Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña
Restaurants
As a gourmet cook and local restaurateur, I have
come to know most of the Del Rio and Acuña eating establishments
as well as their proprietors. So, on this page, I have rated
some, but not all, of the local "non-franchise" eating
establishments in both Del Rio and Acuña. While I feel that Del
Rio has good breakfast and lunch establishments, for dining, I
will generally recommend dining in Mexico first. Acuña has the
better selection of dining establishments, whether it's service,
product, atmosphere, prices...especially Margaritas. Most of the
Acuña restaurants are not only superior, but are also closer
than their Del Rio counterparts, being just a few minutes from
the Villa.
I have rated these restaurants...1-10...in the
following seven categories, including "Margaritas" because
that's very important to good Mexican dining..
-
Service
-
Cleanliness
-
Product
-
Price
-
Atmosphere
-
Margaritas
-
Overall satisfaction
Acuña Restaurants
Our latest pick
Macanara...a Brazilian restaurant and bar.
Service 9
Cleanliness 10
Product 9
Price 10
Atmosphere 8
Margaritas NA
Overall 9
*Hosteria de Santa Marta
This establishment is a real find. It’s like someone plucked it out of Central
Mexico and transplanted it here on the border. This is a family owned and
operated restaurant that the locals go to for the real stuff. They have just
about every kind of dish that uses corn…that’s why the call it “hosteria”.
Tacos, tostadas, gorditas, guaraches, sopes. They have pozole, birrira…and the
best menudo in town. They even have pallea on Sundays. They have special chile
rellenos and excellent caldos (soups). Try the Tlalpeno caldo with a touch of
Chile Chipotle. They also have great steaks. Margaritas are only served if the
proprietor, Fernando, is there.
Service 9
Cleanliness 7
Product 9
Price 10
Atmosphere 8
Margaritas 5
Overall 9
*Manuel's
Our #1 pick. This is the complete restaurant. It's not a tourist destination
with all the hoop and holler that gringos expect. It is truly a class place
where you will get a quality dining experience without paying any more than you
would at any of the others. Not only will they give you a 10% discount if you
show the Villa Del Rio business card to the owners when you first enter...if you
simply mention to Manuel or his family that you were referred to them by this
Villa Del Rio website...they'll give you a 10% discount.
Service 10
Cleanliness 10
Product 9
Price 10
Atmosphere 10
Margaritas 9 * We’d give them a 10 if they used a Margarita glass without being
asked to.
Overall 10
*Los Tacos Grill
This original restaurant location...is our #2 pick. This is a restaurant that a
tourist rarely discovers since it's not on the tourist strip. It's a place where
upscale Mexican and Del Rio folks take their friends and families to dine in the
Mexican fashion. For a party of four, we highly recommend the "Comalada
Platter". You'll find nothing like it anywhere. Get a 10% discount if you show
our Villa Del Rio business card.
Service 9
Cleanliness 9 8
Product 9
Price 9
Atmosphere 9
Margaritas 9
Overall 9
Las Playas
The original restaurant going south out of town...not the one in downtown. This
is our #1 pick for seafood. Not at all a gringo hangout. It's the place
patronized by Mexican families that know good seafood. They have the most
awesome seafood menu. Their Mexican Shrimp Cocktail is as good as you would find
in central and southern Mexico. Not a cheap place, but by all means a bargain.
More than worth it if you crave genuine sea food and the delicious "south of the
border" flavors.
Service 8
Cleanliness 9
Product 9
Price 8
Atmosphere 8
Margaritas 10
Overall 9
Crosby's
Historically known as "Ma Crosby's". We like this historic place. It is an
institution that also looks like a complete foto gallery of the Pancho Villa and
Emilio Zapata era of the past century. George Strait sang about Crosby's in his
famous "Blame in on Mexico". It's definitely THE Gringo hangout…has been for a
long time...and can get very crowded and darned loud. Yet, I have friends who
would have it no other way. It is catty-corner from the renowned Corona Club,
and part of movie location for Robert Rodriguez's "Desperado", starring Antonio
Banderas and Salma Hayek.
