Tex-Mex$south-sideBreakfast and lunch, closed Sunday
Eddie's Taco House is a South Side breakfast-and-lunch counter where the carne guisada and the cult weenie-and-egg breakfast taco draw a steady morning crowd.
Order: Carne guisada and weenie-and-egg breakfast tacos.
Tip: The weenie-and-egg taco sounds odd and is a local favourite. Come early; the breakfast crowd is steady.
Tex-Mex$north-sideBreakfast and lunch daily
Lucy's Cafe on the north side is a cash-friendly Tex-Mex counter busy at breakfast, where the bean and cheese with bacon taco is the local favourite order.
Order: Bean and cheese with bacon, carne guisada taco.
Tip: The bean and cheese with bacon is the order locals swear by. Cash-friendly and busy at breakfast.
Tex-Mex$north-sideBreakfast and lunch daily
Rolando's Super Tacos on West Hildebrand is known for El Gigante, a massive five-ingredient breakfast taco that doubles as a full meal at counter prices.
Order: El Gigante, the massive five-ingredient breakfast taco.
Tip: El Gigante is the gimmick and the draw; one is a full meal. Order at the counter and add a cup of beans.
Mexican$downtownWed-Sun 9am-5pm
Carnitas Don Raúl on West Jones brings Michoacán-style carnitas to San Antonio, a husband-and-wife operation rooted in a 1991 Morelia family recipe.
Order: Carnitas by the pound with tortillas, salsa and lime.
Tip: Order the carnitas by the pound with tortillas and the house salsa. Cash and card both work; weekends move fast.
Tex-Mex$south-sideBreakfast and lunch daily
Pete's Tako House on the South Side is a Tex-Mex counter best for breakfast tacos before the lunch rush, with the carne guisada plate the bigger sit-down.
Order: Breakfast tacos and the carne guisada plate.
Tip: Come for breakfast tacos before the lunch rush. The carne guisada plate is the bigger meal.
Tex-Mex and donuts$north-sideEarly morning to early afternoon daily
The Original Donut Shop on Fredericksburg Road pairs fresh donuts with breakfast tacos, a San Antonio combination that makes perfect sense once you try it.
Order: Bean-and-cheese taco with a fresh donut.
Tip: The taco-and-donut pairing is the local move; do not choose one. The drive-through line moves fast.