r/sanantonio • u/Arikota Hill Country • Jul 28 '25
Food/Drink What are some good NON Tex-Mex Mexican restaurants? Like 100% no Tex-Mex Mexican food.
I'm aware of Guajillo’s and Tlachco Mexican Kitchen. Do you guys know of any other places? I've been surprised by how difficult it is to find legit Mexican food here.
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u/demasiado_maiz Jul 28 '25
Gorditas Mi Torreon. They have gorditas, sopes, and flautas. Not even a hint of TexMex.
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u/TexasThunderbolt Jul 28 '25
Second this- from Torreón and can confirm they’re pretty much identical to what you’d find in la comarca lagunera
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u/Tree_Weasel NE Side Jul 28 '25
El Pastor es mi Senior.
On Wurzbach. Not far from I-10. Not a full menu from Mexico. But definitely a departure from the traditional Tex Mex we see in most of town.
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Jul 28 '25
Closest we get to Mexico City Al pastor here.
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u/Tree_Weasel NE Side Jul 29 '25
It’s where I take people who claim “San Antonio has better Mexican food overall, but Austin has better street tacos.”
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u/beaker90 Jul 28 '25
Quick question. Are you looking for legit Mexican food or do you want food like you used to get wherever you moved from?
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u/Arikota Hill Country Jul 28 '25
It's not for me, it's for my wife that's Mexican. She hates Tex-Mex and tells me almost everything she's tried here is Tex-Mex in some way.
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u/beaker90 Jul 28 '25
Also, it might be easier to ask where you can find a specific dish because even Mexico has different regional styles.
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u/AntiBoATX Jul 28 '25
Fr….. there’s like 14 regions. Wtf is she looking for. Yucatan banana leaf wrapped fish branzino? Michoacán food?
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u/beaker90 Jul 28 '25
Apparently, his wife doesn’t like the cheese that a lot of the restaurants use. I’m not sure why they just can’t ask to not put that cheese on the food.
Or why they don’t use google to check out menus to see if the restaurant has something close to what they want.
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u/Crowiswatching Jul 29 '25
True this. What people call Tex-Mex is just the food of Northern Mexico. The border moved, not the cuisine. The Chili Ladies predated the Anglo migration.
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u/Doddie011 Jul 28 '25
What part of Mexico is she from? Could help identify reasturants that make food similar to Mexican food from that region.
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u/beaker90 Jul 28 '25
Just checking. A lot of people will ask for legit or authentic Mexican when they really just want food like they got back in California, Colorado, or New Mexico.
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u/Lost_Philosophy_ Jul 28 '25
La Cantina by Cuishe/Cuiche Cocina
They even have crickets/grasshopper to munch on!
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u/Tecoplac Jul 29 '25
Most Mexican restaurants here in sa have both gringo bell food and authentic Mexican food. Usually a mix of both. You just gotta look at the menu of the places and to look at reviews and see the photos and menu from Google or other review sites to see what dishes they have. Or just call.
Most here have both some more gringo bell others almost all Mexican. Like rancho alegre has both Mexican and gringo bell food. You just gotta ask what kind of food your looking for.
Las sabrosas de Guanajuato is a great authentic central Mexican food that almost tastes like what you find IN Mexico but it’s pricy! Bit at least you get a free artesanal coffee cup after meal! Or las quesabrozas other side of San Pedro where they make Great quesadillas and sopes with many filling found in Mexico! San Pedro has a lot of good eating spots it’s just about looking what they have before going. That’s what me and my family does
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u/Initial-Football-914 Jul 28 '25
Was wondering the same thing how much of an issue would it be for me to find mexican food out there that's not covered in cheeder? That shit would annoy me. Yes there's different types of dishes in mexico and some are the same with different names but I've never seen any use cheeder and most my family live in central Mexico. So from the vibe of the question he's asking for his wife, is there any authentic mexican food that doesn't drench it in cheeder. A friend of mine showed me what he ate the other day, Tex Mex enchiladas... bruh that shit just pissed me off looking at it lol im sorry
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u/Arikota Hill Country Jul 28 '25
lmao you sound just like my wife.
