Service is slow but that's because the food is made to order! No rewarmed food coming from this kitchen! Homemade tortillas! And the nachos are the best I've had besides our own homemade. Excellent for breakfast tacos. Very small inside and parking isn't great but it's worth it. Just be sure to get there early. They close at 1:30 so if your not in their door by 1:20 it's too bad for you! You're out of luck the door locks promptly at 1:20. The tea is okay not the best I've had. I prefer sweet tea I seem to use less sugar that way but it's not bad. And not much of a selection of drinks but definitely worth the stop for breakfast tacos!! read more

Mendez Cafe - Mmm carne guisada - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Mendez is cash only. Expect long wait times. Service is give or take. The parking sucks and this place has the most inconsistent hours. They take vacations often. They are closed on a weekday, I believe it's Tuesdays but don't hold that to me. We once tried everyday for a week to get tacos and they never opened. No one answers the phone for to go orders. They close at 1:30 PM aka 1:20 PM. Still we go in every time we see them open or if they are graciously open when we want them to be. The tortillas are the best and fluffy. Their green salsa is what dreams are made of. Food is hot fresh and how your grandma would make it. It's cheap and everything is delicious. read more

Extremely busy long wait time to be seated wrong timing maybe first time at this restaurant was good I'm a patient person and I just know I'm pleased staff stress level controlled and great food. Thank you read more

Well, we finally made it Mendez Cafe. After reading all the glowing 5 star reports on a restaurant that was described structurally as more of a dump than as a place we would like to visit, my wife and I decided to see for ourselves how the Mendez family managed to please virtually everyone who ate there. We made it for breakfast on a Thursday morning. As we entered the restaurant, I noticed a section of tables to my left that was closed off. This surprised me since I had read on so many reviews about how crowded the restaurant was. For such a small restaurant, I expected a lot of odors...sort of like in all the Pancake House restaurants I've visited in East Texas. This was not the case; at least not on this visit. We were seated in the main area of the restaurant and ordered coffee and two potato, egg and bacon tacos each. Service was prompt, and the young lady who served us, with a constant smile on her face, was very pleasant. I wish I had asked her name so I could have included it in my report. First impression of the food: I consider myself a connoisseur of coffee. At home, I clean my pot daily, use bottled water, and freshly ground beans. The coffee at Mendez Cafe was very fresh, had a nice aroma, and the medium strength blend was way above the quality of what I expected. Our tacos arrived within minutes after we ordered. I was a little apprehensive when I saw the thickness of the tortillas, expecting them to be stiff and hard to chew. This was not the case. I won't say they were the best I've had in San Antonio, but they were way above average. I would rate the tortillas at Taco Taco just a bit higher, but I want to go back to the Mendez establishment one more time before making a final judgment. The bacon was crisp, but firm, as it should be on breakfast tacos. The eggs were soft and flavorful, and the potatoes were cooked perfectly, not mushy as they are in so many other restaurants in San Antonio. Our next visit will probably be for lunch. I expect the restaurant will be more crowded, which might put a different slant on my opinion, but it won't alter my overall rating if the food is as good as others have reported. read more

This place is by far the best place to get a breakfast taco. San Antonio is FAMOUS for breakfast tacos, and Mendez will always deliver the best. I can't find any place that has flour tortillas like this place, I live in California now, but anytime I go home to visit, this is my first stop, I crave it haha. Come early and expect to wait, some times the line goes all the way outside. Little parking and you may have to fight for it, always crowded but worth the wait! read more

This is probably the best homestyle Tex-Mex I've had in San Antonio--certainly the best tortillas. The beef enchiladas were so good. The refrieds are the best i have had in SA. My coworker's carne guisada looked perfect and they remarked it tasted perfect. The Iced Tea was very good as well. I can't wait to get some breakfast here soon! read more

