Terry & Jo’s Food For Thought

Waco, United States

3.4

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wi-Fi

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 254-753-3998
Address:
1121 Speight Ave, Waco, TX, 76706
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
Yes
Delivery
Yes
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Apple Pay
Yes
Good For
Lunch
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Average
Alcohol
No
Outdoor Seating
No
Wi-Fi
Free
Has TV
No
Waiter Service
No
Caters
Yes

Today

Today 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Waco) 06:50 Wednesday, 4 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Terry & Jo’s Food for Thought is Waco’s healthy dining spot. Located just a couple of blocks from Baylor University, we are Waco’s alternative to fast food. Our focus is on using healthy, natural ingredients to make delicious food. Everything we make is from scratch and made to order, ensuring the highest quality meals possible. Food for Thought is the only restaurant in Waco with a large selection of vegan and vegetarian items, making us the perfect choice for those with all kinds of dietary restrictions.

Food for Thought’s menu is extensive and includes handmade pizzas, nachos, burritos, sandwiches, salads, soups and smoothies. Our house made salsa is extremely popular and comes as a side with blue corn chips with our sandwiches and burritos. We serve natural drinks in addition to fountain sodas, like Blue Sky Sodas, Yerba Mate teas and Illy iced coffees.

Make sure to grab a slice of our peanut butter pie or frozen yogurt for a sweet finish to any meal.

History

Established in 2001.

Terry & Jo’s Food for Thought was started in 2001 by Terry and Jo Otto to offer Central Texas a healthy alternative to fast food for lunch and dinner. As vegetarians, Terry and Jo had a difficult time finding dining options that offered more than one or two dishes to choose from on the menu. Terry & Jo’s Food for Thought offers a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan options, without exclusively being a vegetarian or vegan restaurant. We truly have something for everyone.

We also love catering events! Contact us and we can help put together a menu that will be sure to wow your crowd!

Meet the Business Owner

Jo O.

Business Owner

Terry & Jo Otto are the proud owners of Terry & Jo’s Food for Thought. They are dedicated to providing Waco and nearby Baylor University students with a healthy dining option. We believe dining out should not mean you have to eat poorly. Come to Food for Thought for a delicious, healthful lunch or dinner. We look forward to welcoming you soon!

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20 reviews of Terry & Jo’s Food For Thought

