Visiting San Antonio TX

selmarichard

I'm going to visit my granddaughter at Laughlin Air Force Base. I am staying in the San Antonio area. I will be there a week and I'm looking for great BBQ ribs.

Any recommendations? Thank you for your help, Richard 

 

cazzy

Ribs, not brisket...right?  How far are you willing to drive?

My favorite in town spot is called The Smoke Shack...good ribs.  They have a trailer off of Nacogdoches and 410 and just opened a B&M across from the Witte Museum.  

The best BBQ you'll ever have in your life is a lil over an hour away in Austin.  Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing compares in San Antonio.  @Mickey would tell ya to look for Mexican food in San Antonio.

Carolina Q

Umm, Laughlin is 150 miles from SA! Did you mean Lackland AFB?

Foghorn

If driving to Austin is out of the question, some other places in San Antonio include The Granary (lunch only), The County Line (if you are particluarly looking for beef ribs), Augie's Barbed Wire Smokehouse (located next to the zoo), Rudy's (it's a chain at this point but they consistently put out good solid meat, especially if you like the point of a brisket which is listed on their menu as "lean brisket"), and Two Brothers (their chicken is particularly good). 

None of these places is going to match Franklin's in Austin, but they are pretty solid.

@cazzy is right about the Mexican food.  The only Mexican food in town that I don't love is served on the Riverwalk - so get it anywhere else and you'll be in good shape.

cazzy

Foghorn said:

If driving to Austin is out of the question, some other places in San Antonio include The Granary (lunch only), The County Line (if you are particluarly looking for beef ribs), Augie's Barbed Wire Smokehouse (located next to the zoo), Rudy's (it's a chain at this point but they consistently put our good solid meat, especially if you like the point of a brisket which is listed on their menu as "lean brisket"), and Two Brothers (their chicken is particularly good). 

None of these places is going to match Franklin's in Austin, but they are pretty solid.

@cazzy is right about the Mexican food.  The only Mexican food in town that I don't love is served on the Riverwalk - so get it anywhere else and you'll be in good shape.

OMG...I hate Two Brothers. Horrible Q and a huge let down for being on the Top 50.

Foghorn

I haven't been there for a while (over a year... maybe two) but when I was there, I thought the chicken was the best I've had.  The rest was nothing special.  I gave them the benefit of the doubt on the other stuff based on their reputation.... so @selmarichard, if in doubt, go with cazzy's recommendation.

cazzy

Foghorn said:

I haven't been there for a while (over a year... maybe two) but when I was there, I thought the chicken was the best I've had.  The rest was nothing special.  I gave them the benefit of the doubt on the other stuff based on their reputation.... so @selmarichard, if in doubt, go with cazzy's recommendation.

If I ever go back...I'll try their chicken. Their cherry glazed rib wasn't horrible either.

You know I'm a brisket man and it was a huge disappointment. The pickles are the best thing there...and they're free. Lol

cazzy

They probably were better early on when they had something to prove. Consistency appears to be their problem. I wrote a yelp review for them...that's how disappointed I was.

biggus22

Rudy's BBQ - There is one in Selma on I-35 on the way to Austin and another one out on I-10 on the NW side of town.  It's pretty legit, and attached to a gas station in both cases.

If you're feeling touristy you can do County Line on the Riverwalk but Rudy's is the real deal.  @cazzy is spot on about Austin - Doesn't get much better than Franklin's and a couple of other spots up there, but Rudy's is def. good.

http://www.rudysbbq.com/page/locations/find/San Antonio

selmaswede

Yes your right, it is Lackland.  Thanks for setting me straight.  Good thing I'm not going by myself.

selmaswede

No, going to Austin is not out of the question, especially if it's really good BBQ.

Carolina Q

LOL, I didn't even know there WAS a Laughland! Spent some time at Lackland though.

Foghorn

cazzy said:

They probably were better early on when they had something to prove. Consistency appears to be their problem. I wrote a yelp review for them...that's how disappointed I was.

Yeah, I suspect that Jason Dady was more involved early on...

Have any of you been to Two Step? It apparently got some awards in the local newspaper popularity vote, but I wasn't impressed the one time I went there.  It was "fine" and good enough to stop by when you are near, but I don't see myself making a special trip for it.

cazzy

selmaswede said:

No, going to Austin is not out of the question, especially if it's really good BBQ.

It's that good.  It will be the best BBQ you've had in your life.  How much time will you have on your hands and when is your free time.  Hopefully it's in the AM.

cazzy

Wait huh?  Are you @selmaswede or @selmarichard ?   :P

 

Where are you from?

ElCapitan

Beef ribs at Cooper's in New Braunfels are great.

selmaswede

Just to be clear, we are from Selma CA. Never been to Texas. Didn't even know there was a Selma in Texas.   So.....what is the name of the place in Austin? 

selmaswede

Sorry, I'm Richard's wife.  I can type faster than him so I'm just trying to help him out.  Should have gotten on his computer.

