I was doing research on somewhere to go for a post Valentines Day date. Going out specifically on that day is a ridiculous waste of time and extra money to "manufacture romance". Silly. Anyway, I came across this place and the pictures of the food looked amazing. Oh I should probably warn you right now.... If you were raised on "Tex-Mex" or you're a Texas snowflake with thin skin, please skip this part of the review until the end of my rant. With that out of the way. * Incoming Rant * Why is it that 90%+ of Mexican food in Texas is utter garbage? If you do a search on Yelp and look at the pictures of what barely passes for "Mexican Food" it looks like dog food. Compare Garcia's food and presentation to Balcón and let me know which you prefer. I mean seriously, most of the restaurants serve food that looks like it came from a 1980's microwave TV dinner! So many places use that weird yellow generic government cheese, the refried beans look like they came from a WWII can and almost everything is unseasoned ground beef! The closest I can usually find is cubed beef. Have you guys never heard of shredded beef? Depending on where you go they MIGHT shred the beef and use it in birria tacos. Here's a thought. Use it in OTHER things! Shredded beef enchiladas, tortas, chimichangas, burritos and for goodness sakes, USE SEASONING! In the past people traveled around the world solely for herbs and spices but for some reason restaurants in Texas hate using them. One more thing and I'm done. Look at the presentation of the dishes here. The food LOOKS GOOD! The food looks colorful, vibrant and tasty. Not like it was cobbled together by a cowboy on a ranch in the 1800s. See how they make use of Queso Fresco, radishes, guacamole, cabbage and other things to bring life to the dishes. I've been to places in Arizona, New Mexico and Southern California and they GET IT. Make food delicious and good looking and the people will come and come back. *sigh* ok, I'm done... * End of Rant * Now back to our regularly scheduled review... We ordered the Ensenada Fish Tacos, Carne Asada Fries, and the Surf & Turf Quesadilla. All 3 dishes were excellent! The fish was beer battered and not the Gorton's frozen fish sticks that I've found in many restaurants in the Mid-West. Disgusting. Also, it was a massive portion of fish which was probably the largest I've seen in a fish taco in a long time. The asada fries were amazing. Not only is that a hard to find dish in Texas they also used the really good crispy fries that are actually edible the next day. Most places use the cheap generic square fries (think fries that are usually sold with hot dogs or hamburgers at a carnival) that taste terrible the next day. Usually you'll eat everything but the fries if you have leftovers, but not here. Balcón went for the good seasoned fries. The quesadilla was really good too. Perfectly cooked shrimp and juicy carne asada. The one gripe I did have was the white and black checkerboard paper that was used under the food. That started to disintegrate very quickly and as I was cutting into my food I kept having to pull it out of the food. Small complaint and easily forgivable. I'm not a person who's worried much about ambiance. As long as someone isn't trying to stab me while I eat or the restaurant is located next to an outhouse I'm good. But seriously it's a cool place. I like the indoor/outdoor vibe with the two open garage doors. We ate on the inside next to the door which was really nice. Overall, it was a great experience. I pray that more restaurants follow Balcón and put emphasis on presentation, not using microwave grade food, all while doing it at a reasonable price. We will definitely be coming back, as we need to try more of the menu. I tip my hat to you owner of Balcón. You definitely stand out in a sea of bland, generic "Tex Mex" restaurants. read more

Balcon Comedor Y Bar - Fish Tacos & Carne Asada Fries - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Located on the second floor of a building with other eateries, Balcon Comedor Y bar features both outdoor and indoor dining with open air. Showing up around 7pm on a Wednesday evening, I had my choice of seats, ranging from the bar, indoor, and outdoor. Typically, when dining alone, I head for the bar to save tables for groups. But fortunately they weren't very busy so I didn't feel bad taking one of the smaller tables. My server recommended their margheritas but I didn't want to drink alone haha..I would love to try it next time though! I started with the salsa sampler which came with tortilla chips and three different house made salsas. I couldn't stop eating it! I kept seeing reviews of the fish tacos and heard another table ordering it, so I decided to get that as well. The pico de gallo, aioli, and pickled onions in the description just got me. Admittedly, it was just ok. I was not a big fan of the fish tacos but to be truthful, I can't recall when I last had an amazing fish tacos. I probably should have just gotten the carne asada plate that I was initially eying. This just means I have to go back. I'm not in Texas often, but despite there being so many options and new places to try, I look forward to the opportunity to return to Balcon Comedor Y Bar. read more

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Terrible service. I don't know how this place has 4.4 stars. We will never be back it was so bad we paid for our drinks and left.

