Are you looking for the best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio, Texas? Do you want Mexican cuisine that will fit into every budget? It’s 3:00 am, you are hungry, and you need to find a Mexican restaurant in San Antonio. Look no further!
Please your palate, enjoy fantastic Mexican cuisine, and suit your style with these Mexican restaurants in San Antonio. From the quick fix to the sit down fare, here are 10 Mexican restaurants in San Antonio picked to suit every budget.
Numero Diaz: Taco Cabana
Taco Cabana is a fast food Mexican restaurant in San Antonio. Born in San Antonio, in 1978, Taco Cabana originated as a simple taco stand on the corner of San Pedro and Hildebrand Avenue. This little stand blossomed into a force to be reckoned for fast Mexican cuisine.
The theory behind Taco Cabana: make it fast, make it good, and make it affordable. Patrons can dine in or drive thru. Diners looking for a sit down feast can walk in and order Mexican food at the counter. No need to worry about the tip at this Mexican restaurant. Once you order, you get a number and retrieve your meal when you are called. Meals can be enjoyed inside or out on the patio. The colorful cabana palate gives you the Mexican feel with music to match.
The food at Taco Cabana is good and priced right, ranging from just under $2.00 to under $8.00. You can order tacos a la carte or ample portioned, full plates. Taco Cabana serves frozen Margaritas, beer, sodas, and tea. Many locations are open late or 24 hours for midnight hunger pings.
There are Taco Cabana locations throughout San Antonio up to Austin, Oklahoma, and in New Mexico. A favorite San Antonio locale is on Thousand Oaks and Perrin Beitel:
From the airport take 410 East to exit Perrin Beitel. Turn left and go about 4 miles. For a location near you, or more information, visit the Taco Cabana Website.
12030 PERRIN BEITEL
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78217
(210) 590-0826
Numero Nueve: Los Palapas
Los Palapas is a similarly styled Mexican restaurant in San Antonio. Founded in 1981, the first Los Palapas Mexican restaurant was located in the now closed Central Park Mall. This Mexican restaurant combines Mexican cuisines from California and mixes it with Texas style. A winning combination that grew with 12 locations spread throughout San Antonio.
Los Palapas offers sit down dining and a limited menu drive thru. The best dining experience is captured dining in. The food is good, and priced reasonably, starting at under $2.00 for a taco to under $25.00 for fajitas for 2-4 people.
The atmosphere offers relaxed family dining without fluff. The decor is molded after a Mexican patio café with muted yellows, greens, oranges, and blues.
The 12 Los Palapas Mexican restaurants in San Antonio are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Saturday 6 am to 11:30 pm. Los Palapas is closed on Sunday for family and worship. Try this one:
From the airport take Highway 281 North, exit 1604 and turn left. Los Palapas is on the right in front of Wal-Mart.
LOOP 1604/281
1615 N FM 1604
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78232
(210) 495-0757
For other Los Palapas Mexican restaurants, or more information, view the Los Palapas Website.
Numero Ocho: Salsalito Cantina
Salsalito Cantina is a Mexican restaurant in San Antonio. The decor is Mexican cantina meets old world cabana. The service is good and the food is good to average depending on who is working the grill. The best feature of this Mexican restaurant is that it has a full bar. If you would prefer a Manhattan to a Margarita, then you can have one.
Families are welcome. The price ranges from under $3.00 for a taco to under $18.00 for a meal. For more information visit the Salsalito Cantina Website.
14535 NACOGDOCHES ROAD
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78247
(210) 646-8088
OR
11703 BANDERA ROAD
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78250
(210 520-2500
Numero Siete: Felix’s
Felix’s is a Mexican restaurant just northeast of San Antonio in Universal City, Texas, off of Pat Booker Road. Felix’s is family owned and operated. The food is delicious and worth waiting for–each dish is prepared from scratch, so it takes a little time. The prices range from under $2.00 for a taco to under $12.00 for a plate. Servings are large so go hungry.
The dining atmosphere is relaxed and perfect for families with young children. You can dine inside or out on the patio. The highlight of this Mexican restaurant is a 120 plus gallon show fish tank. If you stop in, be sure to check it out.
Felix’s Mexican Restaurant is open 7:00am – 9:00pm Sunday thru Thursday and until 10:00 pm Friday and Saturday.
From San Antonio take IH 35 North exit Universal City, Pat Booker Road, and Felix’s is approximately 2 miles up on the right.
2801 PAT BOOKER ROAD
UNIVERSAL CITY, TX 78148
(210) 658-0822
Numero Seis: Papa Gallo’s
Papa Gallo’s is a Mexican restaurant located just outside of San Antonio in Bulverde, Texas. A short trip on Highway 281 North, outside of Loop 1604 about 15 minutes, will bring you to a quaint family owned and operated Mexican restaurant named Papa Gallo’s.
Do not let the small time look of this place fool you. The food is fantastic, the service is superior, and you get a lot of bang for your buck.
If you are looking for really good homemade Mexican cuisine, and do not care about decor, this is the place to go. Prices range from under $2.00 for a taco to under $10.00 for a plate. Portions are always ample. While you are there sample a frozen Margarita made from wine, you’ll never miss the Tequila.
