In San Antonio, Texas, there are delicious eats no matter where you look. Still, each time I visit this gorgeous city, I feast on one thing – guacamole.
I am not sure what it is that makes guacamole in San Antonio so memorable.
It could be the romance of a candlelit dinner along the picturesque Riverwalk at Boudro’s Texas Bistro. Perhaps, it’s dining with the locals in El Mercado (Market Square) at Mi Tierra Cafe Y Panaderia. Or maybe it’s the party atmosphere of dining al fresco with friends at La Fogata Mexican Cuisine as you laugh it up during a guacamole cooking lesson that leaves you with your very own bowl of guacamole all to yourself (no sharing required!)
Looking for more Mexican cuisine? Check out Playa del Carmen Mexican Restaurants
While in the city, check out this list of the best restaurants in San Antonio.
La Fogata Mexican Cuisine, San Antonio Texas
2427 Vance Jackson Road
At La Fogata, an assortment of ingredients clutter our table, and the guacamole cart is parked table-side.
“First, cut the avocado, then mash the ripe avocado with your fork like this, and add some chopped onion to the mix. A squeeze of lime, some tomato…” our instructor cheerfully explains.
It’s all easier said than done, I say to myself as I sit there, dizzy with my head spinning from the margarita I’m drinking.
I try to follow along as I make my personal (double dipping approved) bowl of guacamole. I would have been more alert if perhaps we had taken the Guacamole Class BEFORE the Margarita Class!
The La Fogata margaritas are award-winning, and the one I made… that margarita? Well, as I said earlier, it is more potent than I expected, and truthfully, I can’t remember a single ingredient that went into it!
All I remember is there were a lot of little plastic cups of alcohol, a shaker full of ice, a lot of laughs and the flash, flash, flash of the camera as photos were taken of me by my loving travel companions as I proceeded to get drunk.
The guacamole (and margarita) are both delicious, fresh and tasty. I’m proud of both my creations – not that it was that difficult of a class since everything was cut up and pre-portioned out in little plastic cups.
At La Fogata, a muy delicioso restaurant in San Antonio, Texas, they specialize in Mexican cuisine. The Margarita Class and Guacamole Class are little “appetizers” meant to keep us occupied as we wait for the main event – the food.
La Fogata is also well known for their open-flame cooking (La Fogata means ‘open-flame’ in Spanish), so much so, they deem it an art form.
As we were a relatively large gathering, we ordered, sharing plates of beef and chicken fajitas and quesadillas.
The mariachi musicians stroll through the restaurant, serenading us as we feast on quesadillas and fajitas. Dining al fresco with terracotta tiles underfoot and patio lanterns twinkling overhead adds to the ambience.
La Fogata is fun, charming, and a favourite for locals and tourists, but it isn’t the only place to get excellent guacamole in San Antonio, Texas.
Read more reviews of La Fogata on TripAdvisor.
Mi Tierra Cafe Y Panaderia, San Antonio Texas
218 Produce Row
A visit to Mi Tierra Café and Bakery, located in El Mercado (Market Square), is like a 24-hour Fiesta, serving both breakfast and dinner. The party never stops in this bustling restaurant with sparkly paper streamers, fiesta flags and Christmas lights twinkling overhead year-round, accompanied by the musical sounds of the strolling Mariachi.
In 1941 with just three tables today, this famous restaurant seats 500 hungry locals and tourists looking for authentic Tex-Mex cuisine. Mi Tierra is truly a treat to all your senses – sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch.
Eating in a traditional and authentic Mexican restaurant such as Mi Tierra was a first for hubby and I. We turned to our accommodating waiter for suggestions as to what a first-timer should order. We weren’t disappointed.
Here are some of our waiter’s picks from the menu.
Botana Platter
An assortment of miniature Flautitas de Pollo, Cheese Quesadillas, and Chalupitas de Picadillo, served with Guacamole and Sour Cream
Steak & Enchilada
Rib Eye Steak Ranchero served with a Cheese Enchilada, Guacamole, Spanish Rice & Refried Beans.
Deluxe Mexican Dinner
Rib Eye Steak Ranchero, Cheese Enchilada, Crispy Beef Taco, Tamale, Guacamole, Spanish Rice & Refried Beans
No matter what you decide on getting (or if you get it all!), you’ll be sure to be feeling warm and happy with a full belly by the end of the night.
Read about Mi Tierra on TripAdvisor
Boudro’s on the Riverwalk Texas Bistro Guacamole Recipe
421 E Commerce
Located directly on the waterfront across the street from the Omni La Mansion del Rio is the upscale Boudro’s Texas Bistro. The restaurant is located right on the riverwalk so that you can enjoy your meal inside, outside near the riverwalk, or on a barge on the river itself! With its fantastic view, it’s the perfect spot for a romantic dinner for two and said to have the best guacamole on the riverwalk.
Boudro’s is most famous for its guacamole. They even provide the recipe on their website for those who enjoy it so much they want to try it for themselves at home. Here’s the recipe:
Yield: Serves 2
Boudro's on the Riverwalk Texas Bistro Guacamole Recipe
The famous guacamole is made table-side and is unique in that the avocado is left chunky as opposed to mashed smooth. What makes this guacamole especially delicious is the addition of orange juice.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Ingredients
- Juice of 1/4 of an orange
- Juice of 1/2 a lime
- 1 avocado seeded and scooped out of the skin
- 2 tbsp roasted and charred Roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 roasted Serrano pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 tbsp medium diced red onions
- 1 tsp chopped cilantro
- coarse ground salt to taste (sea salt is better)
Instructions
- Squeeze both the lime and orange juice into a bowl.
- Add avocado and coarsely chop.
- Add onions, roasted tomato, serrano and cilantro.
- Fold into avocado mixture.
- Add salt to taste.
Notes
Guacamole should look crudely cut, not mashed smooth.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 312Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 445mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 8gSugar: 32gProtein: 3g
Nutrition information isn't always accurate.
Read more reviews of Boudro’s on TripAdvisor.
Oh and here’s a great taco dip recipe since you already have the tortilla chips!
I hope you enjoyed this guacamole journey through San Antonio Texas!
Travel assistance is provided by Visit San Antonio and Texas Tourism. All opinions are entirely my own.
Looking for more Texas articles?
– El Paso Texas Travel Guide
– Homewood Suites by Hilton Houston Downtown Texas – Perfect for Work and Play
– Eating #DallasBig at The Rustic Dallas Texas
Mary Chong
Mary Chong is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A food and travel writer, and founder of Calculated Traveller, when not working as a freelance graphic designer, Mary is either travelling with her husband Ray or planning the next big adventure.
