Some meals aren’t just meals — they’re memories. They’re the kind of meals that sneak up on you, warm you from the inside, and make you feel like you’ve come home. For DFW locals, that feeling comes served on a platter at Babe’s Chicken Dinner House — the only Texas restaurant to earn a spot on Southern Living Magazine’s list of the Best Locally-Owned Southern Restaurants. And if you’ve been lucky enough to pull up a chair at Babe’s, you know why.
Southern Living set out to celebrate the unsung heroes of the South—the diners, the barbecue joints, the burger dives, and the cozy bistros. The kind of places where the waitress calls you "hon," where the iced tea flows endlessly, and where the food doesn’t just feed you, it fills your soul. These are the places built on recipes passed down, stories swapped over biscuits, and traditions that stick. Some have shiny awards, some don’t. But all of them are the kind of places you return to, not for the recognition, but because they feel like yours.
Babe’s Chicken Dinner House isn’t just a restaurant—it’s part of the fabric of North Texas. Since opening its doors in 1993 in a converted 1908 warehouse in Roanoke, Babe’s has been serving up fried chicken that brings grown folks to tears—tears of joy. One guest said it was just like her grandmother’s. And isn’t that the highest compliment a Southern kitchen can get? The mashed potatoes, creamy gravy, those biscuits dripping with sorghum—they aren’t just sides; they’re an experience.
It all started with Paul and Mary Beth Vinyard. In 1981, they opened Bubba’s in Dallas, a cozy spot tucked into a 1927 Art Deco Texaco station, offering country cooking with a walk-up counter and drive-thru. But it was Babe’s—named after Mary Beth’s nickname—that cemented their legacy. Mary Beth was the heart behind the recipes, and though she passed in 2008, her spirit lingers in every crispy bite and creamy spoonful.
Over time, Babe’s expanded to ten North Texas locations—Garland, Sanger, Carrollton, Burleson, Granbury, Frisco, Cedar Hill, North Richland Hills, Arlington—each with its own personality but the same soul. The menu has grown too, adding hickory-smoked chicken for the non-fried fans and fried catfish served with a tangy green tomato chow-chow made just for them.
And then there’s Sweetie Pie’s Ribeyes in Decatur, another Vinyard family tribute to comfort food. Paul, in a playful nod to marital harmony, named it after the nickname he used when he was in hot water with Mary Beth. Ribeyes are the star, but you’ll also find filet mignon, chicken-fried ribeye, fried catfish, and burgers that demand two hands.
But Babe’s is where the magic lives. Each location tells its own story—old firehouses, rustic barns, and vintage warehouses. No alcohol, no gimmicks—just tradition served up hot. It’s the kind of place where every meal feels like a family gathering, even if you walk in alone.
Babe's Chicken Locations:
- ARLINGTON
230 North Center St
Arlington, TX 76011
(817) 801-0300
- BURLESON
120 South Main St
Burleson, TX 76028
(817) 447-3400
- CARROLLTON
1006 West Main St
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 245-7773
- CEDAR HILL
200 South Main St
Cedar Hill, TX 75104
(469) 272-4500
- FRISCO
6475 Page Street
Frisco, TX 75034
(214) 387-9500
- GARLAND
1456 Beltline Rd, Ste 171
Garland, TX 75044
(972) 496-1041
- GRANBURY
114 West Pearl St
Granbury, TX 76048
(817) 573-9777
- NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
6700 NE Loop 820
NRH, TX 76180
(817) 428-4298
- ROANOKE
104 North Oak St
Roanoke, TX 76262
(817) 491-2900
- SANGER
202 North 4th St
Sanger, TX 76266
(940) 458-0000