EggObsessed

I think the point of the brisket at Rudy's is called MOIST, and the flat is called LEAN.  At least that's how it is at other places, and we do get the moist at Rudy's and it appears to be the point.

cazzy

selmaswede said:

Sorry, I'm Richard's wife.  I can type faster than him so I'm just trying to help him out.  Should have gotten on his computer.

Oh...that makes more sense. Lol

cazzy

selmaswede said:

Just to be clear, we are from Selma CA. Never been to Texas. Didn't even know there was a Selma in Texas.   So.....what is the name of the place in Austin? 

The best is Franklin Barbecue, but you're looking at a 3 hour wait Tuesday through Thursday. If you have the time...it's a must do and is totally worth it. If you don't have that type of time, hit up La Barbecue. It's about a 30 minute wait during the week.

Foghorn

EggObsessed said:

I think the point of the brisket at Rudy's is called MOIST, and the flat is called LEAN.  At least that's how it is at other places, and we do get the moist at Rudy's and it appears to be the point.

You are correct. My mistake.

cazzy

I heard someone saying a while back to order "super moist" from Rudy's. I don't go there often though so I don't have any personal experience.

Mickey

In San Antonio you should think Tex-Mex. just did Calf from LA Thur the North State Coast line. Tex-Mex is different than what you have.

SaltySam

I spent a year in San Antonio from 2002-2003. Best year of my life. Rudy's BBQ has gone downhill from what I've heard but I'm sure it's still pretty decent. If you end up near Randolph in Universal City, there is a dumpy little breakfast taco place called Taco Sensations right outside the gate, off of Pat Booker Rd. They have about 50 different burrito combinations, each around $1.50. Well...in 2003 they were.

Doubtful you make it up there, but rest assured you will eat well. San Antonio is Tex Mex heaven!

QDude

Cazzy steered me to a great Mexican restaurant about a mile from downtown..  I can't remember the name though.  The locals ate there and it was cheap.

cazzy

QDude said:

Cazzy steered me to a great Mexican restaurant about a mile from downtown..  I can't remember the name though.  The locals ate there and it was cheap.

Taco Taco brother!  

Mickey

San Antonio Eats:::: Rosarios on St Mary's http://www.yelp.com/biz/rosarios-mexican-cafe-y-cantina-san-antonio, http://www.mitierracafe.com/home.php Mi Tierra's. The owners have another Tex Mex restaurant, not far from Mi Tierra's that caters more to the locals. It's called Pico de Gallo's. Same great food as Mi Tierras. , Alamo Cafe, Taco Taco, Jacala's on West Ave , La Fonda on Main, Breakfast - Magnolia Pancake Haus.

Texansurf

Mickey said:

San Antonio Eats:::: Rosarios on St Mary's http://www.yelp.com/biz/rosarios-mexican-cafe-y-cantina-san-antonio, http://www.mitierracafe.com/home.php Mi Tierra's. The owners have another Tex Mex restaurant, not far from Mi Tierra's that caters more to the locals. It's called Pico de Gallo's. Same great food as Mi Tierras. , Alamo Cafe, Taco Taco, Jacala's on West Ave , La Fonda on Main, Breakfast - Magnolia

Well I see you listed all the tourist places.
For some good BBQ try Bun-N-Barrel on Austin Highway, Rudy’s in Leon Springs (the Original) and the Smoke Shack.
For Tex-Mex La Fogata’s ,
Trendier La Tuna, New Liberty Bar.

warwoman

Texansurf said:

Mickey said:

San Antonio Eats:::: Rosarios on St Mary's http://www.yelp.com/biz/rosarios-mexican-cafe-y-cantina-san-antonio, http://www.mitierracafe.com/home.php Mi Tierra's. The owners have another Tex Mex restaurant, not far from Mi Tierra's that caters more to the locals. It's called Pico de Gallo's. Same great food as Mi Tierras. , Alamo Cafe, Taco Taco, Jacala's on West Ave , La Fonda on Main, Breakfast - Magnolia

Well I see you listed all the tourist places.
For some good BBQ try Bun-N-Barrel on Austin Highway, Rudy’s in Leon Springs (the Original) and the Smoke Shack.
For Tex-Mex La Fogata’s ,
Trendier La Tuna, New Liberty Bar.

 

Agree with all the selections. "The Bun" was our date night eatery inthe 60's.

I wish Karam's was still open;superb Tex Mex ! Also try the "Mexican Manhattan" for Tex Mex the locals eat (Downtown). If memory serves, I believe the Karam family, or part of it, bought the "Mex-Man" when the original Karams closed.

For steak, try Bill Tassos "The Barn Door", off N. New Braunfels St.

 

While you're there, be sure to go to the Old Pearl Brewery on Broadway, and try to go on a weekend. Neat place, with a pretty good farmers market.

 

If you're there now, you are right smack dab in the middle of Fiesta!!! Go to NIOSA (Night in Old San Antonio), and drink beer, drink beer, crack a cascaron on somebody's head (filled with confetti). Stick around Friday for the Battle of Flowers Parade, and then Saturday night for the Fiesta Flambeau parade.

Supercilious_In_5280

my two cents while living there: bohannans still my favorite steak place biga on the bank great place cappy's was one of our favorites alamo cafe has the best tortillas q? i still love rudy's