Alvin Ord's Sandwich Shop

In a small space settled off University Drive in San Marcos sits another one of the city’s little-known treasures. Alvin Ord’s Sandwich Shop may be hard to pronounce, but it’s never difficult to enjoy. The small deli-style restaurant has something for every sandwich-lover. Whether you prefer a hot ham and cheese, or something a little heartier like chopped brisket, they’ve got it here.

The historic San Marcos staple is a favorite lunch spot for students and families alike. After hours studying for mind-numbing exams, Texas State students can find their salvation at Alvin Ord’s – literally. The shop’s most acclaimed item on the menu is titled as such and includes three different cheeses toasted into the bun with ham, salami and spiced luncheon meat topped off with lettuce, tomato, onion and the perfect amount of mustard. Pick your choice of small, medium or large.

This is our sandwich of choice when we visit Alvin Ord’s, and we tell our friends and family members about it constantly. This is not your typical sandwich shop. It has all the character that a small business should have in this town, and the food doesn’t need a celebrity endorsement – it speaks for itself. It’s definitely worth a pit stop if you happen to be passing through on a road trip down I-35. See their full menu here.

Dig in!
Kristina & Sean

Alvin Ord’s Sandwich Shop

204 University Drive

San Marcos, TX

Phone:

(512) 353-8042

Hours:

Open daily

Tap Room

This San Marcos institution is one that should be a requirement on every Texas State student’s degree plan.

Settled in the middle of downtown, Tap Room Pub & Grub, known as simply “Tap Room” to the locals, has been around since 1994 and proudly boasts the best burgers in town - and rightfully so. Their homemade, slightly sweet buns and attention-grabbing toppings come together to produce burgers better than any other we have ever consumed – no really. That, mixed with the intimate pub ambiance and a beer list of 60 on tap, this unique bar and restaurant is sure to leave you feeling full and anxious for your next trip back.

As San Marcos residents ourselves, we know the best day to hit Tap Room is Thursdays, when the special is buy a burger and fries and get a beer free. The bar does offer other specials each day of the week, which you can check out on their website.

Our two favorite staples are the Hell Burger and the Guacamole Queso Burger. While the majority of the burgers on the menu come with half-pound patties, there is one called the pounder, which as the name suggests, is a whole double-decker pound of meat.

During one of our first trips there, Sean asked what the biggest, spiciest burger on the menu was, and the pounder hell-style was delivered to our table. This burger is a combination of the pounder and the Hell Burger, which includes two slices of jalapeno-jack cheese as well as American cheese, grilled onions, jalapenos and their homemade hot wing sauce all settled between two of their delicious buns.

Another slightly-spicy option is the Guacamole Queso Burger, which is Kristina’s favorite off the burger list. This half-pound patti is smothered in their homemade queso and guacamole between two buns, and served with a pickle spear on the side.

We are also both part of Tap Room’s World Travelers Club, which gives restaurant-goers a card to be initialed by a bartender or waiter each time they try a new beer. Once all sixty beers hav

e been tried and marked on the card, you receive a plaque on the wall with your name and the quote of your choice so that your legacy can be forever left within the walls of Tap Room.

We hands-down rate this pub and restaurant with five stars. It is by far our favorite place to eat and drink in town, and probably a very high contender for our favorite restaurant in all of Central Texas.

Enjoy!

Sean and Kristina

Tap Room Pub & Grub

129 E. Hopkins St. Suite 120

San Marcos, TX

Phone:

(512) 392-9824

Hours:

Sunday through Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. - 12 a.m.

Thursday through Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 1 a.m.

Abel's Diner

Settled in between Austin and San Antonio off Interstate 35 in the little town of Schertz, sits Abel's Diner, a staple in the town since 1991.

Abel's offers the best of any home-cooked meal, serving everything from eggs benedict and breakfast tacos in the morning to fried catfish and chicken-fried steak in the afternoon. For our first visit to the diner, we chose to go in the morning to try some of their delicious breakfast options.

Sean went for the eggs benedict, which consisted of two halves of an English muffin, topped with ham and poached eggs. Served with a side of potatoes and toast. YUM

Being the Mexican food-lover that I am, it was no contest for me when I found out they had breakfast tacos. Two flour tortillas wrapped around sausage, egg and cheese :)

Don't let it's size fool you. While this diner may be small, the food packs a huge punch. We would absolutely recommend it to anyone who happens to be passing through. We give Abel's a four-star rating out of five.

Check out some more of Abel's grub at their website and see more delicious options.

Enjoy!
Sean and Kristina

Abel's Diner

17605 IH 35 N

Schertz, TX

Phone:

(210) 651-9606

Hours:

Open Daily

6:00am to 9:00pm

Breakfast Served:

Mon - Fri 6:00am to 11:00am

Sat & Sun 6:00am to 11:30am