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This place is considered an iconic destination for all raza especially for those with roots in la westside and Edgewood. I really liked the enchiladas which are made with cheese and gravy, not with pinche chili meat on top which I don't like when places do that. I asked for onions on top because everybody knows enchildas always need to have onions if you are true raza. The puffy tacos were good also, maintained their crispiness well, no breakage and the picadillo inside was good! The hostess and server were so sweet with good manners. The ambient with los oldies playing on the radio made me so nostalgic, transporting me to a simpler time Ray's drive in deserves it's place in the pantheon and heart of the humble and proud raza del west side.
Ordered one beef puffy taco and one chicken puffy taco with cheese. Both tacos were freshly made and had that classic puffy shell that is light and crispy. The chicken was well seasoned and juicy, and the beef had a rich, savory flavor that paired perfectly with the toppings. Each bite was satisfying without feeling heavy. Could have ate more. Service was quick and friendly and the spot had a casual, no-frills vibe that made it easy to grab a quick meal. A great place if you want authentic puffy tacos.
Awesome place. Food was wonderful and plentiful. We ended up taking 3 boxes home because we couldn't eat it all. Our waitress was wonderful as well Would definitely recommend and will try to come back before we leave town.
These are pretty good puffy tacos. We opt to eat in as it can be a bit messy eating in the car and it needs to eat fresh. The best is the chicken and the beef. The taco does get greasy so make sure you have napkins. Our least favorite is the fish puffy taco. There was no flavor. Overall a good experience.
The most delicious puffy tacos you will ever eat! Anytime in San Antonio I come out here to eat their puffy tacos. Even with an abundance of puffy tacos places in SA, this one is the best!! Their shells are crispy and don't fall apart.
Ray's Drive inn home of the trademarked Puffy taco is located in San Antonio, TX offering Tex Mex and classic Mexican dishes at its original spot since they opened for business in 1956! We came through on a weekday after watching a YouTube video on things to do when visiting San Antonio and put Ray's on our list and headed to the restaurant. The parking is a tad bit small and limited cars are able to park probably due to the fact they have been open since 1956. As we walked in, we were greeted by the staff and were seated, and drink orders were taken. We were given our menus and quickly browsed before placing our orders. We went ahead and ordered 2 puffy tacos one being carne guisada and the other a puffy fish taco. We also ordered the 3 cheese enchiladas which come with rice and beans along with the brisket and onions. For the kids we ordered a hamburger, fried pickles and cheese sticks. We were given complimentary chips along with salsa to munch on before our food came. Our food was ready in no time and was looking tastier than ever! A puffy taco is masa that is fried, and stuffed with meat and toppings such as cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. These tacos tasted great where they were deep fried golden brown to perfection were the guisada was tender and seasoned well. The 3 cheese enchiladas were rolled and wrapped in red tortillas smothered and topped with melted cheese with rice and beans along with shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes to compliment the dish. It also came with 2 fresh tortillas wrapped in aluminum foil to keep them warm. The brisket was smoked and seared with sauteed onions along with rice and beans. The meat was fork tender and the bark was as beautiful than ever. This dish offers tortillas or bread, and we opted for the bread. The cheese sticks and marinara sauce along with the fried pickles and ranch were the real deal and we really enjoyed munching on them throughout our dining experience. Overall, Ray's Drive inn was a good experience and I'm glad I got to be a part of history dining here. The food was good while the customer service to the patrons were great. I do like the abundance of choices this fine establishment offers along with the free refills on soda and fruit punch. Thank you, Ray!
Service: great! As soon as I walked in I was seated. Menus were provided quickly and the waitress took my drink order. Once food was ordered we received our order within 10 minutes Ambiance: there's background
This place is known for their puffy tacos! I got the special beef plate. It was well served and wasn't too heavy. They give complementary chips and salsa dip. The ambiance is vintage and walls are decorated with old pictures and furniture. Service was FAST and speedy. Area is kinda sus but this place is so good!
Super fun, ambience environment great service and of course we had the puffy tacos, which were fabulous !
