Jacala Mexican Restaurant

The experience was embarassing, awkward and humiliating to me and the lady I was with. When I complained the waitperson went to get the manager but the manager never showed up. The food was highly salted to the point that it was inedible and unhealthy. My companion also ordered some sides that at first were not served with the entree and when asked for them were served in rude and sultry manner. I paid for my food and I cannot express how glad I was to get out of that restaurant.

Pros: Nice environment

Cons: Bad service, rude servers, bad food, bad management

Posted 10/15/09

This was our first visit to Jacala. My boyfriend and I came to SA for the weekend and stayed on the River Walk. By the time Sunday came we were tired of the commercialized restaurants and blah food on the River Walk.

As a person who loves to cook and has a deep appreciation for food, I was impressed with everything at Jacala. We were seated immediately and drink orders taken right away (Sangria and House margarita). We ordered the Mole Chicken and the Jacala plate but not before tasting the mole sauce as suggested. The mole sauce ranks on my top five list and the chicken was falling off the bone. The cheese enchilada with carne, puffy taco, and queso were quite tasty. I am not normally a fan of refried beans but wrapped up in one of their homemade corn tortillas with some salsa they were perfect. We liked the flour tortillas so much we asked for some to-go!

Our service was spot on. We didn't have to ask for anything and our chips, salsa, and drinks were always full.

I can already tell you I will be craving the chicken mole and the tortillas, so we'll definitely be back! Thanks to the Jacala family for a great dining experience.

Pros: Food, Sangria, Waitstaff

Cons: My tummy isn't big enough!

Posted 10/10/09

Tried it for the first time after reading the reviews to form my own opinion. Family loved it. We found it moderately priced and extremely tasty and family oriented. Best kept secret in San Antonio! Ask for the flour tortillas because they won't bring them unless you ask. Try the platter! Best deal.

Pros: Great food

Cons: Ask for flour tortillas if you want them

Posted 11/10/08

We are 3 GENERATIONS of Jacala diners and the food is simply the best we have found anywhere in San Antonio. Living here gives us the opportunity to try many different Tex Mex eateries but we ALWAYS return to Jacala. The flour tortillas are made fresh everyday (in fact you can watch them being made at any given hour) and the puffy tacos may be petite but don't let their size fool you,,,,they are delicious and filling. The chips and salsa are always fresh (the salsa can be shipped anywhere in the continental US) and at Thanksgiving and Christmas we always order our TAMALES (our favs are chicken tomatillo, pork, bean & cheese) from Jacala's own kitchen. Super Bowl just would not be the same without Jacala TAMALES. The cheese enchiladas are my personal favorite (nothing else compares) and the Green Enchiladas are excellent and the sauce is awesome. In all the years we have been dining at Jacala we have never ever had a bad meal. The waitstaff is always friendly and there is almost always an OWNER on the scene to ensure you have the best dining experience possible. The ladies go way out of their way to accomodate their customers (reservations are appreciated but not required) and large parties are welcome. Weekends can get busy but with some of the best Margaritas in town to drink, it makes the wait worthwhile. It just doesn't get any better!!!!

Pros: Fresh & Hot

Cons: Busy on weekends

Posted 10/26/08

I read the reviews posted and could not believe some people did not like the Green Enchiladas. It is a required taste, but I have to have them at least once/week. I have been eating there for over 30 years and come in from Bulverde just for the Green Enchiladas! My wife loves the cheese enchiladas with the # 4B. I can't get that cheese anywhere else and I 've tried lots of Mexican restaurants. It is busy sometimes, but it is authentic and "old San Antonio". If I ever have a problem, they are ready to fix it. Try not to sit by the kitchen doors, just like any other restaurant. When you look around, you realize most of those people have been eating there for years because they usually know what they want. It has to be great to survive that many years!

