Three local Hispanic restaurants named among nation's best

[TheWriter]

Three local Hispanic restaurants named among nation's best


Three San Antonio restaurants earned slots on Hispanic Magazine's list of the Top 50 Hispanic Restaurants in the country.

Azuca, El Jarro and Los Barrios restaurants each are sharing the spotlight with some of the country's top restaurants and chefs in New York, Los Angeles and Palm Springs.

The magazine recognized Azuca for its Nuevo Latino menu, which includes crab cakes, ceviche, coconut shrimp, pasta frontera and salmon jibaro (salmon encrusted with plantain strips and cilantro crab butter). It is located at 713 S. Alamo just south of downtown.

With more than 30 years of experience under their belts, Arturo and Sandy Cerna dish up traditional items at El Jarro such as tacos, enchiladas and chalupas. However, some of its other signature items include tenderloin chipotle and grilled tuna with cilantro marinade. It is located 13421 San Pedro Ave.

At Los Barrios, the magazine cited the restaurant's milanesa con papas, cheese enchiladas, chiles rellenos and specialty molé. It is located at 4223 Blanco Road.

The listing appears in the October 2005 issue of Hispanic Magazine. It is published by Hispanic Publishing Associates LLC in Miami.

http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2005/10/03/daily30.html?jst=b_ln_hl

[mookie2001]

Los Barrios is the biggest most resortlike commercial ass place I have ever eaten at.
tomitillos is 100% better

[MannyIsGod]

Azuca is bad ass. I can't wait to go there again.

[batman2883]

los barrios has some bad ass enchiladas

[mookie2001]

I usually dont like to eat at resort hotels

[TheWriter]

I usually dont like to eat at resort hotels

None of these are at resort hotels.

[Tres_Till_it_MHz]

Los Barrios does bite, thats like the white persons fancy mexican food joint. I'd pick a hole in the wall over those any day.

Garibaldis
Lupitas
Marthas

Now those are good.

[Hook Dem]

Los Barrios is the biggest most resortlike commercial ass place I have ever eaten at.
tomitillos is 100% better
You're probably eating at the one on Redland Rd. They're talking about the one on Blanco Rd.

[TheWriter]

Mamacitas is the biggest "fancy mexican" food joint ever.

[Mojo Jojo]

Los Barrios on Blanco is good says me, Mojo Jojo. Plenty of beaners to serve me, Mojo Jojo

[tlongII]

Cocunut Shrimp. YUMMMM!

[MannyIsGod]

Los Barrios isn't bad. I'd rather go to Mexican Manhattan though.

[scott]

Eeho on Broadway is the shit. Henry's Puffy Taco should be on the list. I've taken people from at least 10 states to Henry's and they all go home with dreams of opening their own Puffy Taco joint.

[KEDA]

Blanco Cafe


Los Barrios/La Hacienda


Marthas


Henry's Puffy Taco

[Mr Dio]

Taco Bell

[CharlieMac]

Los Barrios? Might as well go to Las Palapas.

Manhattan has gone down hill too. They've put a lot of money into making that place Riverwalk friendly, but have cut corners when it comes to food quality. I used to love going there years ago though. Man, that was some fucking good food.

Rio Rio is the shit downtown. Blows away the Original and Casa Rio.

Never been to El Jarro though. I'm gonna have to check that out.

[Clandestino]

mamacitas is the worst mexican food in the world.. i've had better "mexican food" in europe than at mamacitas..

[scott]

Blows away the Original and Casa Rio.

The Original is perhaps the worst Mexican food I've ever had... and I've had Mexican food in Montana...

[CharlieMac]

The Original is perhaps the worst Mexican food I've ever had... and I've had Mexican food in Montana...

Seriously though. I've been in their kitchen. Don't eat there.

[Kdfelicity]

El Jarro's not even that good.
What's good is Bee's Family Restaurant, anyone been there? They've got the best refried beans in town....

I'm going to Azuca this Friday night. It's great on Friday and Saturday nights...live music...yall should come out if you want a good time...

[scott]

I think the citizens of San Antonio need to band together and petition city hall to force The Original to shut down. They are a blight on the reputation of our fine city, unwitting tourists may be lured into the promise of a good San Antonio Tex-Mex meal downtown... only to be tricked into eating that pig slop.

I suspect The Original is actually owned and operated by people who aim to make San Antonio look bad...

[Trainwreck2100]

I've been to Los Barrios twice and both times the service was subpar.

[MannyIsGod]

The service BLOWS at Los Barrios.

Sarritas on NW Military is actually pretty good.

[Kori Ellis]

To me, every Mexican restaurant we go to in San Antonio is the same -- adequate but not great.

Los Barrios - decent, but similar quality to the chains of restaurants here

Mi Tierra - :vomit I think that's probably the most overrated place we've ever been

Sausalito's - :vomit The worst Mexican food I've had in San Antonio

La Rosita - same level as Los Barrios

All and all, I think you could go to Alamo Cafe, Chacho's, or Las Palapas and get similar quality as all of those.

