Tacos, tequila, and brisket -- they're just a few of the food and drink items you can expect to indulge in on San Antonio's new culinary quests.
Visit San Antonio has paired with locally based nonprofit Culinaria to launch three mouthwatering food trails, each designed to send hungry travelers on an expedition to restaurants and bars that offer some of the Texas city's best cuisine and beverages. The best part? The three food trails revolve around the region's best tacos, barbecue and margaritas, as decided by a committee of local restaurateurs, food experts and culinary ambassadors.
“The addition of the food trails component was a natural evolution of the dining scene in San Antonio,” says Suzanne Taranto-Etheredge, president/CEO of Culinaria. “We always want to make sure we are adapting and evolving as an organization committed to visitors and locals alike. We will be adding more trails after our inaugural launch. In the future, we will engage the community to submit their favorite spots for consideration on a food trail.”
Next time you bring your group meeting to this southern Texas city, you're going to want to check out the following hotspots.
Check it Out: San Antonio's Food Trails
The Best Tacos in San Antonio
1. Garcia’s
842 Fredericksburg Rd.
Online reviews have dubbed the brisket tacos the signature dish at Garcia's Mexican Food, labeling them "...excellent, with the perfect fat-to-meat ratio and lots of smoky flavor. It’s succulent and moist from Andy spritzing it with apple juice during the long slow cook."
2. Henry’s Puffy Taco
3202 W Woodlawn Ave.
Two locations strong -- the first opened its doors in 1978 -- Henry's Puffy Taco began with two brothers "experimenting" with deep-frying masa and finding out that the usually flat corn dough puffed up in the process.
3. Los Barrios
4223 Blanco Rd.
This iconic San Antonio location says their most important ingredient is "family." Los Barios' carne asada tacos feature sautéed tenderloin garnished with guacamole and Pico de Gallo.
4. Pollo Asado los Nortenos
4642 Rigsby Ave.
Although it has no website, Pollo Asado los Notenos' Facebook page says it has the best charbroiled chicken in town.
5. Ray’s Drive Inn
822 SW 19th St.
Whether you want puffy, hard or soft shell, Ray's offers a variety of tacos, including bean, beef, shrimp, BBQ, avocado, fish and more.
6. Rolando’s Super Taco #2
93 Shasta Ave.
The term "super" taco doesn't lie -- Rolando's serves up single tacos that are bigger than a dinner plate.
7. Sanitary Tortilla Co.
623 Urban Loop
Through nixtamalization -- a soaking process known to remove the aflatoxins (produced by food molds) from corn, Sanitary Tortilla Co. has been serving up "clean" tacos for more than 80 years.
8. Taco Haven
1032 S Presa St.
With more than 20 types of breakfast tacos on the menu alone, Taco Heaven has chosen the perfect name.
9. Taco Taco
145 E Hildebrand Ave.
Declared the “best tacos in America” by Bon Appetit on Food Network, Taco Taco serves up delicious, hand-held creations all day long.
10. Taquitos West Avenue
2818 West Ave.
This pit-stop location has been "recommended" on Facebook by 2,843 people.
The Best Barbecue in San Antonio
1. 2M Smokehouse BBQ
2731 S WW White Rd.
This BBQ joint is known for hosting lines more than an hour long -- and sometimes selling out of items because they are so popular.
2. Augie's Alamo City BBQ
909 Broadway St.
Augie's is all about the meat. They refer to salads and chicken as "rabbit food" at this beefy spot.
3. B&B Smokehouse
2619 Pleasanton Rd.
Open since 1984, B&B Smokehouse says they pride themselves on fresh ingredients and a friendly atmosphere.
4. Barbecue Station
1610 NE Loop 410
Converted from an old gas station, Barbecue Station serves up fine grub and hosts live bluegrass every Monday and Tuesday night.
5. Dignowity Meats
1701 E Houston St.
Pronounced DIG-NO-WITTY, this locale says it pays homage to both the classic East Coast deli and Midwest smokehouse.
6. Granary Cue & Brew
602 Avenue A
At lunchtime, the Granary serves traditional market style barbecue. During dinner, the team presents a modern, seasonally-driven menu.
7. South BBQ and Kitchen
2011 Mission Rd.
With a list of smoked meats and four pickled sides to choose from, you're sure to leave satisfied from South BBQ & Kitchen.
8. The Big Bib
8535 Mission Rd.
The Big Bib says you can head to their location to "Get your rub on!"
9. The Smoke Shack
3714 Broadway
From smoked shack mac to chopped brisket, there's something smokey and delicious on this menu for everyone.
10. Two Bros. BBQ Market
12656 West Ave.
This BBQ spot offers different portion sizes for "bros."
The Best Margaritas in San Antonio
1. Aldaco's
20079 Stone Oak Pkwy
What to try: Zesty Margarita
2. La Fogata
2427 Vance Jackson Rd.
What to try: featured-monthly tequila
3. El Jarro de Arturo
13421 San Pedro Ave.
What to try: Margarita Swirl
4. La Fonda
2415 N Main Ave.
What to try: Jalepeño Cucumber Margarita
5. La Hacienda de los Barrios
18747 Redland Rd.
What to try: Amorita Prickly Pear Margarita
6. Ocho
1015 Navarro St.
What to try: Havana Margarita
7. Paloma Blanca
5800 Broadway St.
What to try: Mango Chamorita
8. Rosario’s Mexican Café y Cantina
910 S Alamo St.
What to try: CocoRita
9. Soluna
7959 Broadway St.
What to try: Blackberry Margarita de Sabor
10. Sternewirth
136 E Grayson St.
What to try: La Babia Margarita
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