Sixty-three years young
When a friend from Kiel, Germany, came for a visit, we took him to Garcia’s Mexican Food at 842 Fredericksburg Road at Craig so he would experience an authentic taste of San Antonio’s best Tex-Mex.
Founded in 1962, Garcia’s has been on my radar since the early ’80s. In fact, I wrote about it for Trinity University’s Trinitonian newspaper in the Spring of 1983.
No breaking the bank
Since then, not much has changed at Garcia’s besides their prices, and they are still super reasonable. On our most recent visit for my husband’s birthday, we both had their #5 Mexican Dinner (two enchiladas with gravy, rice, refried beans and corn tortillas) for $7.49.
List major leaguer
Garcia’s was recently ranked as one of the Top 10 places to order cheese enchiladas in San Antonio by Express-News’ food journalist Paul Stephen, and Mike Sutter, the Express-News’ restaurant critic, consistently lists Garcia’s as one of San Antonio’s best restaurants.
Friendly staff
Aside from their delicious food, their waitstaff is also superb. When we visited with our German friend, our server asked if I were the author of the book about San Antonio. I answered in the affirmative, and she said, “You’re a legend!”
I turned to my husband of 33 years and said, “Oooh! I’m going to be hard to live with after that.”
He replied, “Har-DER!”
Legendary
Needless to say, I was pleased to learn that this young person was using my book to get out an explore San Antonio. (And, yes, Garcia’s is listed in my book, San Antonio’s Passport to Fun! Just so you know, I listed it BEFORE her sweet compliment that I’m now considering for placement on my tombstone.)
Everyone loves Garcia’s
While we were waiting on our food, I dashed outside to take photos of Garcia’s. Rosie Castro, longtime civil rights activist and mother of Joaquin and Julián Castro, was on her way inside to pick up some of Garcia’s famous brisket to go. She said that she loves Garcia’s.
Our daughter ordered two bean and cheese tacos and one bacon, bean and cheese taco, all on flour. It was her first visit to Garcia’s, but I know it won’t be her last!
Garcia’s is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. They are closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June 2010. Follow facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been her home ever since. Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to curate a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!
