Hickory Hollow Restaurant and Catering

"Open in North Houston since 1977, Hickory Hollow looks more like a giant barn than a hollow. Everything here screams, "This is Texas, pard’ner," including the menu with combination barbecue plates, southern sides, and a salad bar that only seems to stock ranch dressing. You can also order three different sizes of chicken fried steak, including a “large rancher” portion the size of a thick saddle blanket." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas, julie takahashi

"If we created a tournament bracket for the best chicken fried steak in town, Hickory Hollow’s golden and delicious slab of pounded and fried beef swaddled in country gravy would be the number one seed. Open in North Houston since 1977, Hickory Hollow looks more like a giant barn than a hollow. Wood paneling covers the entire interior and exterior, country western tchotchkes line every surface and wall, and there are even picnic tables inside. Everything here screams: this is Texas, pard’ner. As does the menu with combination barbecue plates, southern sides, and a salad bar that only seems to stock ranch dressing. You can also order three different sizes of chicken fried steak. Only attempt the saddle-blanket-sized “large rancher” portion if you either haven’t eaten in two weeks or if you also need to feed your horse, likely roped up outside (please do not feed this to a horse). Every bite is crunchy, beefy, salty, and swimming in thick country gravy. Taste the glory of this rich country western cousin of schnitzel and milanese on its own, or, like the innovator you are, use pieces of steak to scoop up creamy macaroni and cheese or mashed potatoes. Head over to Hickory Hollow to satisfy a deep craving for chicken fried steak, a solid southern meal, or, if there's a big group of folks to feed, rent out the upstairs dining room for a country banquet that’s all your own. photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva Food Rundown photo credit: Liz Silva Salad Bar The salad bar is front-and-center and filled with big metal buckets of saltines and toppings. And while it might look open to everyone, you have to pay for access, so don’t go sneaking any pickles or ranch dressing. photo credit: Liz Silva Chicken Fried Steak Objectively we know this is just a fried piece of beef, but it’s a damn good one. Something about the glow of the crust and the creamy majesty of country gravy bewitches us. photo credit: Liz Silva Sides All of the sides are what we lovingly refer to as “cafeteria-style.” They’re hearty, not huge in flavor, and slightly overcooked. Regardless, we order the green beans and macaroni and cheese every time." - Chelsea Thomas

"Not much else says, “yeah, we can feed, like, a whole lot of people,” than a menu item described as the size of a saddle blanket. At Hickory Hollow, a southern barbecue restaurant in North Houston, such an item exists. While you can order this king-size-mattress masquerading as a chicken fried steak for yourself, splitting it along with a couple barbecue plates of smoky ribs and macaroni and cheese also works. Unless you’re trying to get a world record in chicken-fried-steak consumption (something you could probably do here). For extra large groups, call ahead to reserve Hickory Hollow’s wood-paneled upstairs party room." - Gianni Greene, Chelsea Thomas

"The new spot, focused on 'Southern-style comfort food,' will take over the space recently vacated by longstanding chicken fried steak spot Hickory Hollow." - Amy McCarthy