By Janis Turk | Photos courtesy of Los Barrios
If San Antonio had a living room, it would be located at Los Barrios. This beloved family eatery on Blanco Road feels that familiar — that much like home.
In the heart of San Antonio, where the city’s vibrant culture and rich history intertwine, lies Los Barrios, a culinary institution synonymous with authentic Mexican and traditional Tex-Mex cuisine. For almost half a century, this family-owned restaurant has been serving dishes as heartwarming as the story behind them.
The tale begins in 1972 when Spanish radio and television journalist Jose Barrios purchased a small restaurant on West Avenue for his wife, Viola, and they called it La Casa Dora. “My dad adored my mother. He wanted her dream to come true, so he bought her a restaurant. Then three years later he was killed in a traffic accident, and it became our livelihood,” says Diana Trevino Barrios, one of Jose and Viola’s three children and a co-owner of Los Barrios with Louis and Teresa Barrios.
Viola grew up in Bustamante, Mexico, with a lot of love, a strong work ethic, and an unwavering faith in God. A former stay-at-home mom, she was an entrepreneur who always had side businesses going, importing Mexican jewelry and other goods, and making cakes for weddings and quinceaneras. Most of all, she possessed an innate culinary talent that would soon become the foundation of a beloved San Antonio culinary institution.
With no formal training and limited English, she relied on recipes passed down from her mother, aunts, and godmothers, infusing each dish with her unique touch. “These are Mom’s recipes, made just the way her family has cooked for their own families for generations,” says Trevino Barrios.
Los Barrios quickly gained a reputation for its authentic Mexican recipes and beloved San Antonio Tex-Mex flavors. Customers loved Viola, who greeted everyone, mixing her Spanish and English expressions with words of thanks to God and warm smiles. By 1979, she established Los Barrios on Ave B, and by 1980, the family purchased the current location, which originally was an old Dairy Queen building that now has attractive stucco walls, arched doorways, wrap-around dining rooms, and bright patio seating. Today, serving as San Antonio’s friendliest living room, or favorite dining room at least, Los Barrios celebrates its 45th anniversary this month.
Viola passed away in 2008, but her commitment to fresh, high-quality ingredients, and her unwavering passion for cooking, lives on in every dish at Los Barrios. From classic enchiladas to tasty cabrito, the restaurant offers a culinary experience transporting diners to fond memories of family and home.
“Our cabrito is so delicious that I’ve seen older men crying because they haven’t had anything like this for more than 50 years back in Mexico,” Trevino Barrios says.
Other menu favorites include the enchiladas Mexicanas, the shrimp cocktail, the pollito en mole, the Milanese con papas, and the El Mofofo Grill. Regulars also love the authentic empanadas de carne, enchiladas en mole, and chile rellenos. But the most popular dish is their signature “S.A. Favorite puffy tacos” that the Barrios family was honored to serve to President Obama at the White House.
“We’re known for our mouthwatering Tex-Mex dishes and beautiful patio dining experience,” says Louis Barrios. “Most of all, though, we’re known for being a place for families.”
Los Barrios has won numerous awards and has been featured on national and international television networks and shows, including “Good Morning America,” and The Today Show.”
Los Barrios has grown and expanded over the years. In 2004, the family opened a second restaurant, La Hacienda de los Barrios. They also have a third restaurant, Viola’s Ventanas, run by Louis’ daughter, Lindsey Barrios. Diana’s son Jordan is a manager at Los Barrios, and Louis’ son Ian Barrios also manages and works all areas of the restaurant, too. Brother-in-law Roland Trevino and sister Teresa Barrios Ogden (a retired podiatrist) are also part of the dynamic family business.
Viola’s Ventanas, (“Viola’s Windows”), located in Westover Hills, offers upscale traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine in an old-world hacienda-style setting, perfect for enjoying delicious food with family and friends. The restaurant patio rests beneath handsome shade trees, providing a delightful outdoor dining experience.
A new painting by local artist Kathy Sosa honors Viola’s loving life and legacy of delectable cuisine. The Barrios’ restaurants remain a testament to the enduring power of family and Viola’s culinary journey, which lives on in the Los Barrios’ cookbook. “In this way, our mother passes her recipes on to her San Antonio family, too,” says Louis.
Los Barrios is more than just a restaurant; It is a love story between Jose and Viola Barrios, their children, grandchildren, and this community.
“When you walk through our doors, you’re walking into our home,” says Louis Barrios. Diana agrees.
“Everybody becomes an extension of our family. It’s just a San Antonio thing.”
Los Barrios – Continental Mexican Cuisine
4223 Blanco Rd San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 732-6017
Viola’s Ventanas
9660 Westover Hills Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78251
(210) 684-9660
