Goodson's Cafe

This place is a true Texas classic! Been around for decades and you can taste the tradition in every bite. The chicken fried steak and fried fish are both outstanding — huge portions, great flavor, and real Southern comfort food. Service is warm and friendly, and the whole place has that cozy, down-home feel. If you want authentic Texas comfort food, this is the spot.

Awesome place!!! The chicken fried steak is the best I've had. The homemade yeast rolls so, so good. Love the baked squash. The restaurant is so nostalgic. Love coming here!

Always a pleasure eating at this time continued favorite of ours every time were in the area.... always love my chicken fried steak!

Had dinner at Goodson’s Cafe and it was spot on. The chicken fried steak was cooked just right—crispy outside, tender inside, and the gravy tied it all together. Total comfort food. Nae was our waitress and she was great. Super friendly, quick with refills, and just had a good vibe all around. If you’re in the area and hungry, this place is worth the stop. I’ll definitely be back.

Great mom and pop style cosine. I Really loved the food and price. I am from Orlando Florida and This is My 3rd visit. it is still amazing. The kids really do a great job serving and making sure you are good. I highly recommend this place. 5 stars

Was leaving my doctor's office and happened to make a wrong turn and had to turn around so I pulled into driveway and saw the sign. Long story short ended up making the right wrong turn. Best southern cooking I've ever had. I ordered the Pot Roast and let me tell you it didn't disappoint will have to come back and try the chicken fried steak!

The service early on a Friday evening was quick and friendly, with no delay in seating or serving. Kylie was our server; the drinks and food came very rapidly, my beer was served cold in the bottle, and coffee was also served immediately. I was surprised at how quickly the food was served, but disappointed in the quality. I had the ribeye, mentioned on the specials board in the waiting area. I asked for two carbs, mac ‘n’ cheese and a loaded baked potato. The mac tasted very premade, with none of the qualities of homemade. No brown cheesy crust, no baked-together goodness, just yellow cheese sauce on small pasta. The baked potato was fine, but not very hot. The bacon bits tasted and looked like they came from a packet, not like anyone was frying actual meat. The ribeye was thin and stringy, with a lot of fat and tough fibers, but they did cook it close to medium rare, which is quite a task with such a thin cut. The gravy and rolls in a basket also appeared to be just something shipped in and heated, maybe canned gravy? My companion had the meatloaf, which she said tasted like it had spaghetti sauce on top. The beans looked canned as well, and there was a scoop of ordinary mashed potatoes. We ordered banana pudding to go, but I’d pass next time. It seems to be mostly whipped cream and not really the creamy thick dish with bananas and wafers I was hoping for. On the whole, all seemed very old-fashioned and plain, with none of the local color and style we’d hoped for. Maybe it’s a good place to take the grandparents; we did see a large percentage of older folks who seemed happy with their choice. The religious bent to the decor was echoed in the wishes for a ‘blessed day’ we were offered by staff as we left.

Today the Fat Club (Corey, Jay and Myself) headed to Tomball, Texas and went to Goodson’s home of the best Chicken Fried Steak in TEXAS! The waitress asked us if we saw them on a TV that they were on recently, but I had no idea what she was talking about. I just heard about this place from co-workers, so we gave it a try. The place has been open since 1950 and the décor of the place shows its character. I love that! The chicken fried steak was out of this world as was the white gravy. I had the banana pudding as the dessert and damn that was killer too!!

