La Fogata

I don’t even know where to begin with this restaurant! First I’d like to say this place is so unprofessional the staff was back and fourth arguing, the one hostess with light brown reddish hair was so rude she had to be at least 17 very unprofessional on her phone the whole time she acted like I was a bother instead of being friendly and doing her job! The whole staff I can’t rant more about just beyond rude and unprofessional. The food is good, not great and not ever worth my time or business again!

Normally love this place. But this last time we went the service was less than impressive. Our waitress was Tere. She was very dismissive and had a rude attitude to go with her unpleasant facial expressions towards us. I got what I normally order, and when it came out, it was missing the sauce. I asked Tere if the sauce was missing and she said no and continued to explain what exactly was on the plate. I mean… I could see what was on the plate, I am not blind. Then she just walked away without me being able to respond to her. Was very disappointed with this visit and not sure if we’ll be back for the food. Maybe just for the blue margaritas.

I absolutley ADORE this place. Easily my favorite restaurant in San Antonio, The Aguacate Relleno appetizer is my favorite and I always end up getting it as a main dish, even when I swear I’m going to get something else lol. its basically a salad with two halved avocados covered in seafood salad. Their queso flameado is delicious and torched up table side as it should. All of their food is quite delicious, and their courtyard is so colorful and romantic you’ll swear your in a telenovela waiting for someone to get slapped after a romantic kiss. Their indoor area leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion, but it may be to due to the beautiful courtyard. Service is great. The only reason why i dont give this place 5 stars is because i feel everything is overpriced with Riverwalk prices a good ways away from the riverwalk, and i swear the margaritas change price depending on the waiter, although they are reeeeally good. $ 10 for queso in San Antonio should be a crime! Other than that I love this place and am seriously considering ordering food from there after typing this lol

Way overpriced. $ 12.00 for a shrimp cocktail that were the size of the dried shrimp. They weren’t even ½ inch. $ 21.00 for shrimp dish that yes the shrimp were a decent size but about $ 2 worth of salad filled up 90% of plate. $ 14 margaritas that were the size of small one for $ 6 everywhere else.
Time to recheck yourself.

I had heard that La Fogata had some of the best mexican food in San Antonio, but I beg to differ. The food was only sub-​par and the margaritas were not as good as reviews claim. If you’ve ever been to Joe T Garcia’s in Ft. Worth, this feels like a wannabe. I doubt I’ll go back.

This place is not very handicap friendly. Wheelchair did not fit in the doors to patio so we had to sit inside. Manager was insulted when I told him his place sucked for not being accessible for wheelchairs. Inside is super loud.
Food sucked just as bad. Ordered the Poco de Todo plate. Had a bit of everything. It all sucked. Bland as all get out. Enchilada had the shitiest sauce I’ve ever had. Tasted like can sauce. Taco al carbon was served on a cold store bought tortilla. The meat was cold and tasteless. Quesadilla was burnt and nasty. Flaunts had zero flavor.
Recommendation: this place sucks ass. There are 48,999 other places in San Antonio that are better. Shit I stopped at Taco Bell on the way home because I left ¾ of my platez

It was April 28^th and we decided to have a birthday dinner for my mother. We found good parking and just walked in to the outside middle area. It’s very beautiful and the weather was perfect. It was a busy night so we were seated outside under a covered area. Our table was right under a fan which was ok for my sister but not so good for my mom or myself. It made it hard to hear each other. Our waiter was busy, but made made time for our drink order. We were ready for some awesome margaritas, and one piña colada. Our ordered were placed, and our food came out some what fast. My mother enjoyed a giant gordita which she really tried to finish. She enjoyed the mariachi’s and the view. She enjoyed the flan. She like her night, but I think next time we will try and go earlier and sit inside.

We were here around the New Year’s weekend. So, this review is long pending. All I would say about this place,
The ambience is wow !!
The music is wow !!
But most importantly the food is awesome !!
Me and my husband, we were visiting San Antonio. We chose La Fogata for dinner simply based on the Unilocal reviews and the proximity of the restaurant from JW Marriott where we were staying.
I loved the food, its delicious. All in one, I would definitely recommend this place if you are in San Antonio.

