Los Barrios is one of the few restaurants in San Antonio that I would whole-heartedly declare a must-visit, for locals and tourists alike. <br> I can't add much more than Mr. Ochoa did, but this restaurant is my very favorite Mexican restaurant, overall, in San Antonio. I like it even more than I like Rosario's, which tends to get better reviews. I think that's more of critics trying to be "hip." The food IS really good at Rosario's, but...it's like some artsy version of Mexican food--but that's another review. I've yet to find anything at Los Barrios that isn't made well. Even their Margaritas are top-notch, not too sweet, like some places make it. The rice, especially, is heavenly, light and fluffy and oh-so-yummy. <br> The setting is festive without being tourist cutesie. It has a refreshing "garden patio" look that makes it both relaxing and fun. No clunky dark wood furniture and dreary ligh ... more

Los Barrios is one of the few restaurants in San Antonio that I would whole-heartedly declare a must-visit, for locals and tourists alike. <br> I can't add much more than Mr. Ochoa did, but this restaurant is my very favorite Mexican restaurant, overall, in San Antonio. I like it even more than I like Rosario's, which tends to get better reviews. I think that's more of critics trying to be "hip." The food IS really good at Rosario's, but...it's like some artsy version of Mexican food--but that's another review. I've yet to find anything at Los Barrios that isn't made well. Even their Margaritas are top-notch, not too sweet, like some places make it. The rice, especially, is heavenly, light and fluffy and oh-so-yummy. <br> The setting is festive without being tourist cutesie. It has a refreshing "garden patio" look that makes it both relaxing and fun. No clunky dark wood furniture and dreary lighting here. It's light and pretty, with fresh plants everywhere. You feel like you can breathe at Los Barrios. <br> The service varies, depending on when you go. I've been during the lulls, and it's as good as the finest restaurants in town. But on a Friday or Saturday night, the staff is really busy, and not as attentive. Regardless of time of day or week, I've noticed a bad habit of the staff's not re-filling chips and salsa promptly, or having to be asked to do it. A good waiter would know that, if he comes to the table and sees the salsa bowl empty--refill it, or at least ask if it needs done! Still, the overall service, and the "mood" of Los Barrios is casual-friendly. You feel like you're eating with a family. A very big family on a lovely spring day. There's just no place else like it, in all of San Antonio. <br> One final quibble: a bit of expansion of the Los Barrios desserts menu would be a real bonus. Their guyaba empanada is out of this world, so I can just imagine what they would do with some of the other classic Mexican desserts! <br> To anyone who has never been to Los Barrios, you HAVE to go. If you haven't been in a while, go. And for the rest of us, who make regular pilgrimages, le veré allí. less