Mi Tierra Restaurant and Bakery: Part of a Great Night Out

Imagine this: you’re downtown, and it’s late. Maybe you just watched a Spurs game, or spent an evening on the Riverwalk, or experienced one of the other great things San Antonio has to offer. You’re hankering for some good Mexican food, but most restaurants are closed after midnight. What do you do? You go to Mi Tierra!

This authentic Mexican eatery, open 24/7, has been a San Antonio institution for over 50 years, and for good reason: the food and experience are uniquely San Antonian, and result in a fun and unforgettable meal. Better yet, it is located in the heart of Market Square, amongst tons of other great Mexican-themed restaurants and stores.

The first thing to catch your eye when you walk in the door is the large bakery that boasts a wide, delicious selection of various pastries. Even if you don’t want a full meal, stopping in for pan dulce and cinnamon-laced hot chocolate is highly enjoyable. The first thing to hit your ears, however, is the music! There are always musicians strolling around the large restaurant waiting to play an authentic Mexican ballad for you. The music, along with the loud, hearty chatter of the many other groups of friends and families enjoying the experience, creates a bright and exciting atmosphere that is immensely enjoyable as a part of your night on the town.

There is an expansive selection of Mexican meals to choose from at Mi Tierra, and the best options are the dinner plates. They give you a sample of much of what the restaurant has to offer, and are very filling and satisfying. The Special Mexican Dinner plate gives you a wide selection of food (a cheese enchilada, a crispy beef taco, chile con queso, Spanish rice and refried beans, to name a few) for a very reasonable price. And, as with many other Mexican restaurants in town, endless chips and salsa are supplied to satisfy your hunger! There is even a bar for those of you old enough to partake.

If you’re looking for a fun way to cap off your exciting night out downtown with friends, trying to find a sweet treat, or just looking to eat a ton of delicious Mexican food, Mi Tierra has it all in a traditional, always-open package!

Bombay Salsa Co.: Mexican-Indian Fusion!

Food trucks have had an incredible evolution of style and flair in the last decade, but when is the last time you've heard of a Mexican-Indian fusion truck?! Bombay Salsa Co. has been steadily building a fan base on the corner of 1604 and Chase Hill Blvd. by delivering hilariously delicious fusion tacos on a consistent basis. Every Thursday through Sunday the red food truck can be found posted in the CVS parking lot from 6:30pm until midnight, but you'll want to make sure to get there early to try their specials. They tend to be demolished by dark.

So I can only imagine how confusing Mexican-Indian fusion must sound, because I surely was when I was informed about its existence from a good buddy of mine. I grew up over seas in the UK, and my family was great friends with an Indian family so I am very much aware of the cuisine. I found myself saying “No way is this going to be something that works”, but alas, I was but a misguided young man! Saturday night and an empty stomach led me to venture out into unknown territory.

I pulled up, and noticed that there was no way someone could miss this truck. Strobe-lights on a bright red truck in the well lit parking lot drew me in like a moth to flame. The menu was full of terms I knew about, but made no sense. Vindaloo and Tandoori meats and sauces on Indian flat breads? The stoke was real. I initiated my usual strategy of asking the owner what exactly I should try and ended up with one Vindaloo taco, one Tandoori, and some Chai Tea for about $7.50. I was completely leveled at how good these tacos are in all honesty. Vindaloo is typically very, very hot but this did not make me turn into a fire breathing dragon. Probably for the best considering the idea behind the truck is already a bit odd, and they are trying to make people enjoy the food before showing them the true meaning of pain like a traditional Vindaloo. The Tandoori is a very flavorful taco, and is a great way to segway the idea of the fusion. If anything else, however, the festive Chai Tea was absolutely mind-blowingly good.

If you're looking to try something new for fun on a night out with friends, I implore you to dip your feet in these waters. Make sure to get their early for specials which include their Fish Tacos. Those things will test your faith in traditional tacos.

-David

https://www.facebook.com/BombaySalsaCo

https://twitter.com/BombaySalsaCo

Chela's Taco Truck

If you've spent any significant time in San Antonio, you know that the quality of the Mexican cuisine is through the roof. This is no exception with the local favorite “Chela's Tacos” food truck. The incredibly recognizable red truck has found it's way to serve authentic tacos to students in San Antonio for years now, and can now be found almost every day at the outdoor bar “The Block”.

