There are all kinds of places to eat well in San Antonio’s Medical Center, and you can even find an affordable meal while you’re at it. Mencius Gourmet Hunan Restaurant is one eatery in the area that offers dozens of lunch specials for under $12.
Mencius was winding down from lunch rush when I stopped by the local spot around 1:30 p.m. on a recent Monday. Still, plenty of tables were taken up by people enjoying their succulent Chinese meals. The host sat me at a table along the wall closest to the small fish tank, where I had a view of several wall portraits that hung around the restaurant and what appeared to be a sushi bar that wasn’t in use.
There were 32 entrees to choose from on the lunch menu, including pepper steak, almond chicken and shrimp chow mein. After looking over the specials, I decided to order the pork and shrimp with cashews entree, which came with fried rice, a choice of an egg roll or a fried wonton and an iced tea for $11.50. The tea came out first, and I sipped on that until a single plate arrived carrying all my food.
The entree portion was substantial, filling up most of the plate with pork, shrimp and a mix of vegetables generously coated in a savory sauce. The dish had the tiniest bit of heat to it, enough to give some dynamics to the plate. The fried rice soaked up much of that sauce, so I sopped it up in flavorful spoonfuls. I saved the egg roll for last, almost like a dessert course, and by the time I was done, my belly was full and it was time to head out.
Mencius Gourmet Hunan Restaurant will get you in and out in a jiffy with plenty of food for right around $12. These days, it’s hard to beat a full, satisfying meal for that price with the drink and the sides. I’m already plotting and scheming to find my way back to Mencius so I can try one of the other 32 affordable lunch specials.
Find it: 7959 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78229