Taco Taco: Myth or Masterpiece?

San Antonio has a few merits to its name that make it an interesting city to live in, such as our team the San Antonio Spurs. Perhaps equally as famous and a whole lot more consistent is the infamous Taco Taco.

The place is small, often crowded, and it closes at 2 p.m. Despite things that might make this quaint establishment undesirable, it is heralded for having some of the best tacos ever. Yes, as in ever ever.

I'll be succinct.

I was nothing less than overjoyed to finally get to eat at Taco Taco, and when I arrived I was surprised at just how small and modest the place had remained, no doubt to hold on to some amount of "authenticity". The place was packed as is probably usual, and the service was apathetic at best. But lets get down to the nitty gritty: the tacos.

I was honestly wholly unimpressed with my tacos. Maybe it was just the kind I got, maybe it was just a bad day for them or me. I can't say for sure, all I can say was that the tacos I received were lacking in flavor and personality. The composition was unique for sure, but nothing about these tacos impressed me as much as I had hoped. I must have gotten my hopes up to high, but in any case Taco Taco failed to impress.

But, if you have the time to meet Taco Taco's narrow window of operation, it's not bad to say the least. In the end it's just my opinion you're reading, and the numerous amounts of people who enjoy and defend Taco Taco can't be wholly wrong.

I'll give Taco Taco a 6/10

145 E. Hildebrand - San Antonio, Texas 78212
(210) 822.9533

Panchitos

If you don't already know, I'm a huge Mexican food snob. I grew up literally within 5 minutes of Mexico and am well versed to the food, and I have sadly discovered that it gets exponentially worse as you move away from the border.

For this reason, I've come to not expect much of Mexican food here in San Antonio, as it generally lacks spice, body, and authenticity.

Panchitos on McCullough, however, doesn't do a bad job. The service is fast enough but not much to speak of, the menu has all the staples and basics of this area of cuisine as well as some dishes from further south in Mexico which surprised and impressed me.

I ordered a standard combination plate to survey the restaurant. The enchiladas were basic but good, with a heavy cheese and meat sauce on top but the taco was altogether forgettable. The salsa was a highlight and had some deep, smokey tones to it but suffered from what much of mexican food does farther north: a general lack of spice. Restaurants sacrifice a lot when they mild everything to please the general population.

Overall I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking to spend an hour talking and enjoying decent food. The price tag won't make you cringe, it has a generally friendly atmosphere, and it at least doesn't massacre Mexican food like so many other places do, and that is worth the recommendation alone.

Panchitos: 7/10

Panchitos
4100 McCullough, San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 821-5338

For those about to eat, I salute you.

To clarify the blog description further, I'm going to try to cover some places reasonably close to campus that offer a good time and good food for hopefully reasonable money, but keep in mind that my emphasis will be on good food, and I assure you the time and money will be well spent.


For my first recommendation, and probably strongest, I present to you GBG, or the Gourmet Burger Grill. A delightful place where burgers are plentiful and, for what you get, surprisingly cheap. A ten-to-fifteen minute drive from campus will lead you to this masterful menu where happiness tastes a lot like sourgdough buns.

The menu is extensive and beautifully customizable, with many healthy alternatives offered, but you shouldn't go here for health food. With your standard options like bacon cheeseburgers, more rare selections such as bison or kobe beef, and daily specials that not only offer great value but some delicious and exotic tastes, there's something to please anyone. The onion rings are simply immaculate, and I personally imposition you to try their sweet potato fries, a infallible compliment to any meal.

The store is clean and atmospheric, the service is expedient and the workers try their best to feign personal interest but it's at least unobtrusive and does little to take away from the experience.

With burgers ranging from $6 to $12 to begin with (although I've customized one up to $20, I love cheese), it's a value that shouldn't be missed.

Best burgers I've had in San Antonio, period.

10/10

http://sanantonio.citysearch.com/profile/45633736/san_antonio_tx/gourmet_burger_grill.html