TOP-TIER TACOS

Texas Monthly unveils 23 best taco spots in San Antonio

Anacacho was one of the newer spots to make it to Texas Monthly's best taquería list.

San Antonio’s taquerías are once again in the Texas spotlight. On January 7, Texas Monthly Taco Editor José R. Ralat unveiled his coveted list of the “23 Best Taco Spots” in Alamo City, his first major update to the area’s taco trail since he launched the “Ultimate Texas Tacopedia” in 2020.

The list reflects how much the restaurant scene has changed since the pandemic. Although the picks include classics like Maria’s Cafe and Henry’s Puffy Taco Express, many of the spots listed were not in existence when he published his earlier list.

Unlike the 2020 taco trail, the 2026 honor roll does not contain surprises like The Jerk Shack. Instead, it focuses on the wealth of taco styles at Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants.

“The River City is the cradle of Tex-Mex, and its myriad tacos — and residents’ obsession with them — reflect that fact,” writes Ralat in the introduction. “First and foremost, there are breakfast tacos, which are so beloved they routinely create squabbles between San Antonians and Austinites. Then there are barbacoa tacos, a dish so widely enjoyed that there’s an annual Barbacoa & Big Red Festival. Finally, puffy tacos, a local specialty, are the mascot of its minor league baseball team, the San Antonio Missions.”

The unranked roundup of top taco spots follows Ralat’s definitive October 2024 “50 Best Tacos in Texas,” which named specific dishes. San Antonio cleaned up on that list with 10 slots, only two of which did not reappear on the January bucket list. One of the top 50, San Taco, has since closed.

Texas Monthly’s full list of the 23 Best Taco Spots includes:

Anacacho
Burnt Bean Co.
Carnitas Don Raúl
Casa Tarasca
Con Huevos Tacos
Eddies Taco House
El Pastor Es Mi Señor
El Remedio
Garcia’s Mexican Food
Henry’s Puffy Taco Express
La Capital del Sabor
Los Weyes de la Asada
Maria’s Cafe
Mariscos del Puerto
Naco
San Peter Taquería
Ray’s Drive Inn
Ro-Ho Pork & Bread
Rosas Kitchen
Taquitos West Ave.
The Original Donut Shop
Tommy’s Restaurant
Viola’s Ventanas

rankings texas monthly tacos

OPENING ALERT

Dave's Hot Chicken spreads San Antonio wings with first Schertz eatery

Dave's Hot Chicken/ Facebook

The Schertz Dave's Hot Chicken is now open.

Uber-popular chain Dave’s Hot Chicken has spread its wings to Schertz. The booming franchise quietly debuted its third area restaurant in the new Schertz Station shopping center at 18476 IH-35 N. #500 during a “secret soft opening” on January 8.

The concept was originally opened as a parking lot pop-up in 2017 by classically trained chef Dave Kopushyan, an alum of Thomas Keller’s acclaimed Bouchon restaurant. Since then, Dave’s has mushroomed to multiple brick-and-mortar locations across the United States. The brand introduced itself to San Antonio in late 2022 with an outpost at 9602 Texas Hwy. 151 #108.

During that time, Dave’s has seduced an A-list roster of investors. The chain counts rapper Drake, actor Samuel L. Jackson, former NFL player and TV host Michael Strahan, former California First Lady Maria Shriver, producer and Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner, and R&B singer Usher among the stars who have put their money where their mouth is.

At least on paper, Dave’s offerings aren't much different from other spots following the still red-hot Nashville-style hot chicken trend. The restaurant serves halal chicken tenders and sandwiches at seven different spice levels, reaching a fiery peak at Reaper, which requires customers to sign a waiver. The menu also includes sides like cheese fries, kale slaw, and mac & cheese. Milkshakes — available plain or with Fruity Pebbles or Oreo toppers — help keep the burn at bay.

Like its sibling locations, the Schertz Dave’s is decorated with a graffiti mural from Los Angeles-based art collective Splatter Haus. The custom piece has plenty of nods to its hometown with a Spurs basketball and a wink to the “Battle of 3009” Clemens and Steele High School rivalry.

Dave’s has yet to update the location's hours on its website, but its Google Business profile says it is open 11 am-10 pm, Sunday through Thursday, and 11 am- 11 pm, Friday and Saturday.

Still to come at the buzzy Schertz Station development are three other rapidly growing chains: Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, CAVA, and the first San Antonio area location of Chicago’s beloved Portillo’s.

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