Give SIRI the reins
I’ve lived in San Antonio since 1979, so I know my way around town; however, I have not fully explored all of San Antonio. It is, after all, the seventh largest city in America. Sometimes I let Siri guide me along a route I’ve not taken before, and that’s when the magic occurs.
I needed to drop off a present for a friend who lives in Government Hill, near where Interstate 35 intersects with 281, then head to the South Side. Instead of getting on the freeway, I asked Siri to take me on the back roads. That’s how I found Tony G’s Soul Food at 915 South Hackberry.
Hackberry Street
Our daughter performed countless times at the Carver Center on San Antonio’s East Side when she danced with the San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet, but Tony G’s is further down Hackberry than we traveled.
I’d heard of Tony G’s, but I’d never seen it or been inside. It won’t take me another 45 years to return!
Gray hair has its advantages
I ordered the Senior Southern Classic that came with a bottomless cup of coffee; two eggs any style; grits or homefried potatoes; bacon, sausage or ham; and a homemade biscuit or Texas toast for $8.95. Any place that has cheesy grits and biscuits on its menu is my kind of place.
Service was exceptional, the food was tasty, and I enjoyed watching the patrons at different tables enjoy each other’s company while enjoying their food. Tony G’s is definitely the kind of place to meet up with friends. I want to give their fried chicken a try for lunch. It looks amazing.
BONUS: El Folklor Bakery
I also spied El Folklor Bakery at 2604 South Hackberry while I was in the neighborhood. So of course, I had to pull in and sample their offerings, too. I was full from Tony G’s, so I brought a bag of pastries home, and my daughter and husband were happy that I did.
Don’t sleep on Tony G’s specials
Tony G’s is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Keep an eye on their specials! On Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, they will host a Jazz Brunch.
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!