My Life Outdoors

About 30 miles southwest of Glen Rose Texas in the little town of Hico is a small café (or is it “Kafé”) called the Koffee Kup.

The Big K Burger

Located at the intersection of hwy 6 and 281 the Koffee Kup isn’t on the way to much of anything other than more small Texas towns. I first discovered the Koffee Kup while seeking a more scenic route south into the Texas Hill Country. To me the interstate serves its purpose but every now and then you just need to slow down and enjoy the countryside. That is what I was doing several years ago, around dinner time, when I first walked through the door of one of my favorite restaurants.

 
I am always on the lookout for a good hamburger and consider myself something of a hamburger connoisseur. So for me there was really only one choice on the menu. I ordered The Big K Hamburger with curly fries and a side of fried pickles.

Fried Pickles

The Big K is served open faced on a thick, somewhat crispy, homemade bun with a half pound patty that is nearly an inch thick and cooked the way you order it. Add two slices of swiss cheese… or any other cheese you like… and don’t forget to cut the mustard (unless of course you like mustard). The Big K comes with your choice of Steak fries, curly fries, or large hand battered onion rings. Add a side of hand battered fried pickles for even more fried goodness.

About the time your pants feel a little snug the waitress will come around asking about pie. The Koffee Kup serves 12 different varieties of fresh baked pies ranging from anything from cocoanut, to peanut butter, to Lemon Meringue to Black Forest pie. I ordered a slice of somewhat disappointing, cold Pecan Pie. For a place well known for their pies I guess my expectations where a little high. It was good, but not what I thought it would be.

The Koffee Kup is one of the few places still in existence that doesn’t accept credit cards. I hardly ever carry cash and rarely carry checks. Back when I first discovered the Koffee Kup I was caught unprepared having just finished a meal with no way to pay. I happened to have one emergency check with me and asked if they would take an “out of town” check. The gentleman at the front desk surprised me when he replied “If it’s good there it ought to be good here…if you want you can just mail me the money when you get back home.” It is rare that you find that much trust in anyone anymore. I told him “If I don’t pay you now I will never remember to pay you at all!” And what do you know…my check was good…even in Hico.