Guidebook for McAllen
Food Scene
El Rodeo Taco Express
6300 N Ware RdAuthentic Mexican Cuisine near the house. Excellent food!
Bar-B-Cutie SmokeHouse
1933 Interstate 2Excellent BBQ just minutes from the house.
We prefer it over Starbucks because it is local and has great selections with a smaller crowd typically.
MoonBeans Coffee
5524 N 10th StWe prefer it over Starbucks because it is local and has great selections with a smaller crowd typically.
One of our favorite lunch restaurants. Much cheaper at lunch than at dinner, although portions at dinner are slightly larger. Excellent Vietnamese and Chinese food.
Hop Tung Inc
4108 N 10th StOne of our favorite lunch restaurants. Much cheaper at lunch than at dinner, although portions at dinner are slightly larger. Excellent Vietnamese and Chinese food.
Great Italian food if you want to try something other than Olive Garden (which is right down the street).
Russo's New York Pizzeria
7017 N 10th StGreat Italian food if you want to try something other than Olive Garden (which is right down the street).
Excellent American food with some other things like Pizza. Excellent place to watch the game, every inch of wall space is covered by TV's. Check ahead of time, it could be crowded.
Bubba's 33
2608 W Expy 83Excellent American food with some other things like Pizza. Excellent place to watch the game, every inch of wall space is covered by TV's. Check ahead of time, it could be crowded.
Arts & Culture
Museum of South Texas History
200 N Closner BlvdRelatively small, but very nice and great kids museum section.
36 locals recommend
International Museum of Art & Science
1900 W Nolana AveRelatively small, but very nice and great kids museum section.
Essentials
H-E-B
East Expressway 83Parks & Nature
Take a short hike to see a natural salt lake! Typically you can see deer, hogs, and neil guy along the way.
La Sal de Rey
Texas 186Take a short hike to see a natural salt lake! Typically you can see deer, hogs, and neil guy along the way.
Great place to take small kids to look around.
14 locals recommend
Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center
714 S Raul Longoria RdGreat place to take small kids to look around.
Gladys Porter Zoo
500 E Ringgold StFairly large zoo.
Shopping
Recently added on to and renovated, one of the highest grossing sales malls in America. This mall also has some great food like Texas de Brazil.
86 locals recommend
La Plaza Mall
2200 S 10th StRecently added on to and renovated, one of the highest grossing sales malls in America. This mall also has some great food like Texas de Brazil.
Mercadome Flea Market and Alamo Dance Hall
1602 W Expy 83Huge flea market with many local shops.
Typically has better pricing than your typical mall and retail stores.
64 locals recommend
Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets
5001 E Expressway 83Typically has better pricing than your typical mall and retail stores.
Just across the border, Progresso is the "touristy" section of the north border. Don't forget 2 forms of ID or your passport. We recommend going before 5pm or the shops will mostly be closed. Don't forget to take a picture on the border with one foot in the USA and one foot in Mexico.
13 locals recommend
Progreso International Bridge
251 S International BlvdJust across the border, Progresso is the "touristy" section of the north border. Don't forget 2 forms of ID or your passport. We recommend going before 5pm or the shops will mostly be closed. Don't forget to take a picture on the border with one foot in the USA and one foot in Mexico.
Sightseeing
South Padre Island
Great beaches and good seafood.
Getting Around
Central Station
1501 W U.S. Hwy 83