What a neat place! Came here for lunch and my party of 3 was seated right away. It was my very first time coming here and it definitely felt like home! I love all the funky decor. I ordered the ground beef puffy taco plate and crispy dogs as an appetizer. The crispy dog was the best one I've had. So delicious. This place is famous for their puffy tacos, though. I liked them, but I think the oil that the tortillas was fried in was not fresh and I could taste it. I also thought the rice was a bit dry. It had good flavor, but it was so subtle, it kinda just tasted like white rice. So I'd really like to see the flavor on the rice really amped up. The salsa that is served with the chips was not spicy at all and really disappointing. Also not a lot of flavor on that either. I'd come here again and bring folks from out of town! It's an experience for sure!
First stop in SA. Got a couple beef puffy tacos (added cheese). Service was really quick and the tacos also came out very quickly after we ordered. We tried the lemonade this time around. Fresh squeezes and tart, very good. Would definitely suggest that over the water. No horchata or aguas :/ but not a deal since the tacos are where it's at :)
For a second visit I recommended Ray's to a group of friends based on my initial visit and review. This time there was a Sunday lunchtime crowd and while the place is still interesting and the staff friendly they missed on a couple of critical items...food and service. First: Service. The person seemed very disinterested in giving decent service. Poor attitude, orders were wrong, drinks mixed up, and the ordering process was painful. It was almost as if they weren't listening at all. Second: Food, Fatty Carne Guisada. Mediocre beans and rice. Doughy/mushy puffy taco (was crunchy perfect last time), and muted flavors. It was all just OK. In this case I must complain more about the effect of inept service. Bad service can have the effect of spoiling one's appetite or being more critical of the food received. I felt "responsible" for recommending a place that didn't live up to expectations. I probably won't return. There are simply too many other Mexican restaurants to choose from. Bummer.
5 days ago
Party of 2, dined Wednesday 1730. OVERALL Great service, fresh made food, chill ambiance. SERVICE Greeted immediately. Seated shortly after. Placing order was easy and our server was really helpful with suggestions. We were checked on multiple times. Checkout was quick and simple. CHIPS AND SALSA Complimentary. Chips were warm and crisp. Salsa was mild to moderately spicy. Thicker than thin. Tasted well. CRISPY DOGS Fresh out of the fryer. Like a taquito with a good sized hot dog and little cheese. Surprisingly went really well with offered mustard and ketchup. Definetaly a comfort/guilty snack. PUFFY TACOS -Bean puffy taco topped with lettuce and tomatoes was so delicious. Their beans are salted well and flavorful. I highly recommend trying one. -Carne Guisada puffy tacos topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. The carne was tender and chunky. The sauce was like a simmer stew. Comforting. GORDITAS -Carne Guisada Gordita was stuffed full. -Chicken Fajita Gordita was generous with avocado. The chicken was marinated well. All ingredients were generous, the gordita held well with all the packed ingredients. Mildly crispy, reminds me of a pita sandwich but with a split corn tortilla instead. AMBIANCE Located deep in a neighborhood. The restaurant is casual and and very homey. read more
Tightest bathroom of my life, I thought I was in Japan. I'm also a giant fyi The food was fun - I enjoyed the chalupas they called crispy tacos. The filling was okay and the dessert - apple tart - I'm convinced they make the ice cream from scratch bc that was certainly a higher fat content than sugar content (which is good imo). Wish the ice cream was on the side but overall the dessert was solid Staff are friendly and helpful too. read more
This place is considered an iconic destination for all raza especially for those with roots in la westside and Edgewood. I really liked the enchiladas which are made with cheese and gravy, not with pinche chili meat on top which I don't like when places do that. I asked for onions on top because everybody knows enchildas always need to have onions if you are true raza. The puffy tacos were good also, maintained their crispiness well, no breakage and the picadillo inside was good! The hostess and server were so sweet with good manners. The ambient with los oldies playing on the radio made me so nostalgic, transporting me to a simpler time Ray's drive in deserves it's place in the pantheon and heart of the humble and proud raza del west side. read more
3 days ago
Visiting from Australia. Puffy tacos were a delicious novelty. Meals were huge. Plenty of American paraphernalia to look at. Enjoyed the experience. read more
