The Oldest Eateries In Lubbock You Can Still Visit: One Building is Over 100 Years Old

Lubbock LOVES food. Sure, we like the taste and enjoyment we get from consuming it, but more importantly, we love the fellowship a good meal provides, and the celebration of the many food cultures that define our area.

Lubbock Has A Long Culinary History

While Lubbock has seen massive growth in the last couple of decades, it has always been the "hub" of West Texas, meaning plenty of folks coming through, and many deciding to stay. And while some may not think of Lubbock as having deep roots (and compared to a foodie city like New Orleans, well, we are babies), the truth is that Lubbock does have some very long-running culinary institutions, and the following three examples demonstrate this perfectly.

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The Longest Running Eatery In Lubbock: The Pancake House

According to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, The Pancake House first opened in 1961 at 34th & Quaker. It relocated to 8th and Q, where it suffered tremendous damage in the 1970 tornado and was relocated once again to 510 Ave. Q, where it still operates today. The Pancake recently underwent extensive remodelling/ repairs after storm damage in 2025, but is now open and ready to serve up a delicious breakfast.

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The Longest Running Restaurant At The Same Location: Orlando's

Orlando's opened their first location in 1965 at 24th and Ave. Q, where it still operates to this very day. You can feel the history when you walk into the building. And I have to add that it is indeed a very special place, as it was the location of my parents' first date in the 1980s. Thanks in part to Orlando's efforts, I get to exist!

The Oldest Building Still Housing A Restaurant: Bierhouse

Want to really feel Lubbock's deep food history? Walk into Bierhouse on 2009 Broadway, which was built as a family home in the 1920s. It was reproduced into The Brookshire Inn (which was actually a restaurant) in 1969. It became Gardski's Loft in 1976, which served the best Bloody Mary in town for many decades. It is now Bierhouse, a popular bar and hangout for Tech students.

A visit to any one of these establishments is a trip back into Lubbock's past, and I'd like to wish them all plenty of space in Lubbock's future, too.