best Mexican restaurants in san antonio

15 Best Mexican Restaurants In San Antonio

If you’re looking for authentic Mexican cuisine, San Antonio is the perfect place to be. This vibrant city is home to some of the best Mexican restaurants in the world. Whether you’re craving tacos, enchiladas, or guacamole, you’re sure to find a restaurant that suits your taste buds. To get you started, we’ll explore the top Mexican restaurants in San Antonio and what makes them stand out from the rest.

San Antonio is known for its rich and diverse culture, and its food is no exception. Mexican cuisine has played a significant role in shaping the city’s culinary scene, with its roots dating back to the Spanish colonial era.

Best Mexican Restaurants In San Antonio

San Antonio boasts an array of Mexican restaurants that meet all tastes and preferences. To help you find the perfect one, we shall be looking at the 15 Best Mexican Restaurant In San Antonio.

1. Pollos Asados Los Nortenos

Pollos Asados Los Nortenos
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Pollos Asados Los Nortenos

Pollos Asados los Nortenos is one of the best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio. They are located on the East Side of Rigsby.

They have a humble beginning, having begun as a fundraiser for a church in Coahuila, Mexico.

Pollos Asados Los Nortenos began as a food truck due to popular demand, and they now operate two brick-and-mortar locations in San Antonio.

Come for the experience at this low-key, authentic Mexican dive serving traditional grilled meats. Order the pollos asados, a delicious char-grilled chicken marinated until it turns orange.

2. Tito’s Mexican Restaurant

Tito’s Mexican Restaurant
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Tito’s Mexican Restaurant

Tito’s Mexican Restaurant in Downtown San Antonio is well-known for its superb fajitas and scrumptious tacos. The Rodriguez family, who has been in business since 2003, owns and manages Tito’s.

The warm and beautiful atmosphere elevates dining at this restaurant to a new level. It deserves its place amongst the best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio.

On the menu, you’ll find innovative delicacies like the Los Tacos Favoritos and Hatch Queso. This popular eatery also offers quesadillas, enchiladas, and nachos.

The Shish Kabob de Arrachera is unlike anything you have ever had. Do you need a drink? Don’t worry, Tito’s offers a wide range of refreshing and delectable margaritas.

3. Acenar

Acenar
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Acenar

Acenar is the place to go if you want to unwind with people while eating delicious food. This well-known Mexican restaurant is well-known for its big outdoor patio and wide menu, and it is one of the best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio, if not the entire state.

Acenar also offers one-of-a-kind family-style dinners to go. The Taco Dinner, Enchilada Dinner, and Fajita Dinner are available all day and come with chips, salsa, charro beans, and Mexican rice.

Favorite is the Enchilada de Mole. You won’t get enough of its distinct flavor for days. The basic evening menu includes classic and traditional items such as fish tacos and vegetarian enchiladas. For those visiting with children, the restaurant also offers a special kids’ menu.

4. Fidelo’s

 Fidelo’s
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Fidelo’s

We recommend Fidelo’s if you prefer a more relaxed and tranquil ambiance to have lunch with your family or friends. This gem serves all the classics from Mexican cooking with the correct ingredients and true flavor.

Fidelo’s delicacies, especially the homemade tortillas, will fill you up and leave you excited. Everything is made from scratch. You will definitely enjoy the pig carnitas, barbacoa, and chicken mole.

The staff is quite nice, and despite the fact that the restaurant is usually packed full, all the food is prepared quickly. So it makes our list of the best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio.

5. Rosario’s Mexican Cafe Y Cantina

Rosario’s Mexican Cafe Y Cantina
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Rosario’s Mexican Cafe Y Cantina

This fantastic eatery, named one of the best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio, is a must-see when in town. This vibrant restaurant has it all, whether you like fish tacos, fajitas, nachos, or sweet sweets. The Enchilada Suizas was unlike anything I’d ever had before.

Rosario’s offers unique cocktails and scrumptious desserts in addition to its extensive lunch and dinner menus. The Margaritas are quite refreshing and tasty. Overall, Rosario’s is a great spot for a drink with friends or a good calm meal with family.

6. Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine

Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine
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Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine

Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine is well-known for its elegant interior design and welcoming atmosphere. This restaurant has a lively and active atmosphere, with a wonderful gluten-free and paleo menu!

The menu of this restaurant is inspired by Mexico’s interior and coast. Tacos al Pastor, Ceviche, and Grilled Snapper are their most popular dishes. In addition to its lunch and dinner offerings, it offers an attractive weekend brunch menu.

The pig tips in a slightly smokey red sauce served with chilaquiles, refried beans, and tortillas are the meal’s standout.

The Mango Margarita is the most exciting and refreshing way to end the meal. So if the best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio is what you want, then try Paloma Blanca.

7. Los Barrios

Los Barrios
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Los Barrios

Do you and your family like to eat in family-style restaurants where everyone gets to try a bit of everything? If you’re searching for some traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex fare, we recommend you visit Los Barrios.

