San Antonio’s dining scene encompasses a delicious diversity of cuisines. The city’s deep cultural roots blending Mexican, Spanish, German and Southern flavors have informed a vibrant culinary landscape marked by one-of-a-kind eateries.
| Restaurant Name | Cuisine/Style | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Boudro’s On The Riverwalk | Seasonal American, Texas Flavors | Prickly Pear Margarita, Bison Tenderloin, Redfish |
| Rosario’s | Mexican | Table-side Guacamole, Tamales, Enchiladas, Tacos |
| Hot Joy | Asian Fusion | Karaage Chicken, Duck Adobo, Ube Malasadas |
| Battalion | Modern Texas | Charcuterie Board, Grilled Quail, Gaucho Steak |
| Cured | Charcuterie, Cocktails | Cured Meats, Manchego Crusted Pork Shank, Cocktails |
| Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery | Southern Comfort, Beer | Jambalaya, Chicken & Dumplings Fritters, Craft Beers |
| Mixtli | Indigenous Cuisine | Regional and Time-period Specific Courses |
| Pharm Table | Farm-to-table, Clean Eating | Organic Dishes, Shiitake & Duck Egg Ramen |
| Cascade Cask House | Craft Beer, Street Food | Craft Beers, Hot Dogs, Tacos |
| Supper | American Classics with Italian Flair | Handmade Pastas, Quality Proteins |
| Battalion at Food Bank | Italian, Community Support | Housemade Pastas, Training Kitchen Workers |
| Bakery Lorraine | French Pastries | Macarons, Croissants, Breakfast Tacos |
Iconic Tex-Mex joints, chef-driven gastropubs and farmers’ market-fueled kitchens all beckon foodies to indulge in San Antonio’s best flavors. For visitors and locals alike, these 12 restaurants promise unforgettable dining experiences capturing the city’s distinctive culinary identity.
Boudro’s On The Riverwalk
Name and Location: Boudro’s On The Riverwalk is located along the San Antonio River Walk at 421 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205
History and Significance: Open since 1993, Boudro’s is a Texas bistro known for its pristine river views, signature wood-fired steaks and seafood alongside hand-crafted cocktails that embody the vibrant spirit of dining along San Antonio’s famed Riverwalk.
What to Expect: Guests relax amid classy, contemporary ambiance on the riverside patio or in the exposed-kitchen dining room while enjoying cornmeal fried oysters, pepper-crusted filet mignon, citrus shrimp skewers and other regional fare sourced from local farms.
Visitor Information: Open daily for dinner starting at 5PM. Reservations recommended. Extensive wine list and specialty cocktails available. Validated parking in Rivercenter Garage.
For a memorable high-end dinner with views, Boudro’s on the downtown River Walk shines as a longstanding favorite. Seasonal American cuisine focusing on Texas flavors and ingredients draws diners to the charming stone patio overlooking the San Antonio River. Start off with their Prickly Pear Margarita – an iconic local libation. Then indulge in specialties like peppery bison tenderloin or melt-in-your-mouth redfish with crabmeat stuffing. Save room for the signature dessert: smoking chocolate pecan pie with a sugary crust baked fresh daily. With polished service and ambiance in spades, Boudro’s remains a classic choice for celebrating special occasions with flair.
Rosario’s
Name and Location: Rosario’s is an acclaimed Mexican restaurant located at 910 S Alamo St in downtown San Antonio’s Southtown neighborhood.
History and Significance: Opened in 1997, James Beard-nominated chef Lisa Astorga-Watel creatively blends authentic Mexican flavors and ingredients at this lively restaurant focused on from-scratch tamales, tortillas, salsas alongside an expansive tequila list in a colorful setting.
What to Expect: Patrons enjoy handmade mole sauces enrobing succulent rotisserie chicken, slow-cooked pork carnitas, complex moles and classic sides from the scratch kitchen alongside margaritas in the bustling dining room filled with the sights, sounds and aromas of South Texas.
Visitor Information: Open daily 11AM–10PM. Happy hour specials 3–6PM. Reservations available online. Free lot parking, valet weekends. Menu at rosariossa.com.
