Andrews, Texas- 30 miles from the New Mexico border sits Andrews, Texas, named for Richard Andrews, the first man to die in the war for Texas independence. This part of the state is home to loads of oil and one of the best restaurants to feed all those hard-working roughnecks, cowboys and fine folks of far west Texas, Buddy’s.
Buddy’s Drive Inn, this week’s Texas Bucket List Bite of the Week, has been known for their steak fingers since 1969.
“You can go out, far west Texas as you can, people know Buddy’s,” Lorena Jurazo said.
Janie Robertson manages the restaurant nowadays.
“I got kind of elected, let me put it that way,” Janie said.
You see, Janie’s no stranger to steak fingers.
”I married into it. My husband’s mother was one of the original owners,” Janie said.
Founders Floy Robertson and Minnie Coleman were the buddies who started Buddy’s and named it after Minnie’s husband.
“When it was just a small dining room, that there would be people lined up all the way out in the street to get in,” Janie said. “Minnie was real outgoing, and she would go get people and say, you’re going to sit here, and she would sit them with people, and she’d say, get to know each other. Just to make sure everybody was getting in.”
Floy and Minnie were so close, the pair passed away within a year of each other. This left the town terrified that the Buddy’s run had come to a close.
“I feel their soul and their heart here,” Janie said. “I think in a way, they kind of guide me on a daily basis, and other people here do too. It’s just, they’re here. This is their place, and we all really miss them.”
Fortunately, you can still find the highly sought-after strips of steak.
“Well, if you like fried food, they’re your dream come true,” Janie said.
That dream starts with a big ole beef.
“We get our meat in, in huge bags, fresh it’s never frozen,” Janie said. “We get it in twice a week. We have a meat cutter that cuts them up, then they’re put in the walk-in, and then the cooks go get one tote at a time, and they cook em as they go.”
Jacob Ramirez is the main man when comes to making these marvelous meat sticks.
“Depending on how busy we are, I can get about eight orders in my hand, which is about 40 steak fingers,” Jacob said.
Most people are used to processed meat when it comes to steak fingers, but these nothing but meat.
“Honestly, if you like fried foods, and you like steak fingers, this is it,” Janie said.
If you’re searching for a suburb steak finger in the Lone Star State, it’s safe to say Buddy’s in Andrews is well worth a stop on the Texas Bucket List.
“Need to come here and try them at least once, and say that you’ve been to Buddy’s in Andrews, Texas,” Paula said. “They’re the best that I’ve ever eaten. They’re the best in Texas.”