Arrived and found the whole parking lot full and this was at 11:05am. Walked in and found the place small and packed.Ask the girl working the cash register if I need to wait or sign in and she said only you and I followed her to a small table by the window. Ordered the cheese enchiladas recommended by Grace G and waited longer than usual to get my plate?I think it took 20 mins.My plate was not as hot as I wanted it to be,but the first bite of that enchilada brought on a smile.The beans was good and the rice could be better,but the tortillas made up for it.My waitress was ok,but I think because she was very busy and couldn't be as attentive as she wanted to be. I will defiantly be back to try the Mexican plate or the famous menudo! read more

When I'm craving Mexican food for breakfast this is one of the few places I will go to. Great tortillas and fresh food that just taste home cooked. Not greasy at all. Definitely worth revisiting over and over. Mendez combo for sure. read more

This place is always crowded and the food is worth the wait. Cash only, no debit or credit cards.

Lovely little local place that seems to specialize in breakfast though they do offer lunch. Great home style cooking. Great staff and atmosphere. Just make sure to have cash. read more

Visiting San Antonio for the weekend and tried this place for breakfast based on the great reviews. It lived up to the hype! Amazing prices and excellent food! Coffee was great and the tortillas were some of the best I've ever had. Salsa verde on the table was spicy but just right. It is definitely off the beaten path but it's worth it. Cash only with a small parking lot but if you are looking for local atmosphere and trying to avoid tourist traps - this is a great place! read more

Great food, & they will occasionally run out of carne guisada. Cash only & expect to wait for a table cause it's usually packed. I go there as often as I can. read more

I haven't eaten there in quite a while, but they still have the same awesome food. We ate there for brunch (11am) this past weekend, and only had to wait about 5 minutes for a table. My wife ordered two pork chops, rice and beans. She loved everything! She really loved the coffee too! I ordered a carne guisada with cheese taco and a taco with bean, cheese, potato, bacon and egg (waitress said it's a taco loco, I usually call it a suicide taco). They were awesome, but a little light on the cheese. The tortillas are probably the best I've had in recent years. Grilled to perfection, don't fall apart too easily, and delicious. Btw, the cheese seemed to be shredded velveeta, but tastes great! When I worked close to Mendez, I would go there at least once a week. Just be sure to be patient, as it's a VERY small restaurant with limited seating, limited parking and cash only. read more

Good. Cheap eats if you like authentic south san antonio food. Was some of the best ive had

Great traditional Mexican breakfast. Small cozy place. Great for a quick bite.

It has been a year since the last time I went to this restaurant I could remember how good the crispy taco were how awesome the enchiladas were the food was just wonderful and the service was wonderful it was a different atmosphere and the people made you feel at home I heard it was a family owned business and the family actually worked in the restaurant which made it better today I went expecting that same feeling that I got The last time I was there expecting to feel good about the good food I was eating instead I noticed a change the waitresses weren't the same I don't know if it was still family but it wasn't the ones that we were used to our wait time was horrible from the time we sat down until we got our food it was over an hour and while waiting we encountered six roaches four of them which we killed ourselves I was ready to leave but I was told as long as the roaches don't mess with us we should be fine then the food came finally and it was not what I was used to and that's not even including the fact that they ran out of rice so they had to give me potatoes instead but I will say I've been going there For at least six years before the last time I went and after today's visit I will never go back read more

This is the first restaurant recommended by fellow Yelpers I went to personally check out. Years ago I use to work at a nearby community center and how I never went here before just escapes me. I feel that the hunt of perfect breakfast tacos is an art form in itself. Most places are nothing without their twists on classics. You get none of that here. It is truly old school here. Cash only, parking is terrible as advertised and they take their time to serve you so be prepared for great conversation or electronics with plenty of bars of life lol They are proud to announce that everything is homemade. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros with green sauce, eggs over medium. Portions size are within the comfy confines here, no over the top portions for this big eater here lol Refried beans are good not great, potatoes a little soggy, eggs cooked perfect. Coffee was abundant but cups are small so you will ask for more than one cup for sure. The star of the show are the fresh homemade tortillas and obviously the reason people keep coming back because to be honest the menu is limited and the food is a 3 star plate until u get the tortillas, then its a 4 star plate. A respectable 4 star plate. Not too many places can pull off tortillas this good and I can count those places in one hand. read more

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Best downhome True Tex Mex in San Antonio! Homemade everything!! A must do on the Tex Mex bucket list!!! Excellent!!!

