Live long enough in San Antonio and you’ll know the inside jokes some natives and lifelong transplants can’t help but laugh at, whether it’s a notorious haircut or a crack at some small business. Regardless of how you feel about them, here are some of the city’s favorite things to make fun of with their San Antonio laughs.
The infamous hairstyle known as “Edgar” has gained a certain reputation in San Antonio and is most often associated with people in the Marbach area. It’s actually rooted in Indigenous culture, which isn’t too far removed from San Antonio’s Tex-Mex history, but that didn’t stop us from shooting the dizzy guys. And on social media, we only get more creative with timeless jokes.
Locals have a lot to say about driving in and around San Antonio.
William Luther/San Antonio Express-News
run 1604
While the meme for Loop 1604 reads “Rain Protection,” hyping why it doesn’t rain a lot in San Antonio, locals have quite a few ideas about the highways that surround the city. From irritating traffic (and drivers, but more on that later) and wrecking freeway barriers to ridiculous construction schedules, everything within the 1604 Loop contains a large part of this growing city.
San Antonio, that’s how you use your turn signals.
Mengmeng Wang/Getty Imagesdriving in san antonio
Locals love to get together and hate that we as locals are the worst drivers. Do we do this with a sense of community, or do we just hate each other? We may never know. Regardless, San Antonio residents sure like to point out the poor driving habits of the city’s worst drivers. Most of the city doesn’t know what turn signals are or how to yield, and the rest of San Antonio hates them.
Why buy a bigger truck when you can build one yourself?
thecoachkp/Reddit‘Pro’
How do locals describe what “puro” means to San Antonio? For locals, you know it when you hear it or see it. This is an overloaded truck bed with absolutely nothing tethered. It’s a rude or dirty bumper sticker that reminds us of our tio or primos. Someone shouting “Verbal” and “Puro Pinche Spurs” with a beer, it’s the life of the party. Transplants may not get it, but it’s interesting that locals love San Antonio’s pure personality.
The Alamo is known for its history, but also because Pee Wee’s Great Adventure.
Randy Faris/Getty ImagesAlamo’s Basement
Lifetime residents, movie buffs and history buffs know there are no basement gimmicks inside the Alamo’s one-off battlefield. Pee Wee’s Great AdventureStarring Paul Reubens, it follows the protagonist’s trek to the Alamo, where he hopes to find his bike in the basement of a building. The 1985 film brought recognition to San Antonio, in the form of memes and social media jokes decades later. While tourists may be amused and refer to their pee as they tour the Alamo, we appreciate the random connection to the Tim Burton movie.
Former NBA player and commentator Charles Barkley likes to hate women in San Antonio.
Scott Halleran/Getty Images‘big old ‘woman’
Let me be frank, I’m one of the big women that former NBA star, but non-champion Charles Barkley has been talking about. Every time he mentions the city, he uses the same joke, which is actually funny when we first hear it. What’s more interesting to me at this point is how happy the one-time San Antonio Shaquille O’Neal was every time Barkley yelled (he couldn’t do it anymore). Are we laughing with Barkley or laughing at him? I’m not sure, but I’ll hold my mom Maggie’s taco to him and make him yell.
Breakfast tacos—and delicious tacos—are part of San Antonio culture.
Mike Sutter/San Antonio Express-NewsSan Antonio-Austin Breakfast Taco Wars
The City of Alamo proudly claims its dominance of the breakfast taco game, which is why we find it ludicrous that Austin is trying to know a thing or two about the Tex-Mex staple. While we know we are supreme, many of us still use the opportunity to speak up. Sorry Austin, deal with it.
Fred’s Fish Fry, how do you stay open?
Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.comMoney laundering in 2-1-0
What is the San Antonio experience without Fred’s Fry? Anyone who grew up here knows that we’re not necessarily talking about eating at the local chain, but about its reputation. You can see them nearby, with few cars in parking lots or drive-thru restaurants, but more than 15 locations exist today. If you don’t fully understand the story here, lifelong locals will tell you there’s something fishy about Fred’s.