no, pun intended

No offense, but you just said cherry glazed ribs while implying your BBQ acumen

Fattboys is my latest find. It is a great burger. It is the most "homestyle" of any burgers I've had in SA. You've got to try this one.

Bracken Cafe (thick) and Bobby Js (flat, texas burger) are also great.

Lord's kitchen hits for some, and not others. It is a loose grind that is focused on crust more than the meat. I like it, but it isn't for everyone. The burgers listed above are nothing like Lord's.

Everything you need to know about BBQ
http://fcg-bbq.blogspot.com/

This is actually a forum, but it's the best people to learn from in Dallas.
http://dallasfood.org/forums/

Robb Walsh, godfather of Texas foodwriting
http://robbwalsh.com/

http://foodwaystexas.com/

This may prove invaluable. Also, I wouldn't knock a chain. I remember Black Eyed Pea's being pretty solid.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/841231 This has a good listing.

I'm not aware of any can't miss doughnut down here. I know there's a gordough's in Austin does donuts people rave about, but I've never been.

For a can't miss, hmmm... I am more budget conscious than some of the other people around here. I think the Monterrey is one of the absolute best values around. Depending on where you're from, though, it may be old hat.

When I have time on a Saturday I often just drive till I find a taco joint with Borrego or Cabrito, Lamb or Goat. La Bandera Molina is my go-to. Saturday or Sunday only for those dishes. Mapquest it. Google maps doens't work. I'm not saying they are the best, just my go to.

I can't point you to a chicken fried steak, but can hit BBQ

Most likely Bourdain hit JMueller and Franklin in Austin. Franklin is the one getting national, even international, acclaim. They are at a level that it is not even fair to say that one is better than the other. What I like at Franklin is that there is a caramelized flavor to the brisket, like the crust on a great burger. You will get through the line at JMueller much more quickly though. If you choose to go to Franklin, make it a weekday, otherwise you'll spend a ridiculous amount of time in line.

Sorry, I couldn't help with the CFS. I'm down in SA, so if you have any other requests, just ask.

Alamo:Missions::Taco Taco:dozens of other places in town. The Alamo is fun, and Taco Taco is fresh tasting with pretty good flour tortillas, BUT, like your assessment of the missions, there are many more enchanting places in town for good mexican/tex-mex. It is good to hear your report about gwendolyn, I've been curious.

He's no joke. East Texas BBQ is often a different style than central Texas BBQ, and he is biased towards the central style, which is what most of us Texans think about. I think he bases his ratings strictly on brisket and ribs. So don't just check out the ratings, but also read up to see if he has something positive to say about something else on the menu. You're likely to find some good pulled pork somewhere where the brisket isn't that great.

This guy is the the undisputed king of Texas BBQ. Check out where he recommends. http://fcg-bbq.blogspot.com/

Taqueria El Chilaquil
Los Banderos Molinos (finding it on google maps never works, it is a couple blocks south of brown coffee on zarzamora)

Agreed. Sandbar would be a great option for the seafood. The burrata at Dough is great.

I'll add Luke, by John Besh. The cuisine there is a mix of Besh's French Creole cooking with local Germanic heritage. Maybe a little overpriced at dinner, but the lunch and happy hour are good deals Casoulet and soft shell crab BLT are recommended. If you are into cocktail culture, then The Esquire is a fantastic place to go.

Anyone from out of state needs to try some decent brisket. Brisket is notoriously fickle, so it is hard to recommend one place. However, I think Two Bros Smokehouse is the most consistent. Make sure you get it from the fatty side, even if you pick the fat off, the meat is better from that side. Other solid places are The Smokehouse on Roland, Old Smokehouse of Fredricksburg, Ed's Smoke N Q on White, or the trailer BBQ on the south side of Nacodoches and 410. I'm pretty certain all of them, except for the trailer, are open lunch and dinner. There's also the option of taking a drive outside of town. Google search Full Custom BBQ if you're interested in that.

Freetail Brewery is the best place in Texas to get a beer, but I wouldn't waste a meal there.

Where can I get some? There's one place I know at the NW corner of babcock and callaghan that does a good job, but I'm looking for something new.

what is brisket 90?

nope, not whole. maybe occasionally. WF might, but that's out of my price range.

back in Dallas asian markets often had the best variety, but i don't have the time to seek out the good ones here.

I'm open to any kind of market. I'd like something fresh, a wide selection, and preferably a place that will gut it for me.

Check out Food Shark in Marfa.

In San Antonio the Cove is a good option. There's a veggie restaurant called Green, or something like that, but I haven't been impressed yet. Many people love it though.