Scratch kitchen, handmade corn tortillas. Great brunch options! The chilaquiles take me Home. Fresh fruit cocktails are dangerous... get the churro donuts too!! read more

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Came here for dinner with my family and really enjoyed ourselves! The food was super tasty and the service was very friendly. The fresh salsa and guacamole in particular were fantastic! We'll definitely be coming back when we're in the area again. read more

The food is incredible but this is my second time and the service is horrendous for the price you're paying. It honestly borders on incompetence. I asked for salt on my rim for a margarita and after 20 min watching the staff do nothing in the bar they returned with no salt on the rim so I asked for a salt rim and they returned with a cup of salt ??? Like what do I do w that lol. Service my second time was not better with the order being wrong and taking like an hour for food and someone in the group had their steak so overcooked they couldn't cut it. read more

Last night I considered doing the sensible holiday thing and reserving a table here, but decided to wing it instead as Mr R had a project he needed to finish and there was no guarantee on when he would complete it. He finished faster than expected--maybe because he was really excited at the prospect of trying this place--so we headed over a little before 1pm. Felt like we were the first in for the day; I hope it's packed tonight because it seems a good atmosphere for New Year's. The entrance is an external cement staircase; Mr R noticed a sign that an elevator is available but I'm not sure how one would access it. Plenty of seating to choose from outside and the seats are individual, not bench. The next couple to arrive brought their dog, so the balcony is pet friendly. It was a beautiful afternoon, keep this place in mind when the weather is good. Started with a nice ceviche. Really liked their chips, they were proper weight for active scooping and very crisp against the fish and avocado. Mr R hadn't had ceviche before and I'm glad his introduction was a good one. The cocktails were frankly beautiful on top of being good pours. I wish we could have stayed and tried them all! I *had* to try the nopal taco (I'm so excited when I see them even in a basic taco truck), and we each ordered a plate. I had enchiladas verde and he tried enmoladas. Mr R started a speech about how good the rice was (he's making do with Georgia texmex most of the year, it's hard on him lol) and he sure didn't complain about the beans. Just as with the cocktails, everything was beautifully plated, a good portion, and priced fairly. The chicken wasn't seasoned, but the sauces and sides had enough flavor to compensate. The waiter was friendly and efficient--I'm sorry I was preoccupied with not letting the receipt blow away (we'd already retrieved a menu twice) and forgot to take a snap of it for info including his name so I could give him credit. The tab was $69 before tax just going by the menu, I wanna say $78 before tip but my memory might be a couple bucks high. We each have a single enchilada to enjoy at home (the to go boxes aren't plastic which also makes me happy) and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. read more

Balcon Comedor Y Bar - Leaving the way we came in, but with leftovers and full bellies. 31DEC24 - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Seriously everything was SO delicious. The service was 5 star! See you guys next time. The decor was refreshing very cool looking. read more

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Mrs. R and I wanted to go for a nice lunch and cocktails this New Year's and she decided on Balcon. She was (as usual) fully correct in her decision. We started with margaritas, of which the bar has an excellent selection. I opted for the Two to Mango, which was Lalo, mango agua fresco, and lime, with a chili rimming. It was delicious, and larger in size than the "two-sip" that one occasionally gets when ordering cocktails. To start, we had the ceviche, which was amazingly light, tasty, and refreshing, and came with freshly made tortilla chips. I don't know if they make their chips in-house or have a local vendor, but either way, it's hard to beat fresh tortillas with your appetizer. I then ordered the chicken enmolada, which was chicken in corn tortillas in mole sauce, with beans and Spanish rice on the side. The chicken was of course delicious, but the rice was absolutely superb. I'd gotten used to generic Tex-Mex rice when going out to eat, so to taste really good Spanish rice that was clearly a labor of love was mind-blowing. Seriously, cocktails, appetizers, and entrées were all delicious, and the service was first rate. The atmosphere was also fantastic. We ate on the balcony, which provides a wonderful view and is absolutely lovely in nice weather. If you want an atmospheric rooftop bar, you can't do better than Balcon. read more