Stopped here for the first time on our way home from the Texas Renaissance Fair. It was pretty busy but we were greeted and seated immediately. The waiter (sorry can't recall his name) arrived at the table within 2 minutes to take our drink order then about 3 minutes after bringing our drinks he was back to take our food order. Big plus, he spoke loudly and clearly enough to be easily heard and understood even over the crowd. He also brought yeast rolls with the drinks and oh my, they were amazing! Soft, warm, and yeasty! Our food arrived quite quickly considering how busy they were and everything was piping hot. Their menu claims they have the 'best chicken fried steak' in Texas according to The Eyes of Texas (not sure who that is). So, I ordered the small one. Was it good? Yes. Was it the best I've had? No, that honor still stays with T-Bone Tom's in Kemah. It did have quite a bit of extra breading around the edges of the actual meat and wasn't cooked quite long enough. As you can see in the photo the breading was pretty light colored. The flavor was good, but not exceptional. I also had fried okra and mashed potatoes. The okra also needed a bit more time in the fryer as it wasn't very crisp at all. The potatoes and gravy were both very good.

This is my second review. Usually I don't review a place more than once. But the service this time is complete 180 degrees from the first review. - Food: Delicious as before. 5 Stars - Service1: Server was not so friendly. Not sure if she had a bad day or what. 1 Star - Service2: On my first visit, I asked for fresh jalapeños, which I got. But on this second visit, the server said that they don't serve fresh jalapeños. I asked if they were just out of it. She said they only serve pickled jalapeños, and not fresh one. I knew that was a lie. 1 Star - Ambiance: Busy, which is sign of good business. It is just too bad the server I got tonight ruined it. 3 Stars Overall: 3 Stars. In my first review, this was a solid 5 Stars. But this time, this place did not meet the great expectation I was hoping to see again.

When I have a craving for chicken fried steak and fried okra, this is where we go. It's a fairly large restaurant so getting a table shouldn't be a problem, even if you notice a very full parking lot.

I had a great experience at Goodson's Cafe. The food was really delicious, vibes were great. I really like the interior of this restaurant. It was clean and very homey. I loved the wood and comfortable booths. The vibe was just good The service here was great too. Our waiter was really nice & friendly. It seems like most of the waiters here were very polite. Food came out very quickly too. I loved the food. I got this MASSIVE chicken fried steak. It was the size of a whole plate. And it tasted really good. The gravy was good too! Also the sweet tea is delicious :) I will say I wish I had gotten a different side than the black eyed peas. Next time I'll try a different veggie. Overall, I loved this place. I'm definitely coming back for the ambiance and the giant chicken fried steak

Our family group of 16, including three youngers, thoroughly enjoyed a 2025 post-Thanksgiving gathering and meal at Goodson's Cafe. The staff quickly put tables together for us, and our server, Brooke, did an outstanding job keeping things moving along in a festive yet efficient manner! The kitchen staff got the appetizers, meals, and desserts out with great timing, and everything was generous, piping hot and truly delicious!!! Thank you to all concerned at Goodson's for providing such a cozy, homey, comfortable setting for us to visit and celebrate not only Thanksgiving, but also a couple of birthdays, and a prelude to the Holiday Season!

Went to visit family in Tomball and had to stop by here for their famous chicken fried steak. The wife and I ordered the small portion of chicken fried steak and it tasted great. We had the gravy on the side, gravy was amazing by the way. The steak was delicious and perfectly battered. Crunchy and tender with every bit. We were greeted and seated right away. Service was great no complaints, food came out in a few minutes after we placed our orders. Definitely a must try if you're in the Tomball area.

8.23.24 On this visit everything was off. The service, the food, even the hostess person did not look like he wanted to be there. Don't you hate when you ask your server, if they like something on the menu and they say "I don't know". It would be better if they said " sorry, I have not tried that yet". (smh) We ordered and waited 30 minutes for our food and of course something was wrong with it. My chicken was pink inside. I told my server and he just said ok and walked off. He came back and said he ordered me a new meal. The server never apologized or anything. Btw- they were not busy. My "2nd" meal arrived and I guess it was the manager who brought it out to me. She did not apologize either. It was the smallest chicken breast I have ever seen and it was just ok. We stopped coming here before because they are not consistent. Looks like it will be a long while before we come here again or if at all.

