San Antonio is a city known for its food as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy home to 16 Michelin Guide-recognized restaurants. And there are some bites that are unique to the city and to South Texas that you just won’t be able to find anywhere else. Here’s which dishes and delicacies locals said fit the bill.
In a post on the r/sanantonio subreddit, many commenters mentioned the puffy taco, which is said to have been invented here. Essentially, a ball of raw masa is flattened like a tortilla, deep-fried until it puffs up, then filled with the usual suspects. Redditors named a few places, including Los Barrios, Henry’s Puffy Taco and Ray’s Drive Inn. The latter have a claim to the dish’s invention. Ray and Henry are brothers, and their recipe belonged to their grandmother, Maria Rodriguez Lopez. Ray publicly debuted them as “crispy tacos” when Ray’s Drive Inn opened in 1956. Henry and another brother, Arturo, renamed them when they opened Arturo’s Puffy Taco in California in 1977. Henry would return to San Antonio a year later to open Henry’s Puffy Taco, and the rest is foodie history.
Puffy taco lore aside, San Antonio is also known for its breakfast tacos. Locals on the thread recommend a trip to The Original Donut Shop, but a simple bean and cheese “with bright yellow fake cheese on them” will do from almost anywhere. These have yet to blow up in other states, but there are some Texans holding it down in places like New York City.
Another food you may take for granted in San Antonio is the red tortilla, the building block of our enchiladas. “I have not seen them outside of San Antonio,” one commenter wrote. “Hell, I haven’t seen red tortillas Outside 1604!” While these may not be exclusive to the city, we certainly know how to make things our own. One chef got the red tint down by using Big Red soda and strawberries, then filling the tortilla with barbacoa and other toppings.
Don’t forget the crispy dogs. Made famous at the now-defunct Malt House on the Westside, the local delicacy can also be found at M.K. Davis (a 70-year-old spot still kicking) and Ray’s Drive Inn. Hot dogs and American cheese get rolled into a corn tortilla and deep-fried — what’s not to love? Some sources say the crispy dog is disappearing from local menus, so maybe it’s time these had a moment.
By the way, Fritos were invented in San Antonio in 1932, so some locals feel that the Frito pie (mixing the chips with chili and cheese) belongs to us. We won’t argue with that.
For the sweet-toothed, it may be hard to find Alamo Candy Company’s Picositas Belts elsewhere. Chewy candy famous for their extremely sour flavor and slathering in chili seasonings for some spice, the Picositas Belts are perfectly tailored to the San Antonio taste bud.
Lastly, every San Antonian knows the joy of a true, Fiesta-style, breaded and fried chicken on a stick, complete with a roll and a whole pickled jalapeño. Though some spots carry these all year-round, it just makes more sense to eat one in Market Square or outside the bar during a Spurs playoff game.
