City: San Antonio, TX

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (210) 225-6718

Address: 430 E. Commerce St.

Insider Pick:

Description: For more than 60 years, this restaurant has been best known as a tourist stop catering to folks eager to try some traditional Tex-­Mex right on the banks of the river. But, hey, what’s wrong with being popular with the tourist trade? Sure, your fellow diners may say “jal-­a-peeno” instead of “hal-­a-pen-­yo” or (shudder) “fa-­ji-­tas” instead of “fa-­hee-­tas,” but even diners brand-­new to Tex-­Mex soon learn what tastes good. There’s a real reason behind Casa Rio’s long-­running popularity—the food. The green enchiladas with chicken and cheese are especially tasty, both served with sides of good ol’ cholesterol-­laden beans, rice, chips, and tortillas.The choicest tables at Casa Rio are at riverside, and you may have to wait awhile for one of these seats. It’s worth the wait. With tables right on the edge of the river (many of the River Walk restaurants are located about 10 feet from the water’s edge), you’ll have an unbeatable view of the action up and down the river. This restaurant dates back to 1946, when it was built by Alfred F. Beyer on land first granted title in 1777 by the King of Spain. A hacienda was built here during the city’s Spanish colonial period, and today it remains the core of the restaurant; cedar doors, cedar window lintels, a fireplace, and thick limestone walls are evidence of that early dwelling.This restaurant was the first business in San Antonio to take advantage of its setting on the River Walk. The owner used canoes, gondolas, and paddleboats, which eventually evolved into tours and dinner boats, San Antonio’s first river cruises.Even the menu is historic. The Regular Plate—a combo that includes a cheese enchilada, tamale, chili con carne, rice, and beans—was introduced in San Antonio in the 1800s and has been appearing on Casa Rio’s menu since 1946. Today it’s joined by the Deluxe Dinner, which adds a crispy beef taco and guacamole to the mix. Lighter eaters might prefer the El Rio, a plate with one cheese enchilada, one taco, guacamole, chili con carne, rice, and beans. On cooler days,tortilla soup, a combination of poblano peppers, corn, tomatoes, and chicken, is a flavorful choice. Any time of year, the Casarita, a 20-ounce margarita, is a popular drink. Casa Rio is open for lunch and dinner daily.