Diego S.'s Profile

I had been waiting for Tiger Pop to open since I first noticed the signage off 1604.  I was addicted to Korean rolls living in NYC.  And, while there are some Korean joints in SA, there are no Get In Get Out spots.

Finally, the time had come.  Was it worth the wait? Hmm, it's better than nothing comes to mind.

Their FB page does have a disclaimer post that they are tweaking out the kinks before any official grand opening.  Fair enough.

When you have kinks to work out, the one thing you have going for you is customer service.  Have a great first impression and people will forgive the so-so food, the seemingly lack of order among the 6 people crammed behind the narrow counter trying to make aforementioned so-so food, and any other kinks present.

I was disappointed by the lack of that WOW first time customer experience that, let's face it, any small operation must excel at to compete against The Man.  

The kid at the counter was courteous enough in that This is My First Job kinda way.  Not his fault.  It's up to the owners/manager to help shape what's expected.  

An army is only as good as its leader.  The rest of the staff was too distracted by trying to get their job done.  No hellos or smiles from anyone.  I felt like their job sucked.  Not a good first impression.  If you are going to publicly display your kitchen and staff, gotta have your game face on.

Maybe I'm going too overboard with this review.  But, experience has to be looked at especially when the food is just OK.

I ordered a Kogi burrito and a side of Mandu dumplings.  The dumplings were almost inedible due to being in the fryer too long or sitting around waiting for someone to adopt them.   The Kogi burrito was OK.  It was lacking the zimbamwam flavor it should have.  And, tasted as if it was just squirted out of a bottle that was labeled Kogi Flavor Quick n EZ.

I really want them to succeed.  It's a unique offering.  Hopefully, those tweaks they are working on will enable an awesome first impression for someone else.

I'll just judge Salud on their alcoholic enabling capabilities.  Met a friend for happy hour so it was before night time festivities.  Can't comment on what this place is like then.

But, I had a great margarita on the rocks.  Can't remember her name but the brunette bartender that evening made a hell of a drink.  Strong enough to make me smile but not enough to make me wince.  She was courteous and not scamming for a big tip which I appreciate.  

Two small couches and lots of tables...small side patio.  Parking seems like a mess if it is on the weekend.  

All in all, good little bar.

Polarizing Yelp reviews are generally a red flag for Who Knows What Ya Gonna Get When You Go.

Yet again, curiousity lures me in with her Jean Nate scent.   I love Thai food and it's super close to my apt.  Win Win right?

Not so much.  I ordered a staple Thai item, Pad Kee Mao (and my fave dish) for carryout.  When I went to pick up, the cashier and who I assume was the hostess kept having their pre-existing conversation while ringing me out.  Maybe I'm a stickler for customer service basics, but c'mon...stop your personal conversation, pay attention to your customer, then wait for your customer to leave before starting up about shenanigans from the weekend   Maybe then you could say more than Here you go, Thanks to said customer.  

Back to the food...it was disappointing.  I had to check my temperature to make sure I didn't have a fever which would affect my taste buds.    Is blah now a spice you can add?   Along with parts of a chicken I would think should not be placed into food, there was just nothing appealing about the food.  

I am normally Hungry Hippo when it comes to Thai.  But, this night, I admitted defeat and tossed a half eaten meal.  Tong No No.

I was hesitant about going to this theater based on other Yelp reviews.  I decided what the hell, it's close to my apt.

Sure, there are some things "wrong" with the joint.  It's aging, there's an odd smell you can't quite place what it may be, and it's in one of the most inconvenient locations in San Antonio (there is an easy way to get there that's been explained in another review).

But, it's got charm.  WAAAAY more than that other movie grill that everyone creams their undies for.  I love the lobby.  I love that I don't have to sneak in my 40.  I can buy booze with no shame.  The food is indeed overpriced. But, why fault the theater?  It's that way in any movie theater today.

It's never really crowded especially during the week.  The theaters range in size depending on the movie.  It can get a bit uncomfortable eating from the ledges.  But, I prefer this set up beause it means more space between rows.

If you go to the Rialto, have an open mind.  Don't always judge a book by its cover.  As with any elderly entity, sometimes you just need a lil patience.

