Welcome to Lubbock, Red Raider fans.
Texas Tech football season is underway, starting with the first home game of the season at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium, where the Red Raiders will host Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Coverage will be provided on ESPN+ and the Texas Tech Sports Network. But with a sellout crowd expected, Lubbock will be a busy place on Saturday.
Whether this is your first time or your annual pilgrimage to the Hub City, there are new things to experience, eat, or enjoy, where you can get that small-town feel in a big city.
Here are some recommendations from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s review team on what you should try.
Where to eat in Lubbock?
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Lubbock is for foodies. With enough restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner to last you for over a year, here are some noteworthy places to experience the tastes of Lubbock.
USA TODAY Award-winning local haunts
Over the past 2 years, Lubbock has seen two local businesses receive national accolades, beating out numerous places across the state.
The most recent was Jimenez y Friends. Located on 4606 34th St. it’s known for excellent weekend barbecue and Mexican comfort food. In February, it was named as part of USA TODAY’s 2025 Restaurants of the Year.
And just last year, Monomyth Coffee, 2024 Broadway, became the #1 Best Independent Coffee Shop, according to the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
New restaurants to try in Lubbock
Adelphos Cellars — 11206 Indiana Ave. — opened in late January as a winery and venue. People are welcome to come taste the famous Lubbock area wine, or attend the Tuesday farmers’ markets.
Core Wellness — 8339 Upland Ave. — is a wellness center with massage, dermatology, IV vitamin infusions and complimentary childcare for clients during services. It opened in March.
The Rolling Cones — 3006 34th St. — is a rock and roll-themed ice cream shop that uses Blue Bell ice cream. The shop is known for ice cream nachos, dipped cheesecakes and over-the-top ice cream cones. It opened on April 14.
Lubbock staples
Of course, every time you come to Lubbock, you must try a few of the staple restaurants that you can’t find anywhere else, such as:
What to visit in Lubbock?
While some say there isn’t much to do in Lubbock, they are sadly mistaken. Lubbock is chock-full of history and entertainment venues.
From natural history to science and — of course — Buddy Holly, here’s a list of museums to check out while in town.
What to experience in Lubbock?
Lubbock is full of unique experiences to the city and the community that calls this oasis on the West Texas plains home. Here are just a few of them:
Alana Edgin is the business reporter, and Mateo Rosiles is the government reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Got a news tip? Email them at aedgin@lubbockonline.com or mrosiles@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Coming to Lubbock for Texas Tech football? Here’s what to eat, see and visit
Reporting by Mateo Rosiles and Alana Edgin, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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