History
Breakfast tacos grew out of the Mexican-American kitchens of San Antonio's West and South Sides in the 20th century, and the city claims to be their birthplace. By the 1970s and 1980s family taquerias had made the taco a daily habit across the city. San Antonio's identity around the breakfast taco is fierce enough to fuel a long-running rivalry with Austin over who does it best, a debate that runs to flour versus corn tortillas and which fillings count as canon.
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Common allergens: Gluten, Egg, Dairy
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 4 flour tortillas
- 6 eggs, beaten
- 200g potato, diced small and pre-cooked, or 150g cooked bacon
- 100g shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack
- Salt and pepper
- Salsa to serve
Method
- Warm the tortillas on a dry griddle or comal until soft and pliable, then wrap in a towel to keep warm.
- Fry the potato or bacon in a little oil until crisp, then push to one side of the pan.
- Pour in the beaten eggs, season, and scramble softly with the potato or bacon folded through.
- Off the heat, scatter the cheese over the eggs so it melts.
- Spoon into the warm tortillas, fold, and serve with salsa on the side.
Tip from the editors. Use a fresh, soft flour tortilla and warm it on a dry comal, not a microwave, for the proper San Antonio texture.
Where to eat breakfast taco
Breakfast taco in San Antonio
Garcia's Mexican Food ★ 4.7
Garcia's Mexican Food on the West Side is a small, cash-friendly counter where the cheap carne guisada taco is the order; go early before the breakfast crowd.
TryBreakfast tacos and carne guisada
TipThe carne guisada taco is cheap and excellent. Small and cash-friendly; come early before the breakfast crowd.
Eddie's Taco House ★ 4.5
Eddie's Taco House is a long-running Caballero family counter on the South Side where breakfast tacos run a couple of dollars and the weenie-and-egg has fans.
TryBreakfast tacos a couple of dollars each
TipA few tacos make a breakfast for well under ten dollars. The weenie-and-egg taco is the cheap local favourite.
Lucy's Cafe ★ 4.5
Lucy's Cafe on the north side keeps breakfast cheap, with a bean and cheese with bacon taco under three dollars; it is cash-friendly and busy at breakfast.
TryBean and cheese with bacon taco
TipThe bean and cheese with bacon is the order under three dollars. Cash-friendly and busy at breakfast.
Mendez Cafe ★ 4.3
Mendez Cafe has sold cheap, generous carne guisada tacos since 1986, a South Side breakfast counter where a couple of dollars buys tender beef in peppery.
TryCarne guisada taco in spicy gravy
TipThe carne guisada taco is the cheap order to make. Small and busy, so expect a short morning wait.
The Original Donut Shop ★ 4.1
The Original Donut Shop on Fredericksburg Road sells a breakfast taco and a fresh donut for a few dollars, the cheapest and most San Antonio of breakfast.
TryTaco-and-donut combo for a few dollars
TipA taco and a donut for the price of a coffee elsewhere. The drive-through line moves fast.
More cities are in research. Want breakfast taco covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.