This is one of my favorite places to get chicken fried steak. We have been here so many times the staff is so friendly and the food is so delicious. Gives you the country feels with the decor and it definitely leaves you wobbling out.

Went into town for a tournament I had to stop in at a local diner for supposedly the best chicken fried steak in the area. The chicken fried steak was not very good. Gravy was bland potatoes with bland, macaroni and cheese was good. My child had the ribeye, which is just a Walmart thin cut steak. Half inch at best. All the service was good. The hostess was friendly and the restaurant seem to be clean. It is not somewhere I would go again.

I was visiting from out of town and was craving some country cooking. Service was great. Food was tasty. And they were able to reserve us tables for our family after a funeral service. Overall this place is great if you're out in Tomball. And yes the chicken friend steak is as good as they advertise.

Chicken and Dumplings were great! Wife had chief salad. Our Waitress Mason was very good.

Traditional diner that's been in business since 1950. Iconic old fashioned experience with an excellent menu. Food and service are amazing. Prices are extremely affordable. Serving sizes are huge!! Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Service: 5/5 Great service! We had a big party come in during lunch time on a Sunday and while in the waiting area, we were kept in the loop about how long the wait will be, which was shorter than the time given. When brought back, the waitress was very attentive and came back at good intervals to refill any waters. Quantity/Value: 5/5 The amount of food you get for the price is pretty great. You can definitely share a meal here. Taste: 2.5/5.0 They are world famous for their chicken fried steak, but apart from it being bigger than your face, it did not impress us. The other foods are mediocre as well; nothing stands out. Our table ordered: Chicken fried steak: Honestly, I feel like you can get this at Cheddar's or anywhere else and not miss out on anything special here. Onion rings: pretty good, but I actually like Sonic's Drive In a lot better. Cheese sticks: I thought these were very good! Crispy and had a lot of cheese on the inside. Yeast rolls: Very good! So soft and warm. Amazing with the butter and/or gravy. Veggie of the day (spinach): So salty! I took two bites and could not eat it anymore Mashed potatoes: good, nothing special Mac & cheese: good, nothing special Smothered chicken: nothing special. French fries: One of the worst restaurant quality fries I have ever tasted. They were not crispy and salted well. Frozen fries that I air-fry at home taste 100% better. Overall, this place did not impress us, and I wouldn't want to come back. I would be much happier eating at Chicken Express if I wanted fried foods/chicken.

If you are looking for a good local place, stop here. Don't go to Molly's pub, which has horrible service and a sad menu. We just left that place, we did give them a chance. But back to Goodson's. We've been here a few times and have never been disappointed. Great friendly service and a menu that has everything from chicken and dumplings to a pot roast sandwich. They are known for their chicken fried steaks, they are definitely noteworthy. The regular size CFS is big, the large size is just plain crazy. But good, to be sure. The appetisers are priced really well, and let me tell you, the onion rings are worth every cent. Too much for two people if I'm going to be honest. At least these two people. I have to say it again, great service , we have the cutest little server, April, npI adore her already. Sitting in the dining room, looking around, this is definitely a much loved local dinner destination, and for good reason. The food that's passing our table on it's way to other lucky peeps looks so yummy. This is when I wish I was the kinda person with balls the size of Texas. I would love to walk up to some of these tables and try a bite of someone else's food, easily assuring them they wouldn't even miss it . Glancing around, everyone that ordered A(foolishly)the large chicken fried steak is getting a box to take home.:even my husband and I should be sharing our food we ended up taking so much home. No room for the awesome looking dessert. Yes, I recommend

The place for ultimate comfort southern dishes! Atmosphere feels like a southern grandmas kitchen. Service is down-to-earth southern hospitality at its best.

