Where, please.

Chuy's for Mexican
Twisted Root for burgers
PeiWei for pseudochinese
Outback for steaks, unless you want to spend big at Diamondbacks
Heidenmiller's for chicken fried and stuffed jalapeños
George's does a good job on a lot of things, and have sliced fried jalapeños
Newk's for salad
I haven't found good BBQ
Buffalo Wild Wings for chicken wings
Sushi at the place next to Red Lobster (forgot the name).
BJ's for generally good stuff.
A seafood place on Valley Mills has real good red beans and rice.
Buffalo Billy's has decent red beans and rice and other stuff.
I haven't found good Italian, but Olive Garden is Ok.

My favorite is Buzzard Billy's right on the Brazos across from Baylor stadium. Really good Cajun food and I am especially fond of their alligator
Vitek's is pretty good Q

There's a dive Cajun place on Hwy 77/Old Dallas Hwy called Fridays... legit!!
Lots of pocket joints around other than the chains, honestly have to ask locals to find them. While there are some decent BBQ places but nothing earth shattering. Couple of places, The Catch and Papa Tollos pizza are a couple of my favorites. Those along with Don Carlos Mexican cafe are out go to places. There's a higher end place call 135 Prime that is suppose to be good but I've never been.

Thanks all.

Buzzard Billy's is the only place I'll stop at passing through there. Heitmillers is good too.

If you know what - good - food is, don't waste $$$ on 135 prime. It's okay once, but it never changes.

Diamondbacks - it's good. But they have big city prices without actual big city food. If you spend the same amount in a real city, at a legit restaurant, you will get a much better meal, more than likely.

For legit Mexican - not tex mex - visit Rufi's on 25th St. (I think)

For sushi, go to Dallas or Austin. If you want sushi rolls, Wako Roll or Fuji are good in Waco.

Vitak's or Rudy's have the best BBQ... in Waco.

Twisted root for burgers.

McGregor has a decent Italian place (Luigi's???)

I need to eat at Friday's still.



I'm a food snob.

Oh! The Grape is probably the best dinner in town, if you are looking for an evening meal. Creative, changes based on what is fresh, and cool little environment. Note, however, that it is a wine bar first and foremost. They have one chef who prepares all the food. If it's busy, it might take a few minutes... but it will be good.

Torchy's has the best Tacos in Waco.

The food trucks offer good stuff too.

For Mediterranean, Dee's or the place on Austin Ave is good (Forgetting name, though)

135 is my favorite in Waco for steak. Parking hint: Drive behind the building and there's almost always closer in parking. Use the breezeway to walk under to the front door.

Use to be a good steak house on the north side of Waco. Maybe even a little past Bellmead, can't remember the name.

That would be Lone Star Tavern. Had many a griddle cooked sirloin there with their natural gravy.

Try Tony DeMaria's for BBQ Elm Street open only for lunch 10 am to 2 pm

I've heard good things about Honey Tonk Kid BBQ in Waco.

Here is a list Eater put together.

https://dallas.eater.com/maps/waco-best-restaurants-where-to-eat

On that list, D's is the best, I think. Lula Jane's is great for baked treats.

603 have you tried Baris III Pasta & Pizza for Italian?

I have eaten there twice and thought it was very good and moderately priced!

Also it is ranked #10 on Tripadvisor out of 328 places. That is how I found it.

The wife and I have eaten there twice. I remember it as an Ok place, but nothing real special. I'd be more inclined to eat at Olive Garden. But, to be honest, maybe we didn't order the right stuff at Baris.

We want to try Luigi's, but it seems to be closed whenever we are in Waco at mealtime.

1424 Bistro is normally pretty good and has Italian fare. Decent wine list and have had good service there.

http://www.1424bistro.com/testimonials

1424 Bistro..we'll try it out. Maybe it'll be the nice restaurant that we've been looking for in Waco.

OP asked about Waco but right up the road in Clifton is a nice place that we have recently found.
Mitchell's Grill is worth a trip to Clifton but check as they are only open Friday- Sunday I believe.

Health Camp on the circle for burgers and shakes. Bankok Royal at the University Parks end of Franklin Avenue has good Thai. I'd avoid their weird college kid fusion hotdogs, though. The only thing I like at Heitmiller's is the beef tips. It's the only thing on the menu that doesn't taste like everything else on the menu. We have a Red Loster, Olive Garden, and a BJ's Brewhouse right by the mall at Loop 340 and 84. BJ's has really good pizza, and I'm not a usual fan of pizza. Cupp's Drive In (it's not a drive in any more) downtown behind the Burger King off I-35 has been around for 70 years for a reason. Great burgers, and ask for twice-fried fries. Then there's Kitok's (look up the address) Get a double lip-locker with Oriental fries and sweet tea.

Heitmiller's used to be good, last time we ate there about 8 years ago it was terrible. They used to have some of the best mountain oysters I ever ate.

Magnolias/The Silo's

Balcones Distillery !!!

This is probably blasphemous to some..but I miss my Underwoods! I drove 10 miles or more out of my way whenever going thru Waco just to eat there.

Aside from the one in Brownwood it was the last in Texas. I still regularly go thru Waco but never Brownwood. They were a fixture across the state when I was a kid.

Earl

Crickets is a good place for beer variety and good food