Vegan Dining Guide: San Antonio - Part 4

Vegan Dining Guide: San Antonio - Part 4

Mexican Cuisine


I'll tell you right off the bat that I have expectations when it comes to Mexican food. Growing up and having spent most of my life in San Diego, I have learned how to make vegan Mexican meals at home and if a restaurant dish isn't at least equal to what I can prepare, I'd rather make it myself. This dining guide has needed a Mexican section. We're in Texas! We tried a few Mexican restaurants when we moved here a couple of years ago but I was not at all impressed with the dishes I was served. Not wanting to post negative reviews, I won't mention where we went. I will just say that once you removed the dairy and meat from the dishes there was practically nothing left but a pile of bland veggies. Now, I love vegetables, but these were bland, bland vegetables. Ok, got that out of my system, on to the happy news.

Vegeria: Vegan Tex-Mex & American Cuisine
8407 Broadway Suite #1
San Antonio, TX 78209

Now, with the recent opening of Vegeria: Vegan Tex-Mex & American Cuisine, we not only have a Mexican restaurant to enjoy, we have an entirely vegan Mexican restaurant! We visited Vegeria  during their opening week and were so pleased with the meal. It was brilliant with color, piled with fresh vegetables, and full of flavor. [Update: Now that I've dined at Vegeria a number of times, I will say that the quality is somewhat inconsistent. Some meals have been fabulous, some were a little lacking in the flavor department. But the owners are very open to constructive criticism and I still hope that people will continue to support this restaurant.]

We asked for the Nachos, the special for the day, and received a plate piled high with corn chips, pico de gallo, a delicious cheesy sauce, guacamole, soyrizo, shredded veggies, and a sprinkle of quinoa.  We couldn't finish it, but it was so good that we packed the leftovers in a box and devoured them later at home. Vegeria sold out of the Nachos special shortly after we ordered our plate, so I was glad we made it there in time.

I ordered a tamale, which came with a salad, refried beans, and Mexican rice. I could have cleared the plate myself, but my three year old son fell under some kind of tamale spell and ate almost half of the dish. "Mommy's tamah-ee!" he chanted. This is the child who is very difficult to get sitting still at a table for a meal, but he was so focused on the delicious food that we were able to sit and enjoy instead of chasing the little one around the establishment.

 Tamale Plate

That tamale was such a success, I'm now thinking I should go pick up a dozen tamales as the menu offers.

My husband ordered a plate of chalupas, which I tasted and deemed delicious. He also got a Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie and seemed to enjoy it.

Ansel was enchanted by the dessert case, and spent some time pointing out all of the cupcakes. There were at least six flavors of vegan cupcakes in that case. I was too stuffed to order any of them, or to try the mini Carrot Cake Cupcake that came with our Nacho plate. Husband and son shared that one. The dessert case also displayed some heart-shaped gluten free vegan brownies.

 Enchanted by the vegan dessert case

I accidentally overheard the people at the table behind ours as they were tasting their cupcakes say, "Now, shouldn't this have dairy in it? How is this vegan?" What a great opportunity for people to discover that vegan baking can be beautiful and delicious without animal products!

Mini Carrot Cake Cupcake

The restaurant resides inside Viva Bookstore Complex, so if you have any interest in books about spirituality and religion, take stroll around the rest of the building while you are there.

The dining atmosphere is relaxed and the prices are affordable. I was excited to see so many people dining at Vegeria while we were there, I do hope they continue to pack their tables with customers.

If you go to Vegeria, be sure to check their hours first. The restaurant closes at 3:30 each weekday and 5:00 on Saturday. They are closed on Sunday. [The restaurant's hours have expanded and they are now open for dinner some days. Check their website or give them a call to find out.]

Vegan Dining Guide: San Antonio - Part 1
Vegan Dining Guide: San Antonio - Part 2: Thai and Indian

Vegan Dining Guide: San Antonio - Part 3: Pizza, Mediterranean, and More