10 BEST Mexican Restaurants in San Antonio (Fresh, Spicy Flavors!)

San Antonio is home to some of the best Mexican food restaurants outside of Mexico. Regional cuisines from south of the border and local taste influence the flavors that go into what makes these restaurants so unique.

The Alamo City boasts an eclectic food scene, but no cuisine is more prominent than Mexican food. Local dishes reflect the cultural influences of Texas and Mexico, creating what locals refer to as Tex-Mex food. That may conjure thoughts of enchiladas and tacos, but there's so much more served in San Antonio’s Mexican restaurants.

Some of the most popular Tex-Mex dishes served in most of our listed restaurants include burritos, enchiladas, tacos, and quesadillas.

San Antonio restaurants that serve breakfast are likely going to have breakfast tacos with fresh homemade tortillas and sweet bakery items known as pan dolce.

Let's help you decide where you'll eat the next time you visit the Alamo City. Follow along as we look at the 10 best Mexican restaurants in San Antonio.

1. Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia

Find a Location: 218 Produce Row, San Antonio, TX 78207   | Phone number: (210) 225-1262

Mi Tierra Café & Bakery in the heart of Downtown San Antonio is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Established in 1941, the restaurant is an iconic part of Tex-Mex culture in the city.

The breakfast menu has everything you’d expect from an authentic Mexican food restaurant, like huevos rancheros, menudo, and breakfast tacos.

The lunch and dinner menus offer some of the best Tex-Mex dishes in San Antonio, including enchiladas, tamales, and fajitas. Rice and beans with homemade tortillas complete the meal.

For dessert, stop by the bakery for some pan dulce or sopapillas. Everything is homemade by a master baker, Don José.

Mi Tierra is well-known for their pecan pralines made from fresh local Texas pecans. They’re the perfect companion for the cinnamon Mexican hot chocolate served at the restaurant.

Mi Tierra has a convenient location downtown near Market Square, so it gets pretty crowded on weekends.

Expect to wait for a table but don’t worry. You’ll get to listen to the mariachis while you wait! The atmosphere is festive and lively at Mi Tierra. You’ll feel like you're going into a fiesta.

• Yelp Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
• Cost: $$
• Specialty Dish: Special Mexican Dinner        
• Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex   

2. Tlahco Mexican Kitchen

Find a Location: 1662 Encino Rio SUITE 100, San Antonio, TX 78259 | Phone number: (210) 455-0135

Tlahco Mexican Kitchen is north of Loop 1604 just off Hwy. 281, so if you’re in the north part of the city, you should visit.

The language of the Aztecs that is still alive today is Nahuatl. Tlahco is Nahuatl for “middle,” as in this cuisine originates from the middle of Mexico.

Taking a step out from Tex-Mex, Tlahco serves authentic dishes from the heart of Mexico. They offer a breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner menu.

Tlahco offers a wide selection of authentic breakfast tacos, along with other breakfast items like migas and conchas con nata.

Dishes are served with boracho beans and rice. Parrilladas, or grilled meats, include chicken, beef, pork, and shrimp.

The dessert menu features Homemade Churros Served with Cajeta and Lechera, and Arroz con leche with cinnamon and raisins.

Tlahco Mexican Kitchen is located inside the Culebra Meat Market, so after you eat, you can shop for groceries and Mexican produce.

• Yelp Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
• Cost: $$
• Specialty Dish: Pollo en Mole
• Cuisine: Mexican

Related Read: 23 BEST Kid-Friendly Restaurants In San Antonio

3. Rosario's Mexican Cafe Y Cantina

Find a Location:  910 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205  | Phone number: (210) 223-1806

Established in 1992 in the Southtown/King William area, Rosario’s has been an anchor business with an award-winning menu.

This Rosario’s Mexican Cafe Y Cantina is conveniently located south of Cesar Chavez Boulevard on Alamo and St. Mary’s, but there is another location on San Pedro.

Among other awards, this restaurant is the Critics’ Choice for “Best Restaurant to Take Out-of-Town Guests,” so plan for a night out with food, music, and dancing because Rosario’s has it all.

Offering both Tex-Mex specialties and authentic Mexican cuisine, Rosario’s serves up local favorites with a contemporary twist. Like Griselda’s Tacos Callejeros, drizzled with queso fresco.

Rosario’s serves lunch and dinner. Menu items include dishes for one person or a family to share. They have everything from nachos to enchiladas and fajitas, as well as combo plates.

