San Antonio’s Eastside is home to Dignowity Hill, a neighborhood embedded with its fair share of restaurant gems, including Con Huevos, 2-1-Dough Pizza Co. and The Magpie. Among those eateries is Panchos & Gringos, an affordable stop for Mexican and American comfort foods.
I went by Panchos & Gringos for lunch on a Thursday and helped myself to a menu and a table near a window. A server came over and dropped off multiple salsas, explaining what each one was before explaining that the drink area is self-serve.
While casually flipping through the paper menu and seeing chilaquiles, sandwiches, tacos and omelettes among the restaurant’s offerings, I noticed a family wrapping up their meal as two men came in and immediately ordered what I believe was pozole. They have a little bit of everything for the people dining at Panchos & Gringos.
Panchos & Gringos is located in the Dignowity Hill neighborhood. (Polly Anna Rocha/MySA)
The part of the menu titled “Sergio’s Signature Sandwiches” was particularly appealing, with prices ranging from $3 to $9. The $6 bacon, egg and cheese on a roll sounded good, especially when paired with a basket of fries for $5. At this restaurant, the server takes your order at the table. Before I knew it, my sandwich and fries were brought to the table, ready to eat.
The bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich came on a ciabatta roll that was surprisingly smaller than I imagined. I figured the table salsas were there for a reason, so I slathered some of the salsa verde on the sandwich before taking a bite. Overall, it was what I expected – a salty, savory and, at times, spicy dish thanks to the extra hot sauce I added. The fries were just fine and certainly did the job of satiating the remainder of my appetite, but more importantly, they came out hot from the fryer.
A basket of fries is $5 at Panchos & Gringos. (Polly Anna Rocha/MySA)
My total came out to about $14, which I’d say is on par with what fast food joints are charging these days. Is going through a drive-thru easier? Sure, but what you get at Panchos & Gringos is something more comforting than a quick bite. You get house-made salsas, a diverse menu of comfort foods and a moment to slow down to enjoy your meal. You might even get a chance to meet the owner, Sergio Calderon, who is happy to share an anecdote or two with dine-in customers.
Find it: 900 Nolan St., San Antonio, TX 78202
This article originally published at San Antonio Mexican comfort food staple stuns with endless affordable eats.