Surprise your taste buds with San Antonio’s eclectic dining scene. Along with great Mexican fare, try top-notch Belgian food or macho burgers served in a historic landmark.
Stephanie Colgan
San Antonio celebrates food pretty much every chance it gets. Though Mexican food is ubiquitous in the city, San Antonio’s diversity brings a wider range of cultures than you might expect to the restaurant landscape. While restaurants in or near downtown tend to dress up décor for tourists, most locals have at least one local haunt where humble appearances belie phenomenal food.
But first, the best of the Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants.
Rosario’s takes tourists a little south of downtown into the King William neighborhood, but for the consummate festive Tex-Mex experience, it’s worth the trolley ride, short drive or 20-minute walk from downtown (assuming you’re starting around the Alamo or the Convention Center).
Courtesy of Rosario’s
In addition to superior versions of the enchiladas, flautas and chile rellenos you’ll find at a number of Tex-Mex places, Rosario’s also incorporates mole and rajas into some dishes, and features a range of parrillas (sizzling skillets) that expand upon another Tex-Mex staple, the fajita. The restaurant is particularly festive when full, so while not the best choice for quiet conversation, it’s perfect if you’re looking for a high-energy dining experience. 910 S. Alamo St., tel. 210-223-1806. Average entrée: Lunch, $7; dinner, $11. www.rosariossa.com
Acenar is one of the few River Walk restaurants that manages both a River Walk view and spectacular food. Owner Lisa Wong, who made her reputation with Rosario’s, aimed for an even more upscale approach to Tex-Mex with Acenar. Recommendations include the guacamole (which is made tableside), the cochinita pibil (a traditional Mexican pork dish), the duck chalupas and a selection of tacos that include oyster, crab, and beef, chicken or pork with fresh pineapple. 146 E. Houston St., tel. 210-222-2362. Average entrée: Lunch, $10; dinner, $22. www.acenar.com
Though there are a number of Mexican restaurants on the River Walk, the downtown Mexican spot that many tourists consider a must-visit is Mi Tierra, open 24 hours a day since 1941 in the heart of Market Square. The Tex-Mex fare includes breakfast items like chilaquiles (eggs with tortilla strips, cheese and ranchero sauce), machacado (shredded beef), and a Campesino Special with your choice of two specialty meats, barbacoa (head meat simmered with spices) or lengua (tongue).
Courtesy of Acenar
Expect to see musicians pass by your table offering to play for your dining entertainment—the suggested going rate is $5 per song. On your way out, stop by the panaderia, a traditional Mexican bakery featuring an assortment of pastries and cookies. 218 Produce Row, tel. 210-225-1262. Average entrée: Lunch, $7; dinner, $11. www.mitierracafe.com
La Fonda, just north of downtown, features spectacular Mexican food typical of the interior of the country—and providing the weather is nice, available inside a beautiful courtyard at the back of the restaurant. Though the selections may appear familiar—enchiladas, tacos (in soft flour or corn tortillas) and chile rellenos—the ingredients are slightly different than those used in Tex-Mex, making it an integral dining experience for those who wish to gather a fuller appreciation for the wide spectrum contained within the larger category of Mexican food. 2415 N. Main St., tel. 210-733-0621. Average entrée: Lunch, $11; dinner, $13.
www.lafondaonmain.com
Los Barrios is one of the city’s most reliable standbys for Mexican food. The original location is several miles north of downtown, while the recently opened La Hacienda de Los Barrios is located off Loop 1604 in one of the fastest-growing parts of the city. Both feature the restaurant’s signature puffy tacos—Barrios family member and cookbook author Diana Barrios Treviño once beat famed chef Bobby Flay in a puffy taco cookoff aired on the Food Network.
SACVB
Both also feature El Mofofo Grill, an impressive variation on fajitas marrying pork, beef, olives and spices, served on a sizzling platter that remains lit on your table for the duration of the meal. If Tex-Mex is what you’re looking for, Los Barrios should be your destination. 4310 Blanco Road, tel. 210-732-6017; 18747 Redland Road, tel. 210-497-8000. Average entrée: $15. www.lhdlb.com
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