9 Flavorful Texas Fajita Plates To Try
Nothing screams Texas cuisine quite like a sizzling platter of fajitas!
As a born-and-raised Texan, I’ve spent years hunting down the best fajita spots across the Lone Star State.
From smoky mesquite-grilled beef to zesty chicken variations, these Tex-Mex treasures combine bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and that unmistakable char that makes your mouth water before the plate even reaches your table.
Ready to embark on a flavorful journey through Texas? Here are nine unforgettable fajita plates you absolutely must try!
1. Pappadeaux’s Seafood Kitchen’s Surprising Surf & Turf Fajitas
Y’all won’t believe what happened when I ordered fajitas at a seafood joint! Pappadeaux’s brilliantly combines Gulf shrimp and certified Angus beef in their signature fajita plate, creating an unexpected marriage of land and sea that’ll knock your boots off.
The seafood is perfectly seasoned with their secret Cajun spice blend, while the beef gets a traditional mesquite treatment. I nearly fell out of my chair when the server brought that volcanic cast-iron skillet to the table – the sizzle alone is worth the price of admission!
Their house-made flour tortillas are pillowy perfection, substantial enough to hold all those juicy fillings without tearing. Don’t skip their roasted jalapeño salsa – it starts sweet before delivering a slow-burning heat that complements both protein options beautifully.
2. La Condesa’s Farm-To-Table Fajita Revolution
Stumbled into La Condesa during a rainy Austin afternoon and discovered fajita nirvana! This downtown hotspot sources their meat from nearby ranches, creating a farm-to-table experience that elevates the humble fajita to gourmet status.
Their achiote-marinated hanger steak spends hours soaking up flavors before hitting a blazing-hot mesquite grill. The result? Caramelized exterior, tender pink center, and flavor that’ll make you slap the table with joy. My dining companion actually did this, embarrassing us both!
What really sets these fajitas apart are the creative accompaniments – think charred spring onions, housemade curtido (Salvadoran fermented cabbage), and heirloom corn tortillas ground fresh daily. Their habanero-mango butter melts over the hot meat, creating a sweet-spicy sauce that I’d happily drink straight.
3. Texas Fajita Factory’s Legendary Mesquite-Smoked Platters
Holy smokes, the aroma alone at Texas Fajita Factory will have you drooling before you even sit down! This San Antonio institution has been smoking their meats over genuine Texas mesquite for over 30 years, and boy does that experience show.
Unlike other spots that quickly grill their meat, these folks slow-smoke their skirt steak for hours before finishing it on a scorching flat-top. The resulting bark (that’s Texas BBQ-speak for the caramelized exterior) delivers an intense smoky flavor that’s impossible to replicate. When I brought my vegetarian sister here, even she couldn’t resist sneaking a bite!
Their homestyle flour tortillas are the size of dinner plates – perfect for constructing massive fajita rolls loaded with their signature caramelized onions and roasted poblanos. Pro tip: ask for their “secret” smoked jalapeño crema that isn’t on the menu but should be illegal it’s so good.
4. El Camino Real’s Butter-Basted Beef Fajitas
Butter makes everything better – that’s practically the motto at El Camino Real in Dallas! First time I visited, I watched in fascination as the chef repeatedly basted sizzling skirt steak with a ladle of clarified butter infused with garlic and herbs.
The result is fajita meat with a richness that’ll make your eyes roll back in your head. The exterior develops this incredible golden crust while the inside stays perfectly juicy. My cardiologist might not approve, but my taste buds are filing for adoption papers!
Their handmade blue corn tortillas provide the perfect earthy contrast to the richness of the meat. Don’t miss their grilled cebollitas (little onions) that caramelize in the meat drippings before getting a squeeze of lime and sprinkle of tajin. Fair warning: you’ll dream about these fajitas for weeks afterward – I certainly did!
5. Chuy’s Tex-Mex Elvis Green Chile Chicken Fajitas
Remember that time Elvis ate three plates of fajitas in one sitting? Okay, that probably never happened, but Chuy’s Elvis Green Chile Fajitas would certainly tempt The King to overindulge! This quirky Texas chain marries New Mexican Hatch green chiles with tender chicken for a flavor combination that’s all shook up.