Ordered one beef puffy taco and one chicken puffy taco with cheese. Both tacos were freshly made and had that classic puffy shell that is light and crispy. The chicken was well seasoned and juicy, and the beef had a rich, savory flavor that paired perfectly with the toppings. Each bite was satisfying without feeling heavy. Could have ate more. Service was quick and friendly and the spot had a casual, no-frills vibe that made it easy to grab a quick meal. A great place if you want authentic puffy tacos. read more
8 months ago
Awesome place. Food was wonderful and plentiful. We ended up taking 3 boxes home because we couldn't eat it all. Our waitress was wonderful as well Would definitely recommend and will try to come back before we leave town. read more
These are pretty good puffy tacos. We opt to eat in as it can be a bit messy eating in the car and it needs to eat fresh. The best is the chicken and the beef. The taco does get greasy so make sure you have napkins. Our least favorite is the fish puffy taco. There was no flavor. Overall a good experience. read more
1 year ago
The most delicious puffy tacos you will ever eat! Anytime in San Antonio I come out here to eat their puffy tacos. Even with an abundance of puffy tacos places in SA, this one is the best!! Their shells are crispy and don't fall apart. read more
Ray's Drive inn home of the trademarked Puffy taco is located in San Antonio, TX offering Tex Mex and classic Mexican dishes at its original spot since they opened for business in 1956! We came through on a weekday after watching a YouTube video on things to do when visiting San Antonio and put Ray's on our list and headed to the restaurant. The parking is a tad bit small and limited cars are able to park probably due to the fact they have been open since 1956. As we walked in, we were greeted by the staff and were seated, and drink orders were taken. We were given our menus and quickly browsed before placing our orders. We went ahead and ordered 2 puffy tacos one being carne guisada and the other a puffy fish taco. We also ordered the 3 cheese enchiladas which come with rice and beans along with the brisket and onions. For the kids we ordered a hamburger, fried pickles and cheese sticks. We were given complimentary chips along with salsa to munch on before our food came. Our food was ready in no time and was looking tastier than ever! A puffy taco is masa that is fried, and stuffed with meat and toppings such as cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. These tacos tasted great where they were deep fried golden brown to perfection were the guisada was tender and seasoned well. The 3 cheese enchiladas were rolled and wrapped in red tortillas smothered and topped with melted cheese with rice and beans along with shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes to compliment the dish. It also came with 2 fresh tortillas wrapped in aluminum foil to keep them warm. The brisket was smoked and seared with sauteed onions along with rice and beans. The meat was fork tender and the bark was as beautiful than ever. This dish offers tortillas or bread, and we opted for the bread. The cheese sticks and marinara sauce along with the fried pickles and ranch were the real deal and we really enjoyed munching on them throughout our dining experience. Overall, Ray's Drive inn was a good experience and I'm glad I got to be a part of history dining here. The food was good while the customer service to the patrons were great. I do like the abundance of choices this fine establishment offers along with the free refills on soda and fruit punch. Thank you, Ray! read more
3 months ago
This place is known for their puffy tacos! I got the special beef plate. It was well served and wasn't too heavy. They give complementary chips and salsa dip. The ambiance is vintage and walls are decorated with old pictures and furniture. Service was FAST and speedy. Area is kinda sus but this place is so good! read more
10 months ago
Super fun, ambience environment great service and of course we had the puffy tacos, which were fabulous ! read more
What a neat place! Came here for lunch and my party of 3 was seated right away. It was my very first time coming here and it definitely felt like home! I love all the funky decor. I ordered the ground beef puffy taco plate and crispy dogs as an appetizer. The crispy dog was the best one I've had. So delicious. This place is famous for their puffy tacos, though. I liked them, but I think the oil that the tortillas was fried in was not fresh and I could taste it. I also thought the rice was a bit dry. It had good flavor, but it was so subtle, it kinda just tasted like white rice. So I'd really like to see the flavor on the rice really amped up. The salsa that is served with the chips was not spicy at all and really disappointing. Also not a lot of flavor on that either. I'd come here again and bring folks from out of town! It's an experience for sure! read more
