If I could, I would eat every meal in a country diner like this. I will pass up 20 chain restaurants just to eat at a place like Hill Country Cupboard. You can tell it's old school and has been around forever as soon as you walk in the door. I was there to try their famous chicken fried steak, but the chicken fried pork chops caught my eye! Change of plans! My brother got the daily lunch special, which was catfish. Both meals were excellent, and when they've got great gravy, you just can't beat fried pork chops! Throw in a great salad and fried okra, and you have a great meal that can't be beat! Service was very friendly, but not fast, because everything is fresh, and that's a good thing. I will be back! read more

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Definitely a touristy spot. Came off season and it's a no frills breakfast spot with bar feel. Had a great server, they're acclaimed chicken fried steak unfortunately was not the greatest. Bland.... Eggs and bacon were normal. read more

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Quaint, quiet place right off 281. Had been eyeing it for a while, but always pass by. The place is pretty large so there palate of seating. The menu was quite extensive for a mom and pop. The prices were good and the food was great! The service was good too. Our server was friendly and kept us full on drinks and napkins, etc. will be taking the family and also my sweet parents again for sure! read more

Hill Country Cupboard - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Johnson City, Texas

Stopped here for lunch in the way to our winery. It's been years since we ate here. Good old restaurant and food and service were as good as we remembered. Was not crowded when we visited so we got served very quickly and had a good time eating and relaxing. read more

Hill Country Cupboard - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Johnson City, Texas

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There are some great memories growing up of this place - especially the chicken fried steak dinners right before going to play a football game. We came here on 10.19.24 - I hadn't been here since likely 1990. The vibe is the same - pure small Hill Country town. The service was good and friendly - our meals came out hot and fresh. My omelet was delicious and the hash browns were crisped perfectly. Oh, and the mimosas? Check out the pic. These are REAL mimosas served with flair. All in all, this is an excellent spot for breakfast or lunch. read more

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I first went to the Hill Country Cupboard in the mid to late 1980's. They were already known for their "over 3 dozen sold" chicken fried steaks. Decided to make a return trip for the first time in 20 years , easily. Not much has changed. The chicken fried steak was good , not excellent. The breading is good on both the chicken fried steak and chicken , but in each case the meat inside the breading is smaller than the breading. The fried okra was good , the mashed potatoes were just mashed potatoes. The breakfast menu looked extensive and I might be persuaded to try it out next time I go through Johnson City. Our waitress was fun , personable and gave us great service. read more

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After reading several good reviews, my partner and I came here. We happily wait in line because we know that enjoying good food requires patience. However, we encountered a series of service problems. After waiting 10 minutes to finally be seated, we waited another 30 minutes; during this time, several tables of customers who arrived later than us were already eating. Our food--just simple fried chicken cutlets and the like--took another 10 minutes to arrive. The service at checkout was equally disappointing. Although three staff members were present, we stood at the counter for over a minute and were completely ignored. They weren't busy; they just stood at a distance, treating us like we weren't there. Only when we approached did a staff member finally come to serve us; however, his attitude was extremely perfunctory and cold, he seemed very reluctant to help, and his tone revealed extreme impatience. As frequent travelers, we found this indifference and lack of professionalism at the restaurant utterly baffling. What's wrong with the people here? read more

Had to stop in here based on the sign that said they had the world's best chicken fried steak. Everyone agreed that it was good, but maybe it's the best in South Texas... Lol! I had the hamburger steak covered with mushrooms, onions, and jalapeño peppers and cheese, which was fabulous! Good mashed potatoes and green beans too. This is a great place to have lunch. They also serve breakfast all day. read more

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We were both hungry for burgers and OMG I was not expecting to have The Best Burger experience!! Next time, warn a gal, will ya? Perfectly cooked, just enough grease to improve flavor but not enough to upset the plumbing. And the fries were clearly sent from Heaven---crispy on the outside, soft in the middle. Service was funny and attentive. Ambiance was Dive Bar aesthetic which belies the top notch kitchen offerings. A mounted jackalope keeps watch over comings & goings. The place is a gem of the community and must be protected at all costs. read more

The staff could not have been friendlier! The coffee was hot and good. The food - eggs, meat, loaded omelets, pancakes and biscuits were well prepared, served hot. It was homemade, tasty and filling. The ambiance was a bit comforting. The lighting was natural light and soft bulbs - perfect while you're sipping your first cup of coffee - which are large. read more