The only one that I've ever been to in S.A. that was above average is Guajillo's.

[TheWriter]

To me, every Mexican restaurant we go to in San Antonio is the same -- adequate but not great.

Los Barrios - decent, but similar quality to the chains of restaurants here

Mi Tierra - :vomit I think that's probably the most overrated place we've ever been

Sausalito's - :vomit The worst Mexican food I've had in San Antonio

La Rosita - same level as Los Barrios

All and all, I think you could go to Alamo Cafe, Chacho's, or Las Palapas and get similar quality as all of those.

The only one that I've ever been to in S.A. that was above average is Guajillo's.


Have you ever been to Taqueria La Tapatia?

[Kori Ellis]

I think we've been to La Tapatia. Where is it?

[CharlieMac]

I think the citizens of San Antonio need to band together and petition city hall to force The Original to shut down. They are a blight on the reputation of our fine city, unwitting tourists may be lured into the promise of a good San Antonio Tex-Mex meal downtown... only to be tricked into eating that pig slop.

I suspect The Original is actually owned and operated by people who aim to make San Antonio look bad...

Did I mention their catering rooms?

They're literally in a tunnel underneath a building on the Riverwalk. Next to the now out of business, Kangaroo Court, which coincidentally was owned by the same owner.

They are the worst on the river. I've had people come to my restaurant saying they accidentally went to the Original the night before and had one of the worst dining experiences of their lives.

[CharlieMac]

To me, every Mexican restaurant we go to in San Antonio is the same -- adequate but not great.

Los Barrios - decent, but similar quality to the chains of restaurants here

Mi Tierra - :vomit I think that's probably the most overrated place we've ever been

Sausalito's - :vomit The worst Mexican food I've had in San Antonio

La Rosita - same level as Los Barrios

All and all, I think you could go to Alamo Cafe, Chacho's, or Las Palapas and get similar quality as all of those.

The only one that I've ever been to in S.A. that was above average is Guajillo's.

Chacho's is horrible.

But yeah, I'll never understand the Mi Tierra/Pico De Gallo/ La Margarita love. People that enjoy going there are either tourists, or just dont dine out much.

Seriously, there are only 4 places I'll eat Mexican food at.

La Fogata. That's a great atmosphere there and good food. Not great, but good. They usually have good servers there too.

My restaurant Rio Rio. Great food.

El Rafas. Good hole-in-the-wall on Hildebrand.

Rosario's. The drinks suck though. I have no idea why so many First Friday kids go there to just have drinks, and overlook the food.

[Kdfelicity]

To me, every Mexican restaurant we go to in San Antonio is the same -- adequate but not great.



Then you haven't been to shit. There's El Mirasol, Bee's, and Panchito's to start with...

[Kori Ellis]

Then you haven't been to shit. There's El Mirasol, Bee's, and Panchito's to start with...

We've been to all three of those.

I'm just saying that it's funny that in a town with this much Mexican food, you have to search for one that's even slightly above average.

[MiNuS]

Everytime we visit San Antonio we have a DIFFICULT time looking for a REAL Mexican restaurant,especially when my in-laws travel with us.

So we go to Golden Corral. WORST SERVICE & FOOD. I am not sure what address it was but it was heading towards UTSA/Fiesta Texas.

Terrible experience!

There's no better Mexican food than at home or in Mexico ofcourse.If anyone ever visits northern Mexico be sure to visit La Fogata,Los Portales. If you go to Monterrey NL visit El Rey del Cabrito or Los Generales.



Riverwalk in SA: My wife and I rather go to Italian retaurants.One December we went to a Jazz retaurant outside and had a few drinks.I don't remember the name but if anyone knows about it let me know.We really enjoyed it there.

[CharlieMac]

Everytime we visit San Antonio we have a DIFFICULT time looking for a REAL Mexican restaurant,especially when my in-laws travel with us.

So we go to Golden Corral. WORST SERVICE & FOOD. I am not sure what address it was but it was heading towards UTSA/Fiesta Texas.

Terrible experience!

There's no better Mexican food than at home or in Mexico ofcourse.If anyone ever visits northern Mexico be sure to visit La Fogata,Los Portales. If you go to Monterrey NL visit El Rey del Cabrito or Los Generales.



Riverwalk in SA: My wife and I rather go to Italian retaurants.One December we went to a Jazz retaurant outside and had a few drinks.I don't remember the name but if anyone knows about it let me know.We really enjoyed it there.

http://www.landing.com/

Great place.

[Kdfelicity]

There is real Mexican food restaurants, you just have to find them. Bee's is one of them. And I disagree with anybody who says it isn't. It's owned by a Mexican family and it's obvious that they know what they're doing....

[MiNuS]

http://www.landing.com/

Great place.
Thanks!!!! Awsome,awsome place to have a few drinks with friends or with your loved one.Very Romantic!!!