Diehard fans of Mexican food should flock straight to this Southtown staple for traditional dishes done to perfection. Co-owners Chef Stefan Bowers and restauranteur Lisa Wong elevate homemade classics like tamales, enchiladas and tacos across three bustling locations. Start off your meal with Rosario’s legendary table-side guacamole, freshly mashed right at your table. Continue feasting family-style on generous share plates brimming with slow-braised brisket, tender carnitas and more mouthwatering specialties. Then end on a sweet note with traditional churros, perfectly crispy and rolled in cinnamon sugar. Rosario’s laid-back convivial ambiance makes it a quintessential neighborhood hangout beloved by tourists and locals alike craving authentic South Texas comfort food.
Hot Joy
Name and Location: Hot Joy is an Asian fusion concept located at 1014 S Alamo St in the Southtown neighborhood of downtown San Antonio.
History and Significance: Opened in 2014 by celebrated chef Quealy Watson, Hot Joy creatively blends Thai, Indian, Korean and Vietnamese street food influences into a sexy modern diner dubbed “the essence of Asian soul food” perfect for adventurous palates.
What to Expect: Neon lights fill this hip, vibrant eatery as diners sample inventive dishes from lamb curry poutine to General Tso’s tofu subs and pho French dip alongside elaborate tiki cocktails in the perfect mashup of comfort food and multicultural cuisine.
Visitor Information: Open Wednesday–Monday 5PM–10PM, closed Tuesdays. Reservations recommended via OpenTable. Street parking available, rideshare recommended.
For a uniquely eclectic Asian fusion experience, look no further than Southtown’s buzzy Hot Joy. The funky converted warehouse dining room sets the scene for Chef Quealy Watson’s genre-defying Southeast Asian creations drawing inspiration from Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese and even New Orleans cuisine. The dishes here tend vibrant, surprising and bursting with bright contrasting flavors. Start with their crazy popular Karaage Chicken, succulent Japanese-style fried chicken bites with a cult following. Then continue on to Hot Joy signatures like dry-aged duck adobo or curry-laced Singgang Baka short ribs atop coconut rice. Don’t miss out on the legendary dessert: ube malasadas doughnuts that sell out daily. With cocktails as colorful as the eclectic art plastering the walls, a meal at Hot Joy promises adventure for the tastebuds and the eyes alike.
Battalion
Name and Location: Battalion is an Italian restaurant located at 602 Avenue B in the Southtown neighborhood of downtown San Antonio.
History and Significance: Helmed by acclaimed chef Stefan Bowers since 2021, Battalion blends seamless indoor-outdoor dining alongside vibrant Italian fare focused on housemade pastas, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and boutique wines served in an airy, welcoming ambiance modernizing Southtown.
What to Expect: From colorful cocktails to blistered tomato Margherita pizza to ricotta gnudi doused in brown butter, the seasonally-influenced kitchen puts out shareable plates great for pairing alongside small-batch spirits on the patio framed by historic architecture.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday–Sunday 4PM–10PM. Reservations via OpenTable. Free parking lot out back, rideshare recommended. Italian-forward wine list.
Housed in a restored firehouse from the 1930s, Battalion pays homage to its past life while serving up incredible wood-fired dishes representing modern Texas cuisine. Renowned Chef Stefan Bowers sources from local ranchers to present elevated plates marrying complex flavors with high technique. Start your meal with a Charcuterie Board piled high with house-made salami, pâté, pickles and more. Then continue with smoky grilled quail served alongside flavor-packed huitlacoche risotto. More hearty meat-lovers can opt for brisket marinated in Brown Ale and finished atop house-made Tagliatelle noodles in a rich demi-glace sauce. Don’t miss their epic Gaucho Steak platter either, tender grilled beef sliced table-side straight from an impressive five-foot Asador grill. With craft libations expertly mixed to match each creative course, Battalion offers a world-class dining experience befitting its historic venue.
Cured
Name and Location: Cured at the Pearl is an artisan salumeria and dining concept located at 306 Pearl Parkway #101 San Antonio, TX 78215 inside the Pearl Brewery complex.
History and Significance: Opened in 2013 by Chef Steve McHugh in San Antonio’s adaptive reuse Pearl complex, Cured brings Old World meat preservation techniques to Texas through house-cured charcuterie and salumi meats supporting Midwest family farms alongside 300+ boutique wines.
What to Expect: At the lively Chef’s Counter diners sample reserve cured meats and cheese boards alongside unique preparations like duck heart pastrami as the team hand-slices porchetta, salami, rustic pâtés and Texas’ best charcuterie—all sourced steps away at the restaurant’s onsite meat cave.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Thursday 3PM–10PM, Friday/Saturday 12PM–11PM. Counter dining by reservation. Free Pearl parking. Parties of 6+ call (210) 314-3929.
