At this point, it’s common knowledge that San Antonio has innumerable places to pick up Mexican food at any given point of the day, with some places staying open to serve customers around the clock. Rocky’s Taco House has two 24-hour locations in different parts of the city that do just that, and they do so without breaking the bank for their patrons.
I checked in at the Rocky’s Taco House location on Cupples Road on a Tuesday afternoon, when the air was still cool enough to warrant a jacket. The midday crowd consisted of seniors, day workers and a couple of large families gathered around their booths and tables in the bright, yellow dining room. Folks seemed to enjoy each other’s company as much as they enjoyed the food, with occasional bursts of laughter ringing out from time to time.
Rocky’s seemed to be a “seat yourself” kind of place, so I did just that, finding my bearings in a booth from which the whole restaurant was visible. Next to my seat, a faux flowerbed sat in permanent bloom while I perused the menu of Mexican comfort foods. Nearly every dish was priced under $10, including the $7.99 large bowl of menudo that sounded perfect for the first cool day in a while.
I went all in on the menudo when the server returned to take my order, and on a whim, I added a bean and cheese taco to the order for a mere buck and some change. Speaking of service, the women who keep Rocky’s Taco House moving carried themselves with a certain degree of familiarity, answering the phones and greeting customers from across the room while they delivered plates of enchiladas and tacos to folks they knew by name.
A brief wait later, my table was graced by menudo, the sporadic bean and cheese and a couple of flour tortillas on the side. The large bowl came filled to the brim with warm, red caldo, and portions of chopped onions and slices of lime were provided for additional customization. This take on the dish was rich and flavorful, with an excellent hominy-to-beef tripe ratio. The broth even had a little spicy kickback that made for lively slurping. On the other hand, the bean and cheese was simply a bean and cheese, and that’s okay. Again, it was $1.50, so no harm, no foul…