By Lillian Ross, Paul Ramos, Laura de Leon and Nicole Henry

The South Side of San Antonio is rich in history. Everyone comes to see the Alamo, but what about Mission San José? It is one of five missions in town you may visit for free.

Mission San José is the largest of the five on the Mission Trail. It has undergone many restorations over the years, and it feels as if you are going back in time. Many San Antonio natives continue to celebrate weddings and quinceañeras in the chapel.

After you have toured the mission and built up an appetite, take a short trip down the road to Nicha’s Comida Mexicana. The restaurant is located at the corner of Roosevelt and East White.

The chips and salsa on the table invite your taste buds to try more festive flavors offered at this family-owned establishment. The menu will intrigue you with its extensive variety of meals. The waitress was welcoming and recommended we try the daily special.

“You cannot go wrong with anything you order here. It’s all good,” said Veronica.

The scenery in the restaurant is true to the Mexican roots of the South Side, with artwork of the Tower of the Americas, the city’s skyline and the famous arches of Mission San José.

With such an enticing menu, the inspiration for each of us to order different meals was no question. We wanted to get a taste of everything, and that we did! The smell of the food kept us in anticipation and ready to eat.

As the food arrived, the red, green and yellow colors of the meals made the plates pop.  We enjoyed the daily special, including two chicken gorditas for $7.29, a carne guisada lunch plate for $6.59, a ranchero enchilada lunch plate for $5.99, and a beef and chicken fajita plate for $9.99.  Each plate included beans, rice and a salad.

Our taste buds were in such delight because all the plates had a vivid flavor of authentic Tex-Mex food. You will not be disappointed if you eat at Nicha’s before or after a visit to Mission San José.

The mix will allow you to truly feel and experience the South Side of San Antonio. Nicha’s hours of operation are Mondays through Thursdays, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and closed on Sundays. Their phone number is (210) 922-3330.

Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at 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!