For charcuterie and libations done right, head to Pearl-area darling Cured helmed by Chef Steve McHugh. This salumi and cocktail den has earned national recognition for artfully-crafted cured meats and old-world preparations. Dishes skew Spanish and Italian, with standouts like Manchego Crusted Pork Shank slow-braised in tomato brodo on creamy polenta. Cured’s namesake boards boast staggering selections of speck, salami, rillettes and more to enjoy alone or pair with specific cheeses. Those craving lighter fare can opt for composed plates like watermelon with burrata, pistachio and honey. And Cured’s cocktail menu thoroughly impresses as well with Spanish Gin Tonics, Negronis on tap and clever spritz combinations – perfectly paired by knowledgeable bartenders to compliment your meal. The chic industrial interior of stone and reclaimed wood completes the transportive dining experience at this shining star of San Antonio’s culinary scene.
Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery
Name and Location: Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery is located at 136 E Grayson St, San Antonio, TX 78215 inside the Pearl Brewery complex.
History and Significance: Opened at Pearl in 2016, Southerleigh merges Southern cuisine and house-brewed craft beers. Master Chef Jeff Balfour mixes Texas flavors and Gulf coastal ingredients at this high-energy brewery-restaurant with live music, tours and a backyard beer garden.
What to Expect: Patrons sip signature brews with elevated pub fare like cast iron catfish, chicken and dumplings, diver scallops and brisket chili alongside 22 rotating taps and cocktails in a large industrial space buzzing with the Pearl’s energy and good times nightly.
Visitor Information: Open daily 11AM–10PM (until midnight Fridays/Saturdays). Reservations recommended via OpenTable. Valet parking available at Pearl. Craft beer tours 1-4PM daily.
For elevated Southern comfort fare alongside stellar house-brewed beer, make your way to the beautiful Southerleigh Fine Food location along the Museum River Walk stretch. Choose from Southern classics done right like Haute South Jambalaya or Chicken & Dumplings Fritters. More adventurous diners indulge in specialties like Beer Can Roasted Quail dressed up with bourbon molasses. And vegetarians delight in sides like fried squash blossoms, goat cheese curd salad and more. Every dish pairs to perfection with Southerleigh’s line-up of craft beers like the citrusy Pearl Snap German-style Pilsner andhoppy Good Night, Gracie IPA. Enjoy the breeze floating in from the River Walk views on Southerleigh’s sprawling patio. Then grab a six-pack to go to continue relishing these Southern flavors fused with German brewing tradition elsewhere along the peaceful river pathway.
Mixtli
Name and Location: Mixtli is an unconventional 10-seat progressive Mexican dining experience located at 5251 McCullough Ave suite 405 in the Quarry culinary destination of north San Antonio.
History and Significance: Intimate and unconventional, Mixtli’s talented husband-wife chefs rotate elaborate multicourse Mexican tasting menus seasonally utilizing rare heirloom corn varieties, eclectic cooking styles, unique ingredients and ancestral food history into an immersive dining performance dubbed “Mexico never seen.”
What to Expect: Just 10 fortunate epicureans per night pull up a seat at the u-shaped kitchen counter to witness choreographed cooking theater paired with small batch mezcal cocktails that reinvent origin-focused Mexican gastronomy into something imaginative yet respectfully authentic.
Visitor Information: Five seatings per week, Wednesday-Sunday at 5:30PM and 8PM strictly by prepaid ticket reservations only, $125+ per person. Book well in advance via mixtli.restaurant.
For a uniquely immersive culinary experience focusing wholly on ancient indigenous cuisine, snag a coveted reservation at progressive tasting counter Mixtli. Chefs Rico Torres and Diego Galicia draw inspiration from specific regions and time periods across North, South and Central America. So each night features a completely different multiple-course menu transporting diners to places like Oaxaca circa 750 AD or Teotihuacan during 200-500 AD. Dishes range utterly original with ingredients and techniques both traditional and modern. Past plates include blue corn tlacoyos with chaya leaf and ant egg cheese or duck leg in adobo with masa dumplings. Interacting with the chefs over the kitchen counter and listening to detailed explanations of each course enhances the highly unique and educational dining concept here. Budget extra time to linger enjoying Mixtli’s passionate ode to the depths of undiscovered ancient cuisine.
