Babes Chicken Dinner House

Every once in a while, my post will be about places that I have found to eat that are well worth mentioning to anyone passing through or vacationing nearby.

Having been born and raised in Texas (a transplanted Californian for 37 years) it is hard to find good southern food in California. So when I go back to Texas for visits, naturally, the first thing I want is a good homecooked meal by Mom or my sisters. The second thing I want is to hit eateries that I have been to before and absolutely love. So, I thought I would share them with you.

This is Babes Chicken Dinner House in Roanoke, Texas (just north of Ft. Worth).


Babes has several locations - all in Texas (Dallas, Garland, Sanger, Carrollton, Burleson, and of course this one in Roanoke) and they also have Bubba's in Dallas, owned by the same family.

A little bit about Babes.

On April 22, 1993, Paul and Mary Beth Vinyard opened the first Babe's in Roanoke, Texas, located North East of Ft. Worth and West of Grapevine. It has only 155 seats and is located in a warehouse building built in 1908. "Babe" is Mary Beth's nick name; she developed the recipes so we named the restaurant Babe's.

The Babe's in Garland was opened in May of 1994. Over the years we have developed a broader menu for this Babe's, including many of the items we now serve in the other Babe's locations in Sanger, Carrollton and Burleson.

Paul and Mary Beth also own Bubba's in Dallas, on Hillcrest near S.M.U., Bubba is Paul's nickname. Bubba's is a 1927 Texaco Service Station converted to an Art Deco styled Restaurant. We opened Bubba's in 1981.

It sure doesn't look like much from the outside, but anytime it is open, you will find every one of those mismatched chairs outside filled and then some. In the summer time, a mister (the kind that gently sprays water in a mist - not the gentleman kind!!) will keep you cool while you are waiting outside.

Inside is just as rustic as the outside, with high ceilings and overhead fans and original brick walls.

Seating is picnic table/bench style.

Here is the way you order at the Babes in Roanoke - you only get a choice of Fried Chicken or Chicken Fried Steak. And that is the extent of what your order!

The sides dishes are served family style - Mashed Potatoes, Creamy Gravy, Green Salad, Grandma's Corn, Homemade Biscuits. And you can get refills of the side dishes.

Both the chicken and steak have a wonderful lightly seasoned crispy crust, not soggy from oil. The meat is moist and tender.

The gravy is truly Southern Gravy (not the paste that is served here in California!).

The salad, mashed potatoes and corn are great - but the biscuits . . . well, you will want to order some to take home with you!

At the other Babes locations, except for Dallas, they also have pot roast and smoked chicken with green beans an addition to the sides.

At the Dallas Babes location, their menu is much larger - Fried Chicken, Chicken Fried Steak, Fried Chicken Tenders, Grilled Chicken Tenders, Fried Catfish (yummy!) and Chicken & Dumplings - and a large assortment of sides.

You can click Babes and get addresses and phone numbers for all of the Babes locations.

Go seek them out, sit down and enjoy a true homecooked meal!!!

Then when you are done, drive around Roanoake (what there is of it!) and enjoy the small town feel.