We had an okay time here, but with all of the mexican restaurants in San Antonio, we would not return here.
When the hostess went to seat our party of 4, she brought us to a table in the corner where one side of the table was up against the wall. They expected two people to sit on one side of the table… So naturally we said this was not going to work, we will wait for a nicer table. They told us we could wait, but it would be 45 minutes (trying to get us to take the bad table in the corner). Well no one puts baby in the corner!!! 10 minutes later we were seated at a nice table near a fountain in a much prettier part of the restaurant! Do not settle for a bad table if you go here because there are bad tables.
The margarita was pretty. It had a flower in it. I much rather them take the flower out and add tequila to this $ 11 drink. Not worth the price and was one of the worst margaritas I had ever had.
Table side guac needs more seasoning and the food all tasted the same. No matter what you order, it will all taste the same.
Honestly, leftovers the next morning were the best part about this experience.

Love it. Wife took me here when we first married. It was a family tradition for her.
Try the Chiles en Nogata.
Be prepared for a long wait on weekends.

Very good Mexican food and a fun place with live Mariachi band. Very timely and courteous service. It was a warm evening, and we enjoyed our patio seating very much.

Blah. No hot sauce! Ok so the food is not very good and the chips are bland. The drinks are strong though and that is the reason it gets two stars otherwise one would be the best. Food is expensive, the sauce and spreads are less than appealing and it tastes no better than the average fast food Mexican. It is one step up from Taco Bell.

Decent food and service. It’s mainly Tex mex standards done proficiently but not great. You go here to drink and the lush garden setting as opposed to great food. The elderly lady Juanita who may have been a 100 years old was our server. She did an excellent job despite some language barriers.
We ordered enchiladas, fajitas, and tacos. They were all good, not great. They do have ceviche and seafood dishes but other reviews cautioned ordering them. The other staff could be a bit friendly as noted in other reviews. Overall a good place to get stumble down drunk and chow down on chips, nachos, and tacos.

We had an 1800 top shelf margarita and a mango margarita. They were both as exceptional as I expected from seeing previous reviews. Very sweet and fresh.
Got the flaming chorizo queso. However it was less like liquid queso and more like a warm cheese and chroizo mixture you needed to cut with fork and knife. Dipping chips just won’t work.
Shared a plate of the carne asada with rice and borachi beans. The meat was super tender and flavorful.

I’ve been eating at La Fogata for 15 years but the food has gotten so bad that I will never go back. The last 4 times eating here have been a huge disappointment. It still is a great place for a drink with a flower in it, but the food is so bad now. They use a lot of corn starch as a filler in their sauces and the meat doesn’t taste fresh. So bummed.

I had heard such great things about this place and was SO EXCITED to try it only to have my hopes and dreams dashed. Don’t get me wrong I’m sure it could be a fun place to hang out and get your lime slushy (what they call the «award winning margaritas») on during a spring evening in the outside seating area. But we were there during a chilly February and couldn’t even get a window seat. The hostess bumped us for a party that never showed on any of the three window tables…
Our server Danilo promised to make it up to us, and he was good… to me, but ignored my dinner company. I suppose 33% is a passing grade here? Because that is what I would give the food too. Save your money, eat off a taco truck and hit a bar on the River Walk for the margaritas and atmosphere. LA Fogata isn’t worth the drive.

Okay so I’m from Boston. Which means I don’t know a heck of a lot about Mexican food. But dammmmmnnnnn this is the best Mexican food I’ve ever had. Fun ambience. Great nachos and flaming cheese appetizer. The chicken mole is ridiculously good. And the margaritas– delicious! I went with a big group and service was excellent.

I’m giving it only 3 stars because:
I always like this restaurant but there is something you should know. The $ 12 guacamole consists of ONE avocado and pico de gallo. SO overpriced.

