Copied from the 2016 thread. I didnt find one for 2017.
Food and drink suggestions go....
Summary of the first post from the thread in 2015 (Thanks PurpleSky)
-Whataburger: Open 24 Hours. Late night(after 11)/breakfast? Get the Honeybutter Chicken Biscuit.
- River Center Food Court: Your typical mall food court. On the Riverwalk, great for people watching and listening to Pan Pipes.
- Alamo Street Eat Bar: Food Truck park, good beer selection, 10 minute walk from the convention center (I can recommend this!)
- Tre Trattoria: Some of the best Italian/Pasta in the city.
- The Monterrey: American Gastropub in Southtown, great outdoor seating area.
- Fritte: Belgian Food, also in Southtown.
- Hot Joy: Hipster Asian Fusion. Really, really good.
- The Beethoven: A side of San Antonio most people never see, or even think about. Old school German beer garden in Southtown.
- Shiloh's its close to the convention center and serves German Food. Breakfast is top notch. Also they have good German beer
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Breakfast Tacos downtown
-Taco Haven
-Pete’s Tako House
Further afield:
- The Pearl Brewery: Walk up the riverwalk towards the Museum Reach. Big new complex that has a number of restaurants: La Glora (Mexican Streetfood), The Granary (Micro-brewery and modern BBQ), Green (Vegetarian, closed Saturdays) and more places I haven't had a chance to try. Also has a Farmers Market on Saturdays if you're into that.
- Taco Taco Cafe: Local institution on Hildebrand. Parking is a bit of a pain, but they've got my favorite breakfast tacos in the city (I'm a Trinity kid, so sue me.)
- Central Market: Upscale Grocery store with great prepared foods. Prices for normal grocery stuff also fairly reasonable.
Some of the stuff we have from before:
Here's a link to the old Google Doc from 2015. Its still a great resource with distance from the Convention Center
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8J2zaWDtgGpZTlnWVd4VUozTzQ/edit?usp=sharing
A link to the previous thread from 2016
https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/201229/san-antonio-restaurant-dining-suggestions-2016/p11
A Google Map with mapped out places (Thanks VintageUtti)
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zGEWTyllhmHI.kt8xxeqFofak
1st PAX was Prime 2010. Made it to several more Primes/West. Been to East and South. Headed back to West in 2019 for my 12th PAX.
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I wanna try some more BBQ this year, doesnt have to be within walking distance. I tried breakfast tacos in 2016 and I want to try them again
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It's really good. I hit it every year my first night in town.
Shiloh's, a German Delicatessen close to the convention center is a can't miss as well. Their breakfast is supposed to be top notch but get their early!
Thanks for the list OP, I’m coming in from out of state and I really want to explore the food options. Much appreciated.
Southtown is a great choice if you want to stay downtown but want to get away from tourist traps. It's walking distance but also a very quick Uber ride if you're tired of walking. Lots of great choices in that area. It's gotten bigger over the past couple years.
Check out the Yelp reviews for that area to help you decide.
Been to both those places I recommend them. Mi Tierra was good I would say its similar to what I would eat up here in SE Washington and its in walking distance
Alright where can I get good breakfast tacos or a good Breakfast Burrito that is close to convention center? I had to settle in 2016 and I want to make up for it!
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The only thing I know of within walking distance to Henry B is La Villita Cafe. I personally haven't had their bfast tacos though - I've only eaten there for lunch. It has 4 stars on Yelp and pics look tasty, so I think it's a safe bet!
Or you can always try bribing a local peep to bring you some tacos from somewhere else
ash at sunset station is bar with great drinks and food right behind Smoke.
If you can't get away from downtown/The Riverwalk, do stay away from Casa Rio. Consistently bad service and mediocre food.
The bar inside the Marriott Rivercenter is pretty solid. The bartenders are pretty nice and have had some good conversations with my group. It's a pretty low key and chill atmosphere too. Every time I go to a con in SA (Pax or some other), I always make sure to have a drink or two here at some point.
Post more! I must find these breakfast tacos!
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I'm a San Antonio native (though now live in NorCal), so please ask away...I'll be happy to list whatever kind of food you want to find, where the best "x" food is, etc. Hard for me to decide what to put since I lived there all of my young life, so I'm relying on you to ask for what you want.
I'm from SA and Mi Tierra's is the best mexican food downtown and it's open 24hours so anytime you are good to go and you MUST get something from the bakery before you leave cinnamon dusted mexican cookies are the way to go or if they have Buñuelos which is a SA staple during Christmas time get some. Breakfast tacos quick and easy and inexpensive definitely Bill Miller's.
Kube, if you *really* want good, mom and pop breakfast tacos, you’ll have to Uber it out of downtown. Or like I suggested before, befriend a local who will bring you some from their side of town. A place where abuela is making the tortillas by hand and the fillings are homemade, not some mass-produced crap. Fresh, soft, warm tortillas mmmm
I can throw out the bat signal on FB to see if my friends have any downtown recs for tacos. I know quite a few people who work downtown. Let me know if you want/care for those.
I am happy take a Uber but go ahead and put out the feelers for downtown tacos
Thanks
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How about Happy Hour specials? I went to a Brewery a few years ago had to take an Uber it was 10 mins away.
Hot Joy isn't too far from the Convention Center and has fantastic Asian Fusion
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Okay the locals have spoken and Taco Haven (Southtown) and Pete’s Tako House are the winners for downtown breakfast tacos!
Rosario’s for texmex nachos.
They recently opened another Smoke location downtown. They’re a bit overpriced (considering what we have access to here) but oh well. Good pulled pork nachos and smoked wings. Something different than your everyday nacho/wings. Also they have a good Happy Hour.
Smoke looks like its in walking distance from the Convention Center. I'll have to check this out
Near Bill Miller BBQ is off 101 W Commerce St just up from the Esquire, about a 20 min walk from the Convention Center
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Got the address or general location from the Convention center?
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Thanks so much these have been added to my personal list
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I imagine Mi Tierra is more expensive, but how much better is it than Rosario's?
It’s a 20 min. walk or 5 min. drive from the convention center.
AshTR, I personally like Rosario’s better bc they have more non-texmex foods, more variety and their margaritas are so good. But Mi Tierra does have that bakery so if you like your sweets, that’s a tough call!
Edit: By “non-texmex”, I mean Mexican food and not the texmex style.
Ah okay. Yeah, I like traditional Mexican a bit better than Tex-Mex despite living in Texas for pretty much all of my life. Never had one of the margaritas there, but the chips and salsa are legit some of the best I've ever had.
Also, a little out of the way, if you REALLY like breakfast tacos, Rolando's Super Tacos has good tacos about the size of a grown mans forearm.
More near downtown, I noticed there has been no mention of Guillermo's or Madhatters Tea House. Guillermo's is an Italian place that has some good sandwiches and Madhatters is a great place to go for tea/brunch.
https://www.tvfoodmaps.com/search/?searchlocation=san antonio
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Estate coffee at 1320 E Houston St just east of the 37 is the best coffee I've had IMO. Worth a mention & worth going to.
B&D Ice house is another good BBQ place in that area worth going to.
Madhatters is indeed good.
seconded also they are happy to give you your 1 root beer refill to go don't let it go to waste. oh and the rueben and schnitzel are damned tasty to.