Pros: Great cheese enchiladas

Cons: Ask for a "good waiter"

Posted 10/22/08

I have never had Mexican food this bad. I am new to San Antonio and I was expecting to get great Mexican food here. This place is not it. I chose this place because I wanted to try a puffy taco & the description on CitySearch was appealing. We were seated right away but the Customer Service was not impressive. They were not rude, but not welcoming or friendly at all. I ordered the chicken enchiladas with green sauce & an order of puffy tacos. The chicken enchiladas were not edible. The green sauce was very sour, even bitter. The puffy tacos were a disappointment as well. I was looking forward to the fresh tortillas but was surprised when I opened the warmer to find corn tortillas. The corn tortillas had an odd smell as well. My son ordered chicken enchiladas with chile & was also disappointed. I informed the waiter that I did not like my food & he offered to bring me another plate...of the same dish. I explained that I did not like the taste of the sauce & the taste would not change with the next dish. He apologized but never offered to replace it with another dish or comp my dinner. I have never been to a restaurant that made me pay for a meal that I could not eat before. Not good business; I won't be back.

Pros: Low prices

Cons: You get what you pay for...YUCK.

Posted 09/29/08

We used to dine at this restaurant maybe once a month, forgiving the tasteless beans 'n rice, and greasy, mushy "puffy tacos" because the cheese enchiladas w/carne were so delicious. We started ordering ala carte. But the last time we visited on a weeknite, it was a little busy so we ended up seated right in front of the swinging kitchen doors. Bad start. But we were hungry enough to stay. Bad decision. My date ordered the cheese enchiladas & I ordered the chile relleno. Bad choice. The cheese enchiladas were the same, at least they have that part right. My dish however was overly greasy, the picadillo needed salt or more flavoring as well as those same tasteless beans 'n rice. I wish they could get that Mexican restaurant staple down. Thank God for their hot sauce! That nite we were also so distracted by the swinging doors, I don't even know why they put a table there in the first place, that our total dining experience was terrible & made it the last time we visited this place. Even our server seemed to be sympathetic w/our seating arrangement but the owners comfortably seated at the register could'nt have cared less. We no longer live nearby & this is San Antonio so there are plenty of really good Tex-Mex restaurants (and bad) to visit.

Pros: hot sauce

Cons: tasteless rice 'n beans

Posted 09/19/08

Thanks to citysearch, my boyfriend and I wasted a meal on Jacala. The food was tasteless and gross. The enchiladas were disgusting, the meat tasted like it had been sitting in the back for days. The only cool thing was our waiter. He was entertaining, but not enough to EVER go back to this terrible place.

Pros: the hot sauce, the waiter

Cons: food was gross, tasteless and too expensive for what you get.

Posted 08/18/08

I have eaten here since the mid-70's...I love it! The cheese enchiladas (minus the carne topping, just go for the gravy) are the best I've ever had. The puffy tacos are different and yummy. The staff is usually pretty nice and the speed of the meal from the time you order is, for the most part, very quick. I have to pace myself on the corn tortillas, brought fresh from the cooker to your table. yum!

Pros: usually quick service, tortillas

Cons: sometimes the wait is too long

Posted 01/24/08

We were extremely disappointed after reading all the rave reviews. We were visiting from St. Louis and could find nothing great about this restaurant. Give me the riverwalk any day. My fajita's were blah and the rice and beans were cold. It was a wasted vacation meal and out of the way. I did not even like the chips or salsa. My husband loves pork carnitas and there was not any pork on the menu. If you are vacationing- don't waste your time.

Pros: none

Cons: atmosphere, food

Posted 12/03/07

I've dined at this family restaurant since the '60's and have never, never, been disappointed at the great quality of the food or service. Jacalitos, enciladas, puffy tacos, fresh tortillas are just wonderful. As a former restaurant owner and operator I can attest that this is one place you will not want to miss when in SA. It's hands-down one top 2 or 3 Tex Mex restaurants in a town that boasts some of the best in Texas. Sit in a booth in the old part of the place or bring an army. They can handle about any group size. I would never waste my time eating on the "touristy" River Walk when a 15 min cab ride will get me to this place. My wife and I make it a point to stop at Jacala every time we're in SA even if just passing through town on a trip.