As you walk up to the truck you are greeted like an old friend coming for a visit. The smells coming from inside the trailer makes you second guess yourself on what you want. I happened to have arrived when owner Marty Davis was in the cabin, so I went on ahead and asked him for his suggestion on what to get for the day. Mr. Davis seemed overjoyed by my inquiry and exclaimed about the Pastor (spit grilled meat similar to Shwarma) and the Lengua (Tongue). I took his suggestions and got one of both, along with my personal favorite, Carnitas Michoacan all for a grand total $8.50.

First up was the Lengua taco. The fresh tortilla magnified the smell of the spices a thousand times, and I was excited. The first fantastic bite was tender, bursting with flavor, and a bit smoky. Next up was the Al Pastor taco, and boy was I glad I took advice from the big man in charge. The meat was magnificently seasoned, slightly crispy, and my now rival my favorite (which I'd saved for last). Carnitas is slow cooked pork, and in my opinion the king of delicious street tacos. This opinion was reaffirmed after I'd gone back to the truck to get a second after I'd two-shotted the first. Phenomenal.

The food alone should be enough to have this dedicated truck be a high light of the student culture, but that isn't so. Chela's should be lauded for Mr. Davis' sheer determination to bring quality food to our area after being forced to relocate by the police. Davis was arrested in 2011 after the Texas Department of Transportation complained his original location on UTSA Blvd. Was in violation of safety regulations. That didn't stop him though, and his truck remains close to the hearts (and mouths) of many students.

-David

www.chelas-tacos.com

Dough Pizzeria Napoletana: Bring a Date

So that cute girl or guy in Spanish class finally succumbed to your pestering and agreed to go on a date with you, and you need to impress. Where do you go? There aren’t exactly many fancy places to eat around campus! Well, I’ve found just the spot you’re looking for.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to dine at Dough Pizzeria Napoletana, located just off of Loop 410 in San Antonio. This restaurant is so good, it was featured on the Food Network Channel show, “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives,” making it one of only 23 eateries in the city to be featured on a national television show!

Dough most definitely deserves this honor, too. The atmosphere, service, and, most importantly, the food are among some of the best I’ve had in San Antonio.

Immediately when you walk in the door, your senses are filled with the sounds and smells of an authentic Italian pizzeria. The scent of the fresh mozzarella that is the glorious centerpiece of the restaurant fills your nose, while the pleasant sounds of jazz music and light conversation fills your ears. The restaurant is not large by any stretch, but it does not at all feel cramped. All of the employees at Dough are polite, informed and eager to give you good service. They do an excellent job telling you about the restaurant’s specials, as well as their extensive wine collection (for those of age, of course). I was also informed that the pizzeria hosts live jazz performances every couple of weeks, which I definitely have to see! Overall, the atmosphere and the service are top-notch.

I made sure to order a dish featuring the famed homemade mozzarella, deciding on the “Fior Di Latte Burrata,” one of the dishes featured on television. This dish was honestly one of the best I’ve had in the city, or anywhere for that matter! Simply comprised of the marvelous mozzarella, deliciously bright tomatoes, a smooth basil pesto sauce, and crunchy flatbread to eat it all on, this dish is the perfect combination of Italian flavors without being too heavy, making it a great dish to share with your hot date! It is slightly pricy by college student standards, at $16, but it is absolutely worth the money if you’re willing to pay.

This incredible Italian eatery has taken a top spot on my list of places to go, and I hope you like it too. Whether it is with that date, or for any other occasion as well, Dough’s comfortable environment and immensely satisfying food will definitely keep you coming back for more!

-Brennan

Dreading the "Freshmen Fifteen" While at School? RoadRunner Cafe has the Answer!

Howdy Ya’ll,

It’s Welty again.  This post is all about the healthy individual who wants to lose a couple of pounds.  For all of you freshman out there at the University of Texas at San Antonio who are dreadfully scared of the “freshmen fifteen” should keep on reading this article! 