Balcon Comedor Y Bar - The Two to Mango - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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While being stuck in traffic on our way back to Austin and searching in Yelp for a place to eat with good reviews, we stumbled across this diamond in the rough. The place is small, but has outdoor seating as well. Our waitress was the nicest and made sure we had a great dining experience. The ceviche was one of the best I've had and for half the price I would have spent in Austin. Great cocktails and salsas too. Drinks did take a little too long to come out, but it was Friday evening, most tables were full and they only have one bartender. Next time I am in the area, I know precisely where I'll stop to eat. read more

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Love this place! Great service even better food! Drinks are great! Would definitely go here again!

The vibe is nice. I didn't love the food. One waitress working the bar and all tables. She was so sweet but the service was strained. Ordered a starter of chips and salsa that was unfortunately delivered with my entree. Half the chips were crispy and half were rubber/chewy/unedible. Ordered the chicken verde enchiladas. Didn't love these. The corn tortillas were thick and took away from the enjoyment of the flavors. They were packed with chicken but just didn't love them. Wouldn't come back. read more

Not a great experience. We had a party of 20- 3/4ths of our group pooped ourselves after and some even threw up. My steak was chewy and I was given 3 chips with my $7 guacamole. Paid $30 for 2 drinks that tasted like they got thrown in the oven. I won't be coming back. Don't go here unless you need a stomach cleanse and a dent in your bank account. read more

I thought this was a comedy bar ever time I passed by but once's I actually came to check it out it was really cute and the food was good and the donuts omg the donuts were so yummy I'd definitely come again read more

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Carmen was the best waitress. She was very attentive and super nice would 100% come again! read more

Balcon Comedor Y Bar - Espresso Martini & 2 to mango - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

10/10! Came here for a date night with my fiancé and Balcón did not disappoint! I ordered the carne asada tacos and gobernador and they were tasty. My fiancé ordered the carne asada plate which was also delicious! Let me get to the drinks because uffff, the two to mango was my absolute favorite as well as the Oaxaca passion! Our server was also very attentive and made sure we enjoyed everything. Overall, would definitely recommend! read more

Owned by the same people as MaCoco in Buda, this adorable rooftop restaurant is perfect for happy hour or a date night! I ordered the guacamole, elote asado, and a Macoco Classico to drink--everything was absolutely delicious! read more

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They cover up the fact that their food has no flavoring by covering it in verde hot sauce. Very disappointed.

On the second floor of the building you'll find this beautiful gem. The food was delicious and so were the drinks made at the bar. Service was friendly and fast. read more

Balcon Comedor Y Bar - Second floor eatery. - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Closed until Aug 12 per signage on door. Wish listing was updated. Looked amazing. Bummer.

Service is amazing Food is delicious Great relaxing and chill vibe. Plus the drinks are tasty. read more

Randomly closed with no warning on socials/webpage. They were even accepting reservations on Open Table. May be permenantly closed? But some kind of sign or notice would be good. read more

The food was amazing! Well worth the try. Ambiance and service was great too just wasn't busy at all.

Do they close at 8 or 9Good looks good online though guess gonna have to try another day‍‍‍

Best service ever. This is a great Mexican spot with Baja vibes. Food is extraordinary. read more

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Such a cute, intimate space! And it's super new, and I would consider this an elevated place for amazing food. You honestly wouldn't know it was located in an office-like building. They have plenty of parking and although the restaurant place is small, the ceilings are high and table placement makes it look bigger than what it actually is. Great place to host a dinner party or a dinner date. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. Everything we ordered was delicious! Loved the elote appetizer and their guac. Drinks are made fresh and the staff is pretty helpful. I'd give this place a little more time to get the typical restaurant procedures in order (i.e. server placed a water jug on the table, but no water cups, waited a while for utensils) but other than that it has potential and could be one of San Marco's best dinner places. read more

