Texas does not mess around when it comes to comfort food, and chicken fried steak has always felt personal to me. I grew up hearing arguments about who does it best, who makes the crispiest crust, and whose gravy deserves its own praise.
A real chicken fried steak is simple but demanding. Tender beef, fried just right, covered in creamy gravy that soaks into every bite.
I have eaten it in tiny roadside diners, crowded cafés, and places people refuse to name out loud because they do not want the secret getting out. Every town seems to swear theirs is the best, and honestly, that loyalty is part of the fun…