3 days in San Antonio... cheap eats (Austin, Spring: how much, restaurants, prices)

[NJ2?]

I also posted in the Austin forum and I'll post here as well that I'll be traveling around Texas for two weeks. 3 of those nights will be in San Antonio. We're have a tight budget for eating so we're looking for the best cheap eats the locals love. Our favorites are American, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Thai, and vegetarian. We don't want to go too heavy on the bbq or meats.

[mojosalsa]

If you like Tex-Mex, if you hit Chacho's during the day, prices are great. Especially lunch specials.

[L210]

For American, I recommend Candy's on S. Flores. They have some of the best burgers, fries, and onion rings I've ever tasted. For Thai, I like Bangkok 54 on Nacogdoches near 410. For Tex-Mex, I tend to go to the hole-in-the-wall places. My favorite for tacos is Caracheo's on MacArthur Way or whatever that street is called now. For something fast, I prefer Las Palapas over Taco Cabana.

[Sally_Sparrow]

I second the Chacho's for cheap and really decent Tex Mex. I prefer it to Taco Cabana and it's amazing how much food you get for the money. Makes me a little suspicious in fact but doesn't stop me from going.

It is in no way healthy food. I love their salsa, there's an avocado one and a cilantro one, both are good, their gorditas are really yummy (I like the fact that they use dark leafy lettuce instead of iceberg) and at $2 or $3, one fills me up. We can go to Chacho's and spend about $30 for our family of five (which includes two young men) and still have leftovers the next day.

I don't recommend going inside though. I won't do anything but drive thru. I am unable to handle the sensory overload (loud people, music, crowded), especially at night. Nothing like ordering a bunch of food, receiving it, getting all your salsa at the salsa bar and then walking around with a party of five unable to find ANY place to sit, while your food gets cold.

For Indian there is a good place in Stone Oak but I don't know if it will be convenient to whereever you are staying. It's India Taj Palace at 20323 Huebner Rd. Service was a little "weird" when we've been, not rude but not really friendly, but whatever, food is good.

Dangit, now I want samosas.

[L210]

Are you talking about the Chaco's on Perrin Beitel? That's not the safest place to be at night. They're supposed to have the best margarita in town.

[Penquin927]

OK if you have a smart phone I recommend downloading the app Happy Hours. It will tell you all the places around you that currently have happy hour going on and most of the places have food specials/apps that are also on discount. We have some great restaurants that have happy hour daily 4 - 7 pm. If you are wanting a full meal it may not work out but if you want to try different places with an appetizer and a drink go for it.

Wild Fish (seafood)
Piatti's (Italian)
Zinc (only m-f)
Drews
Luce (Italian)
Cover 3 - opens June 28
Lupe Tortilla (only m-f)
Kona Grill (only m-f)
Mortons (not Saturday)
Landrys
Leon Springs Grill
Perry's (only m-f)


A lot of these places have their HH menus on their websites. Drews has their pizzas which I like. Landry's has fish tacos.

tons more places around town.

[SabresFanInSA]

Originally Posted by L210

Are you talking about the Chaco's on Perrin Beitel? That's not the safest place to be at night. They're supposed to have the best margarita in town.

But there is the one on Bandera and the one on I10 and Callaghan.

[Sally_Sparrow]

^^ Yeah, I never go anywhere but the Callaghan one.

[NJ2?]

mmmm thank you for all of the delicious recommendations.

[Herbrocks]

3 days in SA but no bbq? I would eat Mexican all three days! If you do want to go local, I suggest trying some of the 100s of tiny independant corner places inside of loop 410, if you find somplace with menu items painted on the outside of the building, you are on the right track, even better is no English on the signage at all. Also great for your budget, most will be less expensive than any restaurant mentioned in this thread so far