New Braunfels Edition | March 2026

Dining

BY ETHAN THOMAS

The sh tacos ($17) are blackened pollock, with cabbage slaw, poblano lime crema and chipotle crema fresca.

The design of the restaurant comes from the deep Mexican culture that helped shape Saludos’ menu.

PHOTOS BY ETHAN THOMASCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Saludos Cocina brings Mexico City air to downtown Tucked just north of the main square in down- town New Braunfels, Saludos Cocina has brought Mexican avor to the city. From tacos to sweet treats, the restaurant

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 oer Some of the oerings at Saludos include crispy wings with an ancho lemon pepper dry rub and Valentina ranch dipping sauce. “Everything is fresh, from our corn tortillas to all of our proteins and all of our vegetables that we have to oer,” Trevino said. For a sweet bite, Saludos oers beignet sopapil- las, 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 o the ground, but they are thankful to nally be able to bring their passion project to the community, Garcia-Bowman said. “To be able to honor the beautiful bones of a his- toric space has been such an honor,” Garcia-Bow- man said. “We’re here and going to do our best to make the city proud, to welcome everybody with open arms.”

(From left) Israel Trevino, Daniel Trevino, Allen Shy, Edward Garcia III and Cody Reimer own Saludos.

ocially took over the historic Dittlinger building on Feb. 2, 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 oer 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 Trev- ino, 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 Sala- mander Cantina and CRAFThouse, as previously reported by Community Impact. 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

Fresas con crema ($12) consist of sliced strawberries served in sweet cream.

398 E. San Antonio St., New Braunfels www.saludosnbtx.com

NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION