Ray's Drive Inn

Heard about the famous San Antonio "Puffy Tacos" on YouTube. So we had to try it, and where better than Ray's. For the Puffy tacos, I tried the beef and chicken variants. I was blown away. So good! I left in a food coma. I don't know when I will be back in San Antonio, if ever, but if I do, I will eat here again! Thank you so much to everyone at Ray's. This is truly a must stop place.

Nice experience at Ray's. Service was friendly and quick for a party of 5x on a Saturday for lunch with about 2/3 of the tables full. Sound level made it difficult at times to hear each other. Puffy Tacos were rated as very good, but the heat of the meat was lost too quickly on all of them due to the cold fixings, that is why I can't give it a 5 star for food. Other items, particularly the onion rings, were excellent. Parking was a bit difficult to find.

Loved the antique items on display. The food was delicious, staff was friendly, prompt, and patient, and the prices were just right👍 It can get a bit cold depending on where you sit....suggest bringing a light jacket. Overall, was pleased and will return to try more dishes.😊👍✨️

Choice place for puffy tacos. Tried the chicken and the shrimp and both were amazing. Service was excellent. Our waitress took very good care of our needs. Place has a wild decor and old style. Very much enjoyed dining here for sure!

Great little place to grab puffy tacos. Only found two places that have puffy tacos. The originals Ray's and Henry's. If you want puffy tacos this is the place. Have been to Henry's many times today was the first chance to get to Ray's. Two thumbs up.

Our group came for lunch. I had the Mexican plate, which included 2 enchiladas, beef stew, rice, refried beans, a puffy taco, and 2 tortillas. Delicious! The puffy taco was a little awkward to eat, but very tasty! Our server was friendly and fast with our order, checking on us, asking If we needed anything, and bringing the check. Highly recommend. The decor shows it has a lot of history in this area.

First time and wow! The food was delicious. A neighbourhood restaurant that serves delicious puffy tacos and has a great selection of food to choose from. The place is what people like to call a hole in the wall but, it’s a nice and clean place. The customer service is okay. They lack manners and how to communicate with their customers. I bought a side order that cost cents and the server failed to return my change. I asked her what happened to my changed of $10.00 she said she kept it because she thought that’s what I wanted. I’m like OMG I already tipped you. Here’s constructive criticism. If you the server want to play that game please don’t 1. It’s so unprofessional. 2. Return the money to the customer and it will be up to the customer to give you more money or not. 3. Smile and be friendly Esther.

A uniquely vintage dining experience in the heart of the Westside! Known for their puffy tacos but offers good Mexican food as well as a great burger and fries! If you’re from San Antonio or visiting, you need to come to Rays!

A San Antonio institution since 1956, famous for their Puffy Tacos. Ray's is still a functioning drive-in, but I recommend eating inside. The place is truly one of a kind, dripping in unique antiques and kitschy decor. Service was slow, but genuinely friendly. We started with an appetizer platter, which included onion rings and tortilla-wrapped hot dogs that were somehow dry and oily at the same time, and a decent Tex-Mex style queso. The tortilla chips were stale, but the salsa, served in a squeeze bottle, was tasty. The famed puffy tacos were everything I hoped they would be. The thick, deep fried tortilla had a delicate crunch and great mouthfeel. The fillings were distinctly one-note, but adequately savory and satisfying. Shredded American cheddar cheese, salty refried beans, watery shredded iceberg: Tex-Mex cuisine to a T. While we will likely never come back here, it was a fun one time experience as a tourist.

What a neat place! Came here for lunch and my party of 3 was seated right away. It was my very first time coming here and it definitely felt like home! I love all the funky decor. I ordered the ground beef puffy taco plate and crispy dogs as an appetizer. The crispy dog was the best one I've had. So delicious. This place is famous for their puffy tacos, though. I liked them, but I think the oil that the tortillas was fried in was not fresh and I could taste it. I also thought the rice was a bit dry. It had good flavor, but it was so subtle, it kinda just tasted like white rice. So I'd really like to see the flavor on the rice really amped up. The salsa that is served with the chips was not spicy at all and really disappointing. Also not a lot of flavor on that either. I'd come here again and bring folks from out of town! It's an experience for sure!

For a second visit I recommended Ray's to a group of friends based on my initial visit and review. This time there was a Sunday lunchtime crowd and while the place is still interesting and the staff friendly they missed on a couple of critical items...food and service. First: Service. The person seemed very disinterested in giving decent service. Poor attitude, orders were wrong, drinks mixed up, and the ordering process was painful. It was almost as if they weren't listening at all. Second: Food, Fatty Carne Guisada. Mediocre beans and rice. Doughy/mushy puffy taco (was crunchy perfect last time), and muted flavors. It was all just OK. In this case I must complain more about the effect of inept service. Bad service can have the effect of spoiling one's appetite or being more critical of the food received. I felt "responsible" for recommending a place that didn't live up to expectations. I probably won't return. There are simply too many other Mexican restaurants to choose from. Bummer.

Service was top notch and grandma vibe which I loved . Food was delicious and came out pretty quick with their famous puffy tacos! If you come for dinner try to come early due to parking challenges. Overall, had a great time and would definitely come back

I had not been back to Rays since I was a little girl; probably 30 years ago. I didn't feel like much had changed. We stopped in for the crispy dogs and they were just as I remembered. The restaurant is filled with great memorabilia on the walls which just adds to the nostalgia Rays has with most San Antonians. The staff was awesome and very friendly. Stop by and have a crispy dog!! They are amazing.

We went to this restaurant based on a travel vlog we watched on YouTube (Matt & Nat). They are the inventors of the "puffy taco" and have a great selection of tex-mex cuisine. It looks like a place that is always busy. Luckily, we got a table pretty quickly and had food in front of us in under 15 minutes! We ordered mainly tacos but also a side of rice and avocado. I love when you can order avocado and not got guacamole (I can't eat raw onions). Their side order is just mashed avocado. Add a little salt and maybe lime and it's perfect! So good on all the tacos we ordered. We did a mix of puffy taco shells and soft corn tortillas. Everything was fresh and delicious and we loved the light, crunchy texture of the puff taco shell.

We stopped by because we read Puffy Tacos are a thing in San Antonio... So we decided to stop by BUT.... They were slow to seat us. The waitress took her time attending us.... It took 10+ min to seat us. It took about 10min to even get noticed after we were seated. Once she brought our waters, which took another 5 or so min! Our food was brought out after another painful 10min wait! The tortilla consistency was good (and it reminded me of sopes), however, the filling was not... I took a chance by ordering the carne guisada but it was inconsistent. I didn't realize the beef was ground beef rather than shredded beef. We ordered the Carne Guisada Fries as well, but all it had was sauce. It didn't have any meat, or cheese to be honest and it was literally the saddest thing we saw! We're not from Texas, so we will probably not return to the restaurant. Oh and most tables were empty! Other patrons were being served in a timely manner!

So, Ray's is one of the original puffy taco joints in San Antonio! You have Ray's and also Henry's they were brothers who started their own joints (in-family) The ambiance is very hustle and bustle like. I dined in at a small table, and people are often walking in and out to pick up their orders. I was greeted and seated promptly. My waitress Naomi was amazing! Salsa and chips came out to the table. The salsa was nice and bold! I ordered a combo plate with 1 puffy taco (chicken) and 2 chicken enchiladas! The food came out not long after I placed the order. The puffy taco was fried to a crisp and tasted so delicious! Warmed me to my soul! The rice and refried beans turned up the notch on flavor and goodness! There was also carne adobá which I sloughed into the tortillas that I had on the side. The enchiladas were coated in a delicious sauce and each bite filled me with pure ecstasy! This was serious business I tell you! This is an original location for amazing food! Check it out!

Loved Ray's! It's a great atmosphere here, with large spaces and enough room for large groups. The prices were are super solid and very inexpensive for the quantities you get. The puffy tacos were so unique! I haven't had them before so I was happy to try them. The carne guisada is the best one in my opinion, but all are very good! The chips and salsa they provide to start are very tasty , and a bit spicy (I loved the heat!). Cheers!

SAN ANTONIO, TX 78207 / PUFFY TACOS / 12-31-23 / TAKEOUT LUNCH +The puffy tacos were delicious. -Customer service was meh. -Interior needs a deep cleaning and updating/renovating. What I ordered: 1 Mixed Tacos (1 pork and 1 beef) $7.70 Total: $8.34 post-tax

Finally made it back to the Westside. If your not familiar with this place, parking at the restaurant is very limited, but they do have two extra lots to park at across the street. So that is great. Plus, the used to be a cash only business, the now accept cards. Yea. The restaurant is kinda spread out, so there is plenty of seating, but they do fill up fairly quickly. Once we decide to make our way to Ray's. Maria and I were excited. She was going to get her puffy tacos and I was getting some CRISPY DOGS. plus, fresh squeezed lemonade. Unfortunately, the lemonade was not as I remembered it. It was lacking in taste. The puffy tacos were perfect, so were the crispy dogs. Service was pretty decent. Very friendly.

First puffy tacos experience and I was not disappointed! Tacos come with lettuce and tomato, cheese is extra. Make it a plate with beans and rice they were both a great way to round out the meal. Also, two or more tacos come with a jalapeno. Prices were average. We also ordered the beef quesadilla for our toddler not realizing it would be huge, but that was no problem because we took the rest for leftovers and had it as a midnight snack. It was still as cheesy good as the first go around. The parking area was very small but we were able to snag a spot if someone leaving. This place will be a new regular for us.

Mike Sutter, the San Antonio newspaper food writer, says Ray's has the best puffy tacos in SA. While I've not eaten them many places, I can say that Ray's are outstanding for crunchy puff and yummy generous fillings. I especially enjoyed the guisado filling. Best with a cold beer. Friendly service and a funky interior. Recommended.

When i travel out of town I am a bit out of pocket, I don't know the area and rely on reviews and such to find a good meal. These days though the reviews are washed out and subjective, they don't at all times give you confidence you will get a great meal. Well in this case Rays reviews did help. I was at Riverwalk and although it's an amazing enjoyable landscape, the food there is terrible. Going to Rays really brought me into the place I wanted to be with a meal here. I am not a Texan, but in my imagination this is what I wanted for a Texan meal. The puffy tacos are light crispy and generous on very well seasoned ingredients, they are the crown jewel of this establishment. Now that being said, I ordered rhe "Mexican plate" which had a puffy taco an enchilada and some beef chile. It was very good Mexican style texmex. They love ground beef in Texas, they love cheddar cheese , they like these things that in some Mexican spots it's different. I like it and really think Rays doesn't this type excellent. The service was friendly and expedient, they are fast and the food is cooked to order and comes out hot! I have 0 complaints about Rays, next time I'm in San Antonio it will be my privilege to visit again. I may not order as much food but damn I'm not coming to San Antonio without having a meal here again. It was GREAT! Dining room rustic and historical, ambiance was on point for something of this nature.

The food was good but the presentation not. I ordered the seafood plate. Two fried oysters two fried shrimp two fish fillets and it came with French fries and a small salad. The oysters were small. The fish fillets were small. They covered the seafood with French fries. Service was nice. Ambience was nice. But the prices have been outrageously increased. Check out the menu on entrees for almost $50!!!

I know San Antonio is home of the puffy taco, and saw an article in the Tri-County Co-op magazine earlier this year about Ray's being the home of the original and had to add it to my list of places to visit in this trip to the city. And WOW, it was so delicious. I don't know anywhere in DFW that has puffy tacos (a few that have puffed tacos, another favorite of mine that are a little different than this, but still not very easy to find either) and if I lived anywhere near here I'd be here all the time. The puffy tacos had great for texture for the shell and the ground beef was so flavorful (a little greasy but this style and flavor is my favorite way Mexican and TexMex places do ground beef, some places it's too dry or chewy). Cheese was an extra 50cents per taco, but they did not skimp on it and it seemed very freshly shredded and good quality. The rice and beans were amazing, it's so hard to find it this good, especially the rice. You definitely need to stop here and get your puffy taco fix! Parking at the restaurant is fairly limited and it's a little difficult to get in and out of, but there's also a lot across the street to park on. Our service was very good and a very friendly waiter. The chips and salsa were nothing to write home about, salsa is probably fresh made regularly and comes in squeeze bottle, so it's more like salsa you get for tacos and such, a bit of heat to it. Definitely will come again the next time I'm in town!

Reached out via email and got no response. And no answer when I called. What's really disappointing to have gotten this quality of an item from such a great place.

Ray's Drive Inn is a must-visit for their chips and puffy tacos! Everything was delicious, and the puffy tacos are simple, yet nothing I've seen anywhere else. I got a beef taco and a chicken Gordita, both in puffy shells. The lettuce, tomato and cheese were perfect and it made for a very satisfying lunch.

Had to get our puffy taco fix when visiting San Antonio. Loved the vibe of the place and all of the staff were very nice. We waited about 5 minutes for a table for 4. The food came out very quickly. Nothing over the top. Prices were great and portions were good. The overall flavor was fresh and tasty. Would definitely come back for a puffy taco craving.