Pros: Hard to beat food & service. Can't miss. Reasonable prices, casual.

Cons: Have to drive 185 miles to dine here.

Posted 12/02/07

I have been eating at Jacala since I was 15 years old...nearly 35 years and the food has remained constant in quality and quantity. The flour tortillas are made fresh daily and served piping hot. The puffy tacos are some of the best in San Antonio and while they are small and delicate, you'll never leave Jacala hungry. My family lives out of state but a trip home would not be the same without at least one dinner at Jacala and sometimes two! Great food ladies...keep up the tradition!!

Pros: Very Good Service and Food

Cons: None

Posted 11/15/07

The VERY best in service, and taste in San Antonio. I always leave here stuffed, and within a day or two, I want more! I LOVE this place! Wish they had one closer to me.

Pros: The best I've EVER had

Cons: none

Posted 09/01/07

I have been a patron of Jacala Mexican Restaurant since I was 15 years old. I now have children and grandchildren who also patronize the business when they visit. In fact, it's the first place they stop when in San Antonio.

The "ladies" (all 3 of them) who own and operate the business are very hands on and care very deeply about their customers and the quality of the products they serve. The staff has always been friendly, accomodating and have always gone the extra mile to make our dining experience a pleasurable one.

The prices are very reasonable and Mmmm, the Margaritas are some of the best I've ever had! The enchiladas and puffy tacos are also the absolute best in my view.

Keep up the great work "ladies". It has served you very well over the last 50 years and the food has been as consistently good as your committment to the business and to your loyal customers!!!

Pros: Great Service and prices

Cons: There are none.

Posted 08/26/07

Maybe far for some people, but totally worth it.

Enchiladas the bomb.
Puffy tacos the bomb.
2 of J's Margaritas and you are bombed.

I have been eating at this place since I was a kid. I have been to the finest restaurants in San Antonio, and this is definitely in my top five. I love Jacala!

Pros: Food

Cons: Loud

Posted 08/26/07

I have eaten at this restaurant several times. I can honestly say it is better than most large Mexican restaurants. The law of the popular restaurant jungle is: when a restaurant becomes so popular that it struggles to maintain the food quality simply because of the sheer numbers of people asking to be fed on time it is a sign of things going wrong for the right reasons. Pretty decent quality and prices are reasonable. Four stars out of five. Mybeef is, try it you might like it.

Pros: Pretty good food quality. Decent hot sauce

Cons: Simply too popular to always be the best

Posted 08/11/07

KEEP DRIVING FOOD HAS NO FLAVOR SMALL PORTIONS BIG PRICES I WILL TELL AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN NOT TO GO .

Pros: CLEAN PARKING LOT

Cons: FOOD

Posted 08/08/07

We ate at Jacala this week, and as usual the food was great! Sometimes if the service seems a little slow, we let the hostess know it and they take care of it immediately. We take all our out of town guests and they agree it is the best in San Antonio. Worth the wait!

Pros: Great enchiladas

Cons: Very popular, so you might have to wait

Posted 08/05/07

After seeing the user reviews on Citysearch, my husband and I went tonight becasue we were in the mood for Mexican, I am glad we did!

Although it's not in the greatest of neighboorhoods, Jacala's is housed in a very nice brick building just off West Avenue and Hildebrand. We walked in expecting some little hole in the wall and we were pleasantly suprised to find a very nice place. We were seated immediately and the server came to ask for our drink order within seconds. My husband ordered a house margarita and I ordered a Blue Caraco margarita. Both of our drinks were nice and strong - not watered down at all - and delicious! We ordered chicken flautas and an enchillada plate and both were just outstanding. The chicken was very soft and flavorful, the guacamole was just sweet and spicy enough, the enchilladas were filled to overflowing with beef and the rice and beans were definitely not out of a can. Our meals came with homemade flour & corn toritllas on the side and our entire dinner was under $30 with the drinks. It was utterly fantastic and we'll definitely go again, depsite the neighboorhood!

