road trip to San Antonio

[texaspeppers]

I am originally from Fort Worth, but now live in Montreal, Quebec. I will be in Texas the beginning of July and want to introduce my husband to real Texas barbecue and family style mexican food. We will be driving from Fort Worth to San Antonio. If memory serves, I think we will be driving through prime smokehouse country. Any suggestions for the real thing would be great. Also, in San Antonio, I was hoping to find some of the smaller out of the way family run places. We will be there for four days so if there is anything else he should taste I am not remembering, I would love suggestions.

[texaspeppers]

I have looked through the posts here and have found these places that seem to fit the bill for the mexican part of the culinary experience. Mendez Cafe, Mi Tierra, Aldaco's, Las Palapas on Blanco, Guajillo's, Los Antojitos, Cascabel Mexican Patio. I only have three nights. Any of these I should eliminate or should not go to at night??

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Cascabel Mexican Patio
1000 S Saint Marys St, San Antonio, TX 78205

Guajillo's The Shortcut to Mexico
1001 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78213

Aldaco's Cafe
880 W Highway 117, Dilley, TX 78017

[redsanders]

I've made a number of other posts here regarding local, out of the way restaurants. Very smart to visit them and not the bland, pricey downtown places.

There are a million Tex-Mex places here, and we've tried many of them. Each to their own taste, but I would really recommend that you get out of downtown if you want good food at local prices. Downtown places usually serve mediocre food at high prices since they know tourists come and go. You are smart to visit places outside of downtown since they must rely on repeating locals. Try the frozen margaritas (big and tasty) and food at Martha's (5822 Babcock Road). We drive all the way from N.S. San Antonio to Garibaldi's (6739 W US Highway 90, this is west of downtown) for their chicken enchiladas - not prety, just good food. And, great Sunday breakfast at Don Pedros, 1526 Southwest Military Drive.

Detour to BBQ places in either Luling or Lockhart. All the places we've tried in S.A. just roast their meat and pour BBQ sauce over it, and call it BBQ! I can do that at home.

[saeyedoc]

I disagree about the BBQ. Try Two Bros BBQ Mkt. I've seen their setup, they cook low and slow over wood, not the typical drek we see here in most places.

[HollyDolly]

I'll have to try it.They have an article about the chef that owns it and several other restaurants in town.However, I still think you should try out BBQ in Lockhart .Black's has been there a long time and there are other places as well.They aren't fancy places, and the majority are family owned and run.

[saeyedoc]

I've been meaning to try those, just haven't had the time.

[ryanas]

No offense, but HollyDolly can't be much of a BBQ expert if: 1. She talks about BBQ in Lockhart and doesn't mention Kreuz and only talks about that BBQ cafeteria known as Blacks. and 2. 2 Bros is great, just ate some great brisket and cherry glazed ribs only tonight.

Regarding Mexican food in SA, you can't miss La Gloria at The Pearl. A real must !

[kindofabigdeal]

No offense, but you just said cherry glazed ribs while implying your BBQ acumen

[Jaymes]

And also "no offense," ryanas, but what HollyDolly said is exactly right. She says that "Black's has been there a long time and there are other places as well."

Absolutely correct.

And as for Kreuz, some folks, certainly including me, have been pretty bitterly disappointed with their brisket over the last few years. In fact, I've gotten to where I often don't even bother going there at all any more when I visit Lockhart, which I do frequently. I just go to Black's for their always consistently-great brisket and sausage, and then to Smitty's for more of the same, and then down to Luling for City Market's brisket and hot links.

[SAhomecooking]

+1 on Black's.

[texaspeppers]

Just got off work and got a chance to check out the best BBQ in Texas blog so I think I'm good for BBQ places. I was also glad to read about kolaches because I had forgotten my family used to go somewhere south of Fort Worth for these. Poppy seed kolaches were great! Now I just need the mexican restaurants to complete the trip to paradise.

[HollyDolly]

I think the town is West ,Texas, up around the Fort Worth -Dallas area.
When driving with the family up I-35North to go to Hot Springs, I recall seeing signs for the town,and for kolaches. never had any poppyseed ones.

[texaspeppers]

Hey HollyDolly, I think you are right! This was 35 years ago we used to make the kolache runs. Do you know, are they still there??

[Jaymes]

West is still there and still the "Czech Capital of Texas."

There are several kolache places. The easiest and most-obvious is the Czech Stop, because it's right on the highway. And that's where all the tourists stop.

But everybody in the know drives right past it. About a half-mile or so east toward West and on the south side of the road is Gerik's. It's much better than Czech Stop. By far.

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=...

Another favorite of locals (who, let me repeat, never go to Czech Stop) is the Village Bakery. You head east into town, go across the railroad tracks and turn south on Main Street. It's about a block down.

And while you're in West, on Main Street, about a block north is Nemecek Bros. It's an old-style Czech butcher shop. It's been there for practically forever. I never drive through without stopping for some old-fashioned ring bologna.

[texaspeppers]

Wow, thanks Jaymes. I had completely forgotten about Nemecek Bros. They were on the West hit list as well. Great memories....

[texasredtop]

While in Fort Worth, I love to eat at Fred's. Awesome burgers!!!

http://www.fredstexascafe.com/P2%20-%20menu%20&%20specials%20menu%20page.htm

I'm sure others will suggest you take the 20 mile side trip to Lockhart for the bbq at Black's, Smitty's and the other places there. I've had the bbq at City Market in Luling and it was good. I haven't had any luck with timing getting to Lockhart to try the others yet.

We ate at Alamo Springs in Fredericksburg a couple of weeks ago and the burgers were excellent. It would be a little more than an hour west of San Antonio.

http://www.alamospringscafe.com/

Oh, and welcome home!!

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City Market
633 E Davis St, Luling, TX 78648