22 editor picks in San Antonio.
22 tex mex places in San Antonio we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in San Antonio | Tex Mex across every city.
Tex-Mex was effectively codified in San Antonio, and the city still sets the standard, from puffy tacos to enchilada plates. Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia at Market Square is the round-the-clock institution, while Ray's Drive Inn on the west side claims the original puffy taco and Henry's Puffy Tacos nearby carries the same tradition. Blanco Cafe in Tobin Hill keeps the carne guisada plate central.
Mi Tierra has run 24 hours at Market Square since the Cortez family opened it in 1941, a Tex-Mex landmark with strolling mariachis and an in-house bakery.
OrderEnchiladas with chili gravy, pan dulce from the panaderia, a margarita with the mariachis.
TipThe dining room never closes, so a 3am plate of enchiladas after a night downtown is a San Antonio rite. Buy conchas from the front bakery counter to go.
Rosario's is a two-storey Southtown Tex-Mex room with a rooftop bar, where enchiladas verdes, fajitas and frozen margaritas anchor a buzzy First Friday crowd.
OrderEnchiladas verdes, fajitas and a frozen margarita on the rooftop.
TipHead upstairs to the rooftop bar for downtown views. First Friday in Southtown turns the place into a party.
Ray's Drive Inn on the West Side has claimed the original puffy taco since Ray Lopez opened it in 1956, home of the deep-fried puffed-masa shell.
OrderThe original puffy taco with picadillo or bean and cheese.
TipThe puffy taco is the only order that matters here. Eat it fast while the shell is still crisp and hot.
Henry's Puffy Tacos on West Woodlawn is the family rival to Ray's in the puffy-taco story, serving the crisp puffed-masa shell as a plate with rice and beans.
OrderPuffy taco plate with rice and beans.
TipThe puffy tacos come hot and fast. Add a side of rice and beans for the full West Side plate.
Garcia's Mexican Food has served classic Tex-Mex near Woodlawn Lake since 1962, a small family room known for breakfast tacos and carne guisada.
OrderBreakfast tacos and the carne guisada.
TipCash-friendly and small, with a loyal breakfast crowd. Get the carne guisada taco on a fresh flour tortilla.
Tommy's Restaurant is the Tex-Mex spot whose 'Big Red and Barbacoa' sign made the combo a San Antonio shorthand, serving barbacoa tacos on flour tortillas.
OrderBarbacoa and Big Red, the carne guisada taco.
TipOrder barbacoa with a Big Red for the full local ritual. Weekend mornings draw the longest lines.
Blanco Cafe is a cash-friendly Tobin Hill Tex-Mex counter where the carne guisada plate, enchiladas and chalupas come cheap to a loyal early-lunch crowd.
OrderCarne guisada plate, enchiladas and chalupas.
TipCash is welcome and prices are low. The carne guisada is the order; come for an early lunch before the crowd.
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.
OrderCarne guisada and weenie-and-egg breakfast tacos.
TipThe weenie-and-egg taco sounds odd and is a local favourite. Come early; the breakfast crowd is steady.
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.
OrderBean and cheese with bacon, carne guisada taco.
TipThe bean and cheese with bacon is the order locals swear by. Cash-friendly and busy at breakfast.
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.
OrderEl Gigante, the massive five-ingredient breakfast taco.
TipEl Gigante is the gimmick and the draw; one is a full meal. Order at the counter and add a cup of beans.
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.
OrderBreakfast tacos and the carne guisada plate.
TipCome for breakfast tacos before the lunch rush. The carne guisada plate is the bigger meal.
La Villita Cafe sits in the historic La Villita arts village downtown, serving brisket-and-egg breakfast tacos and Tex-Mex plates to a mix of office workers.
OrderBrisket-and-egg breakfast tacos.
TipThe brisket-and-egg taco is the standout. It is walkable from the River Walk, so a good downtown breakfast stop.
Little Taco Factory on McCullough is a small breakfast-taco shop near downtown, dependable for classic bacon-and-egg and potato-and-egg tacos at a fair price.
OrderBacon-and-egg and potato-and-egg tacos.
TipSimple and quick; the classic combos are the order. Grab a dozen to go for the office.
Mendez Cafe in the South Side is a tex-mex spot San Antonio locals rate, with carne guisada taco in spicy gravy the order to make on a first visit here.
OrderCarne guisada taco in spicy gravy.
TipThe carne guisada taco is the reason to come. It is a small, busy room, so expect a short morning wait.
Con Huevos Tacos on East Houston builds its menu around the egg, with fluffy breakfast tacos and migas served on the gentrifying near-East Side.
OrderEgg-forward breakfast tacos and migas.
TipMigas is the egg dish to get if you want something beyond a standard taco. Quick counter service.
Mama's Kitchen on West Hildebrand is a homestyle Tex-Mex counter where chilaquiles tacos arrive folded into thick, handmade tortillas the locals love.
OrderChilaquiles tacos on thick handmade tortillas.
TipThe thick handmade tortillas set this place apart. Chilaquiles is the dish to order for breakfast.
Santos Mexican Cafe II on Isom Road is a no-frills breakfast-taco counter near the airport, where the chorizo-and-egg taco is the order and the regulars.
OrderChorizo-and-egg breakfast tacos.
TipChorizo and egg is the standout. Quick and cheap; a good stop before a flight out of the nearby airport.
Taqueria Datapoint near the South Texas Medical Center is a breakfast-taco staple for hospital workers, with bacon and chorizo tacos that pull a steady line.
OrderBacon and chorizo breakfast tacos.
TipThe medical-center crowd hits it hard at breakfast, so go before 7am or after 9. Bacon and chorizo are the picks.
Tacos n Salsa on Wurzbach Road is a north-side breakfast-taco counter that leans on crispy bacon and a rotating set of fresh salsas, a reliable everyday.
OrderCrispy-bacon breakfast tacos with fresh salsas.
TipThe salsas are the differentiator; ask which are spiciest. Crispy bacon tacos are the order.
Maria's Cafe on Nogalitos is a South Side institution for breakfast tacos and weekend menudo, a plain room that has fed the neighbourhood for decades.
OrderBreakfast tacos and menudo on weekends.
TipWeekend menudo is the local hangover cure. Breakfast tacos all week; cash keeps the line moving.
Margarita's Tortilla Factory is a South Side Tex-Mex counter whose draw is tortillas pressed and toasted to order; buy a stack to take home with the tacos.
OrderMade-to-order tacos on freshly toasted tortillas.
TipThe tortillas are made on site and toasted to order, which is the draw. Buy a stack to take home.
Acenar sits on the River Walk downtown serving a modern take on Tex-Mex, from duck tacos to ceviches, with a riverside patio that makes it a reliable stop.
OrderModern Tex-Mex plates and a prickly-pear margarita.
TipThe riverside patio is the seat to request. The modern Tex-Mex plates beat most of the River Walk competition.
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