Guero’s Taco Diner

San Antonio offers a few culinary amenities in the vicinity of the Stone Oak neighborhood. There’s Hacienda de los Barrios, a gastronomic playground for classic Tex-Mex, for example. Or, in the case of those jonesing for specialty breakfast tacos, there’s Guero’s Taco Diner, a small, corner store in one of the myriad, practically identical adobe-colored shopping centers.

On the way out of town, my friend and driver, Matt, and I stopped into this sleepy restaurant to fill up before the long drive to Dallas.

What we discovered was an operation that could compete with the best of the upmarket breakfast taco joints, including Tacodeli, Good 2 Go Taco and Taco Garage. (I should’ve known something was up when the owner greeted us in front of the restaurant with an honorable, trustworthy handshake.)

Sharing menu real estate with a machacado pushed back, reminding you to get to work and a greasy net of barbacoa bearing globules of fat, were the standard breakfast options.

The chorizo and egg combo was a harmonious taco. While my bacon and egg taco could’ve used more than one piece of bacon, it did have the trademark salt with a damp egg cushion quality a decent bacon and egg taco should have.

The Bicycle Heaven, a hearty amalgam of fajita, potatoes, cheese and avocado, was definitely targeted to the area’s early-morning workout set, many of whom filled Guero’s Taco Diner as we finished our meal. More than one of them was relishing a Bicycle Heaven taco.

Pirata, brisket, picadillo, carne guisada and a whole treasure trove of tacos are also available. Guero’s really is a diner, offering it all for the ravenous taco enthusiast.

If I had a regret it was that I noticed the Trash Can (a little of everything the kitchen puts out), Guero’s signature item, too late. I was already full and there was no way I could eat another taco.

At least I have an excuse to stop in on my way of out San Antonio next time I visit—which can’t come soon enough.