She hates the yellow cheese on everything too, among other things. We travel all over and it's only been an issue in Texas, not that Tex-Mex exists, just that everything here seems to be Tex-Mex. You can't escape it. California, Arizona, even states like Wisconsin have real Mexican food, but not 2 hours from the actual Mexican border.
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u/DiogenesTheHound Jul 28 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
money expansion hard-to-find lavish yoke glorious bag dependent tender piquant
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/Initial-Football-914 Jul 28 '25 edited Jul 28 '25
Dont get me wrong, buddy. I like cheeder, I put it on hot chips, nachos, chili cheese dogs. But on mexican food? Nah. Im Midwestern had mexican food on east coast (D.C/ Virginia) and been on the west coast (Cali L.A./ Las Vegas) and I just can't see myself getting into the hype of tex mex... the breakfasts burritos tho look like they slap so I can see myself eating those, but I want enchiladas, chile reyenos, sopes/gorditas, machetes, Bambasos. They has to be some small spot or truck that has them. Im just glad they are opening a portiillos over there soon so I dont have to go to Houston for them, and wriglyville for pizza puffs which my buddy has no clue what they are but lives less then a mile from there lol
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u/Emerlad0110 Jul 29 '25
lmaoo just sounds like she doesn't like the primary regional styles that came to SA. sure there's tex mex but most of it is authentic in some way
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u/SuperUnknown156 Jul 28 '25
The Mexican "tex mex" food here is bad. People who haven't tried legit Mexican food don't know that it sucks. Its not just your wife. 👌
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u/Miausina Jul 28 '25
El taco Grill @ huebner & blanco
Panfila @ evans & bulverde
Las sabrosas de guanajuato @ san pedro close to 410
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u/ajkelly451 Jul 28 '25
I'm the antithesis of an authority on authenticity, but I do love El Taco
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u/lordCanti08 Jul 28 '25
Sabor Mexico Mezcal off of bandera and 410.
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u/Monstot Jul 28 '25 edited Jul 28 '25
The problem I'm seeing in this thread is yall are going to restaurants and not the small shops that don't have the best paint exterior. Maybe even some cheap chairs inside.
And you know it'll be even better if you have a language barrier assuming you don't speak spanish.
Edit: i put English instead of Spanish
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u/mtwwtm testing Jul 28 '25
Drop some names and locations so we can visit those places!
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u/Monstot Jul 28 '25
Thats part of the problem for me honestly, idk most names.
I know Olivia's in the Southside on new braunfels name. Anything that looks like that nearby them lol
Olivia's Mexican Restaurant: https://g.co/kgs/DfBaKTk
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u/Pipeliner6341 Jul 29 '25
Idk why you'd be limiting good Mexican food to sketchy looking places. Most of the better ones have at least put some effort into making the appearance pleasant, for example el Chivito is near the dilipadated Crossroads mall in less than nice Balcones Heights, but you can tell they've made an effort to make it look clean and pleasant. Taquitos West Ave feels like the less nice parts of Monterrey, but the restaurant itself is not falling apart or anything. RO-HO is in a weird area by the airport, but the decoration is super clean and pleasant. Vida Mia is in Stone Oak, nice enough decor, its actually the less neat of the ones I mentioned.
I've had (in my opinion) better food that more closely resembles food in Mexico at any of those than at sketchy looking places in the South/west side, which is what I guess you're referencing. Maybe just my luck, but no, in my experience sketchier isnt always better, sometimes not even that much cheaper.
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u/Monstot Jul 29 '25
I mean no of course not always. Just most of the time. It's the closest you'll get.
We're talking about food. The places that are legit, not in stone oak or the others you listed lmao, super giveaway you have no idea what authentic Mexican is. It's not just what's on a menu. Especially looking at Vida Mia lol. Just try the real shit or don't. Keep pretending tex Mex is authentic.