Service 9
Cleanliness 8
Product 7
Price 8
Atmosphere 9
Margaritas 8
Overall 8
La Cabanita
This is my "personal favorite"...if I want my family friends or guests to
discover the real Mexico. I will not recommend this to a guest until I am
convinced that they want to discover the real Mexico. The food is simple yet
exquisite. We recommend the Anteojos platter. It’s an taco appetizer that costs
about $10 and is just right for a whole meal for three to four persons. Their
prices are so reasonable that we don’t have the heart to ask them to give our
guests a discount.
Service 9
Cleanliness 7
Product 10
Price 10
Atmosphere 9
Margaritas NA
Overall 9
Super Tacos
Honorable mention. This place is just off the plaza on the way to the bus
station. I will always patronize an eating establishment in Mexico like this
one. It is a place where few Gringos dare to discover, simply because they don't
understand it. It is an eatery where the majority of the poorest of Mexicans
will be able to afford to eat the basic "down home" cuisine of their country. It
is where you come into contact with the people who live close to the earth,
which to me is a privilege in itself...and an education. I have taken many a
friend there so that they can discover and enjoy this unique connection to the
real Mexico. No one has left disappointed.
Service 5
Cleanliness 3
Product 7
Price 10
Atmosphere 3
Margaritas NA
Overall 7
Del Rio Restaurants
Chinto's
For hometown Mexican breakfasts and lunches, this is our
favorite. Aside from ordering at the counter, service is dull to
non-existent, but the food is worth going for.
Service 1
Cleanliness 8
Product 8
Price 8
Atmosphere 4
Margaritas NA
Overall 7
Thai Jitra
We mention Thai Jitra's as an Asian alternative. Lunch buffets.
Service 3
Cleanliness 7
Product 5
Price 7
Atmosphere 5
Margaritas NA
Overall 5
Seoul
Similarly, we mention Seoul for a Korean buffet alternative.
Service 1
Cleanliness 5
Product 5
Price 5
Atmosphere 3
Margaritas NA
Overall 4
ChinaBuffet
Del Rio has a fairly decent Asian buffet with an ample variety. It lacks the
exciting Asian flavors. It’s the best Asian alternative.
Service 2
Cleanliness 7
Product 6
Price 7
Atmosphere 6
Margaritas NA
Overall 6
Avanti's
We wish to mention Avanti's as an Italian alternative.
Service 6
Cleanliness 8
Product 8
Price 5
Atmosphere 6
Margaritas NA
Overall 6
Memo's
We mention this establishment, mostly for its setting and its place in Del Rio
history. It is a Tex-Mex restaurant, and the only one on the banks of beautiful
San Felipe Creek.
Service 2
Cleanliness 6
Product 5
Price 3
Atmosphere 5
Margaritas NA
Overall 4
La Parrilla
We like this cute yet simple little place because it represents the only Tex-Mex
restaurant in the "Barrio" that seems to have the feel of the local Mexican
community.
Service 5
Cleanliness 6
Product 4
Price 5
Atmosphere 6
Margaritas NA
Overall 5
Cripple Creek
We mention this place because it is the favorite of the two local "steak
houses".
Service 3
Cleanliness 5
Product 5
Price 2
Atmosphere 4
Margaritas 4
Overall 4
Wright's Steak House
The other of the two local steak houses.
Service 3
Cleanliness 2
Product 4
Price 5
Atmosphere 2
Margaritas 2
Overall 3
TB's Bar and Grill
We like this place. This is not a franchise cookie cutter place. It's not fancy,
but it is an entrepreneurial hometown Texas bar and grill with good steaks and
burgers.
Service 5
Cleanliness 7
Product 6
Price 6
Atmosphere 5
Margaritas 4
Overall 6
Abrijans
Just had to mention this place. Their menudo is the only #10 in town. Best as a
take out.
Service 2
Cleanliness 1
Product 10
Price 8
Atmosphere 1
Margaritas NA
Overall 4
