I stopped by Loncheria El Popo with my grandfather last weekend when I was visiting him, and I loved it! My family is from Laredo and Nuevo Laredo (I grew up visiting when I was a little girl), so I was thrilled to learn that Nuevo Laredo's Loncheria El Popo had a location in San Antonio! What is Loncheria El Popo? The first location opened in Neuvo Laredo in 1950. It expanded to other locations in Nuevo Laredo in the years following (I believe there are still 3 locations in Nuevo Laredo today), but this location in San Antonio opened in 2016. And it only really serves one thing: lonches. What are lonches? It comes from - you guessed it - the English word lunch, and on the border (in Nuevo Laredo/Laredo, Jalisco, RGV), it refers to a sandwich served on a bolillo roll. It's a casual, easy, affordable lunch. And it couldn't be simpler. Loncheria El Popo makes five types of lonches - ternera (shredded beef), hamburgesa, jamón, wieners (they're sliced and then cooked until browned on the griddle), and avocado. They all come with shredded lettuce, tomato, onion, and mustard. And that's it. I mean it. You can order a bag of chips and a drink and you can add cheese, but that's the whole menu! The lonches are $3.99 each and not huge - you may want to order more than one - maybe try different kinds. But it's an affordable and simple lunch. So you just walk up to the counter, tell them which lonches you want, and wait a few minutes. Before they bring the lonches to you, they'll bring a little bowl of chiles en escabeche, which is a great addition to the lonches if you like a little heat. Is it fancy? Certainly not. But it's a comfortable place, and the service was very friendly. But I just love that's it stuck to its origins - and it's serving simple little lonches. Sometimes you just want something simple and delicious. Loncheria El Popo is worth a visit if that's your mood. It's almost always mine, so I'm sure I'll be back. read more

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Did not disappoint. It was delicious and definitely worth the money. I had the hamburger and ternesia and both were excellent!

This food is supper good and the people are super friendly and amazing come and try there food I highly recommend them

One of my favorite lunch spots! Unique handmade sandwiches made to order with wonderful flavor! read more

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Catered a lunch from here based on the request from the doctor's office. Really enjoyed the food! Originally from Laredo, ingredients still come from there to make the bread. So delicious. Would definitely recommend. read more

Old school Mexican tradition since the 50s. My parents have enjoyed El Popo since the 50s/60s originally in Nuevo Laredo Mexico then Laredo Texas. Same great taste. Highly recommend if you want kitchen flavor in your burger. Great limited menu but nothing disappoints. Spread the word. read more

Loncheria El Popo - Cheeseburger and Ternera sandwiches - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Era el mejor lonche de mi vida! El lonche de jamón y hamburguesa estaba riquísimo! Asta nos trajeron chiles para acompañar! read more

Loncheria El Popo - El lonche de jamón y hamburguesa - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Loved the burger, super fast service. They cook the food right in front of you! Clean welcoming atmosphere.

If you are from Laredo or have friends/family from Laredo, they will tell you this is a staple for them. The food is Mexican style hamburger themed and the lemonade was delicious! Overall, the menu is simple and straightforward. We ordered the hamburger with cheese, the shredded beef and the wiener with cheese (wiener and cheese was my favorite). The service was great and ambience was small and welcoming. Overall, it's a nice deviation from traditional Tex mex. read more

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This place is a joke. The Lonches don't have hardly no meat and no flavor. Funny how I noticed he only attended certain people at the table while others had to go to the front counter to order. Definitely won't be going back as I feel I didn't get my moneys worth. read more

Excellent burgers! The little Serrano peppers are amazing too! Burgers are delicious! Really cool little spot.