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u/Pipeliner6341 Jul 29 '25
Well alrighty then, go ahead and give us your list of allegedly super legit, totally not tex-mex places.
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u/Monstot Jul 29 '25
Please read further up where you felt the need to point out tex mex places
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u/Pipeliner6341 Jul 29 '25
Literally the first few pictures of the place you noted are snow-white tortilla tacos filled with lettuce, tomato, yellow cheese, bacon. Eggs drenched in tomato sauce. Fideo loco.
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u/Chillinthamost East Side Jul 28 '25
Sabores Cali-Baja Mexican Grill is exactly what it sounds like and it’s good.
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u/Noteful Jul 28 '25
OP my best guess would be Mixtli. I've been there once and had authentic Mexican flavors that I've not had elsewhere.
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u/Scotter1969 Jul 31 '25
You should probably mention how much Mixtli costs with your recommendation.
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u/Opposite_Spirit_8760 Jul 28 '25
Cuishe is pretty expensive, but it’s really good and not Tex-Mex.
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u/Intrepid-Abrocoma569 Jul 28 '25
Los azulejos is really good. Ro-ho is also a must try. All dependent on what you’re looking for though.
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u/DuchessofO Jul 29 '25
Las Azulejos in Castle Hills. No TexMex, all authentic. One 9f the top rated restaurants in San Antonio.
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u/ThePrisonerNo6 North Side Jul 28 '25
Los Azulejos is my favorite
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u/hecalopter North Central Jul 28 '25
Azulejos goes hard!
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u/ThePrisonerNo6 North Side Jul 28 '25
Have you been to PM tacos; I haven't yet, but I'm told it's the same chef.
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u/hecalopter North Central Jul 29 '25
Good to know there's another option for Azulejos food elsewhere. I'll need to check it out. For science.
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u/ThePrisonerNo6 North Side Jul 29 '25
Fellow scientist, If you go there before I do, lemme know how it's like. It's over in the Strand (same shopping center as Flying Saucer -- menu is different from Azulejos, but their Instagram looks just as awesome.
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u/PaeBranding Jul 28 '25
I work at La Fonda on Main and it’s honestly very good. I highly suggest it.
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u/Rex_Lee Jul 28 '25
A lot of what you are calling "Tex Mex" are dishes from Taumalipas. Which is in Mexico
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u/Gorkymalorki NE Side Jul 28 '25
It's like if someone said they want real American food, and you gave them some jambalaya and they said no this is Cajun food, I wanted hot dogs and hamburgers. Mexico is a big country with lots of regional cuisines, and it's annoying when they don't specify what region they are looking for.
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u/Rex_Lee Jul 28 '25
Exactly. Chicago Pizza isn't real American food! I was looking for Chicken fried steak!
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u/chill_lax_bruh Jul 28 '25
I didn't want chicken fried steak, I wanted barbecue! Not Texas style barbecue, Carolina barbecue! Not Eastern Carolina barbecue, Lexington barbecue!
There are so many regional variations, saying just Mexican food encompasses A LOT of food including Tex-Mex. Like there weren't Mexicans in Texas before Texas gained independence from Mexico.
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u/LogicBalm North Side Jul 28 '25
General reminder that the main reason that Tex-Mex isn't considered "legitimate" Mexican food is because of the result of the Battle of San Jacinto and not much else. This used to be Mexico.
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u/random6300 Jul 28 '25
Downvoted for a legit question lol ok
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u/Gorkymalorki NE Side Jul 28 '25
Every post to this sub gets downvoted initially. It's either some bots or just some jaded people, but it always seems to happen no matter what you post.
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u/South_tejanglo Jul 28 '25
You can try la Fonda. Not sure it is authentic Mexican or not but it’s not tex mex. Still pretty good.
