There’s no shortage of great restaurants in McKinney, Texas, but which places should be on your must-try list? We’ve compiled a short list of local restaurants that offer various cuisines and dining experiences. Whether you’re a McKinney local or planning to visit from out of town, the following list will help you know where to try some of the most delicious food in the city.
Hugs Cafe
If you want to enjoy a meaningful lunch, swing by Hugs Cafe. The restaurant’s founder and president, Ruth Thompson, brought Hugs Cafe to life after 10 years of teaching cooking classes to adults with special needs. The nonprofit social enterprise employs adults with special needs, so you’re bound to leave the restaurant with a smile.
The lunch menu features sandwiches, salads, soups, sides, and desserts. You can order bulk items from Hugs Cafe, including Boar’s Head deli meat, cheese, cold salads, and bread. If you’re unsure what to order, try the Chickie Hug sandwich, a chicken salad sandwich with spinach, cucumbers, and tomato on your choice of bread. For dessert, you’ve got to try Hugs Signature Wedding Cake Cookies.
Hugs Cafe is located at 224 East Virginia Street and serves lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lihoudies Authentic Greek Cuisine & Bakery
Whether you love Greek cuisine or want to try something new, check out Lihoudies Authentic Greek Cuisine & Bakery. The owner, Elsa, was born in Athens and opened her first Lihoudies restaurant in Melissa, Texas, in 2015. She opened the McKinney branch in 2020. If you want to experience authentic Greek cuisine, Lihoudies is the place to go.
The menu includes salads, appetizers, gyros, burgers, sandwiches, and sides. If you’re in the mood for gyros and fries for lunch, stop by Lihoudies on weekdays from 2 to 4 p.m. With such high-quality menu items, it might be difficult to choose what you should order. On your first visit, consider trying a tasty gyro. Customers rave about the Greek authenticity of the dishes served here, so you can order anything off the menu with confidence that it will taste amazing.
The McKinney Lihoudies Authentic Greek Cuisine & Bakery is located at 400 FM2933, Suite A, and is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Ogi’s European Bakery and Deli
Another European-inspired restaurant to try is Ogi’s European Bakery and Deli. The owners, Ogi and Dora, have worked closely with some of the greatest sausage makers and pastry chefs in Bulgaria, their home country. They moved to the United States in 2005 and love serving the people of Texas tasty European meats and bakery items. The menu includes sausages, sandwiches, bread, cakes, cookies, and more. Customers love the homemade sausages, various soups, sauerkraut, bread, and baklava.
Ogi’s European Bakery and Deli is at 1651 West Eldorado Parkway, Suite 108. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Harvest
Enjoy fresh local food at Harvest. This restaurant has been serving delicious dishes from food grown in North Texas to the community. The decor even includes products from local artisans and farmers. Harvest is the place to go if you want to dine in a farm-to-table environment and support your community.
The diverse menu includes appetizers, salads, seafood dishes, meat dishes, and several sides. Customers rave about the rib-eye steak dish, which includes fingerling potatoes, roasted carrot, leeks, mustard, bearnaise, and pickled jalapeño. Whatever you order as your main dish, save room for some dessert, such as the butternut squash pie or flourless chocolate cake and ice cream.
Harvest is located at 112 East Louisiana Street. It’s open for dinner Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. and serves lunch Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Rick’s Chophouse
For a fine dining experience, reserve a table at Rick’s Chophouse. This high-quality restaurant is connected to the Grand Hotel and Ballroom.
The lunch and dinner menus include appetizers, oysters, salads, soups, and entrees. The Sunday brunch menu changes each week. However, you can expect a carving station, sides such as soup and roasted vegetables, cold items such as cocktail shrimp and salad, traditional breakfast items such as eggs benedict casserole and pancakes, and dessert. You can also ask for the gluten-free lunch and dinner menus, which feature dozens of delicious dishes. Customers love the prime rib entree with potato puree, horseradish cream, baby carrots, sugar snap peas, red wine Cipollini onions, and beef jus.
Rick’s Chophouse is located at 107 North Kentucky Street. It’s open for lunch Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For dinner, stop by Monday through Thursday from 5 to 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10:30 p.m. Enjoy the buffet brunch on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rye
Enjoy a different kind of dining experience at Rye. The menu changes occasionally because this restaurant uses local sources, so you’ll want to keep returning to try new offerings.
The dinner menu offers unique items. Start the meal with an appetizer such as charcuterie and cheese before moving on to a main dish. The entree plates feature interesting combinations of fresh ingredients. Customers love the pork belly lollipops and gouda mac and cheese. Don’t forget to check out the dessert menu, which includes tasty options such as cheesecake with Granny Smith apple curd, caramel, praline, pecans, and an almond and oat honey crust.
Rye is located at 111 West Virginia Street. It’s open for dinner on Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. You can order dinner to go as early as noon.
You now know where to find some of the greatest restaurants in McKinney. Do you have a favorite local spot we forgot to include? Let us know, and we’ll add it to our list!