Taste of San Angelo Celebrates 50th Year

On Sept. 9, The Texas Restaurant Association’s San Angelo Chapter will hold its 50th annual “Taste of San Angelo” at the Spur Arena.

This event is just what the title says — the place to taste anything and everything that makes our city the tasty little Mecca that it is and continues to become more of. A destination town for great food and drink.

I have been to this event every year but one since I moved here in October of 2020 and have no plans to miss it if I can help it!

A one stop shop or in this case, arena, to sample the best bites and sips of decadent food and beverage in the city. Meet the business owners, the chefs, the bartenders’, baristas, mixologist, pitmasters, and bakers behind it all.

San Angelo certainly throws some amazing food festivals every year as well but if I had to peg one food event as the grand daddy of them all, this has got to be it.

With 30 confirmed vendors, where else are you going to have that many local food and drink favorites surrounding you for two hours, offering endless samples of their classic staples?

Let me show you what’s in stock for you and how you can get yourself tickets or even VIP tickets before they sell out!

This event works like this, you arrive and check in at the check-in table and get your wrist band for either the VIP section or the GA areas.

VIP simply gets you in 30 minutes early and access to the central table area where you can sit while you eat and get prime access to the wine serving stations. The perimeter area is where all the food and drink vendors line up and fill the arena from wall to wall. Watch this brief 30 second clip I took at the 48th annual event in 2023.

Live music plays in the center/back stage the entire time your noshing and sipping on some local craft beer, chewing through an over the top sweet rice crispy treat, or sinking your teeth into a savory-smoky brisket slider.

All the local brand favorites are there as well as several popular chain spots that often support local causes and please local palates (I love you Texas Roadhouse!)

Your given a small plastic plate and cup and utensils a you walk in and then you go to work! Start at any vendor you wish to begin sampling out the offerings they have made specifically for this event. You can of course get new plates, cups, and utensils as needed throughout the night.

High-topped tables are spaced out around the area for a place to pause and savor the food and drink your trying out before going back out again to grab more.

Pace yourself people!

Its very easy to roll from one vendor right to the next, and the next, and the next without thought. The next thing you know, it’s only been 30 minutes and you’re getting really full already!

I suggest my tactic I have honed in from 4 years of attendance. Do a recon lap around the area to find out what vendors you want to hit for sure and which ones you want to pass on. Then go hit your priorty spots first and leave the others to later on.

Craft beer vendors are onsite as well and if I recall right, you can sample small 2-3 oz tasters for free but a cup size pour (12oz) will cost you an additional fee.

I urge attendees to try new places they have never been before, this is the time and place to do that! Nothing to lose if you don’t like it and everything to gain if you really do enjoy something from a new business.

Take the chance to chat with business owners or chefs if they aren’t crazy busy that is, so use good judgement on that one! I happen to enjoy this part as much as trying the food itself, meeting the masterminds behind the goodness!

How can you get in on this night of delicious bites and beverages? Check out this link to get GA tickets

Check out this link to get sponsorship level or VIP tables.