{"id":456543,"date":"2026-10-04T23:56:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T23:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/456543\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T23:56:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T23:56:15","slug":"growing-glp-1-trend-sparks-changes-at-san-antonio-restaurants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/456543\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing GLP-1 trend sparks changes at San Antonio restaurants"},"content":{"rendered":"

In his youth, Jordan Trevi\u00f1o learned to cook with his grandmother, the late and legendary Viola Barrios.<\/p>\n

Even now, as the 35-year-old general manager of Los Barrios<\/a>, Trevi\u00f1o continues to create his own plates. One experiment led to a big hit, the protein bowl for guests on GLP-1 medications.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithin the first five hours it was on the menu, I had 15 orders for it,\u201d Trevi\u00f1o said. \u201cI was honestly shocked at the numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Introduced in June, the protein bowl No. 1 \u2014 chicken or beef fajita with Spanish rice, charro beans, chihuahua cheese, pico de gallo, cilantro and sliced avocado \u2014 caters to a growing clientele.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A recent Gallup Poll<\/a> shows that 11% of U.S. adults (1 in 9) are using a GLP-1 medication to lose weight, up from 3% (1 in 33) two years ago.<\/p>\n

\"\"Louis Barrios pictured at La Hacienda in 2020. Credit: Bonnie Arbittier \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

The success of protein bowl No. 1 led to two more protein bowls, which all appear on menus at sister restaurants La Hacienda de Los Barrios<\/a> and Viola\u2019s Ventanas<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a home run,\u201d said Louis Barrios, CEO of Los Barrios Enterprises.<\/p>\n

The protein bowl and variations thereof are spreading across San Antonio, Texas and the U.S. to accommodate a growing GLP-1 population. GLP-1 drugs were originally intended to treat diabetes but have become popular weight-loss medications under such brand names as Ozempic and Wegovy.<\/p>\n

Those on GLP-1s experience decreased appetites. They tend to dine out less and request smaller servings.<\/p>\n

Chipotle Mexican Grill<\/a> released a high-protein menu<\/a> last year for more than 4,200 restaurants around the world, 20 of them in the San Antonio area. Items range from the Adobe Chicken Taco with 15 grams of protein to the double high protein bowl with 85 grams. Prices vary by location, but the national average is $3.57 for the taco and $13.91 for the bowl, according to a company spokesperson.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From the Chipotle news release on Dec. 23: \u201cWith the rise of GLP-1s and a broader focus on macronutrients, Chipotle\u2019s new High Protein Menu offers more ways for guests to get the protein they want in the portions that work for them, whether that is a lighter bite or a more substantial build.\u201d<\/p>\n

In September of last year, Olive Garden<\/a> released a \u201cLighter Portions\u201d menu in 40 percent of its restaurants to strengthen \u201caffordability.\u201d The chain added the eight lighter portion items<\/a> \u2014 smaller servings of chicken parmigiana and fettucine Alfredo, for example \u2014 to the rest of its locations in January, which include 13 Olive Gardens in the San Antonio area.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Los Barrios marquee along Blanco Road advertises their new protein bowl menu items on Sept. 30, 2026. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

In December, Rick Cardenas, CEO of Olive Garden parent company Darden Restaurants, told reporters<\/a> that GLP-1 drugs impact drinking more than eating. He also said the new menu \u201cjust so happens to benefit the consumers that might want smaller portions that are on GLP-1 medications.\u201d<\/p>\n

Local restaurateur Blanca Aldaco uses Ozempic not to lose weight but to treat diabetes.\u00a0Since she began using the medication regularly in September, Aldaco came to better understand the changing appetites of her GLP-1 customers at Aldaco\u2019s Mexican Cuisine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuests want the same zesty flavor, just not so much food,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

As a result, Aldaco\u2019s is rolling out a petite menu on Tuesday with six items that focus on protein and vegetables.<\/p>\n

\"\"Blanca Aldaco at her Stone Oak Mexican Restuarant Aldaco\u2019s on Aug. 20, 2025. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

\u201cHave the food you love,\u201d she said, \u201cwithout having to finish a large plate.\u201d<\/p>\n

A petite woman, Aldaco did not need to lose weight. But Ozempic reduced her appetite for food and alcohol and inspired the petite menu. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to be Ozempic skinny,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The new menu will feature smaller portions of five favorites: carne asada, pollo Aldacos, puntas de puerco al chile chipotle, enchilada verde and The Centerpiece. \u201cSame flavors, same quality,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