1 year ago
First stop in SA. Got a couple beef puffy tacos (added cheese). Service was really quick and the tacos also came out very quickly after we ordered. We tried the lemonade this time around. Fresh squeezes and tart, very good. Would definitely suggest that over the water. No horchata or aguas :/ but not a deal since the tacos are where it's at :) read more
For a second visit I recommended Ray's to a group of friends based on my initial visit and review. This time there was a Sunday lunchtime crowd and while the place is still interesting and the staff friendly they missed on a couple of critical items...food and service. First: Service. The person seemed very disinterested in giving decent service. Poor attitude, orders were wrong, drinks mixed up, and the ordering process was painful. It was almost as if they weren't listening at all. Second: Food, Fatty Carne Guisada. Mediocre beans and rice. Doughy/mushy puffy taco (was crunchy perfect last time), and muted flavors. It was all just OK. In this case I must complain more about the effect of inept service. Bad service can have the effect of spoiling one's appetite or being more critical of the food received. I felt "responsible" for recommending a place that didn't live up to expectations. I probably won't return. There are simply too many other Mexican restaurants to choose from. Bummer. read more
2 years ago
We went to this restaurant based on a travel vlog we watched on YouTube (Matt & Nat). They are the inventors of the "puffy taco" and have a great selection of tex-mex cuisine. It looks like a place that is always busy. Luckily, we got a table pretty quickly and had food in front of us in under 15 minutes! We ordered mainly tacos but also a side of rice and avocado. I love when you can order avocado and not got guacamole (I can't eat raw onions). Their side order is just mashed avocado. Add a little salt and maybe lime and it's perfect! So good on all the tacos we ordered. We did a mix of puffy taco shells and soft corn tortillas. Everything was fresh and delicious and we loved the light, crunchy texture of the puff taco shell. read more
So, Ray's is one of the original puffy taco joints in San Antonio! You have Ray's and also Henry's they were brothers who started their own joints (in-family) The ambiance is very hustle and bustle like. I dined in at a small table, and people are often walking in and out to pick up their orders. I was greeted and seated promptly. My waitress Naomi was amazing! Salsa and chips came out to the table. The salsa was nice and bold! I ordered a combo plate with 1 puffy taco (chicken) and 2 chicken enchiladas! The food came out not long after I placed the order. The puffy taco was fried to a crisp and tasted so delicious! Warmed me to my soul! The rice and refried beans turned up the notch on flavor and goodness! There was also carne adobá which I sloughed into the tortillas that I had on the side. The enchiladas were coated in a delicious sauce and each bite filled me with pure ecstasy! This was serious business I tell you! This is an original location for amazing food! Check it out! read more
We stopped by because we read Puffy Tacos are a thing in San Antonio... So we decided to stop by BUT.... They were slow to seat us. The waitress took her time attending us.... It took 10+ min to seat us. It took about 10min to even get noticed after we were seated. Once she brought our waters, which took another 5 or so min! Our food was brought out after another painful 10min wait! The tortilla consistency was good (and it reminded me of sopes), however, the filling was not... I took a chance by ordering the carne guisada but it was inconsistent. I didn't realize the beef was ground beef rather than shredded beef. We ordered the Carne Guisada Fries as well, but all it had was sauce. It didn't have any meat, or cheese to be honest and it was literally the saddest thing we saw! We're not from Texas, so we will probably not return to the restaurant. Oh and most tables were empty! Other patrons were being served in a timely manner! read more
6 months ago
3 years ago
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78207 / PUFFY TACOS / 12-31-23 / TAKEOUT LUNCH +The puffy tacos were delicious. -Customer service was meh. -Interior needs a deep cleaning and updating/renovating. What I ordered: 1 Mixed Tacos (1 pork and 1 beef) $7.70 Total: $8.34 post-tax read more
I had not been back to Rays since I was a little girl; probably 30 years ago. I didn't feel like much had changed. We stopped in for the crispy dogs and they were just as I remembered. The restaurant is filled with great memorabilia on the walls which just adds to the nostalgia Rays has with most San Antonians. The staff was awesome and very friendly. Stop by and have a crispy dog!! They are amazing. read more