Pharm Table
Name and Location: The Pharm Table is an intimate restaurant located at 106 Auditorium Circle Suite 116, San Antonio, TX 78205 inside the downtown Carver Community Cultural Center.
History and Significance: Opened in 2016 by chef Elizabeth Johnson, The Pharm Table puts innovative plant-based, farm-to-table African diaspora cuisine on full display for a one-of-a-kind fine dining experience emphasizing wellness just steps from the River Walk.
What to Expect: Dishes draw from fresh vegetables, nuts, seeds and spices in creative preparations like jackfruit tortas, sorghum coconut shrimp and nut meat kebabs while the juice bar shakes up elderberry, borojo and algae-based health elixirs using functional superfoods.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday–Friday 5PM–10PM for dinner. Reservations required due to limited seating. Valet parking available. Sample menus, book online.
Few restaurants embrace the farm-to-table philosophy as zealously as intimate neighborhood eatery Pharm Table. Talented Chef Elizabeth Johnson sources directly from regional organic farmers and her own greenhouse to create vibrant clean-eating fare. Every dish bursts with freshness and natural flavors, like beets baked in salt with macadamia-pistachio “cheese.” Standouts include their Shiitake & Duck Egg Ramen ladled with bone broth, or the Grilled Romaine Salad with miso-buttermilk dressing. Johnson also frequently collaborates with area brewers, winemakers and kombucha keepers – resulting in clever potables like melon-tinged Farmhouse Ale or black tea Sangria highlighting Texas wineries. From the cozy illuminated greenhouse dining room to the flavor-packed dishes, everything about Pharm Table champion’s health and sustainability with serious palate appeal.
Cascade Cask House
Name and Location: Cascade Cask House is a casual restaurant and beer garden located at 222 West Rector Street in the Alamo Quarry Market of north San Antonio.
History and Significance: Quarry Market newcomer Cascade puts a laidback Pacific Northwest spin on pub grub favorites by pairing 48 rotating taps of exclusively local and regional craft beers with elk burgers, wild game sausage, house smoked meats, stone hearth pizzas and backyard barbecue daily.
What to Expect: The family-friendly industrial space centered around towering beer tanks dishes Texas-sized flavor boldly with weekly casks, games, picnic tables and a dog-friendly patio that embodies quintessential craft beer culture amid the shops at Quarry Market.
Visitor Information: Open Sunday-Thursday 11AM–9PM, Friday/Saturday 11AM–10PM. Dog patio hours vary. Free parking onsite. Beer menu changes daily so check cascadecaskhouse.com.
Quench both hunger and thirst under one roof at craft beer/street food destination Cascade Cask House. With 60 rotating taps pouring the city’s best local and national brews, even the biggest beer snobs with miles-long Untappd stats can discover new favorites. Soak up all that beer with Cascade’s lineup of loaded hot dogs, Texas-sized pretzels and build-your-own tacos and nachos. Pull up a seat in the spacious indoor beer hall or hang in the laid-back garden patio with picnic tables aplenty. Then enjoy entertainment from live bands, DJs and sports broadcasts playing across their numerous flatscreens. Thanks to wallet-friendly prices, generous pours and a chill, convivial scene, Cascade ranks among San Antonio’s best bets for kicking back, relaxing and imbibing alongside fellow beer lovers.
Supper
Name and Location: Supper is an American bistro located at 1224 S Alamo Street along San Antonio’s picturesque Museum Reach section of River Walk.
History and Significance: Established along the urban waterway in 2013, Supper offers seasonal new American plates and handcrafted cocktails on the rustic refined patio and dining room putting a contemporary spin on craveable comfort cuisine through the lens of local, high quality ingredients at fair prices.
What to Expect: Under string lights, patrons savor shareable snacks like stuffed dates, complex salads and entrees from seared duck breast to bone marrow bucatini pasta alongside specialty old fashioned cocktails using house made bitters, shrubs and syrups nightly.
Visitor Information: Serving dinner nightly 5PM–10PM. Reservations recommended via OpenTable. Valet parking available. Extensive gluten-free and vegetarian options.
