Deep in the Heart of flavor

A Story Behind Texas’ Chicken Fried Steak

BY ANNETTE BROOKS

Nestled in the vast expanse of West Texas between Midland and Lubbock, the small town of Lamesa may seem an unlikely candidate for culinary fame, but for food enthusiasts, it is a pilgrimage site. Here, the legendary chicken fried steak is said to have been perfected, a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of early Texas cooks who transformed simple ingredients into a celebrated dish.

Texas Twist on Wiener Schnitzel

The humble chicken fried steak, with its crispy breading and savory gravy, holds a special place in the hearts (and stomachs) of Texans. It was developed by German and Austrian immigrants who brought their tradition of Wiener schnitzel — breaded and fried veal cutlets — with them when they settled in the Lone Star State. Faced with a scarcity of veal and a need to prepare tougher cuts of beef, they adapted the recipe, tenderizing the meat, coating it in seasoned flour, and frying it to golden perfection.

Celebrating Chicken Fried Steak

Lamesa, Texas, embraced chicken fried steak and it quickly became a staple in local kitchens. The town’s claim to fame was solidified when, in the mid-20th century, it began hosting an annual event, held every April, dedicated to chicken fried steak.

The three-day Lamesa Original Chicken Fried Steak Festival draws visitors from all over, eager to indulge in the town’s signature dish and experience its warm, welcoming atmosphere.

The aroma of sizzling steak wafts through the air, along with the sounds of laughter and music, set against the backdrop of this vibrant community with a proud culinary tradition. In many ways, Lamesa’s chicken fried steak is a metaphor for the town itself — unpretentious, hearty, and full of character. It’s a reminder that the most extraordinary things sometimes come from the most unexpected places.

The family-friendly festival features live music, a parade, sports tournaments (e.g.,coed volleyball and kickball),a pageant, a 5K run/walk, anda chicken-fried steak cook-off with cash prizes. This year’s activities also included a car show, children’s story time, a pet costume contest, and much more. As 2025 approaches, visit LamesaChamber.org for the April festival dates to view the parade route, register for the 5K, apply for the cook-off, and more.

The Chicken Fried VS Country Fried

Featured on menus throughout the United States, the influence of chicken fried steak extends beyond Lamesa. The name, however, is a different story. Sometimes, you’ll find chicken- fried steak on the menu. Other times, it’s called country-fried steak. So, what’s the difference?

The meat and preparationitself are essentially the same. The dish involves using an inexpensive cut of beef that is usually tenderized, then coated in a batter or dredged in flour and fried. Some say the difference is in the coating, claiming the Texas settlers used flour when making chicken fried steak. Othersclaim the difference depends on whether you serve it with brown or white gravy. Most agree, however, that the name chicken- fried steak is more popular than country-fried steak in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. In contrast, country-fried steak is generally used throughout the rest of the South.

Whatever you prefer to call it, the next time you savor a plate of chicken fried steak, take a moment to appreciate the small West Texas town of Lamesa that is said to have turned a simple dish into an enduring legacy.

Texas Fried Fair

Fried food reigns supreme at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. In addition to time-tested favorites like Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs, funnel cakes, fruit pies, fried pickles, Oreos, Twinkies, and ice cream, you may find innovations such as:

Chicken-Fried Bacon: Do you like bacon and chicken-fried steak? You’re sure to love bacon strips battered and cooked like chicken fried steak. Or should we say country-fried bacon?

Fried Butter: Yes, butter. It’s believed that Abel GonzalesJr. invented deep-fried butter, serving it at the 2009 State Fair of Texas in Dallas. The simple recipe involves coating a ball of butter coated in dough and deep- frying it to golden perfection.

Fried Cajun Lobster Bisque Croquettes: Fancy a little lobster at the fair? New foods introduced in 2022 included these lightly seasoned potato balls filled with a mixture of rich lobster meat and creamy brie cheese, fried golden brown.

Fried Beer: Created for the fried food competition at the Texas State Fair, beer is encased in pretzel-like dough pockets that hold the liquid as it is fried in oil for about 20 seconds.

Fried Pho: A 2023 Big TexChoice Award winner, this dish blends southern flare with Vietnamese comfort food. Pho is rolled up and deep-fried Texas style, then served with a side of pho dipping broth, lime, jalapeños, cilantro, hoisin sauce, and sriracha.

Crispy Dilly Dog: These new- fangled corndogs start with a dill pickle cored and stuffed with a hot dog. They are dipped in corndog batter, rolled in seasoned breadcrumbs, and fried to perfection.

Visit BigTex.com for more information about the Texas State Fair, and check out the new foods to discover this year. Sign up for the Big Tex Insider email list to be the first to receive news and updates from the State Fair.