by Bottom Line: Birria Barrio in San Antonio is serving up some excellent Birria at an affordable price, and kicking it up with their tasty hot sauces.
Birria tacos are everywhere these days, and that’s a good thing. This trend, based on a classic Mexican dish, got its start a few years back, and now Birria has taken Texas by storm and is spreading throughout the country. It’s basically a stew with meat that is slow-cooked in a flavorful broth made with dried chiles, spices, and vinegar (usually beef around here, though traditionally it is goat). Birria tacos are stuffed with that meat and typically come with a cup of broth on the side for dipping—sort of like a Mexican spin on French dip.
I sampled some excellent Birria tacos at Wapo Taco last year (you can read that review here), and I’ve been meaning to stop at Birria Barrio—which is south of downtown on S. Presa St. near my church—for a while. I finally made it there just recently, and I ordered the Quesabirria Tacos which include three tacos with meat and cheese, plus onions, cilantro, a cup of the broth, and their two signature salsas on the side. All of that for $11.99 is a heck of a deal these days.
I’ll start with the tacos, which are first-rate and compare quite favorably to other Birria dishes I’ve had here in San Antonio and also in Houston over the past year or so. Each taco includes two corn tortillas—and these aren’t the small street taco size—that are cooked just enough to get a slight crisp. The meat inside is tender and flavorful and practically melts in your mouth. They don’t add too much cheese, but just enough to melt nicely over the meat and give you some creaminess and sharpness. The broth is quite rich and adds to the flavor when you dip the taco in. And don’t skip the onions and cilantro—they deliver a pungent and herby pop to finish things off.
The tacos by themselves aren’t too spicy, maybe approaching Mild on my scale. The meat is stewed with chiles, so that adds some kick, but those who don’t care for spicy food (we weep for them) should still be able to eat these with no problem. Birria Barrio adds two cups of salsa with each order, though, and that gives you the opportunity to kick things up.
The green sauce has a nice tang along with some creaminess—it has avocado, green chiles, and perhaps some tomatillos as well. I think I also got a hint of garlic in there, and this stuff has a kick, going above Medium on my scale. But the red sauce is where it’s at for those really looking for some burn. That one has chile de arbol driving the heat along with tomatoes and other veggies, and it’s blended to a creamy consistency. I thought there might be some sour cream in there, but apparently not. The sauce has a good tang along with a touch of sweetness and a nice richness as well. And it definitely delivered the burn, going beyond Hot on my scale.
After my visit, I can definitely say these folks are putting together some darn good Birria, and they’re kicking it up to the next level with the sauces. My meal was quite filling—though if you put a couple more of those tacos in front of me, I would have scarfed them down! They also do the Birria tacos without cheese which gives you the opportunity to just enjoy the tasty meat and broth. Plus, they have a Birria bowl, Birria grilled cheese, Birria ramen, and even a keto taco with a tortilla made from cheese. I haven’t decided which of those I’ll try on my next visit, but I’ll definitely be making a return trip.
Don’t expect anything fancy when you go to Birria Barrio, and pick a day with good weather if you plan on eating there as they just have a walk-up window with some scattered tables for seating. A few of those are under cover, but if it’s raining hard, you may still get wet. That said, we don’t get much rain around this town these days, so it’s not a big concern. In any case, this taco shack is definitely worth a visit—and be sure to bring a good appetite, because they will feed you well! There’s also a location at 6203 S. Flores St. called Birria Barrio y Más, which appears to be run by the same folks, and I plan to check that one out soon too.
Birria Barrio
2710 S Presa St
San Antonio, TX 78210
Phone: (210) 289-4066
Hours:
Wed & Thu: 2 PM to 12 AM
Fri & Sat: 2 PM to 2 AM
Sun: 2 PM to 12 AM
Mon & Tue: Closed