I’ve been to this restaurant a total of about 5 times. I’m surprised at the low reviews.
People complained about the wait –
I’ve never made a reservation but have always been seated quickly. They have plenty of seats. Call ahead if it’s more than two and if it’s the weekend. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Ambience– So pretty! I mean it. It’s a very romantic setting especially in spring. Flowers everywhere! Perfect for date night but also very affordable.
Food– I love their cheese enchiladas. It’s soooo good and fills up my tummy especially with their generous amount of white cheese they use. I also like their quesadillas.
Chips and salsa is always a winner here.
I highly recommend getting one of their margaritas. Especially if you like piña coladas. Strong yet smooth.
Service has always been fast and excellent. It’s one of my favorite restaurants in San Antonio and I’m excited that I live closer to it now.
Try to overlook the bad reviews and check it out. I’ll update if anything changes but I will continue to eat here.

Outdoor seating is great in good weather. Pretty ambience with a lot of outdoor seating options. The food isn’t spectacular but the tequila was generous. Pretty expensive for the quality of food.
It’s an upscale restaurant in the more colorful part of town. If you’re looking for better food, Fogata-​boutit, there are better options in SA.

I came here with a friend for dinner. We waited for about 10mins before sitted not bad since we didn’t make reservations I ordered chicken/​beef/​and cheese enchiladas it was average the beef tasted funny. My friend ordered fish taco they gave her 3 tacos shell one of them barely had any fish in it! The guacamole was overpriced $ 4 for a small bolw.
My stomach started hurting I managed to work to my car, i drove home in pain as soon as I got home I went straight to the restroom something in the food upset my stomach. Our table wasn’t clean well I asked one the waiter for a paper towel that I used to clean our table.
Service was ok, there were four guys performing live music. I will not be back back!

Hey there, fellow eaters! I only rated this a 3 because my companions said there food was better than what I had, or it would have gotten a 2 star.
First, the ambiance here is wonderful, with a courtyard to wait in which featured trees, an open fire, and fountain with plenty of seating @ 7 on a Friday. We were quickly approached for drink orders, which were quickly filled and tasty. Refills could be easily had as our server reappeared several times. There was also a 3 piece roaming mariachi band.
Once we were called for a table we sat in a well lit outer porch with neon lighting and a fountain, really nice. Our chips and salsa were on the table within minutes, and then our waitress was by to get drink orders which were filled in a timely fashion (oohhh, big words)
We ordered a queso appetizer. I got cheese enchiladas and my companions got posole and beef tips. Then we waited… it wasn’t bad, it was a Friday… I and another companion found the queso had an odd flavor of ranch dressing. It wasn’t bad, just odd.
I had cheese enchiladas, and they came with a meat gravy (menu’s words, not mine), side of guacamole, and rice and beans.
I was sad. The enchiladas were made with a white cheese, almost completely flavorless, as was the anemic meat gravy, which was a pale shade of red. The refried beans were meh and the rice was okay. The guacamole had no flavor. It needed some garlic salt to perk it up, and I was not the only one at the table to think so. I ate one and a half of the enchiladas and gave up. After being to Mi Tierra, this was quite a let down.
My posole companion said her dish was good, and gave me a sample, which was, to me, a bit bland. My beef tips companion said they were tasty and filling and polished them off.
Once the food was delivered, that was the last time we saw our waitress for about 25 – 30 minutes. We were done and ready for tickets when she showed up again. She was asked to split the alcohol off the ticket to a separate ticket for one of my companions as the meal was paid for by the company, but not alcohol, and we asked for separate tickets. We did get separate tickets, but the alcohol was not split off, and my friend ended paying for the entire ticket out of pocket.
We left and left a tip, around 16%, but felt that it was not warranted by the disappearing after the food was delivered. As we left, she was up at the front chatting with the hostesses. Maybe that’s where we lost her to earlier.
My suggestion, if you want excellent food, an attentive wait staff, and a good place to eat that cannot fail, go to Mi Tierra on Produce Row

Plan ahead and make a reservation or be prepared to wait in the gorgeous outside garden in the La Fogata complex (especially on a Saturday evening).
The vegetarian options are only 2 and the stuffed poblano pepper looks like it’s made with microwaveable frozen veggies. I got that several months ago and went back with a different strategy this time.
I got a big salad that was vegan expect for the chicken. The waiter suggested black beans as a substitute, and I double checked that they had no animal products. I was VERY pleased with the results. The salad was fresh and had the right amount of avocado, hearts of palm, and olives. I got the cilantro vinaigrette and also used some of the staple roasted salsa. My desire of having a big salad for dinner was met.
The staff was very attentive and also able to churn out a plate for a surprise late comer, so our party of 6 ate at the same time.
There were also margarita samples the night we went.
Very pleased with the time I was able to spend there with my friends and family. The mariachi could be loud at times but we were still able to converse and even sang along to the Ring of Fire that they played!