Luckily I am far enough away from Tomball to be clear of the nuclear fallout when I drop this hot opinion - Goodson's is no good, son. I've been waiting to give this place a try for decades now, and I've always known it as the place with big-as-yo-face chicken fried steaks. While that certainly is the truth, that is the only expectation that was met during my experience. The environs are about as bland as the food, they're selling corny art on the wall that you could get really anywhere. I was raised off places like Hinze's BBQ and Oakridge Smokehouse - they know how to sell and serve Texas, down to the antique marketing on the walls. While this place may have had clout once upon a time, that time has come and gone and Goodson's is clearly riding on the coattails of its former self. Our waiter was very nice, I will say. But back to the café part... There is not a speck of seasoning to be found ANYWHERE. While the cook on the outside of my CFS was decent, the inside was tough, and, again, unmemorable. The mashed potatoes and Mac is something I would expect on the buffet at a Luby's. The best thing I had was their rolls. They bring out a little bowl of gravy for dippin' and things, and that was my favorite part of the meal. I was raised to always finish my plate, but this is one of those rare times where I made it through about half of my chicken fried steak, and I called it good. Or, I guess, mediocre.

We've lived here for years and just made it there. I'm so sad it took us so long to the restaurant is decorated in a homey way that just makes you want to visit awhile. The food is wonderful. The service is quick and kind. Couldn't recommend it enough. Be cautious if parking around back after dark. The homeless community does seem to camp there.

Good Ole Fashioned Meals Like Most Of "Grandma's Home Cooked" Meals Accommodating & Pleasant Is Wait Staff Table Service Establishment during our Dine In visits have Always Clean

Came in last night and was immediately seated. The weight staff came quickly and gave us waters. Our order was taken quickly, and our food was brought out quickly. Everything was delicious.!

This is my place to go when craving good meatloaf. Delicious! But when your side order has a hair sadly just ruins the entire dinner. I called our waitress and she said Oh I'm sorry! Took the little bowl and never came back. Lost my appetite and then get the check and they were changing me for the side. Well I have to say is not like me.... But I'm not paying for a side that had a hair that I didn't eat. Oh well not sure when I go back and if I will. Very disappointed today!

Best food, best service! I told my husband we need to start coming here weekly. The chicken fried steak and the banana pudding are mind blowing. The ambiance is that perfect Texas vibe.

3.5/5 so I'll round up to 4. My fiance and one of his friends and I came here for a late dinner today; we are staying in Tomball overnight. I saw they had fried green tomatoes on the menu, which is a favorite of mine, so we ordered that as an appetizer. It was okay but I've had better; it was good with the ranch that it came with, though My fiance and his friend both had the chicken fried chicken and really enjoyed it. His friend and I got the mashed potatoes for the side and both agreed they were kind of meh. My fiance got the mac & cheese and said it was good. I also had corn which was a little plain but that's what I prefer. My main was the meatloaf, and it had too much of a tomato taste on top, but once I scraped that off, it was good. Overall the food was a 3/5 from me but the waitservice was very good, so that pushes this review to a 4 for me.

The last time I came here was in 2015. I didn't care for it then. I have changed my mind. My hubs had the Pork Ribeye and I took three big bites of it and it was delicious! His Caesar Salad and Fried Okra were both fresh. My son could care less about tradition and have a Pot Roast Sandwich and Cole Slaw. I tasted a bit of Roast and it was seasoned well. I had the black eyed peas and cabbage. No cornbread on the menu, only rolls. The traditional New Year's menu wasn't complete, however my sides were very tasty. We will return after the meal we had tonight. The Wait-staff was so patient and accommodating. The restaurant is a diner, but when we got there it wasn't overly busy. When we left there were people waiting out the doors. Got there at just the right time. They were packed. It diner is a well known restaurant in Tomball. Casual and a diferent mix of cultures. Had the cornbread from the grocery store. Tradition is complete..

Food was really good , service was very friendly and really fast. The ambiance is a family type restaurant with a lot of items that are for sale on the wall and at the entry way. They are really popular for their rolls and gravy.

