rib of beef and roasted leg of lamb with marbled potatoes. You will be… 

    Are yall open on Thanksgiving(11/28/2019)?

    Yes. Open Thanksgiving. Arrive early to beat the lines to eat at the Number One Ranked Cafeteria in the USA by Food and Wine Magazine November 2019 article.… 

    Do you have free WIFI?

    Yes we do have free WI-FI, Under Cleburne guest no password required

    I would like to make a reservation for one of your private rooms. I tried calling the main number and only got a recording, i.e. no way to talk to a live person. I tried the fax number but it is out of service. How do I make a room reservation?

    When I made a reservation they got on it right away! I went in person and the manager was very helpful with me and reserve a room for my family and I.

    Does Cleburns take credit cards?

    Yes we accept all major credit cards.

    View All 16 Questions

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    Grace's

    Grace's

    4.2
    (1.6k reviews)
    1.2 mi
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    The service and food here was AMAZING. The kale salad was perfectly chilled and the grilled chicken…read morewas hot. This was the best combination of a salad that I didn't even know I needed. The chicken tortilla soup was good and the baked potato dip was great. Fresh house chips really sealed the deal on this one. I've always wanted to come here but it's always very crowded. And I know why. It will always be crowded and I'll just have to bare with it to return.

    This review is a little different because it is not about the food, which is what brought our party…read moreto Grace's after church today. Instead, it is about the way we were treated by the hospitality manager, Kryssalyn Bayne. Our party consisted of five people, including a 97-year-old senior citizen. When we arrived, four of the five members of our party were present, and there were no guests waiting to be seated. However, Ms. Bayne was focused solely on the fact that one member of our party had not yet arrived. She informed us that other guests had been seated because they had called ahead, although this option had never been communicated to us during any of our previous visits. What was most concerning was not the seating policy itself, but the manner in which we were treated. Ms. Bayne's demeanor was loud, confrontational, and, in our opinion, disrespectful. We had all just come from church and were simply trying to understand the restaurant's policy. When I politely suggested that she lower her voice, she responded by accusing me of speaking disrespectfully to her staff, despite the fact that I had not spoken to anyone other than her. Grace's has always been known for its hospitality, which made this experience especially disappointing. I believe the front-of-house staff, and particularly those in leadership positions, would benefit from additional training in customer service, de-escalation, and professional communication. Every guest deserves to be treated with courtesy and respect, regardless of the circumstances. Unfortunately, this interaction overshadowed what should have been a pleasant meal and family gathering. We were seated at Table 14 & served by Mr Lewis who was a breath of fresh air. The food was good despite the entry.

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    The Pot Roast
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    Mia's Table

    Mia's Table

    4.2
    (965 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Mia's is great. But if you are more sensitive to high salt content, you may have issues. I know…read morethat I do. I have to request that they not salt the food. If the onion rings were less salty, they would be the best in Houston. Southern cooking. Comfort foods. Good recipes. Ambiance top notch. Fun place. But they kindly make a less salty batch for me when I request it. Much appreciated. Wondering how many people don't dine there because they don't know you can request less salty food?

    I had a good experience at Mia's table. Good place. Not mind blowing - but pretty good food. I'd…read morerecommend. The chicken fried chicken was good. It was nice and tender. I almost wish the batter was a bit more crispy. Also - it could've used a bit more flavor. Maybe more flavorful gravy? But it was cooked well and was pretty yummy. As for the sides - I was letdown by the French fries... they were dry and also a little bland. The Texas toast was good though & the green beans were nice and flavorful. The Mac and cheese was decent too. I was impressed with the service here. No line to order & even with a packed restaurant our food came out super quick. Which was awesome because we were starving!! The ambiance gave classic cafeteria vibes. Lots of seating and some nice decorations. They have both indoor and outdoor seats. This is an "order at the counter" place (which surprised me at first). Parking was a bit of a challenge. We had to park in the overflow garage across the street.

