Bobcat Stories: Luis Dominguez

San Marcos has a way of pulling you back in. Like a siren’s song, if you will… (That joke is only funny if you know San Marcos is the Mermaid Capital of Texas.) Luis Dominguez arrived at Texas State with no campus tour and no expectations, and the city made an impression anyway. After a few years in Austin, the call of San Marcos won out, and he came back to a place that now feels like a secondary hometown. This time, he brought a platform with him. Through his food content, Luis puts local restaurants in front of residents, students, and visitors, while the comment section has become a shared table where followers trade their own favorite spots and go-to orders. It's a reminder of what one champion can do for local businesses and for the sense of community around them. This installment of Bobcat Stories catches up with Luis on what first drew him to San Marcos, what brought him back, and why the best recommendations come from the people who live here.

What first brought you to San Marcos, and what made you stay?

After high school, I honestly didn’t really know where I wanted to go to college. A couple of my friends told me they were planning to apply to Texas State, so I figured, why not? I applied, got accepted, and ended up choosing Texas State without even touring the campus or doing much research.

Looking back, I think going in with no expectations was one of the best things I could have done. I got to experience San Marcos for the first time with completely fresh eyes, and it was mind-blowing.

After college, I moved around Austin for a few years, but my girlfriend eventually encouraged us to move farther south. I always knew I’d make my way back to San Marcos at some point; I just didn’t expect it to happen this soon. Being back has definitely been nostalgic, but it’s also been fun getting to experience the city in a completely different way.

What's changed most about San Marcos since your student days, and what do you hope never changes?

I wouldn’t say San Marcos has changed too much since my student days, other than seeing less construction and more new places to eat. I think what’s changed the most is my perspective. When I was in college, I saw San Marcos as just a typical college town, but now I realize it’s so much more than that. There’s a lot of character and community here that I didn’t fully appreciate back then.

If there’s one thing I hope never changes, it’s the San Marcos community and the sense of connection that makes this place feel like my secondary hometown. 

If you could show a new Texas State freshman one thing about San Marcos, what would it be?

I would definitely show them the huge variety of local spots to eat. As a freshman, I never really ventured out food-wise and mostly stuck to campus food or my usual chains like Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, and Torchy’s. Looking back, I feel like I missed out on a lot of really good local spots my freshman year, but I definitely made up for it during my later years of college. I genuinely think the local spots just hit harder than the chains, and there are so many good ones in San Marcos that I wish I had discovered sooner.  

A lot of your recommendations come from your own followers in the comments - what's it like building a food map of San Marcos together with the people who live here?

It’s honestly a really cool experience. One of my favorite things is when I’m out in public, and someone comes up to me super excited to tell me about a food spot I need to check out. I love hearing people’s personal recommendations because everyone has their own favorite places and go-to orders, and I’ve found a lot of spots that I probably wouldn’t have discovered on my own.

It also makes the food map feel like it’s not just mine. It’s really a combination of recommendations from people who actually live in and love San Marcos. I’ve gotten to try so many different places because someone in the comments or someone I ran into told me I had to check them out. It’s also nice when people share what they recommend ordering because it makes deciding what to get at a restaurant so much easier (it also helps out with FOMO).

At the end of the day, I think the best food recommendations come from people who have actually tried the food, and it’s been really fun building that list together with the San Marcos community.

What do you wish current Texas State students understood about the city they're temporarily (or maybe permanently) calling home?

I wish current Texas State students realized how lucky they are to have San Marcos right outside their door. When you’re in college, it’s easy to get stuck in a routine of going to class, hanging out on campus, and going to the same few places with your friends. I was definitely guilty of that when I was a student. Looking back, I wish I had spent more time exploring and getting to know the city beyond the college scene.

San Marcos has its own personality, history, and community that goes way beyond Texas State. Whether it’s trying a local restaurant, checking out a small business, spending time outdoors, or just exploring a part of town you’ve never been to, there’s always something new to find. You may only be here for a few years, so I think it’s worth taking advantage of that and making San Marcos part of your college experience, not just the place where your college happens to be.

What would be your "last meal" San Marcos style?

If I had to San Marcos-ify my last meal, I’d do it BIG. I’d have to start off with a Lolitas combo taco from Loli’s, a honey butter chicken biscuit from Babe’s, and an iced coffee from Mochas and Javas. For my second course, I would get a Border War Burger from Showdown (that thing has two bacon quesadillas instead of buns and it’s a double patty), a side of wings from Brico’s, a large pepperoni pizza from Gumby’s, and an agua Fresca from Yoyi’s Fruity Land. For dessert (if my heart is still beating after eating all the food), I’d go with a Cinnamon Toast Crunch and banana mixture from Icy Rolls topped with a Manske roll from Gil’s. 

“San Marcos is the kind of place where ___.”

San Marcos is the kind of place where the more you explore, the more you realize there is to love