The fish tacos are a top menu item ordered frequently and for a good reason. The slaw and queso make these some of the best you'll eat in San Antonio.

They offer a wide range of drinks, including cocktails and cold beers. Come during happy hour and enjoy margaritas to go, available in a single serve or a half gallon!

• Yelp Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Cost: $$
• Specialty Dish: Tacos a la Rosario's
• Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex

4. Pete's Tako House

Find a Location:  502 Brooklyn Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215  | Phone number: (210) 224-2911

Pete Rios and Dora “Kookie” Rios-Torres established Pete’s Tako House in 1978 and have been serving authentic local Tex-Mex cuisine ever since.

You can find Pete’s on the corner of Brooklyn Avenue and Avenue B, just a few blocks off the San Antonio Riverwalk.

Pete's Tako House offers authentic and fresh Tex-Mex food for all occasions. Along with traditional favorites, cool down with an ice-cold margarita.

Pete’s is well-known for their homemade flour or corn tortillas that pair perfectly with any one of their specialties, like carne guisada, picadillo, and chile relleno.

They have daily breakfast and lunch specials that you should check out for an affordable option whenever you’re in the area. You can get an enchilada plate with rice and beans for less than $10.

In addition to Mexican dishes, they also serve up hamburgers and French fries or a chicken burger, so there really is something for everybody at Pete’s Tako House. Try the fried chicken on a stick!

• Yelp Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
• Cost: $$
• Specialty Dish: Tacos
• Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex

Related Read: 70 BEST Things To Do in San Antonio, TX

5. Los Azulejos

Find a Location: 2267 NW Military Hwy Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78213 | Phone number:  (210) 281-4500

Los Azulejos is located outside of the northwest Loop 410 in Castle Hills. It’s conveniently situated near the San Antonio International Airport.

Los Azulejos is an upscale Mexican restaurant that opened in 2019 and serves traditional dishes with a modern spin. They only use natural ingredients, and everything is made from scratch.

 The restaurant serves brunch, lunch, and dinner. Their Sunday Brunch menu features classic Mexican breakfast items like huevos migas or ranchero.

Los Azulejos puts a spin on eggs benedict with their Azulejos Benedictos, and for those looking for traditional American brunch, they serve up pancakes and dulce de leche French toast.

Their extensive dinner menu features every kind of meat imaginable, from beef and pork to coastal dishes with fish, octopus, or shrimp.

The drink menu offers some delicious cocktails and margaritas. Their hibiscus margarita has received raving reviews, and the cucumber martini is like nothing you've ever had.

• Yelp Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
• Cost: $$
• Specialty Dish: Tacos Azulejos
• Cuisine: Mexican

6. La Revolucion

Find a Location: 4310 Blanco Rd, San Antonio, TX 78212 | Phone number: (210) 290-8131

La Revolucion is just east of Balcones Heights, near where Loop 410 meets I-10, on the inside of the loop.

Serving up dishes from Jalisco and Monterrey, La Revolucion is a hidden gem in the Alamo City. This is not your local Tex-Mex restaurant. We’re talking authentic regional cuisine from Mexico.

Some of their popular dishes include Monterrey-style tacos Tlaquepaque, red and green chilaquiles Mexican-style, and of course, their famous beef birria tacos.

La Revolucion is also the place for authentic Mexican breakfast plates, as well as a local staple, breakfast tacos with any combination of ingredients you could want, including nopal and chicharrons.

For the less adventurous eaters, La Revolucion has plenty of traditional Mexican dishes like enchiladas, chalupas, and tamales.

• Yelp Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
• Cost: $
• Specialty Dish: Beef Birria Tacos
• Cuisine: Mexican, Jalisco and Monterrey

Related Read: 25 BEST Things To Do In San Antonio, TX With Kids

7. Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine

Find a Location: 5800 Broadway #300, San Antonio, TX 78209 | Phone number: (210) 822-6151

If you’re in the Alamo Heights area, check out Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine. They have been serving San Antonio since 1997.

Many original employees still work there, so you know they must do something right in their food.

The Cantina drink menu at Paloma Blanca features a wide array of drinks and an exceptional collection of tequilas. The margaritas are so popular they have been featured in Texas Monthly.

The dining room is elegant and inviting for a casual quiet dinner, and not the lively fiesta environment of many San Antonio restaurants.