Take a detour on 90 through alpine and marfa. No particular recs, but you'll find something tasty and some beautiful scenery along the way.

campechana is correct. The same word is used for multiple items.
agreed on Mi Tierra. I feel like a poser for liking their pastries so much, but I think that (1) they do them well and (2) they have enough turnover that everything stays fresh, which is uncommon in pastelerias.
Machacado is probably what you had with your eggs. dried, reconstituted beef.

It's too bad Luling was a disappointment. It's experiences like that that have stopped me from ever recommending a bbq joint, because so many can vary. The only one I'll give an absolute recommendation to is Franklin in Austin.

Thanks.

I need more than I have time to make.

ahh... so you meant "several times a year" in the post above?

Chicago's a great place to explore all manners of Latin flavors.

Where do i get them in San Antonio?

Sorry to diverge, but, Rick Bayless lives in/regularly visits SA?

Forget about exporting our good food, lets petition for Xoco around here. Authenticity aside, it is some of the most delicious food I've had in its price point.

A lunch, biking distance (at your own risk, this town isn't friendly to bikes). The Monterrey. This style of food is hardly unique to San Antonio (though they do keep some local flavors, like hints of barbacoa in the beef cheeks) but its worthwhile simply because it is good. Plus, its in a great space. The King WIlliam area would make for a nice stroll.

El Milagrito and Taco Taco both put out solid corn tortillas, with Taco Taco's leaning towards more density and sweet corn flavor and El Milagrito's more fluffy. There are lots of good taquerias to get solid corn tortillas at. Do not expect to get a good one at a nice looking restaurant unless you've been told specifically that they're good.

Mi Tierra - Not an amazing restaurant, but worthwhile because its close to the riverwalk, is fun, and the pastries are very good due to the high rate of turnover. Also, the food is not at all bad, if even good, perhaps. Plus, its 24 hours.

La Gloria - never been, heard great things.

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Taco Taco Cafe
145 E Hildebrand Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212

La Gloria
1001 37th St, Snyder, TX 79549

I can field this one pretty well. My favorite taqueria is an unnamed place south of fredricksburg about a 1/4 mile on zarzamora. It's a yellow building on the right. On your way you'll pass Brown Coffee which is the best coffee in SA. No questions asked. What I love about this taqueria is (1) the incredible flour tortillas (2) unique meats, always something to explore. The corn tortillas are great if you like the dense, almost sweet tasting kind, but that's not my preference. There are lard fried chips for self service (and don't be ashamed to have chips with breakfast)
Taco taco is a place that lots of people love, and for good reason. What it has going for it is making taqueria classics taste a little fresher. There's also the Taco Norteno which is their claim to fame, although I'd stick with their other stuff, as the norteno is out of balance to me. They do a solid barbacoa.
As for BBQ. If you are doing a tour it would be an incredible shame to pass up Franklin in Austin. This is a place that everyone from Food and Wine to Full Custom BBQ (decidedly un-snobbish) http://fcg-bbq.blogspot.com/ have been singing the praises of for a couple of years. Its a great contrast to the legendary bbq of lockhart/luling.

I know, its everywhere. Is there anywhere you've been that does an exceptional job?

The best BBQ in SA is at Two Bros. Smokehouse.

This is THE authority on BBQ. He recommends another place in town as well. I tried them and thought it wasn't as good.
http://fcg-bbq.blogspot.com/2010/01/t...

Nothing special about the beer there, but it will be cold, and from Shiner.

Oh, you're from Portland... that changes everything.

Bluestar makes fresh tasting drinkable beer. There aren't many places in TX to get that, let alone something unique. What i love about Freetail is that they have the attitude of a woman at an all girl's school, doing whatever the hell they feel, experimenting, often sour or off putting, but occasionally really special. To have the guts to put that place in SAT is impressive, but nothing around here matches the creativity and refinement of the places you've got. I'm glad you enjoyed some of what you got.

I got to Lord's Kitchen a few weeks ago. I liked it. I think it defies the current notion that medium rare is the only way to cook a burger. It had a good crust, which most burgers lack. well seasoned and constructed. Coarsely ground, a little crumbly, and a little drier on account of being cooked to well done, but i think it had enough fat in the meat to carry it.

Unlike most the burgers that get a lot of press in the area, this one tastes like meat. However, I'd definitely take a Bracken Store or Bobby J's over Lord's.

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Bracken Store
18415 Bracken Dr, San Antonio, TX 78266

Lord's Kitchen
118 Seguin St, San Antonio, TX 78208

You may have already made your trip... but...

Blue Star is a good brewery. It is by no means as good as Freetail, but probably a better option than a place that has beers available elsewhere. Plenty of TVs around.

Another totally unique option is the San Antonio Homebrew Supply and Bar. It is exactly what the name sounds like.