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.
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.
Garcia's Mexican Food ★ 4.2
west-side · 842 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78201
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.
Mendez Cafe ★ 4.0
south-side · 201 Bartholomew Ave, San Antonio, TX 78211
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.
Lucy's Cafe ★ 4.0
north-side · 2517 West Ave, San Antonio, TX 78201
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.
Blanco Cafe ★ 3.9
tobin-hill · 1720 Blanco Rd, San Antonio, TX 78212
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.