I went with a large group and the only real complaint I have is the noise level. It was hard to have any kind of conversation anywhere. We could have used more wait staff too but overall the experience was good. The mariachis were entertaining and too requests from the group.

I ate here tonight with a group of friends. We dined outside and the atmosphere was great. Our waitress was very nice.
We started with various margaritas. I has a mango margarita on the rocks with a sugar rim. It was strong and tasted great. I would definitely order it again.
Next came the appetizers. The queso flameado was very thick, chewy, and gummy. It tasted like string cheese. The description said it had chorizo, but I didn’t see or taste any. We also shared ceviche. There was plenty of both appetizers left because no one really liked either.
I ordered the mixed enchiladas with two cheese and one beef. The enchilada sauce was tasteless, the cheese in cheese was the same as the queso flameado… yuck. The beans and rice were bland.
I would definitely come back for the margaritas, but I would not order any of the food again that I had tonight. I will try something else.

Always our first stop when visiting SA. We always order the dish called ‘a little bit of everything’. Its not an inexpensive restaurant ($ 16) but its worth it to us. The chips are warm and crisp. The beans have pieces of bacon in them. The crunchy flauta is full of chicken and is the best we’ve had. The cheese is greasy and oh sooo great. We usually enjoy the outdoor seating but this visit we had to sit indoors. The view of the fountain was quite nice though too. Until next time…

Came here today with a friend. Since I am new to the Texas (coming from the east coast) I was really looking forward to trying Mexican food in Texas, assuming that it would be more authentic.
The resturant looks a little hidden in the corner of the parking. I loved the layout of the restuarant, along with the atmosphere. I order «A Little of Everything» (translated in spanish). My food was very good, but not necessarily amazing. I was expecting a little more flavor to be honest. The annoying part were the flys. We sat inside, but I had to defend my food a few times. However, with major of the restaurant being outdoors I guess they can’t really help flies flying in and out. I heard the margaritas are amazing, didnt get to try them because I was driving.

The first time I went to La Fogata I was a senior in high school. Unable to drink the favorite margaritas I became a fan of the fresh brewed tea and the enchiladas dripping with that incredible white cheese. It was a Friday night ritual with friends and family.
Fast forward 30 years and this place hasn’t changed a bit. The most friendly staff, the best food, and (now that I can enjoy them) the incredible margaritas with the flower dressings.
I ordered the top shelf frozen and the table next to us decided to do the same, just because of the presentation.
It’s always amazing to me that a place like this has been around for decades and still delivers the most amazing dining experience in San Antonio. If you ever visit San Antonio, of you have lived here all of your life, or if you just think «Mexican» food is the same everywhere I strongly suggest visiting La Fogata. It’s not expensive, it’s very friendly, and it’s a great place to have a dinner with family or drinks with friends.
Thanks for being a wonderful part of my life La Fogata!

Beloved San Antonio institution as evident by all the local celebrities with pictures on the wall, fantastic margaritas and beautiful locale for dining al fresco (sp?). We love eating outside, much of which is covered from the sun and rain, and I really love getting there early and having a margarita by the big fountain while my 4-​year old throws pennies in it.
They are great with a big group so we go there when we have visitors in town.
Food is good not great, and the atmosphere and name carry a price tag. Drinks and apps are especially overpriced, main menu is a little overpriced.
Great atmosphere and margaritas, but not the best value.