We really enjoyed our visit to Goodson's Cafe. We loved the rustic atmosphere the staff was friendly and attentive. We came for the chicken fried steak and it didn't disappoint. A large portion, not too bready the gravy was savory and the sides were well seasoned. The rolls were great too. We will be back.

Nice quaint place. We may have been the youngest people in there... but that says a lot. You know the elders always fine good food for great prices. We wanted to try the chicken fried steak since everyone was raving about it. We started with the onion rings and Mozzarella sticks. Both were large portions and nice and crispy. Chicken fried steak was excellent. Crust was delicious and the steak was tender. Comes with 2 sides and a basket of rolls with gravy... $15.99. Can't beat that!! I tried the chicken and dumplings which was very good also. Large pieces of chicken and nice sized dumplings. With 3 drinks!! Total $45!! Excellent food, excellent service!!

Well you can't win em all. Tried this local spot as I love those. I was here years ago and had the chicken fried steak (what they are known for) but wasn't in the mood for it tonight. Had the fried catfish and it came with 2 sides. I chose the mashed potatoes and mac&cheese. It also came with rolls and gravy. Plenty to eat! The catfish was excellent, the mac&cheese was very good. Unfortunately I didn't care for the gravy flavor, the mashed potatoes were dry and the rolls yeasty. The waitress was very fast and always filled my tea quickly. The inside of the restaurant is cute and welcoming. Given all the factors I had to give a 3 today. Maybe an off right or early in the dinner hour... hard to say. Ok food...ok mood.

This a standard diner. Nothing wowed me here. We were with a large group, so I won't kill them on service. They have been around a while, so the locals must like them.

It has its good days and not so good days. They stopped making delicious cornbread which was disappointing and soups are good but never have what I want when I go in. Mainly we've been frustrated with cold food when delivered.

Haven't been here in many a year, but I decided to brave the ice and cold as my desire for good Chicken Fried Steak outweighed my desire to be warm and safe. But it was nice and warm inside. The small CFS was just the right size for lunch. It comes with two large helpings of sides, huge soft rolls, and plenty of gravy. It is a very good CFS my lunch partner had the small sirloin and she said it was very good also. I had the fried zucchini appetizer which was a good sized portion and very tasty. Good food and good service

Best chicken fried steak and all the fixings. The rolls.. one word. Heaven!! Great southern comfort food.

Other than the roach that was crawling on our widow seal the on top of the seat after we ate, food was really good.

We have been going here for years , and went again yesterday, very frustrating, The inconsistency with the baked potatoes, Never hot , usually medium hot , butter wo t melt etc, and the waiters just act like no big deal , I guess because they are used to hearing it , you would think by mow this would be resolved, come on guys ... Can a brotha get a hot potato everytime ...

Stopped by for a late dinner. My buddy and I got the chicken fried chicken. Very good. Several bowls of gravy on the side! My fiancée got the meatloaf, which she enjoyed after pulling a little of the tomato/ketchup off the top. Looks like the menu is filled with good, comfort food. The staff was friendly, and kept the drinks refilled quickly.

Always a good meal in store for you at Goodson's! I have never been disappointed. I had the chicken and dumplings on this visit and ate the whole bowlful. The chicken fried steak is legendary. I remember going to the old location with my family when I was a kid. Even then I always looked forward to the food with ma Goodson cooking it up in the kitchen. Great memories and great food.

The service was just ok.... The food was GOD AWEFUL from the dry hard bread. Which server just stated it's been that way all night. The app was burnt fried and looked like old grease. The gravy was stone cold. The side salad is literally lettuce and tomatoes. They didn't have turkey for the sandwich after waiting forever. The bacon was so hard couldn't eat. Macaroni tasted like a cafeteria. The fries were also cold. And the chicken was undercooked as well as the weird so called grilled. Shrimp. I wish I had better things to say but don't I WILL NKT RETURN!

