Things Lubbock Folks Argue About That Don’t Matter (But Feel Like Life or Death)

If you’ve lived in Lubbock long enough, you know our people love a good debate — especially about things that have absolutely no real-world consequences. We’ll let a dust storm swallow us whole, but heaven forbid you question our favorite taco place or the “right” way to say Slide Road. I'm not even going to touch politics with this one. Lord knows we're all exhausted from those arguments. 

These are just a few of the great (and ridiculous) Lubbock arguments that mean nothing to outsiders… but around here, they might end friendships.

1. Taco Villa vs. Rosa’s Café
There’s no middle ground. You either think Taco Villa invented Mexican fast food perfection or you swear Rosa’s queso could solve world peace. Families have been divided over this one since the ’90s. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say, Rosa's is king. Don't come for me in the comments. Don't you dare...

2. The Best Chicken-Fried Steak in Town
Ask five people and you’ll get five different answers — Orlando’s, Cast Iron Grill, River Smith’s, or that one cruddy lookin' gas station your cousin swears by. Honestly, we just love that Lubbock has enough gravy to argue about for the rest of eternity.

3. Whether the Drive on the Loop Is “Fast” or “Therapeutic”
Half of us treat Loop 289 like NASCAR, while the rest treat it like a therapy session with a soundtrack of Turnpike Troubadours and mild road rage. I'm a big fan of slowing the F down, but I've yet to see anyone actually do it when I'm backseat driving.

4. What Counts as “North Side”
No one knows where the north side actually begins — we just start arguing around 34th Street and see who gets the loudest. This is true of many arguments in Lubbock. Volume is key.

5. The Proper Way to Say “Marsha Sharp Freeway”
Is it Marsha Sharp, The Sharp, or just MSF? Doesn’t matter. You’ll say it wrong in front of someone, and they’ll correct you like you insulted their mama. I'm from here, and I can tell you it's MARSHA SHARP and nothing else...quit trying to make it cool here. Some things are just best left alone.

Read More: How To Ensure Your Tips Reach Servers In Lubbock

7. Who Has the Best Queso
This one could start a war. Triple J? Chuy’s? Torchy’s? Or that mysterious crockpot at your aunt’s house that magically refills itself like some kind of perpetual stew? And, honestly, who cares as long as it's on the table? Pfft.

8. The Correct Reaction to Rain
Lubbock sees actual precipitation maybe four times a year, and we’ll text everyone we know about it. Half of us even run outside to watch like we've never seen rain before. The other half panics like it’s the apocalypse and starts buying up all the toilet paper. Rude.

9. Whether Lubbock Is a “City” or a “Town”
We call it a city when we’re proud, a town when we’re mad, and The Hub when we’re trying to sound fancy. It's just "home" to me.

10. Whether Buddy Holly Would Still Recognize This Place
Everyone’s got an opinion, and all of them are somehow correct. But if he saw what the wind’s done to his statue’s glasses, he’d probably just shake his head and say, “Yep. Still Lubbock." But, really, what would he think about this place if he showed up tomorrow?

At the end of the day, these arguments don’t really matter — but they do remind us how much we care about this weird, wonderful city. Lubbock folks can debate anything, but we’ll still hold the door for each other when it’s over.

Because around here, it’s never about being right… It’s about being Lubbock right.

Keep scrolling for more Lubbock fun in the galleries below, and knock it off with all that dang arguing!