Pros: Strong margaritas and authentic foods

Cons: Location

Posted 06/10/07

Our family has been going to Jacala's for 40+ years because the food is consistently delicious. You can't find a better value for authentic mexican food. When my husband and I divorced about ten years ago, the only irreconcilable difference was "Who gets to keep Jacala's?" ... so we did the only reasonable thing ... we decided to share joint custody! The food here is so good that neither one of us could bear the thought of giving it up. Yes, it's THAT good. We just smile and wave when we bump into each other at Jacalas. Grand-parents, parents, our generation, our kids and our grandkids have all enjoyed the "just too good to forget" food at Jacala's. Birthdays, christenings, graduations, holidays, family reunions, and a host of other family gatherings have been held there, and gift certificates always make a welcome holiday treat. We love this place. No kidding. If you try it once, you'll be back again.

Pros: exceptional taste, excellent value, casual atmosphere, ample parking

Cons: service has deteriorated a bit in recent years, but still overall good service

Posted 12/10/06

You couldn't get a more authentic Mexican resturant. Jacala is a great resturant to have parties or have lunch. Their prices are very affordable and the quanitity is perfect. I suggest the swirl sangria margarita pitcher, it is delicious!

Pros: great for lunch or large parties

Cons: busy on weekends

Posted 11/19/06

My favorite there is the #3 dinner platter. It's almost more than I can handle, but I do my best. It's a great bargain and there's nothing in San Antonio any better!!! I wish I could get there more often.

Posted 08/24/06

I was introduced to Jacala in 1962, and became a regular till I moved away in 1963. I came back to San Antonio for a school in 1984 and the food was just as good as I remembered it.
Every time I visited San Antone, Jacala was a mandatory stop for dinner. Now that I live here, Jacala is still my favorite Mexican restraurant in the San Antonio area.

Posted 07/19/06

The other reviewers are spot-on. I lived in San Antonio from the late 1960s until about 10 years ago, and I can tell you with authority: BETTER TEX-MEX FOOD DOES NOT EXIST ANYWHERE, AT ANY PRICE! And as for the price, well - just this past weekend my fiancee ordered tamales there. $3.99 gets you four of the best tamales you've ever eaten along with a generous topping of 'autentico' chile con carne. The #3 Platter, my favorite, is more food than anybody should eat at one sitting (but I do anyway)... for $6.99.

If you're in San Antonio and like Tex-Mex... Just. Go. There. Viva Jacala!

Pros: authentic Tex-Mex, Price, Service

Cons: none

Posted 05/08/06

It was a pleasant dining experience. The service was fast and friendly and the margaritas have a good buzz factor. The $14.99 pitcher was just enough for my friend and I. Jacala has expanded the dining area and has enough room for parties.

Pros: price, taste, service

Posted 01/04/06

We decided to take a trip to San Antonio Labor day weekend. After fighting traffic the whole way from Houston, we were starving. I remember someone talking about this fabulous restaurant by the name of Jacala on West Avenue. We walked in to not only find a beautiful atmosphere, but the greeting we received when we arrived was just so warm. I told my husband I wish they had a hotel connected because I'd found my vacation spot. Thank you Jacala for such a wonderful experience at your restaurant...

Posted 09/18/05

I am always searching for the best Mexican food, and believe me if you are a food purist, this place cannot be beat! Perfection-no frills-none needed-just plain great food. The only thing I didn't like, is that I didn't find it a long, long time ago.
Service and price just an added plus.

Pros: inexpensive

Posted 05/27/05

The best mexican food I've EVER tasted!!! I've lived all over, and I have NEVER had any better than Jacala!!

Pros: The food, The Price, Promptly served

Cons: none

Posted 05/19/05

I have eaten at this Restaurant since I was a young
kid. They have been in business for 50 years, I can't believe that it didn't make your top 20. Oh, well, here's my review.

Good Luck, Jacala's, keep serving great Mexican Food.

Dennis R. Korona
Purchasing Agent
SIMS-RSP, Inc.

San Diego,Ca.

Posted 08/19/02

great food, great service, great price......awesome.i would tell you to go try and see for yourself.

Posted 06/10/02