Victoria is a gem of a town when it comes to southern Texas history and culture. Situated just a couple hours from all of Texas’ major urban hubs – Corpus Christi, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin – Victoria is known as the crossroads town of the state, and that status surely shows through in the city’s culinary scene. Although the town is relatively small (right around 100,000 people), it harbors some of the best Texan cuisine you could hope to find.
There are plenty of fantastic dining options in Victoria, but we’ve taken the time to pick out the four that we try to hit each time we’re in town. Check out the interactive map at the bottom of the post, give them a try, and get in touch to let us know how you like the grub!
Mumphord’s Place BBQ
Barbecue is a staple of Texan cooking. There’s no doubt about it. However, the problem with staple dishes is that their abundance means you’ll spend a lot of time sifting through mediocre preparations before you find a restaurant that gets them just right.
When it comes to barbecue, Mumphord’s Place is one of those spots that gets it just right, perfect if you ask us. Owners Ricky and Keith are true barbecue authorities, and they’ve been turning out some of the best ‘cue in the business for years. Want proof? You don’t have to look any further than UrbanSpoon.
You really can’t go wrong at Mumphord’s, but if you’re looking for a personal recommendation, check out the ribs or brisket. Both are slow cooked to absolute perfection.
Find out more at mumphordsplacebbq.com.
The Pump House
A robust piece of Texas history, the property on which The Pump House sits was held by the Township of Victoria from the early 1800s up until 2010, when it was handed over to the restaurant’s current owners. Many of the property’s original characteristics were preserved during construction, and the restaurant stands as a true historical landmark.
The authenticity doesn’t end there though. The Pump House serves up bona fide comfort food for even the most discerning of southern palates. The double-cut, bourbon glazed pork chop is a personal favorite, but the menu is packed with fantastic options.
Take a look at the entire Pump House menu at victoriapumphouse.com.
PJ’s Seafood Diner & Fish Market
At just 50 miles from the Gulf Coast, Victoria is prime territory for fresh seafood, and PJ’s is one of the best places to get the freshest catch. PJ’s owners Mickey and Marsha take seafood seriously, and you can count on getting a meal to remember.
All seafood items on the menu are cleaned and filleted daily, FNF (fresh never frozen), and come straight from the in-house fish market.
Get the full scoop on PJ’s at pjsseafood.com.
Burger Nation
There’s nothing like a good burger in a pinch. And it’s our opinion that you should have a great burger joint scoped out and tucked in your back pocket for any town you may find yourself visiting – a little black book of burgers, if you will. If you’re of the same mind, then the description below can serve as your entry for Victoria, TX.
Burger Nation is a restaurant by burger lovers and for burger lovers. You can have your pick off the Nation’s menu of specialty burgers, or you can strike out on your own and build one yourself. Now, this isn’t your average build-your-own-burger gimmick that you might find elsewhere. You’ve got your choice of six types of buns, four types of patties, five types of cheese, and a myriad of additional toppings.
Check out the full menu at burger-nation.com.
The Sendera
Pump House owners Dennis and Louise Patillo decided to take their culinary aspirations one step further in 2012 when they started work on The Sendera, a classic Texas steakhouse serving premium dry aged beef and other specialties.
Aside from the artfully prepared cuts and entrees, the generously stocked tequila bar is a huge local favorite. Hit the Sendera bar on Tuesdays to get $2 off all tequila selections as well as $2 house margaritas.
Check out the Sendera menu in its entirety at thesendera.com
Photo Credits:
1. Photo via Yelp
2. Photo via Flickr
3. Photo via The Sendera
