Naco duo unveils new borderland cantina at San Antonio's Pearl
Sep 21, 2026
Two of San Antonio’s most accomplished taqueros are branching out to a new concept at Pearl. Lizzeth Martínez and Francisco Estrada, the couple behind Naco Mexican, will open Santonia Cantina in the former home of Full Goods Diner this winter.According to a release, Martínez and Estrada aren’t
looking to be pegged down by genre. While the menu will be shaped by the culinary traditions of both sides of the border, they aren’t describing Santonia as "Mexican" or "Tex-Mex.""For us, the border isn't a line you cross; it's a culture you live in. It begins long before you reach the bridge and stays with you long after you've crossed it," explained Martínez in the release. "Growing up between Northern Mexico and South Texas, we never saw those influences as separate. They were simply part of everyday life."
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