Road Trip Through San Antonio Texas, Suggestions Please?

kgirl, i don't know much about san antonio's dining scene really. i do know that it is home to 'chunkys' restauant which has a burger on their menu with ghost peppers. you have to sign a waiver before eating it!...marketing? gimmick? who knows...word on the street is that SA is famous for their mexican food....not tex-mex, but 'authentic', real deal mexican...as in famous...as in best in the country famous.  i would recommend walking the riverwalk....lovely.....wish i could be more help, but when i've been there, i've always just been passing through....pretty country...the hill country they call it..... after driving through east and west texas though, any hill is an oasis!....have fun.....

see you got a trip planned to tahoe as well...you will love it there...very mystical, magical lake....

joey

I had been in Austin and Houston in 3 years ago ... and we had made a trip to Hill Country to a vineyard ... San Antonio was a stop on a prior trip in the 1990s, and the highlights were the little restaurants on the River --- lovely ... Why don´t you contact the Tourism Board of Texas and the San Antonio, Texas Tourism Board. There is also a magazine called SAN ANTONIO which is published monthly and has seasonal theatre, restaurants, museum exhibitions etcetra ...

Have fun ...

Happy 17th.

Margaux Cintrano  

Did you go yet?  I've never been but the obvious thing (to me at least) given the lack of enthusiasm for Tex-Mex and Mexican, would be Texas BBQ.  I would just wing it.  Once you get there poke around and find some locals...they usually know where to go...and you could probably hit a ton of places even on a budget as good Brisket and such should not be expensive, especially there.  I'd just go for a BBQ tour, with a few breaks in between.

If you havent gone yet try the following

Mi Tia for breakfast, near the Alamo and amazing Mexican breakfast

County Line for BBQ, they have an AMAZING smoked turkey that melts in your mouth and Beef Ribs that are out of this world

Rosarios in South Town for Skinny Margaritas and fresh REAL Gorditas

La Gloria for anything on the menu, Chef there is VERY creative and has an excellent staff

There are more but those really stand out for me

@ Kaneo,

I would highly suggest Cruise on the River, and the River Walk. There is an array of fine dining, from French to Italian, Mexican, Steak House, Lobster, Local southern amongst numerous others. The French venue was quite lovely to my recollection.

Have nice trip and wkend.

Margcata

My advice for san antonio dining if you dont want tex mex........   is to drive an hour north and eat in austin : P

Kidding aside, depending on how long you are in san antonio, taking a day to drive an hour north to austin would be worth your while.    You can have lunch at franklin's (pretty much regarded as best brisket in america, long lines but worth it)    and you can have dinner at uchiko (Top Chef Paul Qui's place, and its AMAZING).

There is sushi at uchiko, but the main draw is the cooked preparations.   Owner Tyson Cole is the reigning James Beard best chef southwest winner (thought he mostly stays at uchi while paul qui runs uchiko) and exec chef Paul Qui just won Top Chef and is nominated for a james beard himself this year.     I was as shocked as you were when I moved to austin that TWO of the best japanese restaurants in the country were here!  We had the food and wine festival here this week and Morimoto even went out of his way to eat at both places while here.

Ive only been in austin for a couple of years (originally from new orleans and lived in nyc for a few years), and Im quite frankly shocked by how good the food scene here, its AMAZING.    Its also probably one of the top 3 food truck cities in the country.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaneohegirlinaz 

Really? Japanese you say, the best?
I'm from Hawaii, I'd be hard to convince

Actually the seafood scene in Austin is excellent.  I was the Chef/Owner of the Roys there for a few years while the food revival and push for local only places was starting and it was amazing to see it from its infancy and follow it now.  It would benefit you to make the drive, as a resident of Austin we would drive down to San Antonio for Mexican food and people who live in San Antonio drive up for BBQ. 

As to the riverwalk comments, I would avoid it for anything but County Line, the rest is very touristy places that over charge based on location, at least that is what I found when I was there a few weeks ago.  Visit South Town and the Pearl District for good locally owned places.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaneohegirlinaz 

So chefhow, you're saying that the Q in Austin is better than in San Antonio?
Roy's, huh? Wow, great food, at least the one here in Hawaii Kai, a little pricey. We would go for an occasion over from Kaneohe

Personally I thought/think it is, in SA they tend to put a bit of a Mexican spin on it and to me Q is smoked slow and low with a mop. to keep it moist. 

Loved my time with Roy, great man, amazing teacher and cook.  They werent cheap but everything was fresh, everything changed daily, and the service was always incredible.  Where are you in Az?  There are a couple in the Scottsdale area and they follow the same principals and methods as the ones in Hawaii.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaneohegirlinaz 

Chefhow, at this very moment we are in Honolulu, well ko'olina to be specific (and there's a Roy's here) sitting of the beach, cooler by my side full of goodies for lunch and we plan on staying here all day long!
But we moved to Arizona about five years ago and come home every so often
We have our IPad with us and unfortunately it won't let me attach a photo, it' a beautiful day at the beach!

Enjoy the day.

Please, go to Budros on the riverwalk.  Just ask anyone on the street and they can tell you where it is.  It's three star and food and service are great.  I can't wait to get back but, I live300 miles away.  Have fun, MommaT

Check the archives in the Texas Monthly mag.

Look for the article (April, May?) about the best Q and the men who smoke it.

The mag is a bit liberal leaning (IMHO) but they do some great food articles about the best food and where to find it.

We don't usually eat in the Riverwalk area, but Budro's is not to be missed and I heard Besh has opened a place down there.

You could just have Rudy's for all your meals.... But as Chef How said go to The County Line, in all honesty their BBQ is better Rudy's I go there probably close to once every two weeks with my dad

I agree with everyone else go to Burdo's, while I have never been there but have heard nothing but amazing things.

Sadly you would think living 30 minutes outside of San Antonio I would know the food better. Also like the others said if you have the time hit up Austin, their food is great all around and its definitely a one of a kind place. Austin is not what you think of when you think of Texas.

Good luck enjoy your visit!

J