Sometimes you don't need anything fancy or heavy on the wallet... Sometimes you just want fresh & delicious for a modest price in a comfy-casual setting. Whether you're looking for a hearty breakfast spot or a place to find good ol' fashioned comfort food, Godson's Cafe should be on the list. My family & I have been coming here for over a decade, and it hasn't changed much. And, I mean that in a good way! I still look forward to a crispy and tender country fried steak (bigger than your head!) with complimentary puffy yeast rolls served with a jumbo bowl of white gravy (and honey, I'd you request it).... My husband and I visited this past weekend, and we were not the least bit disappointed. Brought my taste buds back to my childhood. The service & vibe delivered "small town" southern charm, fit for Tomball. Everything was great. So glad Goodson's is still around!

Heard this place was great 20years ago so we decided to try it but......the Service was okay, food was terrible, sweet tea tasted like old and watered down, had to order a Dr.pepper which was flat also, Apps basket was not good the onion rings were super burnt and look like they have been sitting in old grease. The fried mushrooms tasted frozen and like the inside of a refrigerator. The okra was slimy an bland. My dried tough smothered chicken breast was so small not sure if the bird was getting fed enough or they used a dove breast to serve me. Mac & cheese tasted boxed covered with velveeta...cafeteria taste I guess u could say. Mash was bland and grainy. I think the ranch dressing was prolly the best thing I had. I wish it was better...smh

I have been going here since i was a child and i still love it. I recommend their fried catfish or chicken fried chicken. great mac and cheese and fried okra.

Had the pot roast with mashed potatoes and green beans with a yeast roll and gravy--Loved the roll and gravy! Food=9, service=8.5, price point and portion=8.5 Definitely revisiting whenever I'm in that area and would highly recommend

The service was good with friendly waitstaff. The rolls and gravy complimentary. They tout themselves to have the best country fried steak. I will beg to differ, It was just ok. That is all I ate here so I cannot judge on any other menu item.

Our service was excellent, friendly waitress who quickly brought us anything we asked for. Food came out fresh and hot. Chicken tenders and chicken fried steak were crispy and moist, real mashed potToes were tasty, gravy needed a little seasoning, green beans delish. Didn't have room got pie, but looked very good,, also reasonably priced lunch for two $32 including tip, decor is typical country cafe, if you havent been in a while, give it another try, bring a sweater or ling sleeve shirt, it is still hot and they keep it nice and cool.

Haven't been in years, dropped in for lunch It was great!! I ordered the sirloin medium rare, it was cooked perfectly My GF ordered the chopped salad She loved it We'll definitely be back

First time in - and they did not disappoint; staff and our waitress we're nice. Loved the feel of the place just felt like a simple spot to get some comfort food, no muss no fuss. Ordered the mozzarella sticks, small chicken fried steak, Mac n cheese and mashed potatoes w cream gravy. I've been in Tomball for 3 years now and not sure why it took so long to come in but glad I did. The breading on the chicken fried steak was just so tasty and loved how it stayed crunchy enough w the gravy on it. It's hard to find a good chicken fried steak these days and here's a great one just down the road from us. We'll be back soon!

This used to be very good for years after Food Channel feature, but the last 5 to 10 yrs it has gone downhill. To me, they aren't even Top 10 CFS within 25 miles, let alone the state.

Goodson has good food. I really like the chicken and dumplings and my husband likes chicken tenders. I personally do t think it is the healthiest. Very disappointed that the spread they use for the rolls is margarine. Lots of seed oils. Not at all good for one's health. Good ole butter is the best by far.

True Texas comfort food. My grandkids wiped the gravy bowls clean along with my chicken fried steak, it really is famous

Comfort food for the heart and arteries! Love this place but it is a place for comfort food (fried). I highly do recommend eating here as I've never been disappointed!

The chicken fried steak was spectacular. I mistakenly got the large thinking I could make 2 meals out of it and it ended up to be enough for 3 meals