Travel

This tiny Texas town has one of the best old-school burgers around

mySA · Apr 12, 2026 17:02 · 3 min read

This tiny Texas town has one of the best old-school burgers around — Larry's Corner Cafe in San Saba, Texas, makes a really good cheeseburger. (Eric Moreno for MySA)

It's known as the "Pecan Capital of the World."

I think it's safe to say that I have a thing for small Texas towns. I love almost everything about them. They've got character, a strong sense of community, and they can be quirky. One such town that I've come to develop a very strong fondness for is San Saba.

The town of roughly 3,100 folks is a two-hour drive northeast of us here in the Alamo City. I made my first visit years ago when I briefly lived in that region, and I was drawn by its history, its food, and its unique claim to fame.

Known as the "Pecan Capital of the World," thanks in part to an early European settler who promoted San Saba pecans throughout the world. It's still a major part of the area's economy and was partly why I made my return visit recently. That, and some history and a great burger.

What to eat in San Saba, Texas?

It was lunchtime when my traveling companion and I rolled into town, and we were headed to Larry's Corner Cafe. This inconspicuous little spot near San Saba High School is my favorite place in town. Serving all the hits for breakfast, as well as daily lunch specials and the aforementioned burgers, Larry's is the spot in town that locals go to, and these are the places I seek out.

My one regret on this particular visit was that we arrived later, and the daily specials were all gone for the day. However, the burgers. Larry's makes a really good cheeseburger. Sans frills and served with some great French fries, this is the kind of meal that will tug all of your heartstrings and give you an instant dose of nostalgia. You'll enjoy it if you make a visit.

While San Saba isn't loaded with restaurants, there are more than enough great ones to fill your belly. The Pecan House Grill, for example, is the town's noted white-tablecloth restaurant. Serving up steaks and house-made venison chili, and shrimp cocktails, this is a great spot for lunch or dinner.

What to do in San Saba?

You can also visit the Dofflemyer Hotel, located on the main drag and housed in the former San Saba National Bank building. The boutique hotel offers up a sandwich and coffee shop in its lobby, Oliver and Co. Naturally, pecan-inspired dishes are on the menu.

After lunch, we visited the Alamo Pecan & Coffee Company. The store is a must-visit, if for no other reason than the inviting smells wafting out of it. Pies, cakes, jellies, candies, coffees, and tons more pecan-related items can be found here. I bought a bag full of stuff for our return home.

Main Street has other options for visitors, including the San Saba Olive Oil Company, home to over a dozen varieties of artisan oils, and Harry's Boots, a proprietor of boots and all manner of Western wear.

The last stop on our trip was to make a pilgrimage to the Regency Bridge. A Texas legend, partly due to its prominence on the long-running travel show Texas Country Reporter, the bridge spans 300-plus feet over the Colorado River, connecting San Saba County with Mills County. Built in 1939, it is the only one of its kind left in Texas. As a fan of the show, our crossing was just as cool as I had long imagined.

With full bellies and bucket-list items checked off, we headed home. I can't wait to get back to San Saba, and I hope you make a visit yourself very soon.