REVIEW: Bandera Molino

On September 7, we came to La Bandera Molino on Zarzamora St. on the recommendation of our good friend, Patricia Mejia.  We owe her a great deal of gratitude because La Bandera Molino is now one of our favorite taco spots in San Antonio.  Everything we love and look for in a taco spot can be found here.  In fact, we thought so much of it that we had to go back on September 13 to taste some more taco goodness.  Here's how we scored it.

Ambiance - Walking into La Bandera Molino, you are really entering two different establishments.  First, it is a grocery store/mercado where you can find most any needed essential for a Mexican kitchen.  From food in the fridge to spices to equipment like tortilla presses or molcajetes.  The kitchen, behind the counter, is clearly visible so you can have a view of where all the goodness is prepared and smell the freshness emanating from grills and pans.  In the long display window are all the menu items for the day.  After spending time looking through all the homemade signs for the day's specials, order at the counter, make your way through a clear vinyl curtain, and enter the seating area.  Comfortable tables, chairs and booths await.  On a Sunday morning, you can catch some ABC's This Week on the TV or the Joel Osteen show.  All of it is background noise for your own taco discussions, but you find yourself in a good place.    5 Tortillas - Tacomadre!

Service - The service here was excellent.  We could not find any faults with it.  The cashiers were patient as we deliberated our order.  The food was promptly served, and hot.  The server visited often enough to offer coffee refills.  The water was self-service, but the pitcher was full.  You can't ask for more than for your food to be warm, your cup to be filled, and your experience to be hassle-free.   5 Tortillas - Tacomadre!

Water is self-service at La Bandera Molino and you get your own plastic, re-usable cup.  Eddie liked this for two reasons in particular.  One, he cares about the environment.  Two, the plastic cups are reminiscent of visiting relatives in Mexico that used this same exact style of plastic-ware.  

Menu - The menu offerings are varied and plentiful.  They range from the usual staples to some extra-special findings. Barbacoa, nopalitos, caldos. AND, the cherry on top for me was that they offered Joya.  In the Valley where we grew up, if you wanted a flavored coke (we call everything coke), you got a Joya.  And the Joya de Manzana (apple) was, by far, the best.  They carry that here! Just. Wow. 5 Tortillas - Tacomadre

Food -  The grease on the chorizo con huevo was the perfect balance.  The machacado was salty and spicy with the chopped jalapeno.  The bean and cheese was right on, although Julian thought there needed to be more balance.  ("Daddy, it's just too cheesy.") The bean and egg, though not mixed, was still delicious.  Eddie and I both tried the nopales and they were incredible.  On the second trip, Eddie and Dominique had the barbacoa, which was just excellent.  Not too soggy, not too hard.  Cooked just right.  What made the meal was the flour tortillas. Among the best we've tried.  No excess flour on the outside, didn't break apart mid-taco, just greatness. 5 Tortillas - Tacomadre

Overall Taconacity -  There have not been many places we've decided to visit more than once on this taco tour.  La Bandera Molino joins this exclusive list with Taqueria Los Angeles.  This is a place we would take our family to when they visit.  This is a place we could frequent (if only we lived a little closer).  There are so many things on the menu we want to go back to try, and we will.  Besides, I want to go back and enjoy a cold Joya de Manzana while the weather is still hot.  Visit this spot the next time you want some tacos.  Trust us.  5 Tortillas - Tacomadre

La Bandera Molino

2619 N. Zarzamora St.

San Antonio, TX 78201

(210) 434-0631

Teno's Tidbits - We first went to La Bandera Molino on September 7th, the day of the first Dallas Cowboys game of this NFL season.  America's Team started the season with a loss, but has since bounced back to a 2-1 recored.  The season is still young, but I can already tell its going to be another up and down Romocoaster, where we'll probably finish with an 8-8, 9-7, or 7-9 record.  In the NFC East, that may be enough to contend for a playoff spot.  Maybe not.  Either way, this Cowboy fan is all in again for another season.  It has been a tough season for the NFL with all the off-field issues it is dealing with (or poorly dealing with).  However, the game still remains as popular as ever.  Hopefully, the drama on the field will distract from the the drama off the field.  For a little while anyways. The off-field stuff still needs to be addressed and improved.

Eddie's Extras - Two things:  One, I have to admit I made a rookie mistake in my taco-ordering on the first trip.  I saw nopalitos on the menu and had a sudden craving, so I asked for them.  The server arrived with my tacos and I was surprised to see exactly what I ordered - nopalitos mixed with sauteed onion and tomato.  Unfortunately, I was craving nopalitos CON huevos, but I did not ask for huevos, so I got no huevos. (Hey!  Stop that thinking.  Cochino.)

Two, my kids accompanied us on the second trip.  I'm not sure if you can appreciate it, but I felt a great sense of pride when she not only asked for barbacoa, but when posed with the choice of flour or corn, gave me a look of disbelief that said, "how dare you ask that question.  There's only one way to eat barbacoa.  Corn, of course!"  #proudpapa