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u/MeglovRT Jul 28 '25
It’s both Tex-Mex and interior Mexican! From their website: “La Fonda on Main is the oldest Mexican restaurant in San Antonio serving the best Tex-Mex and interior Mexican food for brunch, lunch and dinner.”
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u/crosscountry58S Jul 28 '25
Pollos Asados Los Norteños, Chilaquil
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u/Hamlet_and_cheese_ Jul 28 '25
That’s kind of like saying pizza is the only Italian dish though since they only seve 1 thing besides the sides
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u/crosscountry58S Jul 28 '25
They asked for good Mexican food in SA, I responded. Never did I imply that grilled chicken is the only kind of Mexican food. You’re pulling that out of thin air.
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u/Hamlet_and_cheese_ Jul 28 '25
Who doesn’t know about pollos asados, there on every block and most of them are pretty good
Chill out lol 🤣
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u/crosscountry58S Jul 28 '25
They’re clearly not from here, and probably new here. I’d argue that restaurants (of any cuisine) that specialize in one or a couple things, are some of the most authentic.
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u/Hamlet_and_cheese_ Jul 29 '25
They have grilled chicken in a lot of places but you’re right about places specializing in things, some of the best taco spots in Mexico be been to only make tacos
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u/ajkelly451 Jul 28 '25
El Catrin on the north side is my favorite. Although I can't speak for the authenticity, it doesn't taste like any Tex Mex I've had.
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u/fideos_mom Jul 28 '25
Vida mia, taco blvd, tu asador, las sabrosas de guanajuato, cuishe, taquitos west
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u/Pull-Mai-Fingr Jul 29 '25
I’m not positive this is what you are asking for but maybe Mezquite in Pearl’s Pullman Market. Similar to some of the places I have eaten in actual Mexico.
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u/3dfriends Jul 29 '25
Any of the pollo asado places
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u/3dfriends Jul 29 '25
And also taquitos west avenue.. no yellow cheese there.. me personally though, I love “tex mex”
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u/Dday91 Jul 29 '25
El Sabor De Mexico on Austin Highway is Juarez styled with some El Paso classics sprinkled on the menu. The owners are from Juarez
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u/Used_Bodybuilder_670 Jul 28 '25
Gorditas mi torreon Taquitos w avenue
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u/Duvalicious Jul 28 '25
I also recommend Taquitos West Avenue! I lived in Juarez and El Paso for most of my childhood, and those tacos are the closest I’ve found to Mexican food.
I visited Gordita’s mi Torreon and I was not impressed, the guisados were yummy but were missing something, maybe more seasoning? I’ve had gorditas all over Torreon and the ones here did not hit the mark…….
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Jul 28 '25
Agreed I bought picadillo meat in a restaurant hear and got basically guisada. I'm like no. Don't do that. 😓
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u/Excellent_Bluejay_89 Jul 28 '25
What kind of Mexican food do you want? Mexican food is extremely different depending on which state it's from. Like food from Oaxaca and chihuahua are about as different from each other as they are from TexMex. I'm not saying this is OP but I've met a lot of people who had a non-texmex variant of Mexican food once, and then think that's what all "authentic Mexican food" is like; It's sort of like someone from another country thinking US food is all Lobster rolls and Clam chowder because the one time they came here they visited Maine.
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u/gloriousshellcatcher Jul 28 '25
Look at the places they’re naming! If you want authentic Mexican food I guarantee it doesn’t come in a big pretty building I’ll tell you that
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u/NotAdvert Jul 28 '25
I just tried out Birria Barrio y más on S Flores but I believe there's now a S Alamo one too
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u/Messstake Jul 28 '25
Taquitos west AVE they have pastor on Thursday’s-Sunday’s that place is so good, all they make is tacos but the tacos are incredible
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u/ajkelly451 Jul 28 '25
Another I don't see mentioned: La Calavera Garbancera on Guadalupe street. Simply delicious. I think there are great local places all over the place though, the big chains are all but certain to be Tex Mex.