The chicken marinates overnight in a blend of roasted green chiles, lime, and secret spices before hitting the grill. Those blackened grill marks aren’t just for show – they create pockets of intense flavor that burst with each bite. Last summer, I brought my Memphis relatives here, and they’re still talking about these fajitas!
Chuy’s serves their creation with fresh flour tortillas made throughout the day at their tortilla station (watching the process is half the fun). Their signature Hatch green chile sauce adds another layer of smoky complexity that makes these chicken fajitas anything but boring.
6. The Fajita Factory’s Colossal Tomahawk Fajita Experience
Jaw-dropping doesn’t begin to describe what happens when The Fajita Factory in McKinney delivers their signature Tomahawk Fajita to your table. Picture this: a massive 32-ounce tomahawk ribeye, sliced fajita-style after being smoked and grilled, served on a custom cedar plank with actual flames still licking the edges!
The presentation alone caused everyone in the restaurant to whip out their phones when I ordered it. Beyond the theatrics, the meat itself is phenomenal – prime-grade beef with beautiful marbling that renders down during cooking, creating self-basting pockets of flavor. The outer edge gets a coffee-chile rub that forms an incredible crust.
Meant for sharing (though I’ve witnessed determined solo diners tackle it), this feast comes with both flour and corn tortillas, three signature salsas, and elote corn scraped tableside. Fair warning: bring stretchy pants and prepare for the meat sweats – they’re totally worth it!
7. Mi Tierra’s 24-Hour Market District Fajitas
Midnight cravings hit different, especially when you’re wandering San Antonio’s historic Market Square at 3 AM! Mi Tierra Café y Panadería has been serving their legendary fajitas round-the-clock since 1941, becoming a pilgrimage site for night owls and early birds alike.
Their secret? Marinating skirt steak in a family-recipe blend featuring Mexican Coca-Cola (yes, the one with real sugar), dried chiles, and orange juice for 24 hours before grilling. The sugars caramelize perfectly, creating a sticky-sweet exterior with a tender, flavorful interior. Once, during a late-night visit after too many margaritas, I actually tried bribing a server for the recipe!
The festive atmosphere with colorful papel picado hanging from the ceiling enhances the experience. Their house-made tortillas come wrapped in a colorful napkin inside a traditional woven basket, keeping them warm throughout your meal – a thoughtful touch that shows their decades of experience.
8. Salt Lick BBQ’s Smoked Brisket Fajita Fusion
When Texas BBQ royalty decides to make fajitas, magic happens! Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood shocked purists when they introduced their brisket fajitas – a beautiful culinary collision of two Lone Star traditions that shouldn’t work but absolutely does.
Instead of traditional skirt steak, they take their famous 12-hour smoked brisket, slice it thin, and quickly sear it on a blazing mesquite grill. The result maintains that gorgeous smoke ring and bark while adding caramelized edges that elevate the entire experience. During my last visit, I watched a table of out-of-state tourists literally applaud when their platter arrived!
Served with their signature mustard-based BBQ sauce alongside traditional fajita fixings, these hybrid beauties come with handmade flour tortillas that somehow manage to be both delicate and sturdy. The outdoor dining experience under ancient oak trees makes the smoky aroma even more intoxicating – I’ve been known to linger for hours.
9. On The Border’s Mesquite-Grilled Trio For Fajita Fanatics
Sometimes indecision leads to delicious discoveries! When I couldn’t choose between proteins at On The Border, their Mesquite-Grilled Trio saved the day – offering chicken, steak AND shrimp on one volcanic platter that announces its arrival with a satisfying sizzle heard across the restaurant.
While chain restaurants sometimes get a bad rap, On The Border takes their fajita game seriously with genuine mesquite grilling stations in each location. The wood imparts that distinctive smoky flavor that’s quintessentially Texan. Their marinade blends lime, garlic, and Mexican oregano – simple ingredients that let the mesquite smoke shine through.
Perfect for fajita first-timers or the chronically indecisive (raising my hand here!), this sampler lets you create different combinations with each tortilla. Their chipotle-honey butter for the complimentary tortillas is so good I’ve considered filling my pockets with extra packets – not that I’ve actually done that…more than twice.