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    The Toasted Coconut

    The Toasted Coconut

    4.3
    (599 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    When you're stuck in town but want to feel like you're in a tropical destination, The Toasted…read moreCoconut is where you need to come. The team behind the popular restaurant Nobie's opened up this tiki inspired restaurant. Tiki bars happen to be one of my favorite varieties of bars so I was more than excited to finally check it off my list. I had recently seen them on the Food Network as well. They share a lot with another popular dining spot so parking can be a little difficult in their lot. You can find street parking or park across the street in an overflow lot. Customer service was great from start to finish. We had just ate next door and our intentions were to come in here just for cocktails, but I couldn't leave without trying some of the popular items. I wanted the most tropical drink I could find on the menu so I started off with the Blue Hawaiian. I saw fire on the description so my extra self needed to have it. I'm a big rum guy so this drink was right up my alley and very boozy with two types of rum. It was very coconut forward with pineapple being the secondary flavor. One was enough for me to feel just right. Since we had just ate, we decided to share the World Famous Cheeseburger. This was a great burger. I don't know if they were going for the smash effect, but it had smash burger characteristics. It had all my favorite things that are musts on a burger like American cheese and red onions. It also had a very nice chili aioli that added great flavor to the burger. I came on another stop for a drink visit shortly after and tried the pork dumplings and popcorn chicken. These were also very good. If I lived in the area, this place would easily be a place I would frequent often. I will most definitely be back!

    Passed by this place multiple times and finally decided to stop in for drinks and appetizers…read more The ambience grabs your attention just walking into the restaurant they have string lights along the walkway and low amber lights as you go inside. They have an outdoor eating area, a bar area, and seating in the very back. It's very spacious, comfortable, and intimate. The theme of the restaurant is seen all over from the moment you enter, to the music, the menu and the restroom. They paid close attention to detail with decorating. We had an amazing server, delicious drinks (a must try), and ok food. We ordered four drinks the painkilla, vamos à la playa, captains grog, and the Hemingway daiquiri. All were great drinks and we loved how they give you flavor characteristics of the drinks on the menu. The appetizers that we ordered were the sweet and sour cauliflower and the pork dumplings, which is why I gave this place four stars. The presentation of both appetizers were excellent. However, the pork dumplings were disappointing. They came with only six dumplings for $17, were served cold, and are very bland. In my opinion, they weren't worth the price. On the other hand, the sweet and sour cauliflower was our favorite and is definitely a must-try.

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    George’s Bistro & Bar

    George’s Bistro & Bar

    4.2
    (165 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    I was looking for restaurants in the area that I hadn't tried yet and came across George's. I'd…read morenever even heard of it, but the menu looked good and the reviews were solid, so I figured it was worth a shot. It's located in Rice Village, and there was plenty of parking. The restaurant itself is cozy, and the entire staff seemed like one big family, which gave it a really welcoming feel. I went with my family, and we started with the calamari and tuna tartare. For my entrée, I ordered the pesto bucatini. If I'm being honest, the food just didn't do it for me. The calamari was simply fried with no noticeable seasoning or standout dipping sauce. The pesto bucatini was pretty underwhelming too. It was very heavy on the mint with just a hint of pistachio crumbs, and the pesto flavor I was hoping for never really came through. Pesto pasta is usually one of my favorite dishes, but this one honestly felt like a waste of carbs. The positives were definitely the service and the atmosphere. I just wish the food had lived up to everything else.

    I came here on a date for their pizza and thoroughly enjoyed their crust …read more... BUT TONIGHT WAS JUST SOMETHIN' ELSE Their burger is DIVINE. Juicy and crispy with a touch of bacon ... need I say more? If you don't mind, I WILL. Their FRIES. ARE BIG AND CURLY. And PARMESAN-Y AND CRISPY.

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    Inside
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    Bucatini. Nice chew and flavor but some in our party would have liked it cooked just a tad longer.
    Bucatini. Nice chew and flavor but some in our party would have liked it cooked just a tad longer.
    Beet Salad, Zaatar Short Rib Sandwich, Shrimp Po Boy, Roasted Chicken Breast Sandwich

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    Cleburne Cafeteria - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

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