Boerne, Texas, once a blip on the culinary scene outside of San Antonio, is now sizzling with home-style cooking charm and rising star eateries. The Hungry Horse, with its roots in San Antonio since 1983, has been serving up Texas Hill Country favorites in Boerne since 2001. According to a KENS 5 interview, Dennis Carpenter, the restaurant manager, explained their main street retailers are a big source of business alongside their regular customers. "We really strive though to be the local spot," he said, emphasizing its community-centric vibe.
Not just a pillar for the locals, The Hungry Horse has galloped onto food critic Mike Sutter’s radar. It has landed a spot on the top 10 list of Boerne’s best restaurants, a ranking not forgotten after he called the town a "culinary melting pot." While favorites such as Gather Boerne have shut doors and others like Little Gretel are preparing for a final bow, the Hungry Horse is dishing out new favorites. Having already earned a place among Sutter’s top country cafes in the Hill Country, the restaurant's popularity continues unhindered. Their chicken fried steak and meatloaf were noted as significant propellers for the restaurant's success in Sutter's evaluation shared by Express News.
The menu at Hungry Horse boasts popular dishes such as hand-breaded chicken fried steak served with homemade cream gravy—a simplicity that belies its deliciousness. "Our very most popular dish is chicken fried steak," Carpenter told KENS 5. Moreover, Dennis revealed their fried catfish and burgers are fan favorites, assuring the restaurant's staples reflect home-style sensibilities.
Adding to Boerne's dining allure is Cibolo Creek Brewing Co., which refuses to treat food as an afterthought, and The Dienger Trading Co., which resurrects 1880s charm in a daytime café setting. From its historic building, The Dienger now offers a lively café scene complete with country specialties and a dedicated bakery. One standout dish, a chicken-fried steak Benedict, sits proudly atop fresh biscuits and is dressed with a heaping of peppered cream gravy, as noted in the Express News showcase of the culinary transformation that has Boerne now comfortably egging on visitors with appetites for all things gourmet and classic Texan.
Through mouthwatering countryside staples and steady culinary evolution, Boerne bids bon appétit to locals and travelers alike. With foundations like The Hungry Horse holding steady and newcomers like The Dienger making historic waves, the dining scene in this Hill Country town proves that in the pot of Texas cooking, some ingredients are just too good to melt away.