Currently, I’m in to health and fitness and am on a “cutting phase.”  Basically in lamens terms I’m cutting down on my carbohydrates and caloric intake to shed some additional fat.  By doing this you have to keep on a strict diet without any excess fats and carbohydrates.  I find that one of the major excuses that a college freshman has is that good, healthy food isn’t easily accessible.  That is certainly not the case here at the University of Texas at San Antonio.  I can personally attest, being a little weary of the cafeteria food at first, but the RoadRunner Café, located just in front of Chisolm hall here on campus has such a variety of options that you really can’t make an excuse up.  

For the past few days, I’ve consumed food from the salad bar section of the cafeteria.  Check it out right below:

    Here you can choose a base layer from spinach, lettuce, and mixed greens.  From there you can move onto the toppings with a variety of options such as:  tomatoes, green bell peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, among many others.  An issue that I find that usually arises is that an individual has a limited supply of salad dressing that is well . . . fattening to say the least.  But not with this selection at the RoadRunner Café, here you can choose from Honey Dijon Mustard, French, Ranch, Balsamic Vinaigrette, and the healthiest option just plain oil!  Then after you selected all of these toppings you think to yourself, “hmm… What about the protein, everybody needs protein!”  The folks at the RoadRunner Café have you covered!  Depending on the day you can get chicken from the grill already chopped up or diced eggs.  That’s all you’ll need to have a healthy dose of vitamins and protein to jumpstart that metabolism of yours!

Another problem that freshmen, among upperclassmen as well, bring up is the idea of empty calories from drink products.  Well, I can tell you that there is a variety of drink products at the café that will get your head spinning.  The café has your standard fountain drink machine with its basic coke products ranging from Sprite to Dr. Pepper.  Don’t worry, there are a TON of empty calories in soft drinks, the café has you covered with healthier solutions.  They have diet soft drinks that contain zero calories, as well as a ‘No Calorie – Brisk Iced Green Peach Tea’

To sum it up, after a few weeks of constantly choosing the salad bar option from the RoadRunner Café and watching what you drink you will not only be well-nourished but be healthy and stay FAR away from gaining those few extra pounds that the college student tries so hard to stay away from.  The RoadRunner Café gives you the chance to eat healthy, it just takes a little bit of will-power to do so.  

-Welty

Chinese Take-In

If you like eating Chinese and like the thought of having a menu different from any other Chinese place in San Antonio than you may want to try this place out.  Kim Wah is a small "ma and pa" style restaurant with a huge taste in food.  The restaurant is owned by a Chinese family who decided to bring some of their  homemade, authentic Chinese cuisine to San Antonio.  Kim Wah is not to far from the University of Texas at San Antonio make is accessible to the students and giving them an option to try authentic style cuisine for an acceptable price and to take a break from the ramen noodles.  Kim Wah is located off of Bandera road and interstate highway 410, making it close to UTSA so the students don't have to drive so far to eat delicious, cheap food.  Chinese food is one of the common foods university students tend to lean toward and if students are introduced to Kim Wah their experience with Chinese food will never be the same.

Kim Wah has a high range of authentic food to choose from off of their menus.  They have three separate menus including lunch, dinner, and authentic.  The choosing off of the menus is so big that you don't know what you want because everything sounds so good.  I personally like to order the sauteed baby bok choy, the sauteed beef flat noodles, or the walnut shrimp.  Those items barely  make a dent into the menu which includes many different foods to choose from.  The food items include appetizers, soups, chicken dishes, duck dishes, beef dishes, pork dishes, and many more.  All the main dishes have pictures included so you know how it looks like and if it appeals to you.   I think UTSA students would really enjoy this restaurant and type of authentic cuisine because it is cheap, close and the closest you can get to real Chinese food in San Antonio.  Kim Wah's food choices kind of make you feel like you are in China by how genuine the food is.

So finally, I am suggesting to you all to go out and try this wonderful place because it is worth trying and worth experiencing Chinese food like you never did before.  Its small size and huge menu with cheap prices is the perfect place for UTSA students, or any person for that matter, to go and try this restaurant.  If you would like to check out their menu or check out their location before actually going there go ahead and click the link below.
www.kimwah.com

www.kimwah.com