CREPE CRUSADER

Booming San Antonio crepe and coffee shop to open 2 new area locations

Crepeccino is bringing its crepes to the Northwest Side and Cibolo.

San Antonio-born Crepeccino is stacking up two new locations of its popular coffee shop and creperie. As the cafe prepares to open its first Cibolo location, construction will begin on a third outpost at the new Portico at Shaenfield Ranch development, at 7807 W Loop 1604 N #201.

The suburban unit, at 857 Cibolo Valley Dr. #208, is wrapping up construction, but no official date has been announced yet. Crepeccino owner Bara Echlayal had previously teased the Northwest Side location without sharing a timeline or exact address. According to state regulation filings, planners are pinpointing a November completion.

Echlayal debuted the concept at 5500 Babcock Rd. #104 near Medical Center in 2018, serving delicate French pancakes garnished with caramel, chocolate, and fruit. COVID-era business disruptions allowed the restaurant to expand its kitchen and add savory crepes to the menu.

The broadened offerings now include everything from a ratatouille crepe slathered with eggplant, zucchini, and peppers, to a riff on the uber-popular Dubai chocolate trend. The cafe also serves gelato and breakfast and lunch favorites like huevos rancheros and chicken Diane.

Crepeccino has not released exact menu details on either store, but the kitchen team regularly cranks out specials like King Ranch chicken crepes. Both the Northwest Side and Cibolo locations likely will serve the full drink menu of frappes, espresso drinks, and teas.

The recently filed Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation project details say that the 4,323-square-foot Shaenfield Ranch location will be occupant-ready by November 11. Still, permitting and other factors can slow openings. CultureMap will keep readers in the loop of progress.

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TACO TALK

Popular San Antonio birria chain dips into Southtown for new location

Birria Barrio/ Facebook

Birria Barrio fourth location is now serving Southtown.

Cult San Antonio taqueria Birria Barrio is shaking up Southtown's dining scene. The Alamo City restaurant's fourth location is now open at 1203 S Alamo St., serving tacos, ramen, and quesadillas dipped in savory consommé.

Though it is difficult to imagine now, Birria Barrio was one of San Antonio's best-kept secrets when it started as a food truck in the summer of 2020. Though its namesake dish — a tender meat stew served in a flavorful broth — has become a social sensation through hybrids like quesabirria tacos — the initial buzz about the restaurant was spread through word of mouth.

Owners Sabrina Perez and husband Martin Bargas made the leap to brick-and-mortar in fall 2020, later following up with a South Side location in 2023. The latter — dubbed Birria Barrio y Mas, expanded the original menu. In addition to serving birria de res tacos, using beef instead of the traditional goat, the spot introduced other proteins like chorizo and lengua.

The Alamo Street location has been in the works since fall 2024, when signage first appeared on HUB MRKT's previous storefront. The bike shop had relocated to 1407 S St Mary's St. earlier that same year. The opening comes hot on the heels of the May debut of an outpost at 2403 Pinn Rd. near Lackland Air Force Base.

The restaurant has not released the menu online yet, although its popular quesabirria tacos will undoubtedly have a prominent spot. The Birria Barrio y Mas location introduced affordable margaritas and fusion dishes like fried Hot Cheetos balls and egg rolls.

It's unclear if the Southtown storefront will have any booze. A quick pan of the storefront announcing the grand opening showed vitroleros for aguas frescas but no bottles behind the counter. A TikTok video taken during the opening showed a frozen drink rimmed with Tajín but no beer in the cooler.

Whether promised cocktails or not, huge crowds gathered for the official debut. The spot offered free tacos for the first 50 guests, but guests lingered throughout the day.

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