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In this episode of The Owner’s Table San Antonio, we sit down with Amado de la Torre of Chicago Hot Dogs to talk about the story behind the restaurant and what it takes to bring an authentic taste of Chicago to San Antonio. Amado shares how the business got started, what inspired the concept, and the work that goes into building a restaurant people want to come back to again and again.

We also get into the realities of restaurant ownership—the challenges, the lessons learned along the way, and what it takes to compete in San Antonio’s constantly evolving food scene. From creating a memorable customer experience to staying true to the food and the vision behind the business, Amado gives us a look at life from the owner’s side of the counter. It’s another conversation about the people, passion, and perseverance behind San Antonio’s locally owned restaurants.

Visit Chicago Hot Dogs: https://chicagohotdogs.com/

12914 Jones Maltsberger Rd #101

Email Us: [email protected] 

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In this episode of The Owner’s Table San Antonio, we sit down with Corrina Garcia, owner of Christian Coffee Co. in Stone Oak, to hear the story behind a local coffee shop built around much more than what’s in the cup. Corrina shares what inspired her to take the leap into entrepreneurship, why she chose Stone Oak, and the vision behind creating a business where great coffee, faith, community, and genuine connection could all come together.

We also get into the realities of owning and operating a small business—from the unexpected challenges and lessons that come with opening the doors to finding ways to stand out in an incredibly competitive coffee market. Corrina talks about what she’s learned along the way, what makes the Stone Oak community special, and what she hopes customers experience every time they walk through the door. It’s a conversation about entrepreneurship, purpose, perseverance, and what it takes to build a local business that’s brewing more than coffee.

Visit Christian Coffee:

https://christiancoffeeco.org

523 Med Ct Ste. 103, San Antonio TX 78258

Email Us: [email protected] 

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In this episode of The Owner’s Table San Antonio, Chris sits down with Hillary Hoffman, former restaurant operator and industry strategist, for a candid conversation about what it really takes to run a successful restaurant. Hillary shares lessons from her time in operations, including the realities that no business plan can prepare you for, balancing labor costs with hospitality, watching the right numbers on the P&L, and the operational details former restaurant people can’t help but notice when they walk into a dining room.

Then, Chris and Hillary turn their attention to the continued evolution of San Antonio’s Southtown district. They explore how the neighborhood’s culinary identity is changing, the role of established restaurants alongside new independent concepts, the challenges of rising occupancy costs, how Southtown differs from destinations like the Pearl, and which restaurant models may be best positioned to succeed there in the years ahead. It’s a conversation about restaurants as both businesses and neighborhood institutions—and what operators need to understand to thrive in San Antonio’s changing culinary landscape.

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Welcome to the very first episode of The Owner’s Table San Antonio, a podcast dedicated to the real stories of the people behind San Antonio’s restaurants. Before we start pulling up a chair with local restaurant owners, host Chris Espinoza takes a look at how San Antonio became one of America’s most unique food cities—from Indigenous and Mexican culinary traditions and the legendary Chili Queens to German influences, Tex-Mex, neighborhood institutions, and the city’s modern culinary renaissance.

This episode also sets the table for what this podcast is really about: the owners, operators, chefs, families, and entrepreneurs who take the risks and do the work behind the restaurants we love. Future episodes will explore why they opened, what they sacrificed, the challenges they've faced, and what it really takes to survive in the restaurant business. If you’re a San Antonio restaurant owner and want to share your story on The Owner’s Table, reach out at [email protected].