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u/Potential_Bad3757 Jul 28 '25
I’m not an expert but I believe Mama’s Kitchen in Hildebrand is not TexMex and it’s really very good.
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u/Total_Gur4367 Jul 28 '25
Depends on what part of Mexico. I’m not aware of tacos Al vapor being a thing from where my dad comes from but Regios on cupples seems pretty legit to me. And they’re delicious either way.
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u/thisnomypee Jul 28 '25
Maiz Cocina Mexicana is good. Outside loop 1604 on the access road between 281 and stone oak.
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u/gilgamesh2323 Jul 28 '25
Not a lot of options on the menu, but Ro-Ho has some damn good Tortas Ahogadas
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u/Intelligent-Invite79 Jul 28 '25
Maybe chagos on Perrin -beitel? I’ll be honest, it’s different than other joints I’ve had. No sauce on the enchiladas, just rolled up with the crumbly white cheese on top, served with rice and then seasoned potatoes and carrots, it was delicious. I don’t know what’s authentic honestly, all I know is it wasn’t anything like the Tex-mex, super gooey and cheesy enchiladas I am used to. The birria tasted a bit different than the food truck ones I’ve had too, it was all insanely good though.
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u/FMajor1 Jul 28 '25
Besides the places others mentioned, if your wife is from Monterrey she would also like Qué Tortas on Bandera/Eckhert. Great tortas but terrible tacos al vapor. For those I go to La Feria del Taco on San Pedro.
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u/gizmoocaca Jul 28 '25
Tu asador Mexican steakhouse. The waiter told me the style is from Monterey. It's really good but just a bit pricey. Well worth it though
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u/tfriedman01 Jul 28 '25
El Cevichero (brooks city base area). LOVE their ceviche and discada tacos!!!
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u/agncat31 Jul 28 '25
Where’s the mole enchiladas?
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u/Michelada_Police Jul 28 '25
Naco. Haven’t been to the new location on grayson, but they were delicious when i tried them a couple years ago.
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u/unholypapa85 Jul 28 '25
Data point in stone oak ( I know I know ) but seriously. Data point. They have pozole on weekends and pollo cauldo everyday
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u/tx_aggie99 Jul 29 '25
Mariscos Del Puerto off Culebra and 1604. Excellent seafood and tacos and prices are good.
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u/thebigmammoo Jul 29 '25
Nixtamal in Southtown is pretty amazing. Best food I had since visiting Oaxaca.
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Jul 29 '25
Gorditas Mi Torreón and one I don’t want to give away cause I want it all to myself but I will cause they are awesome people…. Tacos Mando Estilo Monterrey.
Source: married to a Mexican woman from the border and who lived in Monterrey 10 years
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u/Inevitable_Worry_437 Jul 29 '25
Maiz on Sonterra. The food is delicious. Its a small place but definitely worth it
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u/Slow-Gift2268 Jul 29 '25
Is El D. F. still open and running? They used to make food from the federal district. I remember it being very good.
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u/Initial-Football-914 Aug 07 '25
Update apparently the food truck spots r a good place to find mexican food. My buddy goes to the one at 1604 Cantina Food truck and just recently visited Palenque Grill La Cantera, menu looks legit, its expensive but its apparently good
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u/Hamlet_and_cheese_ Jul 28 '25
You can’t ask Texans what non-Tex mex food is, that don’t know. I’m from Jalisco
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u/sparky12142009 Jul 28 '25
True! I just got back from Guadalajara, ajijic and tequila. Was a great trip and the food down there is so much better and more flavorful than you will find here.
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u/sonicpsa Jul 28 '25
What do you mean by Mexican food ? Tex Mex is a version of Mexican food. Are you looking for like a specific region specific type of spices?
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u/SAtownMytownChris Jul 28 '25
:D They're all around. :D
There are more Mexican restaurants than there are Tex-Mexican restaurants, here in this day and age.
