Frontier Drive-in

When I moved to Monticello Park, I would often hear longtime residents rave about the great hamburgers and onion rings from Frontier Drive-In. 

This restaurant was on the corner of Fredericksburg and Club, at the current pawn shop site.  During the chain’s heyday, from the 1950s through the 1980s, there were multiple Frontier Drive-Ins throughout San Antonio. At first, carhops took orders from customers and delivered to their cars.  Later, Frontier introduced a speaker ordering system, which they claimed was the first in Texas.

Frontier Drive-in at corner of Fredericksburg and Club. UTSA Special Collections

The burgers were charcoal grilled, and the onion rings were cut super thin and fried to a satisfying crunch.  I understand the fried pies and hand-spun shakes were also excellent.

Frontier Drive-Ins was owned by the Hasslocher family, owner of Jim’s Restaurant (originally Coffee Shop), Magic Time Machine, and La Fonda Alamo Heights.  Despite the high quality of the burgers, competition from national burger chains eventually caused Frontier to close during the 1980s.  However, Jim Hasslocher had a dream to bring it back as Frontier Burger.  He worked hard planning every detail, but passed away just five months before the reincarnation of his favorite burger.

The new restaurant opened in 2016, on 410 just east of Broadway.  They serve the char-grilled burgers with the special sauce and those crispy onion rings, just like the old days.  I have eaten there several times since they opened, and I now know what all our neighbors were raving about. 

I only wish they would reopen the location on Fredericksburg.  I have a feeling we have a strong customer base in Monticello Park ready to keep them busy!