# Define "Texas Lunch" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2019, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680 "2019-10-12T14:52:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/1 "2019-10-12T14:52:12Z")
I know what it is. It is a a plate of a certain kind hot dogs with a thick skin split down the middle and filled with chopped onions and some sort of meat chili dressing served in a steamed bun. I enjoy this when I am in the US and for some reason Googled the term. Not one hit for the correct thing. I know a place in my Maryland hometown that serves them under that name. I know a place in Gettysburg with the words painted on the glass. Have you heard of this term? What do you call such a meal? ===eta=== I found it. [“Texas Tommy”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Tommy_(food)) is from the general Philadelphia/New Jersey area. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/2 "2019-10-12T14:58:41Z")
No, I take it back. A “Texas Tommy” is _not_ quite what I mean by “Texas lunch.” ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/3 "2019-10-12T15:02:15Z")
[Here’s a place in Lock Haven PA.](https://www.facebook.com/Texas-Lunch-107642662608003/) There’s also a place in Chambersburg PA named the New Texas Lunch Restaurant. The Texas lunch appears to be chili dogs, available at the best restaurants nationwide. It’s hard to tell but some of the pictures seem to show the chili has been adulterated with beans, so it certainly has nothing to with real chili which even Texas doesn’t screw up. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/4 "2019-10-12T15:06:51Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The Texas lunch appears to be chili dogs, available at the best restaurants nationwide. It’s hard to tell but some of the pictures seem to show the chili has been adulterated with beans, so it certainly has nothing to with real chili which even Texas doesn’t screw up. More advanced Googling shows a number of such places in Pennsylvania. What you have to understand is the weird thick casing on the hot dog that makes it realistic. You know what I mean? Perhaps it is regional. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/5 "2019-10-12T15:10:28Z")
[Moderating] Since this is asking for personal experiences, it’s not the best fit for GQ. Since it’s asking about food, it’s a good fit for CS. Moving. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/6 "2019-10-12T15:21:33Z")
I just can’t believe I’ve never heard of this. I’m in S.Arkansas. next door to Texas. I’ve spent a bunch of time in Texas hill country. I have 2 sibs who live in Texas. Sounds good, though. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/7 "2019-10-12T15:33:14Z")
I’ve not heard of it, in fact when I saw the thread title I assumed it was a euphemism of some kind. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/8 "2019-10-12T15:54:42Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I’ve not heard of it, in fact when I saw the thread title I assumed it was a euphemism of some kind. Yeah, I assumed it was some kind of ‘beat-down’. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/9 "2019-10-12T15:58:21Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > What you have to understand is the weird thick casing on the hot dog that makes it realistic. Are they just natural casing hot dogs? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/10 "2019-10-12T15:59:45Z")
I assumed “six-pack of Lone Star.” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/11 "2019-10-12T16:02:19Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > I assumed “six-pack of Lone Star.” No man, Pearl Light! (According to my Sister:)) ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/12 "2019-10-12T16:04:19Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Are they just natural casing hot dogs? They might be. I simply do not know. In fact, my mind was wandering in the direction of “What kind of hot dogs do they use?” when I started this. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/13 "2019-10-12T16:05:29Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I just can’t believe I’ve never heard of this. I’m in S.Arkansas. next door to Texas. I’ve spent a bunch of time in Texas hill country. I have 2 sibs who live in Texas. > Sounds good, though. So far it sounds like this is a dish known only in Pennsylvania, and doesn’t actually occur in Texas. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/14 "2019-10-12T16:28:40Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > So far it sounds like this is a dish known only in Pennsylvania, and doesn’t actually occur in Texas. Yeah, that’s what my thought was since I’d never heard of it. Plus, it seems like it’d be weird to call a specific lunch a “Texas Lunch” when you’re in Texas. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > No man, Pearl Light! > > (According to my Sister:)) Two quarts of Fallstaff! Mmmmmm, I miss Fallstaff. Yeah, a St. Louis company, but they had two breweries in Texas. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/15 "2019-10-12T16:36:27Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Yeah, I assumed it was some kind of ‘beat-down’. or a disturbing sex act. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/16 "2019-10-12T16:44:46Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Yeah, that’s what my thought was since I’d never heard of it. Plus, it seems like it’d be weird to call a specific lunch a “Texas Lunch” when you’re in Texas. True. And if I had to guess at a “typical” or “classic” Texas lunch, I’d be putting my money on one of three things: 1. Some kind of taco 2. Some kind of barbecue- probably a chopped beef brisket sandwich. 3. A bowl of chili (no beans or other extraneous vegetables). > [@scabpicker](#): > > Two quarts of Fallstaff! Mmmmmm, I miss Fallstaff. Yeah, a St. Louis company, but they had two breweries in Texas. Man, you’ve got a few years under your belt! I’m 47, and I’ve only ever seen/heard of Falstaff as (mostly) old ads/signs that were still around in Houston/Galveston when I was a boy. The latter-day “classic” Texas brews are Pearl Light, Lone Star, and Shiner Bock. You used to see more straight Pearl and un-modified Shiner, but I haven’t seen Pearl in years, and what used to just be “Shiner” is now Shiner Blonde, which doesn’t get a lot of sales traction from what I can tell. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/17 "2019-10-12T16:48:39Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I just can’t believe I’ve never heard of this. I’m in S.Arkansas. next door to Texas. I’ve spent a bunch of time in Texas hill country. I have 2 sibs who live in Texas. > Sounds good, though. In my experience, many foodstuffs that take the name of a location are not actually from there, and if they are, they don’t take that name in the location they’re named from. For instance, I expect a cheesesteak to be more authentic if it’s called just a “cheesesteak” but if they have to emphasize how much they represent Philly by calling it a Philly cheesesteak, they will generally not be all that great. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/18 "2019-10-12T16:54:38Z")
I’m now trying to figure out what a typical ‘Arky Lunch’ would be. Hmmm? (If anyone says Possum and greens, I may get offended:)) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/19 "2019-10-12T17:22:37Z")
Maybe you can find some ideas here: > **[The meals of the Beverly Hillbillies, ranked in order of edibility](https://www.metv.com/quiz/the-meals-of-the-beverly-hillbillies-ranked-in-order-of-edibility)** > > Would you eat these foods featured in the popular sitcom? There, I think that satisfies my “offensive stereotype” quota for the day. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680/20 "2019-10-12T17:31:29Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Maybe you can find some ideas here: > [The meals of the Beverly Hillbillies, ranked in order of edibility](https://www.metv.com/quiz/the-meals-of-the-beverly-hillbillies-ranked-in-order-of-edibility) > > There, I think that satisfies my “offensive stereotype” quota for the day. God, that show!! I’ve cooked a few of those things. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-texas-lunch/841680.md?page=2)