A sixth item is under development. The ensalada verde will feature grilled chicken or beef with avocado slices and flauta croutons on a bed of romaine and iceberg lettuce with cilantro-lime dressing.<\/p>\n

The GLP-1 trend is not affecting every restaurant. Jason Dady, for example, has not adjusted the menus at any of his multiple concepts to accommodate customers on weight-loss drugs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave not given it one ounce of thought,\u201d he said. \u201cHonestly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

A number of chefs contacted by the San Antonio Report have kept their menus unchanged. Those who have adjusted, however, say the GLP-1-friendly items resonate with customers.<\/p>\n

The lighter portions menu has been so successful, Cardenas said, Olive Garden will not attempt to market it. Why spend money, he wonders, to promote a product customers already love?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chipotle\u2019s high-protein menu has drawn strong engagement with patrons, a spokesperson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the Los Barrios family restaurants, the protein bowls have proven \u201cextremely popular,\u201d ranking among the top five best-selling items, according to vice president of operations Josh Riley.<\/p>\n

\"\"The entryway to Los Barrios on Blanco Road features a mural of founder Viola Barrios and the Barrios family traditions titled \u201cAmor. Fe. Alegria.\u201d by San Antonio artist Ana Hern\u00e1ndez-Burwell. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

Jordan Trevi\u00f1o, son of Los Barrios co-owner Diane Barrios-Trevi\u00f1o<\/a>, got the protein bowl idea from the grocery store and a customer. He noticed label after label marked with protein or high protein. Around the same time, he noticed that the mother of a good friend \u2014 a short woman and a long-time Los Barrios patron \u2014 had dropped about 35 pounds while using Ozempic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat gave me the idea we need to cater to these people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Trevi\u00f1o stepped into the kitchen, channeled lessons from his grandmother, embraced suggestions from his mother and produced the first protein bowl.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He asked for a review from Los Barrios Family Restaurants district manager Lindsay Barrios, Louis\u2019s daughter, and accounting manager Kevin Glavez. Trevino\u2019s colleagues offered suggestions and tweaks to the bowl, which were implemented.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A second protein bowl featuring a red drum filet with lettuce and sliced avocado and a third bowl featuring chicken or beef with queso fresco and grilled corn were added to the menu.<\/p>\n

Ironically, Trevi\u00f1o has completed his own weight-loss journey \u2014 but without GLP-1 assistance. He once carried 220 pounds on his 5-foot-11 frame. Told that he needed to lose weight, Trevi\u00f1o dropped 75 pounds over two years through diet and exercise.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Los Barrios General Manager Jordan Trevi\u00f1o at the original family restaurant on Blanco Road on Sept. 30, 2026. Credit: Amber Esparza \/ San Antonio Report<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m now about 150 pounds,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m skinny. One thing I like about these bowls is I\u2019m still able to eat healthy. But every now and then, I\u2019ll eat something (not healthy) that I\u2019m craving.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

One Los Barrios regular lost more than 100 pounds on a GLP-1 but continues to order the special platter: two cheese enchiladas, two crispy beef tacos, rice, beans and a guacamole salad. Louis Barrios explained: \u201cBut that customer says, \u2018It\u2019s the only meal I eat all day.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

So the GLP-1 crowd at Los Barrios Family Restaurants grows. Some order one of the protein bowls. Others indulge in a once-a-day favorite.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cLife is full of surprises,\u201d Louis Barrios said. \u201cAnd this has been a surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In his youth, Jordan Trevi\u00f1o learned to cook with his grandmother, the late and legendary Viola Barrios. Even…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":456544,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[9100,9102,34389,136485,156423,127083,136487,136488,136490,55086,82,84,83,136497,136498],"class_list":["post-456543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-antonio","tag-aldacos-mexican-cuisine","tag-blanca-aldaco","tag-chipotle-mexican-grill","tag-diana-barrios-trevino","tag-gallup-poll","tag-glp-1","tag-la-hacienda-de-los-barrios","tag-los-barrios","tag-louis-barrios","tag-ozempic","tag-san-antonio","tag-san-antonio-headlines","tag-san-antonio-news","tag-viola-barrios","tag-violas-ventanas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/456543","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=456543"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/456543\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/456544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=456543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=456543"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=456543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}