Remember when finding dinner was as simple as shouting ‘tacos’ and piling into the nearest booth? Now coordinating a meal feels like negotiating a peace treaty across town. Friends, we’ve tasted every menu so you can stop debating whose neighborhood has better burgers and just enjoy that first perfect bite together.
Bubba’s 33
$$ | (432) 694-2333 | WEBSITE
Everyone’s answer to ‘let’s just grab a bite somewhere easy’ is Bubba’s 33, even if one of you lives across town. But, because of the winning combo of tasty food and fun atmosphere, if one of you wants burgers and the other wants something lighter, it’s actually true. So, if you both agree to meet at Bubba’s 33, this should be your choice. This restaurant on their Midland location doesn’t feel like another chain spot.
For starters, it’s cool and relaxed enough that you can actually enjoy your meal without rushing. Then there’s their flavorful menu, with options like the chicken covered with Pico, avocado, cheese, and lime sauce rice from the kitchen. Or, if it’s a ‘quick dinner’, code for ‘more drinks, less fuss’, then they’ve got you covered with satisfying choices like amazing burgers or a fresh salad.
O’Siller Cafe
$ | (432) 994-2607 | WEBSITE
The food at O’Siller Cafe is so reasonably priced that you could probably justify a special trip across Midland just to eat here. But, lucky you, you don’t even have to. This cafe in Midland serves excellent grilled catfish and hand-pressed hamburgers, which are basically comfort food’s tastier, homemade cousins. They’re served with sides so fresh and delicious that you’ll happily clean your plate. The restaurant itself is a pretty casual affair, but so are the prices.
The basic Bacon Cheeseburger weighs in at a very reasonable $12, and some of Midland’s best green cheese enchiladas are only around ten bucks. It’s got plenty of off-street parking and a welcoming atmosphere, but really that’s just a great excuse to make this your regular spot.
Mid-Rock Cafe
$ | (432) 570-4284 | WEBSITE
You and your Midland buddy have decided to finally start that podcast about vintage truck restoration. You do you. Luckily, Mid-Rock Cafe is just a quick drive for both of you, and, importantly, they serve some of the best homemade burritos in town for a casual $9.95. Yes, for obvious reasons, there does tend to be a line come lunchtime, but that just gives you and your friend enough time to discuss carburetors and paint jobs before getting to the serious business. Eating.
It’s fast service, so be sure to grab a couple coffees at the counter to wash down their tasty chile verde burrito and the unmissable tortilla-meat-tortilla-wonder that is their BBQ burrito.
Back In The Day Cafe
$ | (432) 262-8126 | WEBSITE
The only reason you’d want to head all the way out to Midland for breakfast is because your GPS insists there’s good food in West Texas. But, thanks to our good friend the morning commute, Back In The Day Cafe is only a short detour off the main road, and it happens to serve the kind of hearty classics that make the drive worthwhile. The restaurant here is the local champion of comfort food in Midland, but you can also grab a quick bite at the counter.
At least one of you should go for the chicken fried steak, and if, for some reason, you’re still thinking about those pancakes, wander back to your booth for another cup of coffee.
Clear Springs Restaurant
$ | (432) 522-1188 | WEBSITE
Your favourite comfort food lives in Midland. But, you’re also the kind of person that says things like ‘I’d rather face off with a Texas dust storm than wait for a table’. To each their own. But don’t fear, Clear Springs Restaurant is a great spot for a serious family meal and, atmospherically, suits everyone. Clear Springs Restaurant serves a huge variety of country-style food.
You could easily share the fabulous cheese sticks and mushrooms, or perhaps the hearty main courses if you’re feeling a little less adventurous. Once you’ve chatted your way through dinner, we recommend soaking in the old country feel, starting with the interesting wall decor.
Tarzan Grill – Greenwood
$ | (432) 256-4062 | WEBSITE
Your most practical cousin finally moved out of your shared apartment (translation: budget-friendly crash pad) and settled in Midland. Don’t worry, you’re still both equal in the eyes of Texas hospitality. Tarzan Grill at Greenwood is casual enough to make your cousin, the family-friendly convert, feel at home, and it’s also secretly affordable enough for you to not have to live off ramen noodles for the rest of the week if you splurge on anything more expensive than a soda here.
Their famous burger and fries combo goes for just $10. We’d go for the daily special, and finish the catch-up in comfort, with a sweet tea from H Tea O to wash it all down.
Opal’s Table
$$$ | (432) 687-1158 | WEBSITE
After a particularly draining week at the oil fields, you decided to treat yourself to something fancy and now you’ve found yourself driving across Midland to Opal’s Table. Luckily that beacon of indulgence the GPS will guide you right to this trendy spot. This fine dining establishment / dark vault of energy offers a menu of American classics like sprouts appetizers and steak, and, somewhat predictably, a pretty good wine list.
If you should decide that you’re better off just enjoying the atmosphere, (the prices are very high, it never could have been cheap) then that’s fine, this lively restaurant is a great place to spend an evening with anyone from dates to friends celebrating special occasions.
Browns Bar B Q LLC
$ | (432) 352-1658 | WEBSITE
Midland? Realistically, your friend could have popped on over to Mars and you’d probably see them more often. Of course, they think the same about Odessa. Enter, Browns Bar B Q LLC which is a great spot for any occasion, so it’s really just a bonus that it’s smack bang in the middle of both of you. They serve all the BBQ classics you know and love, like juicy brisket tacos, lobster rolls, and a BBQ sandwich that’s a must-try.
In the winter, you can discuss that crappy day in front of the TV with a cold beer, and in the summer, you can discuss that, er, equally crappy day on the patio with a sweet tea. Of course, if you’re planning a weekend hang, go for Saturday so you can get down and dirty with the brisket and green sauce.
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux – Midland
$$ | (432) 279-1516 | WEBSITE
You settled in Midland about a year back for work. Solid move. Thankfully, meeting up with your buddy from college is still a breeze if you pick Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. This place is like the perfect mashup of a Louisiana cookout and a Texas sports bar, with food from the kitchen that nails it every time, in what is essentially, a very welcoming family-friendly zone. Think, jalapeño jack burgers you can devour with your hands, cheese fries, and enough TVs to make any football fan ecstatic.
Plus, even if you end up getting a bit rowdy cheering for the game, there’s ample parking right outside.
Michael’s Charcoal Grill
$ | (432) 686-9030 | WEBSITE
You’ve been meaning to try that barbecue spot everyone’s talking about, but weekends keep slipping away. And by ‘weekends’, we mean Netflix marathons. Thankfully, getting to Michael’s Charcoal Grill is hassle-free—just hop in the car, cruise down the highway, and you’ll be digging into chopped beef before you can say ‘extra Rocket Fuel sauce, please’. It’s a good thing the drive is quick, because deciding between their menu options is no small feat.
You absolutely need the Tall City burger, and the salad bar. Just make sure you save some appetite for those kids’ corn dogs.