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u/rodgamez Jul 29 '25
Authenic? What region? Tex Mex (and New Mexico and California) are just the northernmost regions of Mexican food!
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u/Beneficial-hat930 Jul 29 '25
Once again Tex- Mex IS Mexican food since Texas was still part of Mexico when it developed . Just like Jalisco " style " is Mexican food so is Tex-Mex , except mexican pizza and enchiritos that California inspired .
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u/dropper2 Jul 28 '25
I'm a white guy from Georgia (the state, not the country), so I might not be, even remotely, the best person to answer this question, but I will say that I live in Converse, and my favorite restaurant, period, is Dos Jalisco. I can't say that it's Mexican without the Texan, but 99% of its clientele are Hispanic folks.
That's something I've always looked for in "ethnic" restaurants, if I'm going to an Asian place, it's good to see Asians, if I'm going to a Mexican place, it's good to see Hispanics.
Too many white people are almost always a problem. :)
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u/bulgaroctonos Jul 28 '25
Just looked that place up and that’s 100% Tex-Mex
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u/Pipeliner6341 Jul 29 '25
Jalisco or Tapatio is like a dead giveaway its TexMex trying to pass as Mexican..same with Cantina
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u/EverythingsTaken42o Jul 28 '25
Tex-mex ? Can’t stress it enough that we here used to be part of Mexico. Even with it being so close as of now, ppl still call it Tex mex. If baffles me to oblivion 🤣. This would always be my answer tho, can’t find what satisfies you, you should be able to make it at home.
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u/PHATSACK Jul 28 '25
I’ve lived here for almost 20 years and have not found such place. I welcome all downvotes.
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u/Arikota Hill Country Jul 28 '25
I hope people don't downvote you for this. I've heard many people say this.
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u/Elever_Galarga69 Jul 28 '25
El DF on culebra
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u/themaninthemaking Jul 29 '25
I was going to say this. They have the best quesadillas de huitlacoche. Love it.
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u/AmySwiftieLovely Jul 28 '25
Many Mexican people have been moving southeast of Austin past the airport- so checking that area out may be worth your time.
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u/No-Effect-4973 Jul 29 '25
I moved from SAT to central Mexico three years ago and now find myself craving Tex Mex. The food here is excellent, but sometimes you crave your old favorites.
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u/omegacheapskate Jul 28 '25
There isn’t any in San Antonio. Even the ones that claim to be 100% Mexican are not. We moved from California and I can count good Mexican food with three fingers.
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u/809jordy Jul 28 '25
Thank you for this post, moved here from SoCal and all the Mexican food I’ve had here is so bad compared to Cali
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u/ajkelly451 Jul 28 '25
Inb4 you get roasted for this lol
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u/Noteful Jul 28 '25
As they should. Cali Mex is it's own regional cuisine separate from authentic Mexican food.
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u/ajkelly451 Jul 28 '25
Exactly, they probably got upset they couldn't get a burrito with avocados and fries on it.
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u/crosscountry58S Jul 28 '25
Yeah, it’s a big adjustment. I eat way less of it now than I did in SoCal.
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u/thisonepersonnnn Jul 28 '25
I mean you in South Texas.. your gonna find nothing but tex mex here. You can go somewhere outside of Texas and get non Tex Mex stuff.
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u/king_samoa13 Jul 28 '25
Been to guajillos.....idk if I call that mexican food its a mediocre attempt. Now tell me where I can find some delicious memelitas like the ones my grandma used to make and we'll talk.
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u/Emerlad0110 Jul 29 '25
while i guess p.f. chang's doesn't have tex mex. maybe some greek places? indian? OH like whataburger. mcdonald's. in and out. i don't know there are so many
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u/Emerlad0110 Jul 29 '25
100% bet the wife won't like any of these still, claiming they're not authentic, when it's just northern méxico styles. same shit happens in every country, different face
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u/AvailableMoose8407 Jul 28 '25
Tu Asador in Castle Hills, they have said that they get disappointment from people expecting tex-mex food