Eating in San Antonio

Every Texan has two homes ... their own and San Antonio. The Alamo City attracts people from across the country and around the world for meetings and seminars (they have the HUGE Henry B. Gonzalez center, as well as business headquarters and Army and Air Force bases), but people from all over the Lone Star State go there for vacations, playcations, and a general good time. That's one reason you see so many smiling faces in San Antonio

When you think of San Antonio, you think of The River Walk and Mexican food.

The oldest place with the best food is Casa Rio. I ate here the first time I visited in 1972, and I keep coming back, not as often as in the past, but still once in a while. My favorites are the enchiladas. You can eat inside, but it's fun to sit on the patio along the river. Yes, everyone will look at your plate, so take your time eating - and clean up your plate!

Also on the River Walk is the Original Mexican Restaurant. They have the usual Mexican fare here, but they have something no one else has - Kangaroo Court Cheesecake. The KC was a great dining place for years well known for their desserts. Many lamented their closing. But they live on at the Original Mexican Restaurant.

A trolley or cab ride away from the river is El Mercado - The Market. You'll find two San Antonio traditions here ... Mi Tierra and La Margarita. Mi Tierra has the basics and is open 24 hours - serving breakfast and late nite munchies. One of the reasons to visit is their bakery (Panderia in Spanish). There's all kinds of goodies - I like the candied fruits and empanadas.

http://www.mitierracafe.com/default.html


La Margarita bills itself as "Restaurant and Oyster Bar." It is the home of fajitas, one of the first restaurants in San Antonio to serve them. They have many traditional recipes, as well as strolling musicians. My favorite musical "incident" happened here ... the mariachi band sang "the Yellow Rose of Texas" in Spanish for a group of Japanese tourists.

http://www.lamargarita.com/


BOTH places will have long lines at peak times (like Friday and Saturday nights), so be patient.

The Cortez Family also has the little Mexican Restaurant there to the side of Market Square - it's not as flashy and serves more fish dishes. It's a good place to eat as well.

Over in the covered market will be a couple of places to eat. I've always wanted to try them but haven't. There really aren't too many bad places to eat in San Antonio. If they can't compete, they close!

The one thing you WILL see in this area are a number of locals eating. My friends from San Antonio tell me most of them went to Mi Tierra on prom nite, or prom morning after.


Away from The Mercado and River Walk, my favorite Mexican places include El Jarro de Arturo (north side on San Pedro past the Airport)), La Fogata (near down town), Martha's (on the 410 near the airport and two other locations), and Taco Garage (on Broadway near 410).

http://www.eljarro.com/
http://www.lafogata.com/main/index.php
http://www.tacogarage.com/


Just once in your life, eat at the top of the Tower of the Americas. If nothing else, have an appetizer, dessert, coffee or drink. It violates my "don't eat at chain restaurant" rule, especially in a great food town like San Antonio, but this is one of the best views in Texas.

http://www.toweroftheamericas.com/



San Antonio was also a cattle town and a German town.

My favorite place is Schilo's. It's a German Deli and cafe ... open Monday thru Saturday. They close early (like 8pm). It has home made root beer and daily lunch specials. The very first time I ate there is was a VERY cold day. They said their split pea soup would warm me up. I don't care for green peas, and I couldn't imagine I'd like them split in a soup, but when in Rome (or San Antonio) ... yummmmm. Lots of ham in it - served with lots of rye bread ... it's delicious! I plan my San Antonio eating around Schilo's lunch specials! It's reviewed and recommended by Frommer, Zagat, Mobil, AAA, Yahoo Travel, Urban Sppon, Guy Fieri ... and now me! one word - go. Two words - go often!!!

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/sanantonio/D12649.html


The Little Rhein Steak House on the Rive Walk is a good place to get a steak. Great Steaks and a great view. A romantic splurge.

http://www.littlerheinsteakhouse.com/


Across from The Alamo is the G-M Steak House. They have a great steak and eggs breakfast! The food is nothing too exciting, but decent and cheap.



In the King William District, I like two places ...

The Guenther House serves breakfast and lunch 7 days a week. It's part of the Pioneer Flour Mills, which Texans will recognize. As you might expect, eat their biscuits!

http://www.guentherhouse.com/


For quirky, fun and good, there's the Madhatter Tea House and Cafe. Don't be fooled by the name. There's more than sandwiches (and tea). Order at the counter and find a table. There's a Saturday and Sunday brunch. Relax and enjoy. Save room for dessert!

http://www.madhatterstea.com/menu/


There's lots of places to get a drink, but none more famous than The Menger Hotel. Teddy Roosevelt recruited his rough riders in the lobby. There's a brunch in The Colonial Room Monday thru Saturday.


... a couple of off beat places ...

The Fourth Street Cafe. It's run by the First Baptist Church of San Antonio and only open Tuesday thru Friday 11 -2. They serve one of the best Chicken Friend Steaks you'll eat! Your purchase supports their food ministry to SAT’s homeless.

http://www.fbcsa.org/templates/cusfbcsa/details.asp?id=34507&PID=354546


the other "BEST PLACE" for CFS is Lulu's. It's also the place for the two pound cinnamon roll. Yummmmmm! My parents found this place a few years back and were surprised I hadn't made it there sooner. Truth is, I'd been at Mi Tierra and other panderias around town. Their CFS is great and comes with homemade sides. It's enough food for two. And that two pound cinnamon roll - it;s good for the entire group.

http://www.luluscafeinsa.com/

I hesitate to eat at national chain places when traveling. But I will recommend Hard Rock Cafe. To me, it's as much "museum" as "place to eat." It has a good location in SAT, so go. You'll probably see this post in "things to do - San Antonio" as well.


I haven't mentioned eating at The Quarry - which has developed over the years, or up in Boerne, or out west Castroville. I'll save that for other posts. If you're going thee before it gets written, send me a request. After all, it's how this blog got started.


Finally ... I lament the closing of a couple of faves. One was The Pig Stand. I got to eat at two San Antonio locations. They are credited as the inventors of onion rings. God bless them for that! The other was Truffel's on New Braunfels Ave. When my dad had an extended assignment from his company in the mid-1980's, we'd visit him on weekends and eat there on Sunday mornings. We would check out the dessert tray first and actually ATE dessert first, then had custom omelets, sliced ham and prime rib, and all kinds of sides. One thing you can be certain - if my dad and I were eating together, we weren't wasting tummy space on salads!


page dedication ... to my daughter, who loves the food of San Antonio; my parents, who helped me discover the fun and food; Terry, who twice said "I'm full" ... and to Lisa, happy 21st birthday!