The authentic Mexican dishes come from all parts of Mexico, from the interior regions to the coastal playas. You'll get a taste of Mexico, from mole to ceviche, without leaving Texas.

For an appetizer, Guacamole Olmeca is prepared tableside and served in a traditional molcajete. The dinner menu has something for everyone, including vegetarian options.

The restaurant does get busy, so it’s recommended that you go online to make reservations. You can also book their private room for special occasions and events.

• Yelp Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Cost: $$
• Specialty Dish: Enchiladas Verdes
• Cuisine: Mexican

8. Lula's Mexican Cafe

Find a Location: 115 E Travis St #104, San Antonio, TX 78205 | Phone number: (210) 472-3300

Lula’s Mexican Café is a traditional hometown Tex-Mex café. It’s not fancy or glamorous, but it is cozy and welcoming.

Lula's is a few blocks from The Children's Hospital of San Antonio and near the Riverwalk, so it's easy to get from I-10 or I-37.

They serve up a homemade breakfast that reminds you of south Texas, with dishes like huevos a la Mexicanas and an assortment of breakfast tacos.

The restaurant also serves pancakes, oatmeal, and other traditional American breakfast items. In addition, the enchilada plates have huge servings of rice and beans for an affordable price.

Lula's is only open until 2 pm, so get there for lunch and enjoy their famous puffy tacos. Munch on some complimentary chips and salsa while you wait for your order.

Their enchilada plates will leave full and probably take home leftovers. Lula's gives pretty big servings of rice and beans.

The friendly staff will ensure you're welcomed and seated quickly. You can't beat Lula's service and hospitality on top of great food.

• Yelp Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
• Cost: $
• Specialty Dish: Puffy Tacos
• Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex

Related Read: 15 Romantic Getaways in San Antonio, Texas

9. Guajillos The Shortcut to Mexico

Find a Location: 1001 Northwest Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78213 | Phone number: (210) 344-4119

Guajillos Shortcut to Mexico is conveniently located off of NW Loop 410 and Blanco Road and is a good option if you're traveling through the San Antonio International Airport.

Guajillos prides itself on being the only place serving authentic cuisine of Mexico City in San Antonio. That's thanks to the chef who has cooked in Mexico's capital city kitchens.

Owner and Chef Dianko Barajas earned his Hotel and Restaurant Management Degree and a Culinary Degree from Salzburgerhotelfachschule in Salzburg, Austria.

He and his brother Carlos started the Guajillos a couple of years after their first restaurant venture Taco Inn in 1999.

Guajillos specializes in made-from-scratch mole sauces, and the specialty menu reflects Mexico City influences in the various roasted flavors that go into the sauces.

For seafood options, they serve Filete de Pescado al Ajillo, a Mahi Mahi fillet smothered in sauteed garlic and cilantro butter sauce.

Guajillos Shortcut to Mexico is conveniently located off of NW Loop 410 and Blanco Road and is a good option if you're traveling through the San Antonio International Airport.

The atmosphere at Guajillos is lively and inviting, making it a great place to go with friends. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, so they can help you choose the perfect dish.

• Yelp Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Cost: $$
• Specialty Dish: Mole Verde Con Pechuga de Pollo
• Cuisine: Mexican, Seafood

10. Abuela's Mexican Restaurant

Find a Location: 2313 NW Military Hwy, San Antonio, TX 78230   | Phone number: (210) 290-9350

Abuela's Mexican Restaurant is outside of Loop 410 and near the San Antonio International Airport, so it's a great place to bring visitors for an authentic San Antonio Tex-Mex experience.

Abuela’s offers a traditional Tex-Mex breakfast and lunch menu with all of the favorite dishes you’d expect from a hole-the-wall café.

Serving breakfast specials like huevos rancheros, migas, and breakfast tacos, Abuela’s is a great place to stop for a quick filling breakfast for an affordable price.

At lunchtime, don't get too filled up with chips and salsa! Leave room because the lunch plates are all served with hefty portions of rice and beans.

The A La Carte Menu gives you the option to add on an extra taco, chalupa, or something else that will make your mouth water.

Abuela's is also known for its excellent service. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and they will do everything they can to make your dining experience enjoyable.

At Abuela's, you can enjoy a meal for under $10 per person. So whether you're looking for a quick bite or a full-blown dinner, Abuela's is the perfect place for you!

• Yelp Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
• Cost: $
• Specialty Dish: Abuela’s Taco
• Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex