Carne guisada is a Tex-Mex beef stew: chunks of chuck braised in a peppery, lightly thickened gravy with tomato, onion, garlic, and cumin until the meat is tender. It is the everyday filling of San Antonio's lunch tacos and plates, spooned into a flour tortilla or served with rice and beans.

Carne guisada is a south-Texas home-cooking staple that moved onto taqueria menus across San Antonio, where it became one of the defining fillings for both breakfast and lunch tacos. Family cafes on the West and South Sides built reputations on their version of the gravy, and it remains a daily-eaten benchmark of a good neighbourhood Tex-Mex kitchen.

4 editor picks for Carne guisada in San Antonio, ranked by editorial score. All San Antonio signature dishes · Carne guisada across every city.