This is probably my favorite Mexican food restaurant!!! Quality, original Mexican cuisine!!!! If in San Antonio it's definitely worth checking out!!!! It's cash only so hit the ATM beforehand! read more

Wonderful as usual!!! Chile verde is delicious! Chorizo is nicely spiced and tortillas are perfect as usual!! And still cash only- we love this place!!! And the breakfast tacos are HUGE!! read more

Mendez Cafe is an example of what makes the southside the Tex-Mex capital of San Antonio. In an Area with the most Mexican restaurants per square mile a few of them stand out. This is one of them. Good tortillas fast service clean interior and best of all reasonably priced. read more

Nothing special. Went way out of my way to try this place for breakfast. Too far to go for mediocre food. I'll stick with my places closer to where I live read more

I love this place but I am very disappointed that every time I come here they are closed. I don't understand how they stay in business. This is the 4th time that I come here and live on the other side of town they are closed when the website says open.... read more

If you want more bang for your buck and a boost of flavor on your taste buds you need to look no further. Mendez Cafe is the place. A Mom & Pop establishment. Been eating there since '88. Gr8 Tex-Mex, gr8 prices and awesome staff. They have a small menu but the results are perfection from years of practice. Chilaquilles (not on the menu) served with refried beans, fried potatoes and of course fluffy homemade flour tortillas. MMmmm our favorite. *Make sure you ask for "Salsa Ranchera on top". I usually add a side of Country Guisado on one plate then share half with my little lady. What a meal! Gr8 coffee too. (filtered water) Cash only. If you see a long line, stay! It's well worth the wait. I always order a xtra couple Carne Guisada tacos to go for my appetite later in the day. Ohh Yeah! read more

Family owned business. I've been going there since I was little. The food is made to order so it will take a while but can be worth the wait. Downside, is its cash only. read more

The bathroom severely close to kitchen. Food not on sanitary cutting board no gloves dirty dishes in same close area would not recommend this place unsanitary, told owners daughter who was at register she was annoyed. I seriously don't know how they pass inspection read more

The best enchiladas ever they use that good good cheese not that cheap crap tacos r the bomb, home cooked not microwaved, the people there are awesome and make u feel like ur home read more

Food is delicious but service is terrible and the menudo wasnt done by like 11AM which is past breakfast so definitely was slightly disappointed. read more

I consider Mendez my favorite little restaurants in all of the city of San Antonio. Whenever I can I sneak over and get an order of Chalupa Compesta...absolutely the best I've ever tasted. Get there early for lunch and have your cash ready...no credit cards. Well worth the trip to get some really good Mexican food. Great service and great food! read more

Great Tex-Mex near the old Kelly AFB. Their flour tortillas are homemade and made fresh all day long; I have actually seen them making these jewels. You can always tell a good Mexican restaurant by their re-fried beans, and their re-fried beans are the best. I love their bean and cheese tacos. My favorite thing to eat at Mendez is the Mendez Special - WOW! It consists of 2 beef enchiladas, one crispy tacos, beans, rice and two flour tortillas; it is absolutely delicious. The enchilada sauce that they make is absolutely delectable. Everything is very good at Mendez Cafe, so you can't go wrong. I've known the owner and his wife, and they are first class people; they aim to please their customers. Hours are from 7:20am to 1:30pm; open every day but closed on Tuesdays. One small draw-back; no credit cards or debit cards - CASH only. Also, at lunch there is usually a waiting line, but it moves rather quickly, and it is well-worth the wait. See you there!!! Here's their phone number for great to-go orders - 210-923-6603. read more

This use to be my favorite spot in San Antonio for breakfast. I still remember the fajita tacos! I cant wait till I go back!