[MiNuS]

There is real Mexican food restaurants, you just have to find them. Bee's is one of them. And I disagree with anybody who says it isn't. It's owned by a Mexican family and it's obvious that they know what they're doing....
as long as its not like Rosario's on the river I'll take a chance.

I don't like my rice too puffy and please NO POWDERED GUACAMOLE!!!!

[midgetonadonkey]

Oscar's on Nogalitos is my favorite place. There food is the best I've had here.

[TheWriter]

I think we've been to La Tapatia. Where is it?

Right off of 37 on Fair Ave. Across from the Home Depot.

[DrRich]

Bee's is good

Rosarios is great!

But the "hole in the wall" places like Taurino's are the best!!

[Zack Morris]

Damn Bee's has huge burritos, Screech showed me that place

[Clandestino]

la fogata is way overpriced for mexican food too...
mi tierra's is waaaay overpriced for mexican food...
and alamo cafe is white people's mexican food...

[Shelly]

El Chaparel in Helotes is good. Their refried beans are to die for.

[CosmicCowboy]

Everytime we visit San Antonio we have a DIFFICULT time looking for a REAL Mexican restaurant,especially when my in-laws travel with us.

So we go to Golden Corral. WORST SERVICE & FOOD. I am not sure what address it was but it was heading towards UTSA/Fiesta Texas.

Terrible experience!

There's no better Mexican food than at home or in Mexico ofcourse.If anyone ever visits northern Mexico be sure to visit La Fogata,Los Portales. If you go to Monterrey NL visit El Rey del Cabrito or Los Generales.



Riverwalk in SA: My wife and I rather go to Italian retaurants.One December we went to a Jazz retaurant outside and had a few drinks.I don't remember the name but if anyone knows about it let me know.We really enjoyed it there.


Yhe Jazz restaurant was "The Landing"

[CosmicCowboy]

The original ChaCha's on Bandera rocks.

[JoeChalupa]

The Best Mexican food in SA is not found in any restaurants but in kitchens across the city where momma and abuelita cook it up everyday!

I actually like Saulsalito's but I'm no food critic.
Like Tomatillo's. Never been to any of the top 3 mentioned and never heard of Mexican Manhattan.
But I'm gonna have to breakdown and check them out.

[travis2]

The original ChaCha's on Bandera rocks.

Yeah, but they want to know about the food...not just the margaritas...:lol

[tlongII]

Lupe's Escape is the best mexican restaurant by far!













.........of course it's in Portland.

[Kip Fanatic]

El Chaparel in Helotes is good. Their refried beans are to die for.
I have to agree with Shelly on this one. Its pretty good there. Their queso flamado is great. However, SA doesn't have the best Mexican food. Its Tex-Mex and I don't really like it. Denver, CO has better (authentic) Mexican food than SA. I have been to a lot here in town and they all miss the mark. Alamo Cafe is the worst. The tortillas are the worst. Los Barrios, Azuca, and all those others are over hyped.

[MannyIsGod]

Azuca isn't mexican food.

I agree with Joe, nothing compares to my mom's mole or carnitas or anything else. I'd rather make fajitas at home most of the time.

But I still love going to Mexican Manhattan for some reason. I'm not too picky because I thin it is hard to fuck up mexican food.

And well, I still can't complain one bit about Chachos when you consider the price!

[Notorious H.O.P.]

I could google it or, heaven forbid, pick up that strange large book with all the thin yellow pages to find out where Bee's is at but by having someone post it, all that don't know will know.

La Fogata is good for the fancy evening out. The atmosphere is good outside on spring or fall nights and the food is good enough.

Mexican Manhattan used to be a fav of mine but I haven't been there in at least a couple of years so I don't know if they've gone downhill so I'll have to revisit.

Azuca is good and for those of you who haven't seen it, the Entertainment Book has a buy one get one offer in it for them.

Rosarios is good food but I'm masochistic and like visiting that place when it is livelier, more crowded and with a band playing.

Recently tried El Jarro. Good atmosphere with a band on the weekends that isn't loud to the point of drowning out your conversation. Some high priced fancy but it you look at the menu hard enough, you'll find the less expensive, regular mexican food type fare.

El Mirasol - Good food but the portions are really small. But it's a good place to take a date with the little, out of the way type joint vibe.

And ChaCho's - it's not gourmet mex but it's plentiful, good and dirt cheap. My kinda joint. I wouldn't go out of my way to go there but I work nearby and if I'm in the area, it is hard to resist the nachos.

[Low End Specialist]

The only one that I've ever been to in S.A. that was above average is Guajillo's.

Yeah, Guajillo's is pretty good. Always enjoy eating there when in hungover.

[Kdfelicity]

El Chaparel in Helotes is good. Their refried beans are to die for.

Try Bee's refried beans and I'll place money that you like Bee's better....

And by the way, there's a Bee's at the corner of Blanco and Lockhill Selma (808 Lockhill Selma)
and the other one is on Perrin Central Blvd. (3975 Perrin Central Blvd). There ya go...