This cozy restaurant caught my attention with their claim of the "Worlds Best Chicken Fried Steak", and I'm glad I came in. The service is amazing as well as the food. I will say that you should come in hungry as the portions are huge and delicious. Even if the place is about an hour away from home, I'll definitely come back. Highly recommended!!! read more

Food had absolutely no flavor. Unseasoned, bland fries. $9.50 for 2 bean and bacon tacos is crazy! The chicken fried was average at best, again, even salt and pepper go a long ways. Honestly would not recommend to anyone read more

They claim to have " the worlds best chicken fried steak". So let's find out. First impressions: it is a small town diner that has been here a good while. "Oldest cafe" in JC per google. Seems to be popular with the locals. Trio appetizer (fried mushrooms/tomatoes/onion rings) is very good with a crunchy peppery crust. Thumbs up. The meal side salad is small but fresh. The chicken fried steak is definitely in the top 10. They use a good cut of tenderized meat. Generous portions. Thumbs up. All in all... darn good. Service is Texas small town friendly and they do not hover which I like in a country diner. Also, Breakfast is served all day (we did not try breakfast but it looked good). read more

Food was ok, almost good, prices weren't crazy expensive. Service was almost non existant, the cook gave better table service than any waitress. A decent spot away from the overcrowded downtown area read more

Stopped for a quick lunch on the way back from Boerne, and it was an excellent choice. Chicken fried steak and country sides were spot on for Texas eats, and reminded me of the country diners from the '70s in East Texas. Friendly, fast service, and generous portions. Good thing it's not closer to Temple, we'd probably spend more eating here than we'd cook at home! read more

The breakfast was great, especially the Huevos rancheros. The fried potatoes were good too. Service was friendly and quick. Atmosphere was quaint & country. read more

Comfort Food. Most of it I can't really eat , but my husband can and loves it. I usually eat the omelet, My husband gets the big breakfast and it makes him very happy. read more

Hill Country Cupboard - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Johnson City, Texas

We had a mimosa, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast tacos.... And MAN!!!! The taco was was PACKED and so great. The mimosa was larger but was generally just alright. Cool that they tip the bottle over into it! Our server had the best attitude and was a (friendly) banter expert and made our time here so fun! Though it was early and a little loud... it was still fun :) read more

Breakfast taco, chicken fried steak, biscuits & sausage gravy were flavorful, hot & tasty. Large portions. Service was great. Cost was inexpensive. It's an older place, but I recommend it. read more

chicken bites and swiss and rice so good!!! and you get two sides ggggggggggggggggggggg read more

Just another amazing find during our camping trips. This time a family friendly spot that serves breakfast all day, they do close mid-afternoon though.... The staff is friendly, attentive, and responsive. The menu selection is good without being overwhelming and the servings are large and delicious. Don't expect upscale, this place is definitely a family run business vibe and clean. I can see why they've been around for 40 years. read more

Hill Country Cupboard - Chicken fried steak with fried okra and home fried potatoes. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Johnson City, Texas

Four of us walked in, got sat immediately. Our waitress was terrific and a great sense of humor! The migas was excellent as was my quick breakfast w two eggs, home fries, sausage and a pancake. Each was more than enough for a single human. I asked for over easy and it was perfect. I wish I took a picture. read more

Food was good, it had a nice diner feel to it. A good choice to stop and eat at. It can seat big groups

This is a little jewel in Blanco, the pizza and huge meatballs were delicious. Staff was so friendly and our food was served very warm! Oh, the bread knots are delicious too! read more

They are the best, everything you'd expect from a country diner. The staff is amazing.

Four of my family members had lunch here today. Prices were reasonable. We all had a small Chicken Fried Steak and we were all pleased with our meals. We ordered the small version and it was very large. I think only the hungriest would need to order the regular size. Three of us brought half of ours home. The breading wasn't too thick; the meat was tender and gristle free and the gravy was good. The sides were good. Three of us ordered Buttermilk Pie and it was good and the servings were generous but it was not what I was used to. It had more of a cheesecake texture instead of a custardy one and they added honey and cinnamon on top. Good, but not what I was hoping for. I'd probably skip desert next time; I usually do skip it. My sister ordered peach cobbler to go and there were hardly any peaches in it; I think it was the last of the pan but the flavor was good. The service was good. Fast, friendly and sassy. I would eat here again and perhaps try the catfish, though if you want coleslaw with that, they only serve that side on Fridays. I believe that they serve breakfast all day. Overall, a good country style diner. read more

