Hacienda Vallarta has two locations in the San Antonio area, one near Leon Valley and another off Loop 410 in the former home of Acadiana Cafe. I visited the Leon Valley location, which was popping when I stopped by for lunch on a Friday. You pay as you walk in, and to my surprise, the lunch buffet was only $12.99. Compared to previous buffets I’ve visited, this was a steal. 

A host walked me to my table, which ended up being a booth against a wall with a vantage point of the whole restaurant. Hacienda Vallarta has several food stations, including a salad bar, a bakery and a soup area, in addition to several hot food bars. Here, you can find all sorts of Mexican dishes, from enchiladas to flautas to tacos. The restaurant even has a section for Chinese food, because why not?!

It was hard to decide where to start, so I grabbed a hard taco shell and filled it with the first thing that caught my eye: chicharrones in salsa verde. Then, I reached for a gordita, a quesadilla, a cheese enchilada, rice and a couple of salsas to round out my first plate. I was almost headed back to my booth when I noticed a mound of bright red ribs calling my name.

Of everything I grabbed, I think I liked the cheese enchilada the best, as it had a little more oomph compared to the more plain items. The ribs were a shock when I took a bite and was immediately reminded of char siu. Yes, this Mexican buffet barbecues its ribs with a Chinese flavor profile, and they are highkey good.

For my second round, I was only interested in caldo, so I made a beeline to the soup area, grabbed a bowl and served myself some hot menudo. I also grabbed a little bit more rice and a couple of fried shrimps. Again, I was paying less than $15 to eat all this food, and I haven’t even gotten to dessert yet. The menudo was by far the best dish I had from Hacienda Vallarta, with its rich, savory broth and a hint of heat. After that, I wound down with a small slice of tres leches, and soon, it was time to call it.

Hacienda Vallarta charges $14.99 for its weekday dinner buffet, which kicks in after 3:30 p.m., and on weekends, adults pay $17.99 to dine all day. Even these prices are lower than a lot of buffet options in San Antonio, so it’s no wonder that the restaurant was so busy during my visit. Would I go back? Absolutely, and maybe I’d even try some of the sesame chicken next time. 

Find it: 7200 Bandera Road, San Antonio, TX 78238; 1289 SW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78227