San Antonio food-industry vets remember chef Josh Calderon, who died earlier this week

Chef Josh Calderon participates in a Fajita Lounge benefit event. Credit: Courtesy Photo / @txtroublemaker

San Antonio’s tight-knit culinary community is mourning the loss of chef Josh Calderon, a beloved figure whose talent, humor and generosity left a lasting mark on kitchens and hearts across the city.

Calderon died on Oct. 19 after battling an illness. He was surrounded by friends and family.

Known for his work at Three Star Bar, Bud’s Southern Rotisserie and The Cookhouse, Calderon was more than a skilled chef. He was a mentor, a friend and a radiant presence who approached every challenge in and out of the kitchen with warmth, compassion and more than a few laughs, his friends and associates told the Current.

Fajita Lounge co-founder and Gigi’s Deli chef-owner Matt Garcia described Calderon as a culinary pro who embodied both dedication and heart.

“Josh wasn’t just a friend to me. He was a friend to anyone and everyone. He could light up a room with his laugh,” Garcia said. “He was the constant joke-maker — there was nothing that couldn’t be made into a better situation with a joke.”

Garcia added that the hard-working Calderon would spent “countless” hours in the kitchen to ensure his teams were set up for success.

“If they weren’t, he’d go the extra mile to make sure they were,” Garcia added. “No matter how tired or exhausted he felt, when he talked about his kids and his wife, it was like a boost of energy — of love — that carried him through. He really was so proud to be a family man.”

Garcia continued: “I’m gonna miss my friend, my road dog. He was there for me in some of the most formative years of my career, and I’ll never be able to thank him enough for the time we spent working together.”

Aaron Peña, Fajita Lounge co-founder and Bar Gimme Gimme co-owner, reiterated Garcia’s praise, adding that Calderon supported him as he faced a battle against cancer.

“Aside from being part of some of my fondest memories — like when I DJed every Saturday at the Cookhouse and he was always there — a good story about his selflessness is how he organized a benefit dinner for me before chemo without even asking,” Peña said.

“He raised almost $3,000 to help me pay for treatment. He did the same thing at my benefit at Gimme, just showed up and started cooking without questions asked. He helped me tremendously during that time — and that’s just one of countless times he did things like that for people, purely out of kindness.”

Joel Rivas, co-founder of Saint City Supper Club, recalled Calderon’s love for his family.

“My favorite memories of Josh are the conversations I had with him about being a dad. His face would light up when he talked about his kids — the way only a dad who truly loves his kids can light up,” Rivas said.

The Sichuan-DASHI team also shared a collective tribute, emphasizing Calderon’s impact on the broader culinary community:

“Chef Josh was a beam of light to the Sichuan-DASHI family and San Antonio’s culinary community,” the restaurant group said in its statement. “His big personality and generous spirit drew us into friendship and collaboration, and we’re grateful to carry his memory forward. His passing reminds us to cherish and love the people around us — our families, teams, guests and our city. Chef Josh will always hold a special place in our hearts and the heart of the Alamo City.”

A GoFundMe for Calderon’s family is still active as of press time. No date has been set for his memorial service.

As San Antonio’s culinary world reflects on Calderon’s passing, one thing remains certain: the chef’s generosity, humor and spirit will remain a cherished part of the city’s food culture, forever and always.

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San Antonio food-industry vets remember chef Josh Calderon, who died earlier this week

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