Ethnic

This wonderful authentic Jamaican restaurant is the first - and only - of its kind in Waco. From Curried Goat to Rum Cake, you won’t get a more delicious, more authentic Caribbean experience anywhere nearby.
1400 South 5th Street
10am-5pm Mon-Fri

About the only thing I love more than the outside of Cathay House is the food, but I could eat Chinese food for pretty much every meal. Yet, as a Real Man, I eat almost exactly what my wife tells me to eat. Cathay House is one of the places I suggest for work lunches when she's not around. It's everything you can want in Chinese food, including vegetarian options.
825 Wooded Acres Drive
11am-9pm Tue-Sun; Closed Mon

Cha Community (formerly Waco Cha) was inspired after a season of learning to cook and create community through food and tea. As Asian Americans with Chinese and Taiwanese immigrant backgrounds, Devin & Jaja had difficulties finding the food and drinks they grew up loving in Central Texas. In addition, finding Asian American inclusion and representation was a challenge. Well, it’s a challenge no longer! This cozy setting in downtown Waco is perfect to take a laptop or a book, or to simply immerse yourself in the surroundings.
1001 Franklin Avenue
9:30am-8pm Mon-Fri; 11am-8pm Sat-Sun

Hit up Poppa Bear for great tea, boba, and a bangin’ menu that will satisfy whatever craving you have!
4716 West Waco Drive
10am-9pm Tue-Sat; 11am-8pm Sun; Closed Mon

Pivovar features a brewery, restaurant, beer garden, bakery, hotel and beer spa. The main floor showcases a traditional Czech brewery specialized for bottom fermented Czech Pilsner lagers. Pivovar is cutting-edge facility implemented in the historical building "New Katy hotel" located in Downtown Waco, immediately next door to the famous Magnolia Silos.
320 South 8th Street
11am-9pm Sun-Thu; 11am-10pm Fri-Sat

Opening in 2016, Alpha Omega serves Mediterranean food from an open kitchen. Walk past and have your choice of gyros, hummus, baba ganoush, spanakopita and more. Obviously there are veggie options. Make sure you add a Greek Coffee and head out to the patio to enjoy downtown Waco.
929 Franklin Avenue
10:30am-9pm Mon-Sat; Closed Sun

This new spot in Element Hoteloffers fresh, modern Mediterranean-style cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients!
2200 Robinson Drive
5:00-10:00pm Mon-Sat; Closed Sun

This is OG Waco Greek food. Falafels are done perfectly, The hummus is perfect, and the gyro plate with the spanakopita? Getouttahere.... Something for everyone, D's is a perfect choice for lunch or dinner.
1503 Colcord Avenue
11am-8pm Mon-Sat; Closed Sun

Sure you can get chicken and burgers here, but you really need to go Mediterranean on it and get the gyro, or the falafel, or the chicken shawarma. There's a grocery attached to the restaurant where you can stock up on all your at-home Mediterranean needs and also to buy halal and kosher meats.
2625 West Waco Drive
11am-11pm Mon-Thu; 11am-12am Fri-Sat; 12pm-7pm Sun
Staff Pick: The hummus. All of it. Now.

INDIAN

One of Waco’s newest restaurants, Saffron Waco offers Indian & Pakistani food that are also 100% Halal. Enjoy everything from veggie Samosas to Chicken Tikka Masala to Bhuna Gosht!
2305 Marketplace Drive
11am-9pm Tue-Thu; 11am-10pm Fri-Sat; 11am-9pm Sun; Closed Mon

JAPANESE

This new Japanese steakhouse features food cooked on a Teppanyaki grill, with sushi and sashimi platters available. Top-shelf cocktails are available, as well!
2501 South Jack Kultgen Expressway
11am-2:30pm; 4:30-9:30pm Mon-Thu; 11am-2:30pm, 4:30-10:30pm Fri; 12pm-10:30pm Sat; 12pm-10pm Sun

This delightful ramen truck used to be over by Baylor but is now tucked inside Union Hall, and it’s delicious. They partner with Guess Family Barbecue to smoke their meats. You can get anything from Tonkotsu Ramen to Mushroom Miso to a Pork Katsu Sandwich to Wings and Brisket Rangoon.
Union Hall: 720 Franklin Avenue
11am-9pm Sun-Thu; 11am-10pm Fri-Sat

It’s everything you could want in a local, hole-in-the-wall (not a criticism!) restaurant! It’s delicious, and it’s not expensive. Teriyaki Park has, well, teriyaki chicken, incredible sushi (try the Alico Tower), and bubble tea!
220 South 2nd Street
11am-10pm Mon-Sat; Closed Sun

Wako Roll is one of the only places to get not-grocery store sushi. With a light, airy atmosphere and a menu featuring sushi and Korean fare, Wako Roll is a popular destination in Central Texas Marketplace.
2804 West Loop 340 (in Central Texas Marketplace)
11am-10pm Mon-Sat; Closed Sun

It’s Texas-style Teriyaki. And it’s delicious. It’s a complete meal in a box featuring their rice, your choice of protein or veggies, special Yaki sauce, and topped with a slaw salad. They don’t miss.
Brick & Mortar: 1307 South Valley Mills Drive; Food Truck: 2223 Austin Avenue
Storefront is open 11am-8pm Tue-Sun; Closed Mon. Food Truck is open 11am-8pm Mon-Sat; Closed Sun

KOREAN

This small Korean-American restaurant has been doing it in Waco for almost 50 years. Get yer noodles and burgers, and you absolutely have to order the Oriental Fries.
1815 North 18th Street
11am-4pm Tue-Thu; 11am-8pm Fri-Sat; Closed Sun-Mon

THAI

At the corner of Franklin and University Parks, Bangkok Royal offers some of Waco’s best curries, Pad Thai, and coconut ice cream you could want. There are loads of veggie options, as well, for those of you that are in to [waves hands] that sort of thing.
215 South University Parks Drive
11am-3pm, 5pm-9pm Mon-Thu; 11am-3pm, 5pm-10pm Fri; 12pm-3pm, 5pm-10pm Sat; Closed Sun.

VIETNAMESE

Open for just over two years now, Cajun Craft makes “Viet-Cajun” food, and makes it extremely well. Don’t sleep on the fantastic Gator Basket. And their lunch specials include Country Fried Pork Steak, Shrimp PoBoy, a Catfish Basket.
601 South 11th Street
11am-9pm Tue-Thu; 11am-9:30 Fri-Sat; Closed Sun-Mon

This legit Vietnamese restaurant has incredible Pho and it’s served in a…wait for it…clay pot, and it takes 8-10 hours just to cook the broth. There’s a ton of veggie and vegan options, as well. Can’t decide on what to get? You can ask for “whatever you’re cooking today,” and you’re pretty much going to enjoy whatever that may be. Clay Pot also has the best egg rolls in Waco. When it’s not so hot that your shoes melt to the ground, make sure you head out back to the patio to escape the noise and bustle of downtown Waco.
416 Franklin Avenue
11am-8pm Tue-Thu; 11am-9pm Fri-Sun; Closed Mon