Food news

6 things to know in San Antonio food now: Smokin' taco chain opens in Medical Center

There's a new Torchy's in town.

Editor's note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of San Antonio's restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news.

Openings

Because San Antonio (and indeed any city) can never have enough taco options, Austin’s ever-expanding chain Torchy’s Tacos has (finally) sizzled its way into Medical Center. The chain’s fourth Alamo City location brings with it such “Damn Good” taco options as the Trashy Trailer Park and Baja shrimp, plus freshly squeezed, hand-shaken margaritas perhaps best enjoyed on the new location’s patio. To celebrate Torchy’s 84th location nationwide, the outpost is offering several lucky guests the chance for a $100 “Taco Money” gift card, which local foodies can enter to win by scanning a unique QR code inside the new restaurant at 8435 Wurzbach Rd. Torchy’s Tacos at the Medical Center is currently open 8 am – 9 pm, Monday through Friday; 9 am – 10 pm, Saturday; and 9 am – 9 pm, Sunday.

Something (deliciously) fishy is popping up near San Antonio International Airport. Bill Miller’s Laguna Madre’s, the family-style seafood outpost and cousin of Bill Miller’s Bar-B-Q, took to Instagram Monday to announce it’s bringing Laguna Madre’s signature shrimp gumbos, crab cakes, and fried cod baskets to a new location (the company’s sixth overall) at 1227 N E Loop 410. While the official opening date has yet to be announced, Bill Miller fans can bide their time by celebrating the franchise’s beloved sweet ice menu item, whose triumphant return was similarly announced via Instagram on Tuesday, February 24.

Other news and notes

Did the general state of the world prevent you from enjoying National Margarita Day? (It was last Monday, by the way.) No matter! Thanks to one area restaurant unafraid to fight for our right to party, margarita day is now margarita week. San Antonians can enjoy discounted daily drink specials and exciting events from now until Sunday, February 28, at Costa Pacifica. Available in such mouthwatering flavors as chamoy, mango, strawberry and cucumber, this Northside eatery’s half-price cantarito margaritas are best when paired with smokey Mezcalitas.

Californians may be moving to our dear state in droves, but at least they’re bringing some serious cocktail knowledge with them. Now available on San Antonio shelves is Live Wire Drinks, a new canned cocktail line from seasoned LA bartender Aaron Polsky. These cocktails are crafted alongside veteran mixologists and are launching the Honeydew Collins (an electrifying mix of gin, honeydew, and elderflower). Live Wire’s Honeydew Collins is on sale in select area specialty shops, through the third-party alcohol delivery app Drizly, or online. The company's citrus-forward Heartbreaker and rye-whiskey-tinged Golden God should arrive on Alamo City shelves by February’s end

There’s still time to get in on one of San Antonio’s tastiest weeks of the year — and for a good cause. Black Restaurant Week San Antonio runs from now until Sunday, February 28. Founded in 2018 to spotlight Black-owned businesses in the city, the event includes more than 30 local restaurants adding BRWSA-exclusive specials to their menu, including the Calypso sauce smothered salt fish fritter from The Jerk Shack and a brown sauce-braised oxtail dish from Little Jamaica Foods Bar and Grill. Additionally, NBA superstar Tim Duncan’s eponymous nonprofit, the Tim Duncan Foundation, and Spurs Give are matching $1 from the sale of each featured menu item. A full list of specials and participating restaurants can be found on Black Restaurant Weeks’s website.

After a brutal week of subzero temperatures, power outages, and no water, local food-centric organizations are still in need of donations. Here are four worthy nonprofits in need of support:

Para Mi Gente is in need of donations to continue its mission of providing food relief and emergency supplies to at-risk communities. Donations can be made via CashApp and Venmo, both at @pmgmutualaid.
Ever dollar donated to San Antonio Food Bank equals seven meals provided to those in need. Monetary donations can be made securely online at safoodbank.org/donate, while those seeking to donate time can find volunteer opportunities here. Additionally, all San Antonio area Goodwill stores and donation centers have a red SA Food Bank barrel for donating non-perishable food items.
Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association is seeking financial donations via GoFundMe to help thousands of small, sustainable family farmers and ranchers in Texas who are experiencing a massive loss of crops and/or severely crippled infrastructure.
An ongoing shortage of blood donations to the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center has only been heightened as a result of recent events. Interested parties can register for blood and platelet donation appointments at SouthTexasBlood.org or by calling 210-731-5590.

news-you-can-eat charity openings

BREW BLUES

Acclaimed brewery taps out of San Antonio after 11 years

Busted Sandal Brewing Company/Facebook

Busted Sandal is closing all three of its locations.

Nationwide, the gusty tradewinds of the craft brewing industry have capsized several industry leaders. In San Antonio, it has been a hurricane. Less than a month after revered beermaker Weathered Souls shuttered, Busted Sandal Brewing has written its own epitaph. The closure affects all three locations.

The team shared the news in an October 2 social media post. Although the statement didn’t dig deeply into the reasoning, it cited economic pressures, including its customers' ability to pay for “housing, food, and day-to-day life.”

“We do not close Busted Sandal with immense regret, but rather with a great sense of pride, holding our heads high knowing we made great beer and created a fun place for our Sandal family,” wrote a representative.

Busted Sandal opened its first outpost in San Antonio in 2013, largely committed to lighter beer styles like Mexican lagers and hefeweizens. In early 2020, the company expanded to a beer garden in Helotes. Its newest location in Kerrville has only been open since July 2023.

The economy had undoubtedly been unfriendly to breweries. According to a 2023 study by the national trade group Brewer’s Association, the industry has been burdened by rising costs in almost every production area. At the same time, climate change has reduced crop yields, and changes in drinking preferences have damaged sales.

The market forces are definitely felt in the Alamo City area. In addition to Weathered Souls’ passing, Barrelman Brewing Co., Boerne Brewery, Kinematic Brewing Co., and Second Pitch Beer Co. have all shuttered in recent months. Alamo Beer owner Eugene Simor has placed his East Side property for sale, and Black Laboratory has traded beer for seltzers.

The last day of business for Busted Sandal’s San Antonio location will be October 12, followed by November 3 and 10 for Helotes and Kerrville, respectively.

closings craft beer beer