EZ Burgers (Demolished)
Dallas, TX
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The EZ Burgers in Dallas looked like an old Armet and Davis coffee shop from Southern California. Not sure if this place is neo-googie or just a restored building.

UPDATE 05/05 : The EZ Burger was demolished. See Roadside Peek News from May 16, 2005. 05-05

UPDATE 10/05 : EZ Burger is a sort of fast food-y type casual dining establishment chain that exists throughout the state of Texas.  It's actually a rather new operation.  I think the EZ's closest to me was built in the early '90s.  Anyway, it is meant to look that way, so that it could look suitably Fifties.  They're usually good places to go to for car shows, authentic tuneage on the jukebox, etc., but they've got pretty sub par food.  I don't know.  I wasn't particularly impressed by their fare.  I figured I could get a better burger from Burger King, a better pizza from Domino's, a better salad from any number of establishments (there's a chain we also have in this region called Jason's Deli -- that's an example), a better milkshake from several places in-town, etc., but you really only go there for the ambiance. Many thanks to Deanna for update. 10-05

Welcome to the Earl Abel's coffee shop in San Antonio, TX. This roadside landmark still serves up hot food from a round mid-century style building. Check out the classic Coffee Shop script lettering on the side.

Earl Abel's Coffee Shop (Demolished) San Antonio, TX Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf	Earl Abel's Coffee Shop (Demolished) San Antonio, TX Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf

UPDATE 10/05 : Earl Abel's is a full-service sit down restaurant that serves a limited menu of home cooking for lunch and a full menu for dinner up until a certain time period (I believe it's 10 p.m.), after which you can only get their famous fried chicken.  They also have a takeout counter, from which you can get their famous fried chicken dinners as well as their famed desserts.  I have very fond memories of eating from there in the early '90s.  My mom and I would go over, pick up a family fried chicken meal (which includes the chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, cole slaw, and four homemade yeast rolls) and a lemon meringue pie, take it home, and eat it along with my dad and maternal grandmother.  The takeout counter, like the restaurant itself, looks straight out of the '50s, and everyone who likes that restaurant wouldn't have it any other way.  The internal decor in the actual restaurant itself is also very dated.  The carpet is a very deep sort of blood red, the furniture looks old, everything that isn't red is a very dark brown, the counters are very Fifties... and it's all so thrilling. Many thanks to Deanna for update. 10-05

UPDATE 10/06 : Earl Abel's restaurant in San Antonio closed down in 2005 and was demolished in 2006. The site will be home to condos. The restaurant had been open since 1933. Many thanks to Bradley Schwartze for contact and link to news article. 10-06

Authors Note: During a trip to San Antonio in September 2006, Earl Abel's was sorely missed. There appeared to be another Earl Abel's looking nondescript in a strip mall just a few miles away from its old location on Broadway.

Pig Stand Restaurant
San Antonio, TX
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Check out this Pig Stand Restaurant and coffee shop in San Antonio, TX. This Pig Stand is the only one left of several that used to be open back in the day. In fact, back in the 1930s, there were about 130 Pig Stands in business, with most restaurants in Texas and California.

Check out the Coffee Shop lettering that screams mid-century.

Here's another Pig Stand in San Antonio that still has the piggy on the property.

This last remaining Pig Stand on Broadway is struggling to stay business during the Covid-19 pandemic. Here's a link to the Pig Stand website including how to pick up food. 11-20

Coffee Shop lettering
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com