Theis hard working crew are a master class on how to do things right. Sit down and a counter worker will come to you and take your order. It's an easy menu, and you can add avocado, cheese, etc to your choice of meat on a bun. Mexican Cokes, bottled water, and Lays potato chips complete the offerings. While you're waiting a small bowl of Serranos en escabeche and your drink and chips are served. Piping hot, on real plates, it's just the best! Check the photos for a current snapshot of the still very reasonable prices. read more

Loncheria El Popo - ~September 2023 menu update~ - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Great sandwiches! Friendly staff! First time there so didn't know what to expect. Limited menu but delicious. Would go back again! read more

Loncheria El Popo - Ternera sandwiches! - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Small menu, but terrific food. Two sandwiches went a long way. Reasonably priced. Co-worker recommended this place.

mexican hamburgers 5 ways. bottled mexican sodas. lays potato chips. valentina on the table. pickled serrano and carrots. point blank, mexican burgers. extremely friendly and support local as always. read more

Loncheria El Popo - hamburger added wieners - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

I highly recommend Loncheria El Popo for someone who is trying something new verses the regular burger. I guarantee once you try it, you'll be wanting to come back for more. Keeping the menu small makes it easier to know that the food is fresh. read more

Lonchería El Popo never disappoints! Seriously, so good! Their $2.99 Lonches are a great deal! You should definitely try them out! Also, great option for big gatherings, quick office lunch, or having a lot of family over haha! read more

Loncheria El Popo - Outside Loncheria El Popo - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Simple menu. So delicious! Great people. I tell everyone i know about this gem of a restaurant. read more

Loncheria El Popo - Cheeseburgers - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This is one of those hidden gems that everyone should know about. It's located in a shopping strip on San Pedro near Oblate. The menu is limited but thats okay because it's what they do best. The lonches may be small in size but that are big on flavor and low in price. One was plenty for me, but someone with a bigger appetite may need more. We ordered the hamburguesa and the jamon and trust me they did not disappoint. They were so juicy and full of flavor. I highly recommend. PS- This establishment was very clean and the service was fast and super friendly. read more

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this place is soooo good. I was looking forward to having lunch here for days! These lonches never disappoint! read more

Loncheria El Popo - yum on a plate! - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Great hamberger with great pepper. Good friendly help. Pronto service. The price is very inexpensive.

This place serves a very specific style of food: delicious. Look, if you're hunting for fine dining or delicate cuisine, please keep scrolling. But if you're hankering for the taste of your border town snack shacks (read: Laredo), you owe this place a visit. Grab a ternera (or 3) or hamburguesa and some chile, a bag of Lay's, and a Coca Mexicana. It's the simple things in life that make it good, and they do these things very well here. These dudes work hard to make good food, and even during the Valentine's Week Arctic Blast of 2021 they were working and serving their delicious food with a smile (you can tell they're smiling behind the masks). When they knew they had electricity and heat, they turned it up and opened their doors to the community. They saved the day for our family yesterday, and we now know we can count on this local eatery to come in clutch with more than just food. read more

Best burgers in town. Owner is amazing always very welcoming and so attentive. Been coming here for years and truly no other restaurant compares to their amazing service and even better food. read more

Loncheria El Popo - Lonche Ternera - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

First time. Choice of five sandwiches, one of which is vegan (avocado, lettuce, tomato). I had the "roast beef", my friend had the "cheeseburger". Both were excellent. Buns are toasted. They are on the small size, though. So if hungry get two. At $3.99 each, definitely worth it! No fries but can get Lays potato chips and a bottled soda for extra. read more

Recently moved near this area with my fiancé and this place was SO GOOD!!! Don't let the area fool you, the lonche was hands down AMAZING!! I'm originally from Mission, TX and I remember going to Reynosa with my parents for the Mexican food and this place was exactly like being in Mexico. THE BREAD was so soft, the weenies so perfectly cooked, the hamburger was way way better than any fast food burger place. Hands down one of our favorite places now and it's added to our list of places to eat when we don't want to cook. If you are looking for a genuine place that is authentically Mexican this is the place to be! The homemade pickled jalapeños were also perfectly spicy and they sell jars of them! read more

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Definitely this is a hole in the wall place that's easy to miss at the end of a strip center. Inside is a no-frills spot with extremely limited menu. Your choice of four sandwiches on buns: chopped hamburger patty, chopped patty and thick slice of ham, ham by itself, or cut weenies. That's it! Add a simple bag of Lays potato chips and a bottle Coke, and your meal is set! And VERY inexpensive! Toasted buns were fresh, soft, and tasty. Ingredients were simple but honest and yummy. Super friendly counter service. The guys will explain the menu and you can watch the cook put your order on the grill right up front The business started 70 years in Nuevo Leon, and same family opened the SA location. They have a loyal fan base who keep returning for more of the same goodness. Check it out when youre ready for a friendly place with great homemade sammies. read more

Loncheria El Popo - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Great place for authentic Mexican hamburgers. They are originally from Laredo so you know they are good. The staff is so kind and helpful. They do speak English. I've been to Mexico City recently and I am Mexican American and can say these are authentic Mexican hamburgers. Prices are very reasonable and everything is made when you order so it's fresh. The place is clean and very simple so you'll feel right at home. read more

Recomendado Muy ricos los linches de ternera , las hamurgesas bueno todo recomendable. read more

The best burger I've ever had in whole USA Friendly staff , convenience place and good prices too Thank you all for the best friendly service read more

I was stoked to find out that there was a Popo in San Antonio! I used to go to the one in Laredo all the time when I was younger visiting​ my dad. I even stop at the one in Laredo till this day to grab myself their delicious & cheap lonches. You can't beat the price for what you're getting & you definitely can't beat the taste either! My favorite ones to get are the burgesa & wene lonches with everything​ on them. Simple & delicious. read more

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Great lonches and their burgers are great too! We buy them by the sackful. Love the addition of little baggies of pickled serrano peppers. Consistently good sandwiches, and great staff! Grew up with the lonches in Nuevo Laredo. Same consistent quality and flavor here. This place never disappoints!! Ternera and hamburgers are the go-to sandwiches. Buy a Mexican Coke to wash 'em down! read more

Lonches de ternera = veal burger so delicious!! Place is clean, small and quaint. Stop by! read more

This place is as a great combination of simple, yummy, and cheap! Seriously you could leave spending $10 for lunch and getting 2 hamburgers(prob 3), chips, and a drink! The owner's are as kind as can be. A great place for lunch or dinner, they are closed on Monday's so plan accordingly. Come check it out! read more

Absolutely delicious. Plain and simple just like this place and their menu. Limited options but I can honestly say every option is worth a try! And for less than $3 a sandwich, why would you at least sample the menu a little? Being that the first time I tried this restaurant was in Laredo, late at night while I was on a mini road trip, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw a location in San Antonio and I just had to check it out. The best part? The quality is the same no matter what location! That's what makes this place better than most local business chains. Quality. And this place does it right! read more

Loncheria El Popo - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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This is the best sandwich I have ever had I am a go her every week this ham and cheese sandwich is the beat

I had a doctor's visit to head to and I was hungry. I had a case of the blahs and wanted something different. In a commercial strip center along a busy San Pedro avenue, we pulled in to try Loncheria El Popo. They have a really short menu selection but that shouldn't work against them. Isn't it funny how it still takes a long time to pick what you want even among less than a dozen main choices? I opted for the shredded meat on a toasted bun, potato chips in a bag and a Mexican Coca Cola. Yes, you can taste the wonderful difference in a Mexican coke. The shredded beef hit the spot. The taste of the meat? Most similar to homemade crockpot beef that's been slowly simmering for hours. Delicious! I had a pickled jalapeño pepper to go along with the sandwich. My order completely satisfied my appetite. Great little mom and pop and you should give them a try when you can. #startup #smallbiz #smallbusiness read more

Loncheria El Popo - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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What a hidden gem! We ordered Torta Cubana, it was made to order and delicious! This item does not seem to be on the menu, and it does not look or taste like a traditional cubano sándwich, but it's good!!! This place has been around for a while but we barely found it thanks to Yelp and boy we're glad we did. Cheap, quick and delish. The 5 star reviews didn't lie! read more

Loncheria El Popo - Torta Cubana - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Limited menu at its finest. Only a few burger options on the menu so we tried them all and were amazed with each. I mean these were all done right. Our new favorite fast food spot in San Antonio. Oh, they also give you a baggie of spicy peppers, they pair well with each of the burgers. read more

Good hamburger! Taste homemade. Employees are wearing masks and it was clean inside too. read more

Loncheria El Popo - Hamburger with ham, cheese, avocado - Burgers Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Amazing service, welcoming and inviting environment, delicious fresh bread made every day, this is a new staple for us