29782 US HIGHWAY 281 N
BULVERDE, TX 78163
(830) 980-4777
Numero Cinco: Alamo Café
Alamo Café is a fine family Mexican restaurant in San Antonio. Born in 1981, the Alamo Café is a San Antonio tradition. You will always get good service here, but you may have to wait for a table on occasion. The food is always the same, so you can expect good quality.
The Alamo Café is open Sunday thru Thursday 10:45 am -11:00 pm and Friday and Saturday until Midnight. The prices range from under $3.00 for a taco to under $13.00 for a plate. Servings are large so go hungry.
There are two Alamo Café Mexican restaurants located in San Antonio, for more information visit the Alamo Café Website.
14250 HIGHWAY 281 N
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78232
(210) 495-2233
OR
10060 IH-10 WEST
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78230
(210) 691-8827
Numero Quatro: Jacala Mexican Restaurant
Jacala Mexican Restaurant in San Antonio is family owned and operated. Jacala has been around since 1949 and is still going strong. This Mexican restaurant touts a full bar that sells the coldest Schooners in town. The food is always good and priced right at just under $2.00 for a taco to under $10.00 for a plate.
The atmosphere is relaxed. The decor is simple. The food makes up for the simplicity. If you are looking for good Mexican food, and an ice-cold beer, this is the place to go.
Jacala Mexican Restaurant is located one block north of Hildebrand on West Avenue inside of Loop 410. They are open Sunday thru Thursday 11:00 am- 9:45 pm and Friday and Saturday until 10:45 pm. For more information visit the Jacala Mexican Restaurant Website.
606 WEST AVENUE
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78201
(210) 732-5222
Numero Tres: Pico De Gallo
Pico De Gallo is a Mexican restaurant in San Antonio. This is one of three Mexican restaurants owned and operated by one family, the Cortez family. This Mexican restaurant came to be in 1979 and was the second Mexican restaurant opened by the Cortez family.
Pico De Gallo is open Sunday thru Thursday 8:00 am – 10:00 pm and Friday and Saturday until midnight. It is close to El Mercado (the Market Square) and a short two blocks from its sister restaurants. Just about everyone living in San Antonio has been to one, if not all, of the Cortez family restaurants. After you have been to one, you must visit them all.
The food is fantastic, the service is superior, and the atmosphere cannot be beat. You get it all at an affordable price. For more information visit the Pico De Gallo Website.
111 S. LEONA ST.
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78207
(210) 225-6060
Numero Dos: La Margarita Restaurant & Oyster Bar
La Margarita Restaurant & Oyster Bar is a Mexican restaurant in San Antonio located in the heart of El Mercado. La Margarita is open Sunday thru Thursday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm and stays open until Midnight on Friday and Saturday. Plan in advance to dine here because you may need a reservation.
This was last erected, of the three quality restaurants, owned by the Cortez family. La Margarita is an upscale dining experience. This Mexican restaurant in San Antonio is fashioned after New Orleans style. It offers outdoor dining, music, and El Mercado experiences.
La Margarita has been in service since 1981. The prices are slightly elevated over its sister Mexican restaurants. However, the quality and service is superb and the Margaritas are spectacular.
To get there take IH 35 South exit Dolorosa and turn left under the freeway, La Margarita’s is right next door to Mi Tierra’s, so stay in the far left lane and you cannot miss it. For more information or to make a reservation, visit the La Margarita Restaurant & Oyster Bar Website.
120 PRODUCE ROW
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78207
(210) 227-7140
Numero Uno: Mi Tierra Restaurant & Bakery
Mi Tierra Restaurant & Bakery is a Mexican restaurant in San Antonio located right in El Mercado. Thriving since 1941, Mi Tierra Restaurant & Bakery is a San Antonio staple. The original restaurant, Jamaica Café, was a small 3-table café outside of the Cortez family grocery and meat market. It opened early to feed farmers and farm workers breakfast.
When the Toyo Café came up for sale next door to the meat market, in 1951, the Cortez family bought it, changed the name, and expanded until it became what it is today. Mi Tierra’s has grown to a 24 hour, 500-seat operation, which feeds regular customers and tourists alike.
The food is wonderful and priced at under $2.00 for a breakfast taco to under $25.00 for a great meal. You can get breakfast 24 hours a day. The service is unmatched. There is also live entertainment as Los Travadores (strolling musicians) stroll around to serenade you as you dine. While you are waiting to be seated, or when you finish your meal, take a walk through the market to shop for Mexican goods, beautiful artwork, or hear a Mariachi or two performing.
Mi Tierra’s decor is set like Christmas year round with mini-lights twinkling at all times. The bar is spectacular, like one you would expect to see in old west saloon. It is made with rich oak and baroque styling. It is a full bar, so you can get what you want.
For the ultimate Mexican restaurant in San Antonio, take IH 35 south into San Antonio. Exit Dolorosa and go left under the freeway. Mi Tierra’s is just past the freeway on the corner of San Saba and Dolorosa, stay in the far left lane so you do not miss it. For more information, visit the Mi Tierra Restaurant & Bakery Website.
218 PRODUCE ROW
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78207
(210) 225-1262
Sources:
Personal Experience
http://www.las-palapas.net/Locations.htm
http://www.alamocafe.com/Default.asp
http://www.picodegallo.com/
http://www.lamargarita.com/
http://www.mitierracafe.com/
