Recs for San Antonio dining?

Going to be in San Antonio for a few nights over the new year....any recommendations? Any cuisine is fine, although if anyone knows of a kickbutt bbq joint that might be fun.

San Antonio is a stone's throw from some terrific BBQ options, assuming you have access to a car.
http://www.tourism-tools.com/texasbbq/Welcome.html

Rudy's has some solid brisket and turkey. You can eat literally in the gas station.

One of my all time favorite taco joints is up north - Taco Tex. About 10 minutes north of the airport. They have tables and it's extremely clean. The tacos al pastor are exceptional.

Taco Tex
15104 San Pedro Ave,
San Antonio, TX 78232

My favorite eatery is Mi Tierra Cafe and Bakery in the Old Market area. While it is a 24 hour operation, I generally prefer the breakfasts.

My favorites are the Machacado, a Mexican Omelette, made with tender, shredded Beef Jerky, Tomatoes, Onions and Jalapeños and the
Chilaquiles Famosos, Crisp Corn Tortilla Strips scrambled with Eggs, topped with Ranchero Sauce and age melted Cheddar Cheese. Served with Refried Beans and Tortillas.

And the pastries are very good.

I think that most of their waitresses have been their 20+ years and are very friendly (and more than willing to tell you about their grandchildren.)


Mi Tierra Cafe & Bakery
www.mitierracafe.com
218 Produce Row, San Antonio
(210) 225-1262

For Texas style BBQ in SA, two brothers is my favorite, smokehouse (aka bobs smoke house) second, and gradys third. BBQ is so contested here in texas, meaning opinions run rampant for every cut of meat layed "low and slow". Just outside of san antonio about 60-90 mins. are some pretty spectacular ( like best in the entire state) bbq in lochart (kreuz, smittys, blacks), south of austin is salt lick, and towards houston on I10 is luling market. Here is a link to a user/editor poll which is reasonably accurate for other food types in san antonio...http://www.sacurrent.com/bosa/story.asp?id=70085.

many thanks to those who gave suggestions regarding my trip to San Antonio.....did ribs at Rudy's......and two breakfasts at Mi Tierra....both excellent suggestions.....my stay was enhances by your advice....much appreciated.

Just spent a few days in SA, and had a wonderful time at Chris Madrid's. Grab a Shiner Bock, wait in line, enjoy the smell and order. Griddled burgers and buns, handcut fries, and impeccably made nachos where each chip gets a whole lot of attention.

Chris Madrid's
1900 Blanco Road
San Antonio, TX
http://www.chrismadrids.com/

I'm here in San Antonio, however our national sales meeting is far away from downtown San Antonio, we're out at the JW Marriott Hill Country. That said I was fortunate enough to stumble on a really worthwhile taqueria.

Los Balito's Taco Shop (3111 TPC Parkway) is only a couple miles from the JW property. I happened to be getting my hair cut and noticed this restaurant.

Los Balito's served the best versions of cabeza and barbacoa tacos I've ever had, not by a thin margin either, best ever by long shot.

They also had a salsa bar with 6 different kinds of salsa.

Turns out Los Balito's has 4 locations in the San Antonio area. Details on their website, I've listed the website and location I went to below.

Los Balito's
3111 TPC Parkway
Store #101
San Antonio, TX
(open 24/7)
www.losbalitostacoshop.com
-

Friends from Houston drove up to spend Saturday with us at Hyatt Wild Oaks Ranch Resort, we spent the day poolside. That night went to Viola's Ventanas for dinner. Everything was mediocre to just bad, very disappointing. One of the items, the "local specialty" puffy taco is a Taco Bell like abomination, just terrible.
Viola's Ventanas
9660 Westover Hills Blvd
San Antonio TX 78251
210-684-9660

On Friday night, Mrs Willie & I stayed local and dined at The Antlers steakhouse.
Started out with the charcuterie plate which contained housemade salami, elk pate, prosciutto. All REALLY good. The two types of cheeses were just ok.

Had a bone in ribeye that was very tasty and cooked to my preferred doneness.

Mrs Willie had the elk filet, cooked past her preferred doneness, was ok as a result.

Service was very attentive but shame on the restaurant for lack of training, waiter wasn't aware of why their steaks were special, what was on the charcuterie board, etc.

The Antlers at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort
9800 Hyatt Resort Drive
San Antonio, TX 78251
https://hillcountry.regency.hyatt.com/e ... Lodge.html
-

Sweet Willie wrote: One of the items, the "local specialty" puffy taco is a Taco Bell like abomination, just terrible.

Had these at Ray's, the local institution for PT. I don't get it.

That said, I did get to 2M Smokehouse, a BBQ joint on the far southeast side of SA that has gotten a lot of love in its four or so months of existence, including several visits from Daniel Vaughn, the barbecue editor of Texas Monthly. There was a rumor for a minute that this place will unseat Franklin on the mag's 2017 list of Best BBQ in Texas, but I was informed by a more knowledgeable other while in line that you have to be open for at least a year to be in the Top 5; more likely is that 2M will be placed in the Top 10, with some sort of special notice/warning shot.

But that's beside the point. The point: yes. Brisket was stunning: luscious, heady, cooked perfectly from bark to deckle to muscle (wish I could say the same of La Barbecue on this trip). Best I've had in Texas.

The other meats are fine, though perfunctory: ribs have a great bark and a good chew; the sausage and turkey are, well, sausage and turkey; the barbacoa is a total meh (tastes like the Italian beef you buy in buckets at the grocery store). The pulled pork is a total and pleasant surprise: cooked like western Carolina pork shoulder BBQ but seasoned like brisket, it actually works as a sort of strange crossbreeding of two paradigms. I'll ask for more outside brown next time.

I appreciated the sides' Mexican twists: chicharrones in the mac 'n' cheese, nopales, vinegared vegetables, etc. And the people there couldn't be nicer.

Brisket sold out within an hour of opening; they were basically done for the day by 1PM. And this is before the inevitable national press to come. If you're gonna go, go now.

2M Smokehouse
2731 S WW White Rd
San Antonio, TX 78222
(210) 885-9352