MOVING ON UP

Acclaimed San Antonio carnitas truck parks at new River North brick and mortar

Carnitas Don Raúl is settling into a new brick and mortar.

Rendering courtesy of Carnitas Don Raúl

One of San Antonio’s most acclaimed food trucks is putting the wheels in motion for a brand-new brick and mortar. On June 13, Carnitas Don Raúl will settle into a permanent home at 325 W. Jones Ave. in the growing River North district.

Don Raúl Perez founded the eponymous concept in 1991 in Morelia, Michoacán, quickly gaining press in both his native Mexico and the United States. After chugging along for decades, the restaurant gained even more traction when it was featured in Netflix’s 2019 season of Taco Chronicles.

In 2019, daughter Michelle Perez and husband Martin Muńoz introduced it to San Antonio, briefly parking the trailer at 3303 Broadway before moving it to its current home at the Broadway News park in Midtown. The Alamo City outpost proved to be just as popular as the original. In 2023, it expanded to a second location at 16900 Blanco Rd.

According to a company rep, the eatery will continue serving Don Raúl’s signature meats by the pound, available in less-common cuts like tongue, ears, and stomach. The only new additions will be desserts like flan and arroz con leche and a bar focusing on agave spirits and Mexican beer.

Although the food will be largely the same, the vibe will be entirely different. Morelia architect Maria Guiza worked with local contractor Benny Costello of B&C Construction and design guru Frida Molina of Austin’s Magenta Studio to transform a former CrossFit studio into a comfortable contemporary space. Industrial neutrals are offset with a sea blue counter and warm yellow planters.

The owners will also take advantage of the sound system with curated music selections. The rep tells CultureMap that boleros and Mexican pop will wake guests up at breakfast while electro-cumbias and Mexican house will keep the space pumping after lunch.

Ahead of the opening, the couple plans to shutter the original trailer on June 9, keeping the second location operational. Once in full swing, the hours will be 10 am to 7 pm, Tuesdays through Sundays.

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Better Days, Same Burgers

Shuttered San Antonio burger joint stages surprising comeback

Teddy B's/Facebook

Teddy B's has made a surprise comeback.

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of Teddy B's life. In October, the popular burger joint shuttered its decade-old location on Babcock Road, grieving a loss of foot traffic and rising costs. On November 20, the spot revealed a plot twist. The owners are now slinging patties at 9903 Fredericksburg Rd.

"Dear Teddy B's customers, we have good news," the restaurant posted on social media. "We are back in business...We are waiting for our new sign, but we are up and running."

The unexpected comeback is the culmination of a tumultuous year for the business. As the restaurant marked its 10-year milestone this summer, the outlook was much darker. On August 4, the restaurant took to social media to warn that closure could be imminent. A traffic decline affected Teddy B's ability to maintain its affordable price point.

The messaging worked, at least in the short term. Days later, the restaurant reported an increase in business. The marketing language was hopeful until October 13, when the restaurant abruptly announced it was closing for good.

The news of Teddy B's rebirth came just as suddenly. After a month-long social media silence, the restaurant announced it had taken over the former home of Burger Haven. The latter restaurant was little known, appearing to operate mainly as a ghost kitchen.

Assumably, burgers will be back on the menu, but it is unclear whether other favorites will be eliminated to streamline the operation. The business has not posted any revisions, and its website is down at press time.

The burger joint's comeback manifests as other shuttered legacy restaurants like The Lion and Rose and Fratello's have staged their own returns. While Teddy B's has offered no reasoning for getting back into the game, it is a testament to the resiliency of San Antonio's culinary community.

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