This is a family-style restaurant that will make you fall in love with its live music, attentive service, and wonderful food. Favorites at Los Barrios include puffy tacos, ground beef puffy tacos, cheese enchiladas, fish tacos, and tortilla soup.

8. Cascabel Mexican Patio]

Cascabel Mexican Patio
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Cascabel Mexican Patio

Are you considering sitting outside on a beautiful sunny day and indulging in some Mexican cuisine? Try this restaurant where you can sit outside and enjoy homestyle Mexican dishes, margaritas, and so much more while enjoying the beautiful weather!

This fantastic restaurant offers tacos, quesadillas, tortas, enchiladas verdes, and much more. Cascabel offers a wonderful dining experience with authentic flavors of various Mexican dishes earning it a place on our list of best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio.

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9. Ernesto’s Mexican Specialties

Ernesto’s Mexican Specialties
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Ernesto’s Mexican Specialties

Ernesto’s Mexican Specialties offers a superb dining experience. Ernesto’s is located on Jackson Keller, just outside Loop 410, and is open for lunch and supper daily.

Enter this The Corners retail storefront to find beautiful red decor, white linen tablecloths, and full table sets. The staff is quite friendly and promptly explains the Ernesto’s philosophy. They have a large wine variety.

Ernesto’s is one of the top Mexican restaurants in San Antonio because of their tortilla soup. They also excel at seafood: try their ceviche or gourmet seafood crêpe.

10. La Fonda on Main

La Fonda on Main
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La Fonda on Main

For an exquisite Mexican experience, try La Fonda on North Main in Monte Vista’s historic district. This lovely restaurant, established in 1932, is one of the oldest and best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio.

The clean white hacienda-style structure with clay roof tiles gives a timeless atmosphere while remaining friendly. Come in for traditional Mexican fare as well as Tex-Mex.

The whitewashed walls are decorated with vintage Talavera dishes and enormous artwork depicting Mexican bullfighters.

Dine on the back terrace beneath a towering oak tree. Guests love the ambiance and inventive margaritas. Try the skirt steak, but leave space for flan and coffee afterward.

11. Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant

Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant
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Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant

For nearly 60 years, the Garcia family has served San Antonio at Beacon Hill off Fredericksburg Road.

Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant serves Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican classics. They are always crowded, yet they are only open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. From Tuesday through Saturday.

Garcia’s bills itself as the “home of the brisket taco.” This claim to fame wins Garcia’s a spot on our list of the best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio! We recommend getting the carne guisada, a Mexican Coke, and brisket tacos.

12. Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia

Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia
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Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia

Mi Tierra on North San Saba, behind Market Square, is next on our list of the best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio. Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia has been run by three generations of the Cortez family since it opened in 1941.

It used to be a 24-hour diner for the farmers and customers of the local Mercado. Visitors travel from all over the world to see their iconic mural and eat delectable Tex-Mex meals.

The warm wood and brick interiors are always festive and inviting, dripping with twinkle lights and decorations. While you order a beer at the bar, listen to the mariachi band. Take some of their fresh pan dulce home with you!

13. El Bucanero

 El Bucanero
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El Bucanero

El Bucanero debuted on the North Side in 2012. The Blanco Road location was so popular, they opened two more locations: one on embassy and one on Marbach on the South Side.

Come for the seafood, stay for the lively atmosphere! There will definitely be a mariachi band performing and a wonderful pirate motif on the walls.

You’ll see why this place is always busy. El Bucanero’s presentation is what distinguishes them among the best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio. Begin with beverages if you go with a group.

Order the Pachanga Six, which consists of six beers topped with an extravagant display of camarones ahogado. La Reyna del Sur, an ample platter of tastefully presented shrimp, including bacon-wrapped, is a must-order.

14. Taquitos West Ave

Taquitos West Ave
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Taquitos West Ave

Taquitos, located just north of IH-10 on West Avenue, serves the best tacos in town! Order at the window or eat at the inside counters.

The bright red accents, stainless steel counters and stools, and zig-zag flooring complement the loud music and lively ambiance.

This is the type of restaurant that everyone in town hears about and visits. There’s frequently a queue out the door, but it’s well worth the wait.

They have a wide variety of street tacos, including cabeza, tripas, and lengua tacos if you’re feeling bold! Of course, tacos al pastor or bistek can’t go wrong.

15. Tortas Ahogadas El Chivito

Tortas Ahogadas El Chivito
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Tortas Ahogadas El Chivito

This laid-back walk-up window features outside seats as well as a drive-thru. They first opened their doors in 2013 with the goal of delivering Guadalajara-style tacos and tortas to San Antonio.

You must sample their signature tortas ahogadas, which come with red chile and tomato soup for dipping. El Chivito is a popular destination on our list of best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio.

They sell a variety of interesting items, such as birriamen (birria with ramen), elotes (corn in a cup), and their popular aguas frescas.

Summary

San Antonio has a thriving, up-and-coming food culture. If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food or Tex-Mex cuisine, there are plenty of options in San Antonio.

Not sure where to start? In this post, we’ve reviewed 15 of the best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio. Check them out now!