Q: Do any San Antonio locals or past visitors have particular restaurants or food dishes that they would recommend for a first time San Antonio visitor? I'll be in town for four days and would love to know some good places to eat, and any dishes San Antonio is known for or just any dish that shouldn't be missed. Thanks for your help!
A: I just answered this question down below so will cut and paste my answers. Here are my favorite places: Ok - I edited to give you areas of the city and a price range and an idea of what I like to order - I love my fave. restaurants and hope you try at least one. My favorites: Mexican style breakfast: 1. Paloma Blanca (they are actually great for other mexican meals and have amazing hot sauce) Without liqour, this is about a $8-12/person breakfast spot. I love the Miga's or Chiliquia breakfast - if you are not into mexican breakfast they do a great lunch/dinner menu. GREAT everything - from enchilada's to fajitas to tacos to queso to salads to seafood. It's located in Alamo Heights. 2. Mi Tierra - I ALWAYS get the Chilliqulia plate (scrambled eggs covered in ranchero sauce with bits of corn chips in the eggs covered in cheese - so so so good). Also they have great fruit and pancakes. On the lunch/dinner menu (you can order breakfast during the day too) they tacos, enchilidas and fajitas are great too. Breakfast w/o liquor should run $7-10/per person. THis place is down in the Market Square, or El Mercado. Very toursity but loads of locals eat her too. It's an institution. Make sure to get a prailine to go from the bakery. 3. Cafe Salsita - small and casual. Once again, great Miga's or Chilliquilas. Order w/ a side of ranchero sauce and white cheese for the version I like. THey make theirs a bit differently then Mi Tierra - every place has it's own version. It's a bit cheaper - maybe $6-8 per person. They too have great lunch food. (all the above places have good breakfast tacos too) Chinese: 1. Mencius - GREAT lunch specials $4.95-$6.95 for entree, rice and a tea. The dinner is more expensive. I always get the Triple Delight which is chicken, beef and shrimp in a spicy brown sauce w/ broccoli, carrots and mushrooms. The meat is a great quality and so tender and well trimmed. It's a steal for the price. The dinner menu has a dish of shrimp served over spinach that is awesome. Actually I have never had a bad meal here. I would say for a couple to have dinner w/o liquor you could get our of there for around $25 for two entrees and beverages. Located on the fringe of the medical center 2. PF Changs (but that's a chain so really - why not skip it unless you don't have one in your city) Deli/Quick Serve 1. Schlio's - go for their homeade rootbeer and split pea soup. You WON'T regret it. This is downtown. You can both eat for around $20 here but you will probalby have to pay to park in the garage next door. Schilo's has been around longer then I can remember. THey have great brown bread and cheesecake and all kinds of things. 2. Sea Island - the charbroiled shrimp are amazing for a quick serve place. It's been in San Antonio for years. They are all over the city and once again, for just over $20 both of you should be able to eat w/o liquor. The shrimp salad in the avacado is really tasty too. Italian: 1. Paesano's (either next to Cafe Salsita or down on the river) - just all around good but kind of hip and pricey. 2. Piccolos - also all around good. This isn't as fancy as Paesano's, it's over on the NW side of 410 off Evers. Very reasonable. For dinner you should both be able to eat w/o liquor for about $30-35. Mexican "Quick Serve" - Las Palapas (you will find htem all over the city). I bet they have a website. Great hot sauce, great breakfasts, great lunches.......Cheap but good. Barbecue - drive out to Rudy's in Leon Springs. I think they have a website. This used to be the original Rudy's before it sold out and became a chain, however the bbq didn't lose any quality. It's still awesome. Hamburgers - Chris Madrid's. If you love burgers you HAVE to go here. BEST BURGERS EVER. You order at a little window. It's VERY CASUAL. There is honestly not a single burger I woudn't give a recommendation to. The cheddar cheesy or the bean burger are my favorites. W/o beer? I would say it will run you guys about $20-25. I always forget what road it's on, I just know how to get there - it's in somewhat of a seedy neighboorhood if you look around but the sheer number of San Antonioans eating there should give you a clue as to the deliciousness of the place. All around cool place that is such a throwback in terms of style and service - Ernesto's. Ernesto's serves a french/mexican fusion and Ernesto will most likely help you order. The food is TO DIE FOR and may not be around much longer as the shopping center he has been in for about 30 years is probably going to sell out and get torn down. Don't miss out on his food. Seriously. You won't find much about this place on the net but do some digging. It is so so so good. I mean the guy has been a small indepenendent restaurant for over 30 years. That's huge. Ernesto's is small - about 30 tables, in a strip center off Jackson Keller and Vance Jackson. Let Ernesto help you order. His tortilla soup is like nothing you have ever had. For an entre