One of the most perfect puffy tacos I've bite into. The wide range of variety of the infamous puffy taco you can get can be a tad overwhelming but truthfully anyone you get, you won't be disappointed. As for the rice and beans bypass that and get fries, super bland no flavor at all. The customer service was pretty amazing there's always a wait for a table but honestly goes by really fast. I definitely recommend

They have some great puffy tacos and chicken enchiladas. I haven't been there in a while and the prices have really gone up so it will be a while before I go back. You used to be able to drive in and turn on headlights and someone would assist you, now it takes a long time to get them to acknowledge you. Also I would lose sign about short staffed in front.

Great atmosphere, friendly staff, and Puffy Chicken Tacos the Bomb!!! From SOCAL and miss the hard shell fried tacos, the Puffy Tacos hit the spot!!!

This is my go-to place for puffy tacos. I went as soon as they opened and everything was fresh. Sweet tea was sweet and still a bit warm from being freshly brewed but nothing a little more ice couldn't solve. I ordered a bean and cheese, chicken, and avocado puffy taco(s). All with lettuce tomato and cheese. Shells were nice and warm and the food was very tasty and fresh. My server was nice, polite, and came back the right amount of times to make sure I didn't need anything else. I will admit I have been here and the shells not be so fresh but today was a different story, I will keep coming back.

Came to this place last month, when visiting Texas for a wedding, for the infamous puffy tacos. So what better place than the original spot? Service was pretty quick and the people were pretty friendly. If you're a chips and salsa type person, you're not really gonna get that here. You get the chips but you dip it with more of a sauce. The sauce is pretty good and has some heat, and you can use that for your tacos or whatever you order as well. I got the Mexican plate cause it had a little bit of different things to try and my mom got puffy tacos, one shrimp and one fish. The puffy tacos to me weren't all that, I guess I just prefer fried flour tortillas than corn tortillas but it was still good and I can say I've had it. The enchiladas, rice, and beans were pretty good as well, I don't like every Mexican place's rice and beans. It all depends on how it's made and seasoned.

We had to stop at Rays the original puffy tacos. Where in 1926 they invented it. I tried the chicken, beef and brisket wow the brisket was my favorite. You got to give it a try. The corn tortilla quesadilla was really good too.

My Wife and some friends Went on 3-23-24 about 8.00pm we all ordered My friends got their food First we didn't get our food for About 30 minutes later when we got it Food was ice cold and the best part Was everything was on paper plates And plastic silverware and they were Rushing us out of the restaurant Will never go back

Stop by for lunch since I was in the area. Really wanted to like this place as a regular place since I'm in the area regularly. It was OK. My cousin really likes it, so maybe it was just the dish I chose. But I would not run back anytime soon. It was ok.

Great service and food. Music was as firme as the puffy tacos. Of course had to order the crispy dogs. True westsiders know!

This place was so busy. But we couldn't leave San Antonio without having a puffy taco (or four). We kept it basic, cause they were super busy with their local clientele. Just had their chicken and beef versions... and they were both very good, just as advertised. To top it off, people here were super friendly and nice as well. Felt like family. Good times and good eats.

Went here on 11/24/2023 A friend suggested it and I believe I'd seen them on man vs food. The place was a little messy, but that doesn't bother me much, most of the time. Service was good and I tipped accordingly. I would have gone back because the food tasted good, BUT, I got an extreme case of food poisoning. How do I know? Because it was the only food I had eaten that day, and what came out smelled just like the Gordita I had eaten. Sorry, unacceptable making customers sick, won't ever go back.

Really enjoyed our lunch. Crispy dogs and puffy tacos were on point. Can't wait to return.

One of the best Tex mex restaurants on the west side. Everything is good, but I go for the puffy tacos. Just beware of huge portions. Might as well share or go very hungry

Classic! Always good to go to the original puffy taco spot. Consistently good. I only get puffy tacos and always have. Great bite.

Terrible customer service and the servers are also treated horribly. The food was cold and the older woman I spoke to was completely rude. I will not be returning.

Best puffy tacos ever Ever Avocado sour cream cheese fajitas BeBs and rice are ok Tortillas are terrible. Extremely hard

We heard from a Lyft driver that you can't go wrong getting a puffy taco from any place in San Antonio. So I went with the shrimp and fish puffy tacos. Pretty dang good! Not a whole lot of parking and it gets pretty tight when it's fully. Luckily my husband and another guy that was standing in the parking lot helped guide me out. It was really really tight. The inside was so cute and we really enjoyed looking at all the stuff inside

Love Love Love Rays I have been going to Rays since forever and food is always delicious!

I feel bad to admit this, but I've lived in San Antonio almost 10 years and this was my first time having a puffy taco (*gasp*).....and my life is forever changed! My husband and I watched the second season of Taco Chronicles on Netflix and noticed they AGAIN included restaurants from the 210! After watching it, I knew this was a sign to go ahead and finally try the famous puffy tacos. Since their restaurant is closed for dine-in, I decided to call ahead and place a takeout order. The food was ready in just 10 minutes and everything looked delicious! I thought the tacos would perhaps get a little soggy on my drive back home but surprisingly enough they were still super crunchy! The flavor itself was amazing. I order their chicken puffy tacos with everything and cheese, and they were absolutely perfect! I also want to mention how NICE the staff was. Everyone was super friendly and even though they were clearly very busy, their customer service was at 100%.

Definitely not the same. Went for the first time in a while and very disappointed. Darn shame the service is outstanding but the food not so much. And styrofoam plates.

Good food! Loved the puffy tacos which are a staple of this side of town. They updated the menu since the last time I came here. We enjoyed the brisket puffy taco, beef puffy taco and the brisket nacho plate. The lemonade was amazing as usual. We enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant. It really was the cherry on top of our day.

A historic location known for their puffy tacos, a San Antonio staple. The location is in a seedier part of town but the place was packed and the service was friendly and prompt. The interior was busy and eclectic with old school Texas memorabilia, signs and posters. The kids demolished their food and we all enjoyed our first puffy tacos.

As seen on Triple D. Puffy Tacos. They were amazing and different! Friendly Staff. Quick Service. Nice Ambiance!

Super yummy puffy tacos! We drove in got greeted quickly and got our food fast. It's a drive in so you eat in your car she was nice enough to came back over and ask if she could take our trash too which i thought was super nice and unexpected. The salsa is spicy which we loved! A friend said we had to get the hot dogs so we did and i got one of the Ground Beef puffy tacos and one of the carne puffy tacos. Everything was fresh and delicious will definitely be back!

This place is a hidden gem!! Food was amazing, our waiter was the best waiter ive had in a long time!! Service was 10/10 !! It was cozy & inviting... i fell in love with the jukebox I am definitely returning & bringing my whole family !!

This food reminded me of moms cooking. We had heard about this place via a TikTock video. So we decided on our next trip to San Antonio we would check it out. So we were early to San Antonio and needed to wait a bit until check in time; we decided that this was the perfect opportunity. I ordered the fajita puffy taco and the carne guisada puffy taco. They were gooooood! Ordering 2 or more tacos cokes with a jalapeño. I will most definitely be coming back here for some good food. Like I said, the food reminded me of moms cooking and the oldies music playing in the background topped it off.

They have everything needed to produce great food and generally fall flat. Food Not seasoned well !!! No dressing!! Poor execution. Great servers the people up front were nice. The problem is in the kitchen. Really disappointed. The fluffy taco was ok but the beef fajitas inside did not taste like fajitas. The rolled up hotdog would better done with a corn tortilla rather than their flower version. Just avoid this one.

We were in a bit of a rush, opted to get tacos here just to clear our hunger since we were in the area I've always seen the great reviews so I didn't hesitate Wife and I each got 2 carne guisada with cheese and 1 bean&cheese(all 5 in flour) and also lemonade(agua) Upon the first bite it was obvious the tortillas were store packaged, you know because of the taste of the tortilla, carne guisada wasn't good probably because of the flavor of the tortilla, the cheese was the best part The agua lemonade lacked flavor, might even say it's powdered flavored The bean and cheese-I threw it away I HATE leaving a bad review I just HATE it, I'm one to try and retry and retry restaurants especially Mexican style but I'm a bit skeptical of coming back here Maybe one day maybe one day again I'm so disappointed

First time here and the puffy tacos were delicious! Everyone at the table enjoyed their food and we'll definitely be back.

This place has been around 60+years. The place has seen changes. For the better. Sommer is fantastic. She is helpful, cheerful. She brought cold beers. THANKS. Don't lose the juke box music. Take to the younger generations.