San Antonio is one of my favorite cities in Texas. It may not be as big city as it’s sister cities, San Antonio brings a unique charm and lots of amazing food. The culture you find in this city is in full force and your tastebuds will appreciate it the most!
Art of Donut
It is so hard for me to say no to a donut but when I see fun and unique flavors, I’m in heaven! Art of Donut really takes the culinary art of baking to another level. Perfectly located just down the street from the zoo and Japanese tea gardens, it completes a lovely afternoon exploring.
Fun flavors like Mr O, and Oreo donut; WTFT what the French toast, maple cinnamon icing with cinnamon French toast crunch and bacon on top. I went with the leprechaun charms. Bright blue caramel frosting with lucky charms cereal on top.
NOLA Brunch
New Orleans was one of my favorite vacations. I was so surprised to find a nod to the big easy in Texas! Beignets are the sweet powdery treat I missed the most so when I saw it on the menu, I knew I had to go for breakfast. I was so tempted to go with their bread pudding French toast which is served with an almond raisin granola but was trying not to overload on carbs and save it for dessert. I instead went with the uptown eggs Bennie. Served with a buttermilk biscuit, fried green tomato, poached egg and I skipped the shrimp creole. The fried green tomato was so goo I thought I was back in the south! It is so cozy inside, almost like you are at a friend’s mama’s house
Mad Hatter Tea
I am not a coffee drinker so am always on the lookout for cool tea rooms. Alice in wonderland is a whimsical fairy tale so I was very excited to check this place out. They specialize in having a variety of teas, certified kosher, organic, gluten free, and non gmo options. I went in for breakfast and enjoyed eggs, potatoes and fresh fruit. It was a great way to start my day!
Steel City Pops
I’m a sucker for ice cream. Even though it was pretty cold, for this Floridian, I still made the trip out to try steel city pops. What is so cool about this location is that you can see the factory and watch the treats being made. There are so many options to customize your pop with multiple flavors, drizzles and toppings.
Esquire Tavern
We were looking for a happy hour place with a nice view. San Antonio is known for the Riverfront so we wanted to be on the river. After a little searching on yelp, I found Esquire Tavern. Monday through Friday from 3pm - 7pm you can enjoy $3 off all menu cocktails and wine by the glass and $1 off Texas draft beers. They also have a small happy hour food menu list which includes jalapeños rellenitos, shrimp toast, green eggs and ham nachos, taco con papa and deviled eggs. We requested to sit outside with a view of the river and it did not disappoint.
Señor Veggie
I try to stay somewhat healthy on vacation, when I can. I was meeting a friend who is vegetarian so thought it a perfect opportunity to try Senor Veggie. It is a walk up counter then you order and get a number. There were so many options I wanted to try but I went with the house specialty macaroni con queso which I steamed broccoli, cashew cheese sauce and almond Parmesan which is perfect for those eating vegan! I paired that with the black bean and quinoa burger that is served with chipotle mayo and guacamole.
Smoke Shack
Texas is known for the BBQ, so it was a given. Smoke Shack is a very popular lunch spot, so plan your time accordingly. If you know me, I am a sucker for some Fritos so when I saw there was a frito pie on the snack menu, I knew I had to have it! Bowl filled with brisket, pinto beans, cheese and bbq sauce. The meat was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I love the how the saltiness of the chips pairs with the sweet sauce. My aunt went for the brisket grilled cheese and she said it was heavenly! You get to pick a side, pinto beans, green beans, fried okra , Mac n cheese, spicy cream corn, slaw, potato salad, collard greens or fries. She went with the Mac n cheese and it was ooey gooey goodness. I kind of wish she tried the corn, I love me some Mexican elote and was wondering if it would be similar. Everyone was raving about the sweet tea but I went for the lemonade. If you enjoy tea, I say go for it, it seemed to be a local favorite!
Henry’s Puffy Taco
San Antonio has so much Mexican influence so I new I had to try my favorite kind of food - TACOS. I read a lot about different places to go but all the locals said that Henry’s Puffy Tacos was the place to try them. This location is a little off the beaten path, but it is worth the Uber trip! The idea of a puffy taco is a unique family recipe. Two brothers started this and experimented with various fried foods. They fry corn masa dough and then fill it with either meat or filling of your choice then topped with lettuce and tomato. I went for shredded chicken and carne guisada. Guacamole is extra, but so I am i and I had to have it too!