Don't just stop at boring chain restaurants on your road trip through East Texas; you can take a quick, fun detour to the town of Carthage, Texas, right off I-20 or US-59. This guide helps you build your own perfect rest stop day, showing you all the best local spots for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You will find everything you need to fuel up and relax—from great omelets and tasty Tex-Mex to cool places to explore before you get back on the highway.
Here’s a “select your own itinerary” for your visit to Carthage, Texas. Save this post to your bookmarks or take a screen shot of it!
If you are traveling along West Panola Street in Carthage, you will have access to all of the main breakfast spots in Carthage. First, let’s have breakfast! Choose one of the following restaurants for your breakfast!
Breakfast in Carthage
Option 1 - Main Street Cafe - Here’s their menu. Remember to choose an omelet. They are HUGE!
Option 2 - Jucy’s Hamburgers - The name can be deceiving, but they have an amazing breakfast!
Option 3 - Panola College - If you are visiting between August and May, check out their breakfast. It is affordable and delicious! College students are so lucky!
After breakfast, select two of the “Free Things to Do in Carthage, Texas” list.
Now, let’s prepare for lunch!
Lunch in Carthage
There are many lunch options in Carthage, Texas. These include:
Option 1 - The Master’s Blend - If you want a salad and a sandwich, this is your place! Check it out!
Option 2 - Texas Tea Room - Their sweet and unsweet tea selections are great pairing for their lunch specials! is delicious!
Option 3 - Nene’s Mexican Food to Go - If you are looking for something unique and flavorful, check out Nene’s. Their plates, elote side dishes, and horchata drinks are amazing!
Let’s work off those calories by selecting one of the options of this list -
Dinner in Carthage
Finally, let’s get ready for dinner. There are several dinner options in Carthage and here are a few options with a vibe!
Option 1 - Jalapeño Tree - This restaurant has been around the Carthage community since the 1990s. It was one of the first Jalapeño Tree restaurants. While the restaurant has a unique name, the dishes and ingredients will be recognizable for you - beef tacos, sautéed fish, and enchilada! Just look for the James Dean, Bo Diddley, and John Wayne star dinners on the menu.
Option 2 - Grind and Grain - This restaurant is one of the newest in the Carthage community. It is located right of the square and features amazing dishes for every appetite.
Option 3 - Rancho Grande - If you are looking for the best margarita in town, you can check out Rancho Grande. Amazing food and refreshing drinks!
We hope you enjoy your visit to Carthage, Texas. It is a great town and it has amazing people!
To make sure that no one feels left out. Here’s the list of all of the restaurants in the Carthage area:
Quick Stops and Drive-Thrus!
| Restaurant Name | Address | Phone Number |
| Chicken Express | 1517 W. Panola St. | (903) 693-7073 |
| Church's Chicken | 1025 US Hwy 59 N | (903) 693-9312 |
| Denny's | 1086 US Hwy 59 S | (903) 690-0330 |
| Jucy's Hamburgers | 1511 W. Panola St. | (903) 263-0911 |
| McDonald's | 1415 W. Panola St. | (903) 693-9531 |
| Sonic Drive-In | 710 W. Panola St. | (903) 693-5181 |
| Whataburger | 819 W. Panola St. | (903) 690-9600 |
Tex-Mex and Asian Favorites!
| Restaurant Name | Address | Phone Number |
| BRB Taco | 2360 US 59 | (903) 631-2075 |
| Jalapeno Tree | 510 W. Panola St. | (903) 694-2219 |
| Nene's Mexican Food To Go | 427 Holly St. | (903) 690-5588 |
| Panda Express | 1531 W. Panola St. | (903) 694-2966 |
| Rancho Grande | 212 N. Adams St. | (903) 693-3106 |
| Super China Buffet | 611 W. Panola St. | (903) 690-0888 |
| Taco Bell | 1208 W. Panola St. | (903) 693-4281 |
| Restaurant Name | Address | Phone Number |
| Chick O' Fish | 1020 W. Panola St. | (903) 693-2111 |
| Circle M Cafe | 1122 W. Panola St. | (903) 631-2121 |
| Kountry Fresh Pizza | 636 W. Panola St. | (903) 631-0246 |
| Little Caesars | 4399 NW Loop | (903) 265-7318 |
| Milano's Pizza | 467 W. Panola St. | (903) 693-7747 |
| Pizza Hut | 1208 W. Panola St. | (903) 693-4331 |
| Subway | 1018 W. Panola St. / 575 E. Sabine St. (Love's) | (903) 693-8438 / (903) 690-8158 |
Slow-Cooking BBQ and Local Flavors!
| Restaurant Name | Address | Phone Number |
| Charlie's Bistro | 1109 W. Panola St. (Panola College) | (903) 693-2068 |
| Chuck's Country Smokehouse | 4934 FM 1970 | (903) 690-0105 |
| Circle H BBQ | 308 Pecan St. | (903) 690-5277 |
| Gail's Place | 644 W. Panola St. | (903) 806-5090 |
| Main Street Cafe | 433 W. Panola St. | (903) 694-9955 |
| Stutes Cafe & Catering | 1934 US Hwy 79 N | (903) 694-9773 |
| Texas Tea Room | 100 E. Sabine St. | (903) 693-8689 |
| Twisted Hickory | 613 W. Sabine St. | (903) 631-0260 |
Beverages and More!
| Establishment | Address | Phone Number |
| Grind & Grain Beverage Co/Pop's Kitchen | 108 W. Sabine St. | (903) 263-0297 |
| Master's Blend | 1128 W. Panola St. | (903) 693-2244 |
| Sunflower Mercantile | 107 E. Panola St. | (903) 690-1484 |
Which one is your favorite? Here’s a map of all of the Carthage restaurants:
https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.google.com/maps/search/restaurants%2Bin%2BCarthage,%2BTX
Each day, we see license plates from Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Remember to stop in our small town - you will not be disappointed. So, when you are driving U.S. Highway 79 from Shreveport (or Jackson) to Central Texas or U.S Highway 59 from Houston to Chicago, make a peaceful stop in Carthage along the way!
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