Tasty food and drinks and the atmosphere is awesome. You’d never know you were in the middle of San Antonio

Today our office staff broke out and had a leisurely lunch at La Fogata. We sat in the outside seating area of this beautifully landscaped, quite hidden Texas treasure. I have been coming to this place since the 80’s when the ambiance was not what it is today.
I ordered Tacos de Pescado (Fish Tacos) which were cooked in olive oil, garlic, tomatoes and onions. A savory chipotle sauce was served on the side. This accompanied white rice and grilled vegetables. The tacos were very flavorful as were the grilled veggies. The rice was a little dry and lacked in seasoning.
I will continue patronizing this establishment. Great place for bringing «out of town» guests. Thanks Dan for treating everyone! Hopefully next time we can all have dinner here and have one of their famous margaritas!

Overview:
La Fogata is a casual sit-​down Mexican restaurant close to the intersection of the 10 and 410 in San Antonio with both indoor and outdoor seating that serve a very wide variety of various dishes. It seems to cater very well to large groups with its large circular tables, and decent sized parking lot.
The Food:
I have only been here once and ate the chicken enchiladas with mole sauce due to the recommendation of the waitress here. I loved the extra tortillas (both corn and flour) that we were given as well as the starter chips/​salsa. I thought the mole sauce’s chocolaty sweetness complemented the enchiladas very well. It was a welcome change from the red/​green sauces I am used to and thought it was prepared well.
The Service:
Very attentive and friendly. Our waitress was very helpful in choosing a dish, and was very understanding when we needed extra time.
The Establishment:
Pretty large, and perfect for big parties. In fact, I saw them setting up for a birthday party when I was here on a Wednesday night! Good décor and large mirrors give it a nice character. The fire pits outside I think I available for use for groups but I didn’t ask to make sure. I did not use the bathroom but from the look of the restaurant, I would hypothesize that they are clean but not classy.
Conclusion:
La Fogata is a great casual Mexican restaurant with menu items that will please anyone who enjoys Mexican food. It has great service, caters well for large crowds, and decent portions for the price.

(Let me do this review just for the Austin Unilocalers. If that’s not you, I promise I’ll catch you on the next one.)
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Okay, you know what the coolest thing about living in Austin is? We’re less than two hundred miles from Dallas or Houston. That’s not an Austin slam, it’s about where else can we take a leisurely drive and be in one of the two largest cities in the US, with everything they have to offer? That’s pretty convenient.
And here’s our bonus: Zip down I35 for an hour or so and we’re in San Antonio, the third Texas City on America’s Top Ten list. But I’ve always seen San Antonio in a slightly different light than D or H — it’s less about the hip & cool, and more about that entwined culture & tradition. Think NOLA, but in a special Tex-​Mex kind of way.
See where I’m going with this? If I lived in San Antonio I might feel differently, but when I’ve been down there on day trips with in-​laws or out-​of-​towners and we’d do the Alamo/​Fiesta/​Riverwalk thing, I’d take them to La Fogata and seal the deal.
And I’m not even going to argue about guac or enchiladas or fajitas here, you win. All I’m saying is if you’re doing the totes Alamo package, it’s pretty hard to beat La Fogata’s margaritas, mariachis, and mango stuff for the proper showbiz closure. Whether you want to be inside or out, or the place is packed or not, it’s easy to put tour mode on siesta and enjoy their Hacienda ambiance. I’ve been here with people I like, people I like less, and even with five hundred assorted Unilocalers for an event — and I’ve always had a good time. It’s pretty easy to be a fan of this place, and it’s pretty close to being as good as it gets.

I’d give it five stars, but I try to reserve that rating for truly magical meals. The experience at La Fogata is San Antonio at its finest. In a city that thrives on tourism, this gem is worth the cab ride away from the Riverwalk.
I have been here several times over the past twenty years. I was first directed here by a kind stranger sitting next to me on the flight into SAT. They asked if I needed any recommendations on where to eat. La Fogata was their first choice and I am very glad I took them up on it. I have since taken many visitors here and it is always the same
consistent good experience.
The negatives: the neighborhood, run down, outside eating not conducive for bad weather, outdoor with the flying insects, the wait (it is a big restaurant though and they are used to handling lots of people.)
Try the margaritas — two should be anyone’s limit unless you want a hangover. You can skip hand-​made guac — other places do a better presentation and put more ingredients into it. Otherwise, you can eat just about anything on the menu and you’ll feel like you are in Mexico. I recommend the guisada or the enchiladas verde!