Handmade tortillas?  Check
Salsa Fiend Bar? Check
Open 24 hours? Hellz Yeah

This has suddenly become my Go To place when I want fast good tex mex.   It is a bit pricier than their main competitor.  But, the meat is way tastier so I'm fine with it.

They do skimp on the rice and beans as sides.  So, save yourself the headache and get the Palenque Bowl.  You get way more food for less coin than a combo.

Everything is always served HOT so it's great for drive thru.  The food is still warm by the time I get home.

And, who doesn't love a place with a playground where you can send  your screaming children while you eat in peace?

A bit swankier joint than I frequent.  But, there were plenty others dressed like they were going to a tailgate party.  So, I figured no one at Paloma Blanca cares as long as your wallet is in attendance.

Simply put, everything was really good.  I can be a snob when it comes to salsa.  The two varieties they gave with chips were flavorful with a kick.  I ordered some queso which was also yummy.  And, it didn't turn into a solid creature within minutes.  A plus!

For my meal, I ordered Enchiladas Divorciadas.  The rice and beans were a complete washout...nothing special.  The enchiladas, however, were great.  The salsa verde was definitely tastier than salsa ranchera.

Parking could be a nightmare if you go during prime feeding time.  So, plan accordingly.

I'm always happy when I find a good texmex place.  I will spare you what others have said already.  I'll just say this place is good!  Homemade chips with two types of salsas.  The warm version is my preference.

Had the tacos al carbon with steak meat in corn tortillas.  Everything was made from scratch.  Greatly appreciate the tortillas being homemade.  The rice and beans are an afterthought but were still decent enough.  The meat was hot and seasoned.  Served with a small side of lettuce and diced tomatoes.   Pic of my plate in the Photos section.

Service is slow but they are pleasant.  Parking is definitely a mess if you go during feeding time.   Opt for an off time to be able to enjoy your meal.

I'm not a BBQ person (the horror!) but checked this place out on a whim with a friend.   Definitely glad I did.

Stuck with traditional choice and got the sliced brisket plate with fried okra and mashed potatoes.  The brisket was tender, seasoned, and hot cut from the cow.  Brisket can be dicey to cook and most times comes out dry and flakey.  My cut was smoked just right.

The okra and mash were freshly prepared.  Not much to say but good.  

There are many varieties of plates you can create.  Will be heading back to change it up.

Restless one day and wanting something Cajun-y, a Google search resulted in three places in my area: Razzoo's (no), Dodie's (not cajun, why is this listed as such?), and Alligator Cafe.

Dismayed at only 3 choices, I decided to check out AC.  If you've ever been on Live Oak near Peak, you know to keep your judgements to yourself.  Housed in what I assume was a 80s fast food joint, the place ain't pretty.  But, pretty means squat when the food is good.

I've been a few times now and have not been disappointed.  My fave is the shrimp étouffée.  Soupy goodness with a decent amount of small shrimp...just the right amount of kick with a small blob of white rice in the middle.  

The fried green tomatoes were greasy goodness but I wish they were killed wrapped in spicy batter.  Rice and beans were a simple side distraction.

The jambalaya is a big dish of yum.  Alligator and chicken mixed in with peppers, onions, and spices.  

Prices are not cheap but you get what you pay for.

Gotta love they have a drive-thru.

In the middle of the road as far as price goes...Ancho's was an enjoyable experience.   Actually in the big atrium of the Omni Hotel building, it's geared towards lazy guests of the hotel (i.e. Me).  It still manages to make the experience a pleasant one versus your typical hotel restaurants.

If you are dining alone, there is plenty of distraction.  You can gaze up and down the hotel and adjacent office building windows for a possible peep show.  

I ordered the calamari based on other Yelp reviews.  Maybe I was placing too much expectation?  It was good but not O.M.G.  I would have preferred the sauce to be served on the side.  Depending on how much they put in, you could end up with very wet calamari pieces.

I had a simple meal of a grilled chicken sandwich and fries.  Served on bruschetta with greens, tomato, and pesto mayo, it was yummy.  The chicken was plump white meat and the fries had seasoning to them to make them more than your standard frozen variety.

There are plenty of other restaurants within walking distance.  But, if you are not wanting to deal with the 6th Street crowd on a weekend night, just eat at Ancho's if you're staying in the Omni.