One in all San Antonio’s most scorching traditions is firing up the grills for an additional spherical of competitors. The annual Fajita Lounge Showdown will return to Southtown’s Gimme Gimme (803 S. St. Mary’s) on Sunday, April 12.
The taco throwdown, now in its fourth yr, is an extension of Fajita Lounge, the Tastemaker Award-nominated pop-up based by Gimme Gimme and Amor Eterno proprietor Aaron Peña and cooks Jacob Gonzales and Matthew Garcia. The challenge was began accidentally, when Peña improvised at a Squeezebox boil by throwing some meat on the grill.
The Fajita Lounge quickly grew to become its personal factor, with the crew cooking at varied San Antonio locales. The Showdown began in 2022 with solely 5 cooks. This yr, the lineup features a crew of courageous firefighters and a number of the most celebrated eating places and bars within the metropolis, together with:
Leche de Tigre (2025 Defending Champion)The Magpie Naco MexicanLittle DeathAguazul El WeineceroPorc Slap Burritos Dorada San Antonio Fireplace Division Station No. 7 and No. 28
The Fajita Lounge’s Matthew Garcia, Aaron Peña, and Jacob Gonzales pose with ArnieTex (second from left).Photograph by TXTroublemaker
All opponents will work with Arnie “ArnieTex” Segovia’s Arnie Asadas Seasonings, a nod to the cookbook writer and YouTube character who can also be serving as one in all this yr’s judges. A charro beans station that includes the identical seasonings will probably be out there to company.
The judging panel additionally consists of Texas Month-to-month Taco Editor José Ralat, content material creator Mike Dubya of @as_seen_in_sa, and yours actually, CultureMap San Antonio Editor Brandon Watson. The profitable chef takes dwelling $500 and a few severe native bragging rights.
“Solely in San Antonio might a bit carne asada dangle flip right into a full-on showdown like this,” shared Peña final yr. “The Fajita Lounge Showdown is our method of celebrating town’s taco tradition, the cooks who make it particular, and the group that reveals as much as assist. There’s nothing like sharing tacos, a cerveza, and music collectively — that is what our metropolis does greatest.”
The Fajita Lounge Showdown runs from 5 pm-midnight and options tunes from deejays Texas Papi and SunnyBoy. The $10 cowl consists of taco samples on a first-come, first-served foundation whereas provides final. Visitors have to be 21 or older to attend.
