If you have ever wondered what dish could make Texans happily tack on an extra hour to a road trip, you will find the answer in Strawn.
Mary’s Cafe looks humble from the outside, but inside it’s a temple to Texas comfort food and legendary portions.
The chicken fried steak draws the headlines, yet the stories locals tell are about friendly faces, bottomless gravy, and that old school small town rhythm.
Come hungry, bring curiosity, and let the drive be part of the charm.
The legend of the chicken fried steak
You hear whispers about it long before you see it, the kind of road tip that makes people adjust routes and skip city traffic. The chicken fried steak at Mary’s Cafe is not just big, it’s story worthy, with sizes that make first timers laugh and locals nod knowingly.
Order small if you want regular, medium if you need a challenge, and large if you are absolutely sure.
The secret is the texture and the tenderness, a crust that crackles while the steak yields to a fork without a fight. Gravy comes in a bowl on the side, the right way, so you control every pour and every bite stays crisp where you want it.
Fries arrive hot and hand cut, or you can choose mashed potatoes if you speak fluent comfort.
People debate where the best chicken fried steak in Texas lives, and Mary’s always sneaks into the top of that conversation. You might wait during peak hours, but the bustle is its own promise, a sign you’re in the right place.
When the plate hits the table and you realize it covers the entire thing, you understand why the parking lot stays full.
It is not fussy and never tries to be, which is part of the pleasure. You taste seasoning, you taste beef, and you taste care, the rhythm of cooks who have done this a thousand times.
If you love leftovers, congratulations, lunch tomorrow is settled.
There are riffs worth exploring too, like the CFS with enchiladas if you want Texas on one plate. Some say it leans like a giant milanesa, others say it’s pure grandma memory.
Either way, the first bite makes the drive feel short.
Gravy, potatoes, and the sides that seal the deal
Great main dishes need co stars, and at Mary’s Cafe the sides feel like family. Gravy shows up in its own bowl, steaming and speckled with pepper, ready to crown bites without drowning the crust.
It’s comfort by the ladle, and you can pace yourself between forkfuls.
Mashed potatoes land fluffy and warm, with butter melting into little glistening rivers. If fries are your love language, the hand cut versions arrive crisp outside and tender inside, still sizzling from the fryer.
Pinto beans have that gentle simmered depth, an easy match for Texas toast that begs to swipe the last streaks of gravy.
Portions are generous, so shareable plates make sense when you want to graze across the menu. The salad is simple and honest, a cool counterpoint to all that golden crunch.
On busy days you can feel the kitchen rhythm, plates sliding out fast yet still unmistakably home cooked.
There is a small joy in the details here. The pepper kick in the gravy, the balance of salt on the fries, the way toast is actually toasted, not just warmed.
None of it is fancy, all of it is exactly what you wanted.
If you like to build bites, stack a little potato, a slice of steak, then dip and finish with toast. It’s the bite that explains why the line forms before opening.
By the time the bowl is empty, you’ll be planning your next drive.
Burgers bigger than your appetite
Even if chicken fried steak is the headliner, the burgers at Mary’s Cafe play to a packed house. The regular is Texas big, the kind of burger that makes you pause and calculate strategy before the first bite.
Juices run, cheese melts, and the bun stays sturdy enough to hold the moment together.
There’s an old school approach here, straightforward and proud of it. You taste beef first, seasoning second, and the crisp edges that only a hot flat top can deliver.
Lettuce, tomato, and onion do their fresh, clean job without stealing the show.
Fries are the natural companion, and you’ll want to steal extras for dipping in that peppered gravy. If you split a burger, no one will judge, because half remains a full meal for most folks.
Add a soda or iced tea and you’ve got that road trip lunch that sticks with you in the best way.
What you won’t find are gimmicks, just a reliable classic done right, every time. The staff hustles, refilling drinks and checking in with the kind of warmth that keeps a small town beating.
Even when the dining room fills, plates arrive hot and made to order.
When a place builds a reputation on one dish, discovering the second act is half the fun. This is that second act, a burger that could anchor its own destination sign.
Take a photo, take a big bite, and accept that a nap may follow.
Tex Mex twists: enchiladas meet CFS
Sometimes the smartest order at Mary’s Cafe is the one that refuses to choose. Enchiladas with a small chicken fried steak feels like a wink to every Texas taste bud.
Cheese pulls, red sauce warmth, and a crispy steak edge all share the same plate without competing.
Chips and salsa surprise first timers, crunching bright and fresh like the best roadside find. Borracho beans add slow cooked depth, a mellow counter to the salty, crackly steak crust.
Toast sits by like a trusty sidekick, ready to swipe sauce and seal the deal.
This combo tells a story about where you are. It’s West Texas at a crossroads, proud of diner roots but not shy about border flavors.