No registration required
Place rating: 1
Fort Worth, TX
The service was good, the restaurant was clean, the blue corn chips with fresh salsa is stellar, and that’s where the positives stop. $ 8 for a «burrito» straight out of a can: beans, olives, jalapeños, and salsa. Burrito is in quotations as there is no rice and it isn’t sealed in any fashion. A sloppy, lackluster meal we threw out.
Place rating: 2
Waco, TX
Went here for the first time the other day and was very hopeful, as there are limited fresh & healthy options for paleo or gluten free people. The staff were nice but our visit was a mess start to finish. The counter girl told me they had gluten free bread (she even checked w/​the kitchen). I ordered an Earthquake sandwich, no cheese or jalapeños, on gluten free bread sub a side salad. I love a sandwich w/​avocado. Husband ordered the same w/​o cheese on a roll. We waited maybe 10 minutes before she came to our to tell me they were out of GF bread. A couple minutes later, she came to tell us they were out of avocado. She’d also forgotten to ask me what dressing I wanted. Oil (as in olive oil). When our food finally came, my sandwich had cheese, our dressings were switched (mine was canola oil-​yuck), and the «salad» was shredded sandwich romaine with a few small diced veggies. They need to stock their kitchen better; and the counter staff need to be better trained and the kitchen & counter staff need to communicate better. Don’t know if I’ll be back.
Place rating: 5
Owasso, OK
Great, fresh food — something that Waco doesn’t have enough of!
Place rating: 5
Sugar Land, TX
While we in Waco we decided to try a new place out and our daughter who is attending Baylor recommended this place. A vegetarian type place the food was pretty good and the service was welcoming. A little hole in the wall place it’s located pretty close to the university and is a great alternative in case you’re looking for something different!
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
Ermagerd nachos. Reminds me of the little neighborhood restaurant I grew up by. Nothing fancy or pretentious, just good food.
Place rating: 5
Dallas, TX
So healthy! So delicious! Cheesy avocados best homemade chips and salsa! This was one of my favorite Waco lunch spots and I often got food to go here.
Place rating: 2
Fort Worth, TX
Interesting place. Walked in and saw two other tables of guests seated in a bland green yellow room that was devoid of character. Menu reads simple enough. Ordered the TNT. Came with a pile of blue corn chips and a side of «salsa». Salsa was pretty bad. Sandwich was alright. Nothing to write home about though. I’d choose another place if you’re looking for a good sandwich.
Place rating: 5
Amarillo, TX
Always fantastic. I like the simplicity of this place. It feels wholesome and warm. The food never disappoints. I had the stuffed bake avocado today. So good!
Place rating: 2
Upper East Side, Manhattan, NY
The thing that stuck out the most about Food for Thought was the messy and awkward ambience. There was minimal decoration, bangers (loud electronic music) were playing from the kitchen, the chairs had holes, and there were a few flies surrounding me throughout my meal.
The cashier seemed pretty aggravated as soon as I entered. He took a few minutes to get to me.
Girlfriend got a stuffed avocado, which comes with a good portion of cheese. I got a chicken burrito, which lacked everything. One half had no cheese at all.
If you for some reason decide to eat here, and aren’t vegetarian, get a stuffed avocado.
Place rating: 5
Frisco, TX
Stopped here traveling on I-​35; easy access. Great organic and fresh food. The owner uses locally sourced products such as fresh baked breads and blue corn chips and has an award winning salsa made fresh daily. Highly recommend this small local establishment.
Place rating: 5
Miami, FL
This place is fantastic!!! Friendly staff, delicious food, and a great variety. This is a place that you should definitely give a shot. My wife had the stuffed avocado, which was spectacular, I had the tank sandwich, which was also amazing. A little of the beaten path, which is where I prefer to try.
I almost forgot, the salsa is a must try!!!
Place rating: 2
Los Angeles, CA
The food is fine, but the service is super slow. This place has gone downhill in the last few years.
Place rating: 1
Pflugerville, TX
This place is sooooo shitty. I ordered the nachos. We sat down and everyone got their food but me. I politely asked the waiter if he could check on my nachos and he said he would check for me. 45 minutes later, I still have not gotten my food. I see other people that had not even been in the building when I ordered, already eating and enjoying their food. At this point everyone at my table is done eating so I ask to see the manager so I can get a refund. She says there’s no way possible because their system does not allow it. So she gives me a coupon for my «next visit» and they rush to make my nachos. I will never set foot in this awful establishment again.
Place rating: 3
Lincoln, NE
It’s a good college-​type place. The food isn’t anything great – there are certainly better places for pizza and sandwiches in Waco – but it’s close to campus and reasonably priced. The service is kind of hit-​or-​miss; my wait times have ranged from 10 to 45 minutes.
Personally, I don’t make a point of coming here when I pass through Waco. I have much better culinary memories from Baylor that I like to relive :)
Place rating: 1
Louisville, KY
Apparently, they were really busy during lunch (last Wednesday). However, when I arrived (sometime after 130pm), it seemed pretty empty, and it would have been nice if someone would have mentioned the wait time when I was placing my order.
I was looking for something healthy and local in Waco, and I chose this place based on Unilocal reviews.
This was a very disappointing experience in terms of dining experience and food quality.
I waited about 45 minutes for my smoothie and sandwich order, which gave me plenty of time to chat with other waiting customers, and to observe how filthy, run down, and unprofessional this place is. We could hear staff yelling in the back, and no one checked on us until people started to complain after 30 minutes or so. Finally, the table of customers who ordered right before me, were infuriated/​got tired of waiting, and they asked for a refund before they left. I wish I had done the same.
Place rating: 5
Houston, TX
So my boyfriend and I have already been here three times since being in Waco for business. Jo is wonderful! She so personable and friendly. We came here last night after we decided to leave another establishment due to poor service. It was nice, it was raining, the doors were open so there was a nice breeze, and we were the only two customers for a moment. We even got up and slow danced to a song while waiting for our food. :) Cheezy, yes, I know. lol. Anyhoo…
My boyfriend is newly vegan from vegetarian and I’m attempting the vegetarian thing, lol. Jo answered all and any questions with a smile each time. On top of all that, she does it with a smile on her face!
Last night we ordered a pizza and it was piled with veggies! Yummy! The salsa is also very good. I wish it was a little bit thicker but that’s just my personal preference. Yes, the food is a little slow coming out so bring your patience but I promise its worth it. With the food being fresh, cut and cooked to order, and the friendly service, a little wait doesn’t bother me at all. I’d much rather that than fast food with a bad attitude, ya know! We’ll probably be back tonight.
Place rating: 3
Fort Worth, TX
Disclaimer — this would be a two star just about anywhere else, but this is Waco we are talking about.
I was visiting some former students of mine who now attend Baylor, and being kind people who are aware of my vegetarian ways, they suggested Food for Thought.
I walked in and was hit by a wave of heat. I don’t know if this is standard here, but it was sweltering and none of the ceiling fans were going. I went to the bathroom only to find there was no functioning lock. Bathroom placement is such that someone walking in would expose you and everything you have to offer to the entire restaurant. Not cute.
My students arrived and warned me that the food was good, but the service would be terrible and slow. And, indeed, they were correct.
You need to order at the counter and they bring your food out to you. The girl at the counter could not have been less interested — it took all of her life force to mumble responses to basic questions like «Do you have bottled water?» She pushed a playing card at me and I figured that was the end of that.
They use playing cards to announce your food, which is not ideal. Another mumbling college student walks around saying «Seven of spades, three of hearts» which is a pain in the ass to pay attention to. What’s wrong with giving people chronological numbers?
Okay, I realize I’m ranting. The food was tasty, the salsa was sweet and good if you’re into that sort of thing. And I’m sure people in Waco are happy to have a healthy, veggie friendly place. But my god, I’m not sure you could convince me to go back.
Place rating: 2
Houston, TX
Pretty good place but definitely more expensive than what it’s worth. Great proximity to Baylor which makes it a pretty popular place.
Place rating: 3
Los Angeles, CA
What a weird place… Dropped in on our way down to Austin for a quick bite.
Food was good, got the nachos and a burrito but the service was so slow. With a party of 4, each person got their food roughly 10 – 15 minutes apart. Bathroom was locked and they had us go next door to the pub. At the end of the meal, some guy without a shirt and shoes stumbles out of the bathroom and lays his head down on the table.
So bottom line is the food is good, service and atmosphere is questionable.
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
Oh good. Another vegan/​vegetarian friendly pit stop for me in Waco.
Plenty of parking around back, but it’s right by the Baylor campus so I’m not sure if this is always the case. As you walk in, the menu is on the wall to your left.
I chose their chips and «famous» salsa, as well as soup and salad. The food came out fast and as ordered. The chips are blue corn and the salsa was sweet and oniony. I enjoyed it. I should have taken the excess with me. I also got tomato basil soup which I’m almost certain was not vegan (I tasted cream) but it was my fault for not asking. I also got a greek salad sans feta.
A quick and tasty pitstop lunch, on my way from Austin to East Texas. Good choice and good find. I’ll be back.