Ray's Drive Inn — Restaurant in San Antonio

A nice little spot with a fun style that's definitely family - friendly but still great for group gatherings as well.

I'd describe it as like a rustic country or home decor appeal, but they've got a lot of fun designs and items spread about the place to make for great conversation starters. Some might find it sporadic, others charming but I definitely think that they're very fitting for a comforting appeal of someone with a lot of stories to tell and many travels about. There's a little of everything for everyone and a lot of it fits well in with the style. It's for sure a comforting and welcoming space though. There's also a few TVs which provide entertainment and there's plenty of seating and space for everyone to be free to move about.

We kept our meals pretty simple and ordered the 4 puffy tacos (I believe it was the shrimp and carne guisada) and the fish plate for lunch. The fish was pretty bland and the bread coating was soft but the fries were decent. Least to say it wasn't really our cup of tea but we loved the puffy tacos which the place is most popular for (and for good reason). They were crispy and light yet somehow held the ingredients perfectly without getting soggy and the flavors were bold, consistent and like a party for the mouth. We enjoyed those with the fries and they were pretty filling to split the 4 tacos amongst just the 2 of us. If you're coming to here to try any of the food it's more than recommended to try the puffy tacos before anything as they're guaranteed to become a quick favorite! The jalapeno also adds a nice spice and comes complimentary with 2 or more tacos (they do offer other shell types outside of the puffy variation but this style is the most recommended among both staff and regulars).

They were rather welcoming and kind and it was a nice experience. When we went it was very hot outdoors and was beating the AC so it was difficult keeping the space cool but they were very cordial with trying their hardest to keep everyone comfortable and explaining the situation while also apologizing for the inconvenience. Checking with people about how everything was, giving insightful feedback when asked about menu recommendations and being considerate about the needs of the patrons made us feel cared for and valued. They foster a great sense of family bonds with each other, regulars and newcomers alike!

If you're a puffy taco fan or someone new to trying them (much like I was myself when we first visited) then this is the best place to put on your list of...

Today was my 2nd time at Ray's and will be my last. My mom and I were seated next to 2 ladies. 5 minutes sitting a young waitress took them 2 ladies drink order and left. Right after our waiter stopped by and did the same for us. About 3 minutes time our waiter showed up with our drinks and took our order. 10 minutes later our order showed up. At this point the 2 ladies noticed that we sat a bit after them but were being taken care of faster. So one lady went up to the host and ask if they can see what was going on with the drinks. Another waiter stopped by their table and started to take the order. The ladies seem ok to start over. During this time the waitress finally came with the drinks while my mother and I were already having our lunch. The waiter then completley stopped helping them and started to walk away with out saying anything. The ladies asked if he can continue helping them. It was known they didn't want the waitress to help them anymore. But the waiter just walked away and made sure to laugh loudly as if he was to good to take orders. The ladies asked for the manager and the same guy returned🤦‍♂️. The ladies at first were speechless and then thought it was a joke being played. This manager left once more after telling the ladies that their waitress would be the one to take care of them not him. Of course the ladies got up and apologized to my mom and I and said enjoy your meal and left the restaurant. Not even 5 minutes of the ladies leaving that manager told a waiter in a laughing voice of what had happened and called the 2 ladies pendejas. I noticed another customer also paying attention and he said they do what they want to do because its family owned. I simply said then the best way to teach them better is to hurt their wallets. I'm doing my part by going somewhere else. For those of you who are die hard customers be wise. Dont piss them off and tip them good other wise you really dont know what's going on behind the kitchen door or being said about you when you leave. You could be a part of an...

What To Order: Puffy Tacos

Over the years I had people mention Rays to me. Apparently a long time argument has been going on about who the original creator of the Puffy Taco is. Ray's is one of the places that claims the title and the original owner even owns the patent on them. They've been featured on Travel Channel, San Antonio Express News paper, Texas Monthly magazine, and others.

So having grown up in San Antonio, and eaten puffy tacos at about a half dozen places, I decided to give this place a try.

First off, the outward appearance lets you know this place has been here a while. It has the classic drive up car hop look. An aluminum roof wraps around the building providing covered parking and on a hot day keeps your car cool while eating inside.

The interior matched the outside, a bit outdated, and seemed as if it hadn't changed much over the years as well. I was here for the food though, specifically puffy tacos.

The menu contained a variety of your regular Mexican plates, and shortly after ordering, my plate of puffy tacos along with a little basket of chips and salsa arrived.

The actual puffy taco here were a little different from other places I'd had them. Many places the taco is doughy, thicker with a flaky outside and moist corn center. Rays tacos were thinner shells, inflated up while frying with little to no center, however a bit chewier than other places. Other than the minor difference in the shell, the picadillo meat, and toppings of (cheese, lettuce, & chopped tomato) were much on par with the puffy tacos I've had many a place.

Overall, the tacos were good, the service OK, and the prices fair, but the location is buried a bit on the west side. Its an out of the way location if your not in the neighborhood, but seeing how Ray's is a long local establishment, its worth a trip to check out the place the Puffy Taco started.

(A painting of Ray's can be seen in the Bexar County...