For American classics with Italian flair, check out Southtown’s charming Supper helmed by Chef Michael Sohocki. Housed within a converted 1920s Texaco gas station, this intimate restaurant impresses with seasonally-inspired fare focused on handmade pastas, savory sauces and quality proteins. Their Tagliatelle Bolognese with 10-hour slow simmered beef ragu wows noodle hounds. Seafood fans will swoon over plump PEI mussels swimming in a garlic and white wine tomato broth. Supper also shines with shareable small plates like burratina cheese dressed in pesto alongside grilled and chilled asparagus. Die-hard meat and potatoes patrons can indulge with the Snake River Farms Porterhouse for two – an impressive 40-ounce dry aged Black Angus steak grilled over real Texas oak. No matter your craving, Supper delivers elegance sans pretention within cozy, converted gas station digs.
Battalion at Food Bank
Name and Location: Battalion at The Food Bank is the special events venue for Battalion restaurant located in their Southtown location at 602 Avenue B, San Antonio.
History and Significance: As part of their community initiative “Food for Good” Chef Stefan Bowers welcomes organizations and causes to host fundraising events and galas inside his restaurant to help combat hunger when not serving dinner.
What to Expect: The vibrant indoor/outdoor restaurant space accommodating 225 can be privately booked any day of the week outside normal dinner service for customized events that donate a portion of proceeds to the San Antonio Food Bank to aid families through the power of food.
Visitor Information: Event space fits 225 reception style for nonprofit events of any type with bookings handled via Lisa Waterman at events@battalionsa.com to coordinate date, catering needs and more.
Give back to the community while enjoying delicious Italian cuisine at this unique eatery within the San Antonio Food Bank. Social enterprise Battalion teams up with the nonprofit to train kitchen workers with barriers to employment for future careers in the restaurant industry. Trainees staff the restaurant preparing housemade pastas, savory sauces and more under the guidance of Chef Stefan Bowers. Diners can enjoy classic spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmesan subs loaded with melty mozzarella and marinara, or lighter dishes like farro-vegetable bowls or pear-arugula salads. Shadowed by towering warehouses where the Food Bank’s supplies live, the patio here offers picnic tables aplenty for al fresco noshing. So visit Battalion at Food Bank for quality Italian comfort fare while supporting culinary careers for disadvantaged community members.
Bakery Lorraine
Name and Location: Bakery Lorraine is located at 306 Pearl Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78215 inside the lobby of the Hotel Emma at Pearl.
History and Significance: Founded in Paris with additional Texas locations, Bakery Lorraine combines French technique with Southwestern ingredients, specializing in beloved pastries, tarts, confections and more baked daily in-house under internationally acclaimed Chef Anne Ng.
What to Expect: Peruse cases of French macarons, lemon tarts and twice-baked croissants inside the European-style bakery or admire views of the picturesque San Antonio Museum of Art grounds enjoying specialty coffee service at outdoor cafe tables tucked within the lush Pearl grounds.
Visitor Information: Open daily from 7AM–7PM. Indoor/outdoor seating, takeaway available at pastry case. Part of Hotel Emma but open to all. Free validated Pearl parking.
With a passion for French technique and quality ingredients, Pastry Chef Anne Ng brings Parisian polish to Bakery Lorraine – one of San Antonio’s favorite local patisseries. Display cases brim with rows of vibrant macarons in pistachio, chocolate-caramel and other tempting flavors. Their buttery chocolate-almond Croissants disappear swiftly most mornings. And elegant pastries like fruit tartes and vanilla bean Crème Brûlée satisfy sweet tooths all afternoon long. Beyond baked goods, Bakery Lorraine slings exceptional Thick Cut Bacon Breakfast Tacos and Rainbow Bagels loaded with veggies. Dine on Bakery Lorraine’s sunny patio or dig into perfect picnic provisions to savor al fresco along the River Walk. Either way, Ng’s from-scratch French creations prove San Antonio loves its sweets and savory treats with equal enthusiasm.
From Texas farm-to-table fare to traditional Mexican flavors, San Antonio’s dining scene captivates with its cultural richness and top culinary talent. Food remains a cornerstone of the city’s identity – whether through hole-in-the-wall gems or critically acclaimed high-end venues. Visitors find no shortage of memorable meals to enjoy that speak profoundly of South Texas’ one-of-a-kind people, ingredients and heritage. So come hungry and ready to discover San Antonio’s vibrant food landscape one satisfying, flavor-packed bite at a time.