Just moved to San Antonio via San Diego (Dallas, Post: live in, club)

[EdgarAllanPogi]

Originally Posted by MichelleSG

We are native San Diegans also and miss Robertos something awful. You are not going to find it here. They cover every thing in 'brown sauce' or 'gravy' rather than red sauce and there's no shredded beef only ground. We are used to Baja mex, you get Tex mex here. You can't even get Baja mex in Northern Cali so you are essentially looking for something very regional. The closest you can get to rolled tacos with guacamole is beef flautas and they use ground beef. Fair warning, you're not going to like the brown sauce. I have been able to find the chili verde sauce over enchiladas at a little place called Aguacalientes. Take 1604 west to the Babcock exit go along the access road west for maybe half a block and it's on your right, you can't miss it. If you end up finding some semblence of Baja mex let us know.

Ozzy it's not a matter of narrow mindedness, it's a real love of Baja mex. I don't think I'll ever enjoy the gravy they drown mexican food in here, it just doesn't taste good to us.

Hello my ex-fellow San Diegan! I came from Rancho Penasquitos.

Thanks for the heads up! However, I'll keep looking for it because I'm craving for it big time!

I was up in the bay area on Thanksgiving and there were quite a few taco shops that had baja mex. So I think it's migrating up north now.

[OzzyRules]

I would also recommend Chuy's on 281 and Henderson Pass.

But you are not going to find any fast food places in SA that serve these kinds of foods.

[Sampaguita]

Tex-Mex and CA-Mex are quite different - each has its merits. When I first moved out here, I missed Tex-Mex...but I know when/if we move to SA, I'll be missing the likes of Porkyland (delicious carnitas) and the drive-thru taquerias in our area.

[MichelleSG]

I lived in Nor Cal in the early 90's, I'm glad they've expanded their palates to include Baja Mex. Back in the day you couldn't get a burrito that was less than 50% rice. To me a bean and cheese burrito consisted of beans and cheese, call me a purist.
The brown gravy or chili sauce stuff is mostly served on enchiladas and some carne asade. I've just started asking before I order something and then ask for the item without it. I have yet to find the red enchilada sauce that is most commonly used on enchiladas in Baja Mex. If anyone knows of some place that has it let me know! Or shredded beef, I've never been a fan of ground beef.

[210]

For anyone looking for shredded beef at a restaurant just ask for asada.

[Tumbleweeds]

Originally Posted by OzzyRules

You're not going to get any real help with this kind of attitude. There's nothing worse than an outsider who has trouble adjusting to new places different from his own narrow environment. Haven't you ever heard the phrase, "When in Rome do as the Romans do."

Some people need get out more.

Expand your horizons.

There are McDonald's in Italy, and some Romans frequent there, along with Americans. When Romans come here, they may even visit Johnny Corino's. In other words, there's nothing wrong with trying to find a taste of where you came from. The fact m95roadster came here from CA makes it obvious they "get out", and have expanded their horizons (at least a little )

m95roadster - you should give Chacho's a try.

[21bl0wed]

This is Texas, near Mexico so you will get TEXMEX food. In california you will get CALIMEX or whatever you want to call it. Good luck with your search in foreign land trying to find foods like your native lands! I recommend chipotle or freebird burritos Isn't that all california/mex food is...burritos? lol my apoligies. But seriously it will be hard to find regional food from where you are from in a different region.

[catriona]

Welcome to SA!

LOL -- our Mexican food isn't the same as the CA food! My nephew came out when he was about 7 yrs old and tried some Tex-Mex food. Well, he was used to the beans being black beans and when he saw the refried beans, he announced to the entire restaurant, "EEEEWWWWEEE!! WHAT'S THAT??" Needless to say, his mom was sooo embarassed. We were too, but laughed it off.

As for restaurants, have you tried Chipolte? They have the black beans and corn salsas that I remember eating in San Diego. Oh, and I love the shredded pork.

La Rosita on NW Military has some good dishes that aren't covered in those brown/red sauces that so many of us don't like. (You can ask them to leave it off the dish.)

Los Barrios has two locations, one on Blanco and the other off Redland Road/1604. Some of their food is not quite so Tex/Mex.

You may have to do a restaurant search to see if you can find any places that have the CA Mexican food cuisine. Better yet, see if you can find your favorite recipies online and cook them yourself! I think I saw some cooking classes at Central Market that were not traditional Tex/Mex cooking. The school districts may offer classes in their catalogs, too.

I didn't care for the "Mexican" food in CA when we were there, preferring instead the Tex/Mex dishes from here. I can sympathize with you, though. I don't know what I'd do if we ever moved away from here, because I would really, really, really miss the Tex/Mex cuisine!

[OzzyRules]

Some people are more open-minded. I've known Californians who moved here and loved Tex Mex more than anything they'd had.

[shannon94]

Originally Posted by m95roadster

Hello everyone,

I just moved to SA last month from San Diego. I am really missing Roberto's and Alberto's mexican food (San Diego transplants will know what I'm talking about). I can't seem to find fast food type mexican restaurants over here that are similar. The mexican food in SA are of the tex-mex variety and to me is kind of like eating at Taco Bell. I'm really craving for a carne asada burrito, carne asada chips and shredded beef tacos and (not ground beef with taco bell shells). If anyone knows of a place, please let me know!

BTW, I am in the north central area.

Thanks!

This made me laugh...I feel your pain!! I have been in the Dallas Ft. Worth area for almost 8 years now and still havent found anything like Alberto's etc. (I'm from San Diego) The first year we lived here I was craving it so bad my friend brought me all the fixings for a carne asada burrito from La Posta in Hillcrest (my fave spot) in a little cooler on the plane when she came to visit. She looked like she was carring an organ for donation..lol. My husband was just back in San Diego on business and called to brag that he had eaten there two times in one day!! It's definately our first meal when we go home to visit.
The tex mex will grow on you ...I didn't like it at first either. Let me know if you find something though!!