A Map Of 10 Awesome Local Restaurants Near Baylor University

By Kelsey Kennedy | July 22, 2024

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If you’re new to Waco (maybe a new Baylor Bear?!) and you’re looking for some great local Waco restaurants near Baylor, here’s your guide! I’ll share a few of my favorite restaurants in downtown Waco and near campus, as well as some local tried-and-true favorites that folks enjoy dining at before Baylor football games.

About me: I’m Kelsey, a bestselling travel book author and the creator of 3 Texas travel websites. As a native Texan, I help millions of readers find the best things to do, restaurants to try, and places to stay in Waco, Central Texas, and beyond. Check out my other sites: The Austin Things.com and The San Antonio Things.com!

Ok, and keep in mind that Waco is really really small, so even if it’s not listed here as a place “near Baylor,” there’s a good chance that most of these restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and breweries will be within a 10 minutes drive. So go ahead and check out some of these other popular posts:

Best Restaurants in Waco

A Guide To Waco’s Craft Breweries

Best Coffee Shops in Waco

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Where To Eat Near Baylor University

1. Milo All Day

Milo is one of the most popular Waco brunch restaurants, but it’s phenomenal for lunch and dinner, too! It’s a bright, white, plant-filled space that has an awesome outdoor patio, southern-inspired cuisine, and a farm-to-table culture. (It’s not quite as strictly “farm-to-table” as something like Harvest on 25th - read about that later on this list - but they definitely strive to source from Texas farmers and purveyors in order to create a seasonal menu.)

I absolutely love the craft cocktails at Milo. Try the Milo Old Fashioned, made with Balcones Rye, which is made and distilled just down the street. Or go for the really fun spiked lemonade flight, made with local Pops Lemonade.

When it comes to ordering food, I can’t narrow it down to my single favorite dish because it’s all so good, but the 44 Farms Mad Burger and parmesan fries are kind of famous, and their farm-fresh salads are some of the best salads in Waco. All-in-all, it's just a great place for good food in a lively atmosphere.

WEBSITE | 1020 Franklin Ave, Waco, TX 76701

2. Pivovar

If you want a Waco restaurant that’s good for a big group, head to Pivovar Czech Restaurant and Brewery! It's a fairly new destination in Waco, located right next to the Silos at Magnolia Market. They serve authentic Czech cuisine like a classic fried pork schnitzel, short rib goulash, and European sausage. They also have plenty of Texas-influenced menu items like beef burgers, filet mignon, fresh salads, and sandwiches.

Pivovar is a fully-operating brewery. You’ll actually be dining right next to their brew house with only a glass wall separating you from the huge brite tanks and fermenters.

So regardless of what food you order, go ahead and order a flight of their Czech lagers. I’m going to go ahead and say that this is the single best brewery in Waco, if you’re just looking at the quality of the beer. (There are some other spots that have a really fun brewery environment - check out this guide to the best craft breweries in Waco to learn more!)

WEBSITE | 320 S 8th Street Waco, TX 76701

3. Schmaltz’s Sandwich Shop

The Waco restaurant scene has a few institutions, and Schmaltz’s Sandwich Shop is among them. They started in 1975 on Baylor’s campus and very quickly became the go-to destination for yummy lunch sandwiches among students.

Even though the campus location has closed, the downtown Schmaltz’s is still absolutely packed every day at lunch time. They make their own bread every single morning, and it really does make the sandwich a Schmaltz’s! It’s round, a little bit dense, and packed with flavor. It’s the perfect sandwich bread because it doesn’t fall about or smush too much when you bite into it.

I will say that one thing I don’t love about Schmaltz’s is that they kind of skimp on the meat, so I like to do a double meat order on my lunch sandwich. I don’t typically order double meat sandwiches, but at Schmaltz’s, I have to. Otherwise, this is a phenomenal lunch spot near Baylor!

WEBSITE | 105 South 5th Street

4. Brazos Landing

If you’re a Waco OG you know this place by the name Buzzard Billy’s. They rebranded recently, but it’s still the same waterfront dining near Baylor that we all know and love! It’s the closest restaurant to McLane Stadium, so if you want to pregame with dinner and drinks before a Baylor football game, Brazos Landing is a great option.

The food is…mediocre, honestly. It’s Cajun-inspired cuisine, and since this is Texas a lot of it is fried. It’s honestly not going to blow you away….but the waterfront location and scenic views will!

WEBSITE | 100 N Interstate 35 Frontage RdWaco, TX 76704

5. Common Grounds

Every Baylor student knows that if you want to walk to a local coffee shop near Baylor, you’ve got to head to Common Grounds. It’s a bungalow-turned coffee shop that’s been around for decades. Each room has cozy little nooks and corners where you can stay caffeinated while you work on that late-night research paper.