The portions stay generous, so bring a friend or welcome leftovers into tomorrow’s lunch plans.
When the room is buzzing, you can see platters of this drift past like parade floats. Servers navigate the maze with practiced ease, landing plates with a smile and a quick rundown of sides.
You feel cared for even when every chair is full.
If your group cannot align on a single craving, this is your peace treaty. Every bite plays nice together, and the harmony makes the drive back feel shorter.
It’s comfort with a little swagger, which suits Mary’s perfectly.
Frog legs, shrimp, and the surprising appetizers
Mary’s Cafe has a playful side, and it shows up in the starters. Frog legs arrive lightly breaded, tender, and a little nostalgic, like a roadside dare that turns into a favorite.
Shrimp lean more Gulf comfort than fancy seafood, crisp and well seasoned.
If you love a blooming onion, the version here might spoil you for others. Petals pull apart with a light crunch, dipping into sauce that knows how to balance tang and spice.
Jalapeno poppers come fried and bold, a good warm up for the main event.
These plates travel well across a table of friends, especially when the wait gets long during peak rush. Snacking keeps the energy up while the kitchen works through that steady line of tickets.
Service stays friendly and efficient, with honest guidance on portion size.
Not everything hits everyone the same way, and that’s part of diner charm. Some folks prefer more seasoning, others less, but the freshness and fry technique usually win the room.
Either way, the conversation gets lively when a basket of frog legs lands.
If you drove far, appetizers are a smart insurance policy against hunger and mood. Share a basket, save room for the steak, and plan a second visit for a deeper tour.
It’s the kind of menu section that reminds you to have fun with it.
What to know before you go
Mary’s Cafe sits a few easy miles off I 20 in Strawn, the kind of detour that barely dents your day. The address is 119 Grant Ave, and the doors generally open at 11 AM, with closing times that stretch to 9 or 9:30 depending on the night.
Call +1 254 672 5741 if you want to double check hours before you point the truck west.
Expect a line during weekends and at lunch midweek, because word travels fast when plates are this big. Prices feel fair once the food lands, especially considering how often leftovers ride home.
Bring cash or card, bring patience, and bring an appetite you trust.
Parking fills quickly, but turnover is steady as tables flip. Covered bike parking nearby gets praise from riders, a thoughtful touch in a place that understands road culture.
Inside, the vibe is no frills and all welcome, a small town hum with clinking ice and quick refills.
Portion sizes are serious, so share or box early if you want to stay mobile after. If you chase the biggest size, know what you’re getting into and enjoy the spectacle.
Locals recommend gravy on the side to keep the crust singing to the last bite.
It’s a short detour with long memories at the end. Mark it on your map, aim for off peak hours, and let the drive reset your pace.
That first bite will explain why people keep coming back.
Service with small town heart
Part of Mary’s magic is the way you’re greeted. Doors open, a server makes eye contact, and your table feels like it has a host and a friend in the same person.
Even when every seat is full, someone is topping drinks and giving honest suggestions about portion sizes.
There is motion everywhere, but not chaos. You see the rhythm in how plates land, how orders are called, and how the kitchen keeps pace without losing that made to order soul.
If you’re in a hurry, this might test you, but good food takes its time here.
Regulars recognize faces and newcomers fall into the routine fast. You hear stories about Mary making rounds, checking on tables like a conductor, keeping the whole symphony in tune.
It creates a sense of belonging that lingers after the last bite.
Reviews mention wait times, sure, yet they also praise the smiles and efficiency once you’re seated. You can ask for extra napkins, a box, or a split plate, and it happens with a nod.
That confidence only comes from doing this day after day.
On the highway, hospitality makes a place feel like a waypoint instead of a pit stop. Mary’s does that, turning a meal into a memory you’ll retell to the next traveler.
It’s the human touch that keeps the legend alive.
Why the drive is worth it
Texas distances teach patience, and Mary’s Cafe rewards it. The drive is three songs, maybe six, depending on where you start, but it shrinks as anticipation grows.
When the sign appears and the lot is full, you feel like you guessed the right exit.
The food is the obvious reason, yet there’s more tucked into the experience. It’s a reminder that simple done right beats fancy done halfway.
Portions make you smile, prices make sense, and the flavor reads like a postcard from home.
You will trade a little time for a lot of satisfaction. If there’s a wait, make friends in line, swap route tips, and listen for what the locals order.
By the time you sit, you’ll know whether you’re a small, medium, or brave enough for the large.
Leftovers ride shotgun, and the car smells like pepper gravy and fresh fries. Back on the highway, conversation fades because you’re full and peaceful.
The kind of quiet that follows a perfect roadside meal feels like its own destination.
Road trips collect anchors, places you steer toward without thinking. Mary’s becomes one of those, a reliable pause where you remember why diners matter.
It’s worth the miles because it earns them, every single time.