SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS -- I had an ulterior motive for wanting to visit San Antonio. While Austin, located about an hour to the north, is known for its Texas-style barbecue, San Antonio has long been lauded for its Tex-Mex and tacos. I love tacos. I love taco tours.
The first stop on my Texas taco tour was La Gloria, which was conveniently located next to Hotel Emma in the Pearl District, my base camp in San Antonio. Arriving on game day a few hours before the Alamo Bowl kickoff, I grabbed a seat at the outdoor bar and ordered some tacos.
La Gloria, San Antonio.
La Gloria celebrates the rich cuisine of Mexico -- not Tex-Mex -- and chef Johnny Hernandez has traveled far and wide seeking the best regional recipes, from queso fundido from Chihuahua and tlayudas from Oaxaca to tacos de bistec from Nuevo Leon and agua chile from Sinoloa.
I opted for an order of puerquito echado tacos -- pork belly marinated with cloves and chilies and grilled. The tacos came 3 to an order, made with homemade corn tortillas, small and street style.
Along with a cold Bohemia served in a frosty mug, and some red and green salsas, the tacos were crunchy, spicy and delicious. It was no surprise that La Gloria is one of the most beloved Mexican restaurants in San Antonio, with a location in the city's international airport. My taco tour was off to a great start.