13 Texas Chains Serving Onion Rings You Don’t Want To Miss
Texas knows how to do food right, especially when it comes to the humble onion ring. These golden, crispy circles of deliciousness have become a staple side dish across the Lone Star State.
From fast-food joints to sit-down restaurants, Texans take their onion rings seriously, with each chain offering their own special take on this classic appetizer.
1. Whataburger’s Legendary Circles
Texans swear by Whataburger’s onion rings. Their thick-cut rings sport a distinctive battered coating (flour-and-cornmeal based), creating a satisfying crunch that complements their juicy burgers perfectly.
The secret lies in the seasoning blend that gives these rings their addictive quality. Many locals make special trips just for the rings, ordering them as a standalone snack between meals.
2. Dairy Queen’s Texas-Style Crunch
Texas DQs operate independently from the national chain, resulting in menu items you won’t find elsewhere – including their distinctive onion rings. The coating has a light, airy quality that shatters pleasantly with each bite.
The onions inside maintain their sweetness without becoming soggy. They pair wonderfully with DQ’s ranch dipping sauce, creating a combination that’s practically required eating during Texas road trips.
3. Sonic Drive-In’s Crispy Classics
Sonic’s rings arrive at your car window impossibly hot – a testament to their fresh-from-the-fryer preparation. The batter has a distinctive sweetness that creates an interesting contrast with the savory onion.
I remember pulling into Sonic after high school football games, the car windows steaming up from the heat of freshly fried rings.
The carhop service adds to the experience, making these rings taste even better when enjoyed in your vehicle.
4. Jack in the Box’s Butter-Enriched Beauties
Jack’s rings stand out for their buttery undertones in the batter. The coating adheres perfectly to the onion, preventing that annoying situation where you bite in and pull the entire onion out.
These rings maintain their crispness longer than most competitors, making them ideal for takeout. The thickness strikes a perfect balance – substantial enough to satisfy but not so thick that the onion becomes overwhelming.
5. Burger King’s Savory Hoops
BK’s rings feature a surprisingly complex flavor profile despite their fast-food origins. The batter contains notes of garlic and onion powder that amplify the natural onion flavor.
The rings have a satisfying structural integrity – firm enough to dunk in sauce without breaking. During my college days in Austin, these rings saved many late-night study sessions, providing the perfect salty snack to keep my brain functioning.
6. Carl’s Jr.’s Crispy Onion Rings
Carl’s Jr. serves crispy onion rings, giving their rings a homemade quality that mass-produced versions lack. The breading has a coarser texture that creates more surface area for that satisfying crunch.
The onions themselves are mild and sweet, providing a flavor that appeals to those who find regular onions too pungent.
Their generous portion size makes these rings perfect for sharing, though you might not want to.
7. Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers’ Thin-Sliced Gems
Freddy’s takes a different approach with whisper-thin onion slices. The high ratio of crispy coating to onion creates an almost chip-like experience that’s uniquely addictive.
I once watched my nephew devour an entire large order without coming up for air – these rings have that effect on people.
The thinner style allows the sweet onion flavor to caramelize more during frying, resulting in rings that taste almost candy-like.
8. Culver’s Premium Beer-Battered Rings
Culver’s uses a seasoned batter for their rings, creating a distinct flavor that elevates them above standard fast food offerings. The rings maintain a remarkable lightness despite their substantial size.
The batter creates tiny air pockets during frying, resulting in an almost tempura-like delicacy. These rings pair perfectly with their signature Wisconsin cheese curds for the ultimate fried food experience.
9. Red Robin’s Tower-Worthy Rings
Red Robin’s famous towering onion ring presentation isn’t just for show – these rings deliver on flavor too. The batter contains a blend of spices that gives them a distinctive reddish hue and peppery kick.
The large diameter rings are perfect for stacking on burgers as an upgrade. When visiting their San Antonio location, the server suggested dipping them in campfire sauce – a combination that changed my onion ring experience forever.
10. BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse’s Crispy Ring Delights
BJ’s elevates the humble onion ring by serving crispy, seasoned rings that deliver a complex flavor without relying on beer in the batter.
The rings arrive at your table piping hot, accompanied by sriracha aioli and ranch. The combination of the cool, spicy dip with the hot, crispy rings creates a taste sensation that keeps Texans coming back for more.
11. Fuddruckers’ Build-Your-Own-Burger Companion
Fuddruckers’ rings are designed to complement their famous build-your-own burgers. The batter has a satisfying heft that stands up to their substantial beef patties when used as a topping.
The rings maintain their crunch even when placed under hot burger components. Back in 2010, I won a Fuddruckers eating contest in Dallas by constructing a tower of onion rings atop my burger – a structure that remained intact until the final bite.
12. Wayback Burgers’ Old-Fashioned Approach
Wayback lives up to its name with rings that taste like they’re from another era. The batter has a simplicity that’s increasingly rare – just flour, seasoning, and buttermilk creating a nostalgic flavor profile.
The onions are sliced to medium thickness, allowing for the perfect balance of vegetable and coating. These rings remind me of what my grandmother used to make, proving that sometimes the old ways really are the best ways.
13. Hooters’ Famous Breaded Rings
Beyond their famous wings, Hooters serves onion rings that deserve their own recognition. Their distinctive breading creates an extra-crunchy exterior that somehow remains light rather than heavy.
The seasoning blend includes a hint of cayenne that builds pleasantly as you work through an order. My fishing buddies and I stop at the Corpus Christi location after every trip, ordering these rings to share while recounting the day’s catches and misses.