Great Places to Eat Around San Marcos

By Alisa Pierce
Blog Content Contributor

The new school year is starting and thousands of new students are moving to San Marcos. If you’re like me whenever I came to Texas State, you’ll be lost in a sea full of people that you’ve never met and facing all kinds of new experiences. This might cause you to need some comfort food, but who can blame you? If you’re new to San Marcos, or just looking for some restaurants to try, here’s a list of what I think are some of the best eateries in town.

Breakfast

I’m a little embarrassed to admit how often I eat at these two restaurants, but with food as great as the breakfast entrées at Café on the Square and M & M Taco Corner, I just can’t resist.

Café on the Square is a great place to grab a home cooked meal for cheap. The café is open most of the day with a variety of food for whenever you have the munchies, but nothing compares to their breakfast menu. From french toast to hash browns, each meal will leave you full and ready to conquer your morning.

M & M Taco Corner is a very popular breakfast venue in San Marcos that offers what some residents consider to be the best tacos in town. The scent of homemade tortillas will entice you just as much as the low prices of the entrées. Try the salsa rojo; you won’t regret it.

Lunch

You’re a lucky college student if you have a lunch break long enough to leave campus, so don’t waste that privilege by always eating at home. If you have time, try Pie Society and AJ’s Ranch Road Grill.

Pie Society is a pizzeria that not only serves great pizza, but also has an interesting theme. Even the names of the pies, such as “The

Illuminati”, are interesting and adds cool flair to the local pizza parlor. This restaurant will entice any conspiracy theorist not only with great food but a thought-provoking theme as well.

If you like barbeque, AJ’s Ranch Road Grill is another great place to grab a quick bite in-between classes. Although AJ’s has only been in San Marcos for a few years, the grill has quickly gained popularity with its late hours and delicious food. It is also located right down the road from some of the Texas State dorms, which makes it a great spot for freshman to eat lunch.

Dinner

If you’re looking for a cute place to bring your date or somewhere fun to eat with your friends, Italian Garden and Japan Latino Sushi & Steak are the places to go.

Italian Garden offers cheap and delicious food that will make your taste buds sing. The restaurant is in walking distance from the UAC and Laurel Hall, which means you won’t have to worry about parking. Italian Garden also offers appealing specials such as chicken parmigiana and eggplant rollatini, which makes the restaurant a fan favorite for Italian food lovers around San Marcos.

Japan Latino Sushi & Steak is one of my favorite restaurants in San Marcos, and will definitely leave any sushi lover satisfied. The environment is relaxed, and yummy entrées such as chicken teriyaki and fried ice cream really make this restaurant one of the best in town. If you’re a lover of Japanese food and need a new restaurant to try, I highly suggest Japan Latino Sushi & Steak.

Coffee & Dessert

Nothing is as essential to a college student’s survival as caffeine and junk food. Tantra Coffee House and Rhea’s Ice Cream offer the best of each.

Tantra Coffee House is a venue that inspires all sorts of creativity. Nothing quite beats the feeling of drinking coffee while listening to a local artist play or working on a project while taking in the scents of coffee beans or food being prepared. Tantra also offers indoor and outdoor seating that offers different levels of inspiration. Whether you’re working on homework under string lights or next to pieces of local art, creativity is sure to come. If you’re a coffee enthusiast or just need a place to study, you’ll definitely enjoy Tantra.

Rhea’s Ice Cream is the possibly the cutest ice cream shop in San Marcos, and you won’t be disappointed by the variety of flavors that they offer. Rhea’s even lets customers suggest new flavors, and every month one of those suggestions is chosen and made into a custom flavor. As if that wasn’t enough to make you interested, Rhea’s is located in the middle of the Square and only a short distance away from some great places to shop and eat dinner. If you stop by, try a scoop of the s’mores ice cream, it’s amazing.