So amazing! There is no better migas on earth! I wish I knew the name of the waitress because we all enjoyed her service and her sense of humor. If you live any where near this place....GO! read more

Fair warning: If you're looking for boutique coffee, NYC-style brunch, & a corporate-trained waitstaff... go further into town or to Fredericksburg. 2nd visit this year and the excitement to return did not leave us disappointed. We enjoy reading the negative reviews for this unique place and find them ironic compared to our 2 visits, even as obvious out-of-towners. I'd hate to ever see this place too packed with 290 wine tour types to have a table ourselves, but our 2 satisfying experiences this year deserved a sincere 5 star review. read more

Hill Country Cupboard - Pancake included as a bread option with the CFS breakfast plate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Johnson City, Texas

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If you are looking for lattes, quinoa pancakes, and Açaí berry granola bowls, you are in the wrong restaurant. Make a left on Hwy 290, Austin is about 40 miles that way. HCC reminds me of the country restaurants my grandfather took me to as a child in the 1960s and '70s. You can smell homemade biscuits when you walk in. Staff was super friendly and attentive. Never had an empty coffee cup. I ordered the Saturday Blue Plate Special. Chicken fried steak, hash browns, 2 eggs, and a biscuit. All the food was cooked perfectly and tasted great. The experience brought back good memories. Looking forward to my next trip through Johnson City. Definitely on my 'Keepers List'. read more

Wife and I both ordered the rooster! It was very good. Honestly a couple could split that meal with fries

For as long as we waited in an empty place at least the food could have been hot. No kids menu. We do have have smaller portion of chicken pieces, no give us the chicken platter. Well hell, that's just a bigger portion of leftover chicken nibs. Fries are pieces of fries and were cold. The hamburger is dripping out mustard. I really don't think this is real cheese on the burger. This place SUCKS! Too bad they survived Covid read more

Hill Country Cupboard - $11.99 chicken basket - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Johnson City, Texas

Stopped for lunch and wow was I surprised by a really great lunch. We had the grilled cheese on Texas toast (grilled onions mushrooms tomatoes with jalapeños) and the chicken fried steak. Service was terrific, we felt well cared for. We got brownies for later since lunch was so filling. They were fantastic! So glad we happened by this place. read more

We ordered very basic foods! Can't go wrong with what we ordered but it was good! Their pancake is worth a try too! Not pictured. But it doesn't need any syrup. Very tasty. We also got blackberry cobbler. Of course, amazing with ice cream! read more

Hill Country Cupboard - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Johnson City, Texas

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Absolutely a must try!! You have to taste the fried pork chop! You will not be disappointed!! They close at 3 so stop in for lunch or an early but definitely stop in!! read more

Judged this place alittle when we parked. It wasn't really busy while other places were packed. Honestly, I'm really surprised! I enjoyed it here...and as we sat, more and more people came in. They did mention they are short staffed so you have to call in the parking lot before they can seat you...that must be why it seemed dead. Anyway, my husband had the country fried steak and I had the country fried chicken. The chicken was delicious! Juicy, and golden crispy! The potatoes were soooooo good! Seasoned perfectly. I didn't care for the green beans, kind of tasted like they came straight from a can and not even salted....however, I won't take a star from it because I did really love the rest of the meal and the staff was so friendly! read more

Hill Country Cupboard - Country fried chicken - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Johnson City, Texas

We had breakfast and we both thought the food and service were great. The chilaquiles were awesome. I had a basic scrambled egg breakfast with hashbrowns and biscuits. It was perfect! read more

Subtle location simple, but easy to access. Menu states biscuits and pancakes made fresh daily, no doubt so soft and tasty. Gravy just the right amount of sausage and seasoning. Portion definitely generous, left very satisfied. A must stop when passing through the hill country y of Texas. read more

Hill Country Cupboard - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Johnson City, Texas

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Overall, bad experience. Ordered an omelette with veggies and meats. Took forever to get my food. Once received I cut down in the middle and it was just cheese. Told the waiter where is my veggies and meats. Well..... he took it and brought it back after 10 mins later. Well instead of recutting the omelette and reheating the omelette. They just stuffed the veggies but still no meats. After that, I lost my appetite. Poor service. This place is a negative star. read more

Greasy spoon but ok and a fun place to go and the waitstaff is generally very good. Food is consistent.

I probably should have realized that if the parking lot is empty during the morning rush hour, the locals probably don't like it here. The food was sub-par and way over priced. On top of that they got my order wrong. read more