It’s also a popular spot to meet up with friends, listen to some live music on the backyard stage, or just stop for a pick-me-up in between classes. They have an entire section of the menu called sleep is overrated where you can order highly caffeinated beverages…approach with caution.

Common Grounds basic espresso program (cappuccino, cortado, latte) used to be a lot better, and in the last few years it seems to have gone downhill a bit. This is probably because they focus more on iced drinks, milk substitutes, and their cowboy coffee program (where a “sweet and caffeinated Secret Sauce” is added to the drinks.) If you’re a coffee purist and you just want the single best coffee shop in Waco, go here.

WEBSITE | 3401 Franklin Ave., Waco, TX 76710

6. Slow Rise On The Brazos

Slow Rise Slice House is a really easy sell because they serve NY-style pizza and craft beer. What’s not to love?! If you want a really good restaurant for group dining near Baylor, head to Slow rise. The riverfront location on N MLK Blvd is MASSIVE! They seriously have so many long rows of tables, and the kitchen works fast to get you your pie ASAP. They can cater to groups of pretty much any size. Locals love this spot, but it's a really fun place to eat for visitors, too.

WEBSITE | 7608 Woodway Dr, Waco, TX 76712, United States

7. Harvest on 25th

I absolutely adore Harvest on 25th, and,lucky for you, it’s really close to Baylor! It’s a little over 2 miles from campus, so about a 5 minute drive. This locally-owned Waco restaurant works with nearby farmers to create super fresh, seasonal cuisine that seriously tastes SO good. They use fresh ingredients like produce that was grown nearby, pasture-raised meats and eggs, and local cheese. This is some seriously high quality food.

Harvest on 25th is a counter service restaurant. You’ll walk in, place your order, and then bring your number to the table. The food takes a little longer to arrive than I would like (last time I was there it took about 40 minutes to get my lunch bowl), so avoid the breakfast or lunch rush if you want slightly faster service.

They’re open from about 8am-3pm, and breakfast is served all day. From the wide variety of brunch dishes (chorizo hash, lemon blueberry pancakes, harvest omelet) to the scrumptious lunch menu (harvest pizzas, salads and bowls, H25 burger) you’re going to have trouble picking just one thing to eat!

WEBSITE | 112 N 25th Waco, TX 76710

8. Taqueria Zacatecas

Best known as “Taco Z” among local Wacoans and Baylor students, Taqueria Zacatecas has been a favorite since 1995. This is a very no-frills taqueria. Don’t expect a lot of fancy decor and branding! What can you expect? Really good tacos, fresh salsa, and quick service.

The quesabirria tacos is probably their most iconic dish. They have everything from classic authentic Mexican street tacos and tortas to more Tex-Mex favorites like quesadillas and chicken fajita burritos.

Oh, and this is also a drive-thru restaurant near Baylor. So if you want something quick, cheap, and efficient, head to Taco Z.

Photo Credits: Taqueria Zacatecas, Yelp

WEBSITE | 2311 La Salle Ave Waco, TX 76706

9. Cajun Craft

Remember how I said that Brazos Landing had “meh” Cajun food but it made up for it with excellent riverfront dining? Well, Cajun Craft is where you need to go if you want really good Cajun cuisine near Baylor. This place is the real deal.

It’s a small downtown restaurant that opened in 2016. They say they have the “best fried everything” which is true! Try any of their fried baskets like the Cajun fried shrimp, the gulf oysters, or the fried pork riblets. They also have amazing gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice.

Photo Credits: Cajun Craft, Yelp

WEBSITE | 601 S 11th St Waco, TX 76706

10. Red Herring

This is the place to go for fine dining near Baylor! Red Herring is the primary restaurant at Herringbone Hotel, one of Waco’s newest boutique luxury hotels. The art-deco design is seriously BEYOND amazing. It’s one of the prettiest restaurants I’ve ever seen, and an absolutely phenomenal dining experience.

The menu focuses on upscale Mediterranean coastal cuisine, so start with something from the raw bar and pair it with a craft cocktail. Their main plates range from veggie-forward to meat and seafood dishes, and everything has that Mediterranean flavor profile to tie it together. You can get things like pita, cauliflower baba ghanoush, and labneh as side dishes.

I am continually impressed with every aspect of Red Herring. If you want to splurge on a nice dinner out near Baylor, this is where I recommend you book a table.

WEBSITE | 319 S 4th St Waco, TX 76701