Breakfast taco war between San Antonio, Austin heats up

San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor, seen on Jan. 6, 2016, wants to settle the taco-versy. San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor, seen on Jan. 6, 2016, wants to settle the taco-versy. Photo: Bob Owen /San Antonio Express-News Photo: Bob Owen /San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close Breakfast taco war between San Antonio, Austin heats up 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

Austin Mayor Steve Adler declared war Saturday on San Antonio over a critical issue — breakfast tacos.

The feud has been on the front burner since some dude from New York, who obviously has no place commenting on the subject matter, erroneously declared Austin home of the best breakfast taco.

San Antonio replied in kind with a change.org petition, and then the politicos got involved.

READ MORE: San Antonio petition demands Austin to exile writer who thinks they're the taco birthplace

Earlier in the week, Mayor Ivy Taylor tweeted that even a native New Yorker like herself knows that “San Antonio is the mecca of the breakfast taco,” and invited Adler to join her for some of San Antonio’s finest.

Joining the fray was District 9 Councilman Joe Krier, who penned an op-ed for the Austin American-Statesman on Friday. Adler’s declaration of war came Saturday.

READ MORE: Austin mayor declares 'breakfast taco war' on San Antonio during community service event

And Taylor’s response late Saturday? Challenge accepted.

"OK, Mayor Adler and all you longhorn-loving, live-music-listening, boardwalk-running Austinites, I and all the taco-making, taco-eating, taco-reigning San Antonians will take your challenge and raise you one machacado con huevo taco on a flour tortilla recien hecha (freshly made) con salsa verde. #original512," Taylor said. "Let's finally end this taco-versy with a taste-off. I'll bring some of our favorite tacos and you bring yours."

Taylor said she is willing to meet Mayor Adler half way.

RELATED: 10 reasons to hate Austin beyond its breakfast taco arrogance

Krier, too, suggested that local leaders from the two cities collect their best tacos and meet in a neutral convention center. Maybe the one in New Braunfels, though Krier suspects that Adler will suggest San Marcos.

Adler and Krier happen to know each other well. They’ve met often, though never over breakfast, to discuss a proposed high-speed rail line between Austin and San Antonio, and the possibility of a regional airport.

“He’s a good guy,” Krier said. “He’s a great leader for Austin. I think he’s just misguided in his assessment of who’s got the better breakfast tacos.”

READ MORE: Who invented breakfast tacos? 'NOT AUSTIN,' new website says

Krier spends a lot of time in Austin, and he prefers tacos made in the Alamo City. Every Thursday, before taking up city business at council meetings, he dines on chorizo-and-egg from Poblano’s, next to Municipal Plaza.

Regardless of where the challenge occurs, there will have to be ground rules, such as what can go inside the tortillas?

Krier’s a fan of traditional — chorizo-and-egg on flour. He’s good, too, with bacon and egg, though he deems those “non-purist.”

“I suspect we may need to appoint some neutral mediators for the categories, and then we’ll have to pick neutral judges.”

That could easily get sticky.

But the starting ground rule should be clear and simple: No New Yorkers need apply.

jbaugh@express-news.net