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Tucked just north of the main square in downtown New Braunfels, Saludos Cocina has brought Mexican flavor to the city.
From tacos to sweet treats, the restaurant officially opened its doors to the public Feb. 2.
Saludos has taken over the historic Dittlinger building—located at 398 E. San Antonio St.—inviting patrons to savor recipes inspired by the vibrant culture of Mexico City, co-owner Israel Trevino said.
Staying local
Saludos aims to broaden the palette of the New Braunfels community and offer a taste of a culture nearby residents might not have otherwise, Trevino said.
“There's such a diversity here in this small town, and I think it's an opportunity to celebrate that diversity and to bring a space that introduces new people to a new culture. I think that's such a beautiful opportunity,” Trevino said.
The restaurant is locally owned by Israel Trevino, Allen Shy, Daniel Trevino, Cody Reimer and Edward Garcia III, who also doubles as Saludos’ executive chef.
Trevino is also the owner of Las Fontanas Mexican Kitchen, while Shy also owns Blind Salamander Cantina and CRAFThouse, as previously reported by Community Impact.
Digging deeper
The design of the restaurant comes from the deep Mexican culture that helped shape Saludos’ menu. Pops of color are found throughout the restaurant—from greens to pinks, browns, blues and gold—all adding to the “home-y” feeling that the owners are trying to convey through their food, said Caroline Garcia-Bowman, interior designer and brand strategist for Saludos.
“When you think of the land of Mexico, you think of the soil and us being able to celebrate all the colors that come with the culture of that,” Garcia-Bowman said.
What they offer
Some of the offerings at Saludos include fish tacos, which feature blackened pollock with poblano-lime and chipotle crema and a cabbage slaw. The restaurant also serves crispy wings with an ancho lemon pepper dry rub and Valentina ranch dipping sauce.
“You're not going to see any of these items anywhere around. Everything is fresh, from our corn tortillas to all of our proteins and all of our vegetables that we have to offer. It's just a different product,” Trevino said.
For a sweet bite, Saludos offers beignet sopapillas, a traditional Mexican dessert with a French twist, dusted in cinnamon sugar and served with a dulce de leche dipping sauce. And on the lighter side, fresas con crema, or strawberries and cream, serves as a healthier option to satisfy their sweet tooth.
How we got here
Saludos had been in the works for over two years. The restaurant’s owners said it was hard work to get the business off the ground, but they are thankful to finally be able to bring their passion project to the community, Garcia-Bowman said.
“To be able to honor the beautiful bones of a historic space has been such an honor,” Garcia-Bowman said. “We're here and going to do our best to make the city proud, to welcome everybody with open arms.”
Something to note
Saludos owners previously told Community Impact a donation would be made to local school athletic programs as a way to give back to the community. A donation was made after the restaurant’s soft opening held Jan. 29-30, Trevino said. The $3,500 donation will be going to the New Braunfels ISD Educational Foundation.
