Great concept of a cafe and food with a Mexican American twist. The Barbacoa Grilled Cheese is a must try, and I also recommend the Veggie Tacos. Its also a full service coffee shop with special beverages like the Horchata Latte and Mexican Mocha. Also the owner and staff are super friendly. Definitely a place to try if you're looking for a simple breakfast or lunch in San Antonio.
Today is Father's Day. What I really wanted was to have a bit of alone time. So, what did I do on a day that remembers me as a dad? Honestly, once I made it out of the house after a restful sleep, I decided to do a bit of thrifting. All by myself. Now don't worry as the family will be having me front and center later in the day. For the first half though, I was on my own by choice.
Okay, so I found some thrifting treasures and then just decided to do a bit of cruising without a particular place to go. Like a cow, I'm sort of meandering in my vehicle when I remember a place I've been meaning to try for a good while, Barrio Barista. The funny thing was I had to make an about face and head back three miles to get there but it was totally worth it!
Once I arrived and found a table, I looked over the menu trying to decide what to order. Yes, I thought coffee and things to beat the Texas heat but I hadn't had any breakfast and I was already a bit past my normal lunch time. I was almost going to order their cheeseburger when a patron overheard me talking to the order taker. He suggested what I wound up selecting, the barbacoa grilled cheese with avacado and a big red soda to complete the scene.
Now let me tell you, I've eaten more barbacoa tacos than I can count (and that's a lot of those tacos). What I've never had until today was this amazing creation. It's all the things I love. Texas toast, barbacoa, cheese, avacado all together. I can honestly say that this take on a taco staple blows me away. Why didn't I ever think of putting those things together???
I heard about the atmosphere of the place and that alone made it memorable for me. They hit another gear by creating this amazing food combination that separates Barrio Barista from other local places serving barbacoa tacos (corn tortilla and barbacoa). Now don't get me wrong, I still love barbacoa on corn tortilla tacos but their creation is like meeting that special person that you know you want to be with for the rest of your life.
Seriously, you need to try their barbacoa grilled cheese with avacado on Texas toast.
Yes, I will absolutely return and I'm willing to drive all the way across town to experience it again.
Who did I see? It's the neighborhood people, musicians and a small business owner too.
Support small business whenever you are able.
The food is deliscious. I always make it a point to eat at Barrio Barista when I am in town. I've never been disappointed with the food, beverage, or staff. I always have the sweet potatoe hash with the horchata latte. I highly recommend you visit this establishment. Support small businesses!!
Gloria DeLa Cruz-Sandoval
+5
Delightfully scrumptious place! Great atmosphere, friendly staff, tasty hometown foods with a twist all coming together for a wonderful place to relax and enjoy a meal just like your mom served up - straight from the heart.
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This is the kind of place I will drive across town for. The iced horchata latte was heaven and don't get me started on the grilled cheese and barbacoa *drool*.
People will wrap around the building on weekends for this and I understand why. I also love the way the people here are not snobby hipster man bun dudes giving you the death stare if you order a grande thinking it's a large when really it's just 2 sips and all Ice for 6 bucks. Good peep...great food..headed back tomorrow. And yes...it IS worth the wait!!!
Rosalinda Ramos Abuabara
+5
I was very pleasantly surprised to see how great this place was! It's only open until 3, but the place was packed! Totally recommend! The food is great too.
We arrived at 7am to find it was closed however the owner arrived at the same time and offered to open early just for us � What a kind, good man he is. As he made our coffees he shared the history of the coffee shop. Simply amazing!! A must have if you’re visiting San Antonio.
It was my first time there, and I absolutely loved it! The staff, service, food and environment were ALL on point!! �����
Visited for the first time today and I can't say enough good things about Barrio Barista. It reminds me of the coffee shops my mother and I used to go to in the 90s! The food is amazing and the service is top-notch. I had the veggie tacos and my daughter had the BARBACOA GRILLED CHEESE ��. I also got a Mexican Mocha which is made with abuelita hot chocolate. They have milk substitute, so no coffee drink is off limits to the dairy intolerant folks like myself. � The drink selection is amazing. Highly recommend a visit here. Plenty of seating, tables and booths, family friendly.