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Hello! Just wanted to say an amazing review on this establishment. The service I received earlier this week was excellent. Kudos to my server Carmen, she was so sweet and attentive to anything I needed. She recommended the California Burrito and the Jamaica Berry so I went along and tried that. Food was pretty good and the drink was fantastic. Also wanted to share that the atmosphere and vibes were nothing like any other bar here in San Marcos. Will definitely be coming back here soon! read more

Came in for happy hour and ended up staying for dinner. Perfectly mixed margaritas, with a great variety of flavors and tequila. The wait staff was very attentive and came by multiple times to ensure we could place any final orders during happy hour. The beer battered fish taco was my favorite but the surf and turf quesadilla was so delicious too. The ambiance is open but also felt private at the same time. They have a good use of space. Will definitely return when I'm in the area. read more

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Great food, music and staff. Our server Sky was great and made sure we had a good visit. This is one of our favorites in San Marcos. A must visit for good drinks, good vibes and amazing food. read more

Balcon Comedor Y Bar - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Cute spot on the second floor. The servers were so nice! Menu was broken down and simple so I could make sure I was eating gluten free and dairy free. We got brunch mimosas on a Saturday and they were like $5 and super cute! Would defiantly come back! Wasn't super busy so we got friendly and fast service. read more

Balcon Comedor Y Bar - Hibiscus mimosa - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Food is good , but pricey and small portions. Ambiance is hip and staff was friendly. May go back. Not soon though read more

Balcon Comedor Y Bar - Menu - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Great service. Quiet and small. Fantastic fish tacos. Great for 1-6 people. Go to in San Marcos! read more

Warm beers and 7 dollar tacos. We will pass on this place. Service was good and place was clean but do not expect much from here

Atmosphere, food, drinks & service were all 10/10. I will definitely be back, especially during sunset...so pretty! read more

Balcon Comedor Y Bar - Mexican Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Great atmosphere and excellent service. We had the El Dude Margarita and it was so tasty. Also the tacos are amazing. I felt stuffed after the shrimp taco and had to take the other one home. Very delicious and will be back again soon for sure. read more

Vanessa was wonderful and we loved the $5 happy hour from 4:30-6 for a quick date night

Our server was very sweet and attentive and the ambiance was perfection. The quality for the price of the food was kinda mid. We spent about $80 (with tip) on three apps (salsa, ceviche, and tuna tostada) and one meal (chicken enchiladas) and two drinks. Would probably go back for drinks. read more

My wife, and a wonderful friend joined me on a recent Sunday afternoon for a late lunch at Balcon Comedor y Bar. I randomly selected this restaurant for a new place in San Marcos, because the information on the Internet sounded enticing, and it was close to our location. The food was wonderful; I strongly recommend the fish tacos in particular. Their cocktail selection was very good, and the service was outstanding. My wife really loved her Oaxacan Passion drink, and don't pass up the churro donuts for a mouth watering desert. They have both indoor and outdoor seating; so, groups should fit in very well. Please note that the restaurant location is very convenient for IH-35 travelers on the southern side of San Marcos: exit to the NW on RR-12/Wonder World Dr., travel 0.5 mile, turn right on Stagecoach Trail, and the restaurant will be on the left in about 200 feet. read more

AMAZING!! first things first service was excellent my server Mckenna was very attentive and made great conversation! Now onto the food, I indulged in the tuna tostada and the al pastor taco, both of which were excellent, flavorful and nicely plated, my favorite out of the two would be the tostada nice and light and refreshing. To drink I had the Oaxacan Passion, very nice and easy drink not to sweet as well. The restaurant was very nice inside and had plenty of seating both inside and out and I loved the vibe of the whole place. I would say everything was well worth the price and most definitely will be back again!! read more

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This place is delightful. The service (our waiter Lucas and the bartender) provided impeccable service with a smile and a great personal touch to our group of four. The food was delicious (what a great burrito!!) and the salsas were unique and flavorful. The layout (inside and outside) was inviting and comfortable. All in all, this was a top notch, gotta come back again and again, experience! 5 stars! read more