3 months ago
3 years ago
Loved Ray's! It's a great atmosphere here, with large spaces and enough room for large groups. The prices were are super solid and very inexpensive for the quantities you get. The puffy tacos were so unique! I haven't had them before so I was happy to try them. The carne guisada is the best one in my opinion, but all are very good! The chips and salsa they provide to start are very tasty , and a bit spicy (I loved the heat!). Cheers! read more
10 months ago
4 months ago
Finally made it back to the Westside. If your not familiar with this place, parking at the restaurant is very limited, but they do have two extra lots to park at across the street. So that is great. Plus, the used to be a cash only business, the now accept cards. Yea. The restaurant is kinda spread out, so there is plenty of seating, but they do fill up fairly quickly. Once we decide to make our way to Ray's. Maria and I were excited. She was going to get her puffy tacos and I was getting some CRISPY DOGS. plus, fresh squeezed lemonade. Unfortunately, the lemonade was not as I remembered it. It was lacking in taste. The puffy tacos were perfect, so were the crispy dogs. Service was pretty decent. Very friendly. read more
10 months ago
5 months ago
When i travel out of town I am a bit out of pocket, I don't know the area and rely on reviews and such to find a good meal. These days though the reviews are washed out and subjective, they don't at all times give you confidence you will get a great meal. Well in this case Rays reviews did help. I was at Riverwalk and although it's an amazing enjoyable landscape, the food there is terrible. Going to Rays really brought me into the place I wanted to be with a meal here. I am not a Texan, but in my imagination this is what I wanted for a Texan meal. The puffy tacos are light crispy and generous on very well seasoned ingredients, they are the crown jewel of this establishment. Now that being said, I ordered rhe "Mexican plate" which had a puffy taco an enchilada and some beef chile. It was very good Mexican style texmex. They love ground beef in Texas, they love cheddar cheese , they like these things that in some Mexican spots it's different. I like it and really think Rays doesn't this type excellent. The service was friendly and expedient, they are fast and the food is cooked to order and comes out hot! I have 0 complaints about Rays, next time I'm in San Antonio it will be my privilege to visit again. I may not order as much food but damn I'm not coming to San Antonio without having a meal here again. It was GREAT! Dining room rustic and historical, ambiance was on point for something of this nature. read more
7 months ago
6 months ago
3 years ago
Ray's Drive Inn is a must-visit for their chips and puffy tacos! Everything was delicious, and the puffy tacos are simple, yet nothing I've seen anywhere else. I got a beef taco and a chicken Gordita, both in puffy shells. The lettuce, tomato and cheese were perfect and it made for a very satisfying lunch. read more
A San Antonio institution since 1956, famous for their Puffy Tacos. Ray's is still a functioning drive-in, but I recommend eating inside. The place is truly one of a kind, dripping in unique antiques and kitschy decor. Service was slow, but genuinely friendly. We started with an appetizer platter, which included onion rings and tortilla-wrapped hot dogs that were somehow dry and oily at the same time, and a decent Tex-Mex style queso. The tortilla chips were stale, but the salsa, served in a squeeze bottle, was tasty. The famed puffy tacos were everything I hoped they would be. The thick, deep fried tortilla had a delicate crunch and great mouthfeel. The fillings were distinctly one-note, but adequately savory and satisfying. Shredded American cheddar cheese, salty refried beans, watery shredded iceberg: Tex-Mex cuisine to a T. While we will likely never come back here, it was a fun one time experience as a tourist. read more
2 years ago
Puffy tacos were cold, taste was bland very disappointing. The rice and beans were also cold. read more
We had to stop at Rays the original puffy tacos. Where in 1926 they invented it. I tried the chicken, beef and brisket wow the brisket was my favorite. You got to give it a try. The corn tortilla quesadilla was really good too. read more
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More info about Ray's Drive Inn
822 SW 19th St
San Antonio, TX 78207
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(210) 432-7171
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https://www.raysdriveinn.net
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Ask the Community - Ray's Drive Inn
What kinda of sauce is on the enchiladas is it carne quisada or enchilada sauce?
They ask which you prefer, either sauce
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