The chai tea latte was amazing. Service was awesome and the barbacoa grilled cheese was to die for♡♡♡♡
To all who wish to hear...there is an AWESOME coffee house on the westside. The owner, Gilbert, is both a coffee craftsman, and an exceptionally nice gentleman with whom to have a conversation. The atmosphere is pleasant as is the decor. If you're in the neighborhood, and I highly suggest you find your way to the neighborhood, drop in for a visit. You won't be disappointed.
Amazing coffee - whether you choose straight black, latte, or dirty chai! We only have one more opportunity to come back before leaving town - and it's unanimous that we will return! So highly recommended!
Best coffee shop on the west side. The lamp lighting, soft jazz, and rustic-retro aesthetic make for a cozy spot. Their house brew and americano are full of flavor, and their tacos are terrific. Gilbert, the owner, is very kind and great to chat with. All the staff are always friendly. Definitely a great spot for a bite or studying. I hope the hours will be extended one day, but I’ll still be there until then.
Linda Ruth (LindaRuth)
+5
The owner of this place really cares for their customers and the service provided. This place has great food and amazing coffee. The atmosphere is fun and cozy.
Check their Facebook for updated hours. This was my first visit in a few years and there have been some great updates. There's lots of nice shaded seating options outside. Inside there is counter seating, booths, tall tables, and shorter tables. The lighting is a little dim but not dark. I didn't recognize the music playing but I liked it. The coffee bar counter is much nicer. Generally the place feels nicer and more comfy. This would be a good spot to work on your laptop. The wait was longer than I expected, but nothing terrible, and I'd rather wait here than Starbucks. The owner is funny and friendly. I got an oat milk latte, which was delicious. Previously I've gotten the horchata latte, which is amazing. I'm also a fan of the barbacoa grilled cheese.
Martin Keuchkerian (My_FoodieVerse)
+5
Nice, unique coffee shop on the west side. It’s a combination of small restaurant and coffeeshop, with a great menu and drink selection.
The atmosphere is certainly unique, with fun and interesting decorations. The lights are low so there’s a silent, calm feel to the shop. That combined with the slow jazz, makes it great for working professionals.
Overall, very nice, comfortable coffeeshop with a interesting and unique personality. I just wish it was open more days and for longer.
Five Star Driver Networks, Inc.
+5
Returning to my roots was a theme today. What better way than to pay tribute to a neighborhood favorite, Barrio Barrista. The place is looking fabulous. The owner and staff are so welcoming. The coffee and the food are excellent. In fact we search for the feeling of coffee in the morning. Well when you come here if you want a double dose of morning delight, then order your favorite coffee or latte AND THE BARBACOA GRILLED CHEESE!! 🤯🤯🥳🥳😁😁 OH MAN OH MAN!! That combo is one of THE BEST in the central Texas region. Not to forget the great vibes at Barrio Barrista. There is no better experience than to actually see the passion for what they do in action. You can feel the love while enjoying the jazzy ambiance. Don't be afraid to go to the hood when you are headed to Barrio Barrista. This place should be on your to do this week list!
This place is perfect! Horchata latte is delicious and the grilled cheese and barbacoa with avocado is amazing!’n highly recommend it. All the employees are friendly and wear hairnets! This place beats Starbucks 1000 to 1
Excellent customer service, excellent atmosphere, excellent coffee and brisket tacos…. could spend an entire morning chatting or online confirming appointment or clearing my inbox.
A hidden gem…..
I visited Barrio Barista with a colleague during our lunch hour on a Wednesday and it was great. I had their barbacoa grilled cheese with avocado and tomato basil soup. I had never tried that combination but it’s now a favorite. While we waited for our food we conversed with the owner Gilbert. This is a family business that serves proudly the San Antonio west side. Their coffee is good too. I look forward to stopping by during their Open Mic Jazz night. I recommend this place for the service is great and their food is good too. This ambiance is quaint and cozy.
First time today. Went for a quick bite and caffeine. The barbacoa and brisket melts were the right balance of melty and meaty goodness while not being too heavy. We also got a couple chai lattes that were top 10%.
This place has comfortable lighting, not too bright. While there are some aesthetics that seem slightly haphazard, everything I saw from food prep and coffee handling was detail oriented and presented well.
Overall, wonderful place. Seems like careful service meets laid-back atmosphere. I'll get making this a regular spot.
Comfy and Relaxing”
The coffee drinks were super tasty and the food was delicious, we were so hungry that we forgot to take pictures, but the brisket grilled cheese sandwich was delicious; I will definitely go back!
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