28 Best Restaurants in San Antonio, Texas

One of the best restaurants in the city, the menu at Biga on the Banks is big and eclectic, and the dining atmosphere manages to be both larger than life and romantic. The choices change daily to take advantage of the freshest ingredients available, with dishes ranging from seared red-grouper grits to 11-spiced Axis venison chops. The three-course prix-fixe is perfect for pretheater or presymphony outings. Don't skip out on dessert, which may be the best in town: the sticky toffee pudding is a must. Table 31 is just off the main dining room, a great spot for relaxed entertaining for 5–8 people. Impress your guests with the tasting menus (five or eight courses) and suggestions for wine pairings. This is a prime spot for a leisurely dinner on the River Walk, if you can get a reservation. Let's repeat that: reservations are essential. 

For almost 90 years now, Earl Abel's has managed to stay as hip as ever thanks to their classic homestyle menu and loyal fans that have followed them to a new location in the Pearl. The top-notch comfort food is made fresh daily and includes everything you would hope to see on your family table: classic breakfasts, soups and salads, hearty sandwiches, Abel's famous meat loaf, house-roasted turkey breast with cornbread stuffing, chicken-fried steak, garlic fried rice, and much more, with homemade pie and cake for dessert. But the real star of the show is Earl's Famous Original Fried Chicken, available as an entrée or dinner box, or in a family meal package with two sides and two slices of pie. Earl's also serves classic cocktails, coffee cocktails, draft and bottled beers, wines, and mocktails.

This is the Pearl's reimagining of a food court, an eminently casual spot featuring chef-driven stands. Choose from six vendors: Chilaquil, serving Mexican street food and namesake chilaquiles; Fletcher's Hamburgers (which also sells hot dogs made with 100% organic Texas Akaushi beef); Kineapple, with healthy smoothies and snacks; Mi Roti, Caribbean street food built around roti, a Caribbean flatbread; Park Bar, a casual wine and beer bar with Texas beer and seasonal cocktails; and Tenko Ramen, a noodle-driven eatery with Japanese-style snacks. The Food Hall was rebuilt from the ruins of a 2003 fire that claimed the structure originally built in 1894 as the bottling house for the original Pearl Brewery. 

Laying claim as San Antonio's oldest Mexican restaurant, La Fonda opened in 1932 and has had an ardent following ever since. The robust menu offers traditional Tex-Mex plus some dishes from the interior of Mexico. Tex-Mex fare includes appetizers, tacos, enchiladas, and oak-grilled fajitas. The family-friendly spot is in a hacienda-like building that's fun and casual, but still upscale. The beautiful dining room opens onto an inviting outdoor patio. Desserts include flan and a luscious tres leches cake. The vibrant, welcoming bar delivers tasty margaritas. This is a very popular and often busy place. Reservations are highly recommended for dinner and weekend brunch.

In a city filled with Mexican bakeries, brothers José and David Cáceres kicked the whole pan dulce (pastry) game up a notch with La Panadería. Their love for baking comes from selling their mama Doña Josefina's loaves of fresh-baked bread on the streets of Mexico City, and they've translated that passion into a winning combination of fresh, quality products available for only a limited amount of time each short day. Bestsellers include empanadas, tres leches (three-milk) croissants, and Nutella cruffins (a croissant-muffin hybrid). Brunch items include avocado toast with grilled chicken, ranchero eggs Benedictine, and tequila-butter steak and eggs. They also have salads, tortas, cakes and cookies, and a nice assortment of freshly baked breads. Ordering can be fast and furious at peak times—grab a tray, get in line, pay for your selections, and settle in to a nearby table. To avoid disappointment, check the website to see how many of what you want they have left. Aficionados have been known to drive from location to location in search of their favorites. Their other locations are 8305 Broadway (Alamo Heights) and 17030 Fiesta Texas Drive (La Cantera Heights).

The heart of Market Square boasts one of San Antonio's most venerable culinary landmarks, part of the notable Cortez Family of restaurants. Opened in 1941 as a three-table café for early-rising farmers to get breakfast, Mi Tierra ("my land") is a traditional Mexican restaurant, bakery, and bar that serves its hallmark breakfasts all day; the chilaquiles famosas—eggs scrambled with corn tortilla strips and topped with ranchero (mild tomato-based) sauce and cheese—are alone worth coming back for again and again. Truly memorable nachos, tacos, enchiladas, chalupas, fajitas, and house specialties, all made from fresh ingredients, are served at lunch and dinner. The giant, carved oak bar serves up aged tequilas, authentic margaritas, draught beer, and mixed drinks. The bakery has an enormous selection of pan dulces (Mexican pastries) and excellent coffee. Yes, the Christmas decorations stay up year-round.

This popular restaurant is housed in a stately 1860 home built by the founder of Pioneer Flour Mills. Breakfast is served all day, and options like fluffy Pioneer Brand biscuits, breakfast tacos, Southern sweet cream waffles, and delectable pastries are half the reason to eat here. The other half is the 1920s art nouveau decor of stained, beveled, and etched glass along with plant motifs that create the illusion of a fine home's conservatory.

A perennial favorite with locals, Alamo Cafe is far from the actual Alamo, but you'll still remember it for its fresh tortillas and no-frills approach to Mexican dishes. This is a good place to try fried jalapeño starters, sizzling fajitas, quesadillas, and puffy, soft, or crispy tacos. It has a very good drink menu with margaritas, sangria, and draft and bottled beer. Alamo Cafe is extremely family-friendly, with a generous kids' menu that includes a choice of drink with each meal and free refills.

If you want something different from San Antonio's usual Mexican or Tex-Mex offerings, venture south to find festive fare here hailing from the Caribbean, Spain, and South and Central America. Executive chef Rene Fernandez mixes up flavors and styles con pasion. Start with an appetizer sampler (five different apps) and move on to seed-crusted ahi tuna or meats basted with chimichurri, a tangy basil sauce. Tempting desserts include coconut flan, chocolate truffles made to order, and a dessert sampler with five of their house creations and homemade ice cream. Dance it all off with live salsa music and dancing Friday and Saturday. Reservations are recommended for weekend nights. 

Here expertly crafted croissants, cookies, muffins, macarons, rolls, tarts, and danish pastries are as delicious as they come. Heartier breakfast fare includes quiche Lorraine, croque madame, Turkish eggs, and French toast, while lunch features Cuban roast pork loin sandwiches and other options on their homemade breads. You can even take home fresh loaves of sourdough, whole wheat, and white bread.

Pick up fresh Mexican pastries from this long-standing neighborhood panaderia (bakery) in Monte Vista. They make all the traditional pan dulce plus novelty cakes and frosted cookies. Conchae are soft and fresh, while pumpkin empanadas are a favorite. The fastest sell-outs are the campechana flaky glazed pastry—they can sell through three batches in the morning alone. They also have fresh flour tortillas and a tiny produce display if you need a lemon or avocado. The line can get long on weekend mornings, so plan accordingly. They have another location at 2714 Hillcrest Drive.

Chef-owner Mark Bliss and his wife Lisa opened this spot in a former filling station in 2012, and since then it has just gotten better. The cuisine is contemporary American, and that can mean custom charcuterie as well as delectable entrées of seafood (maybe scallops, monkfish, or halibut), game (quail or rabbit), and beef. The menu changes fairly constantly. A loyal following dines here regularly to see what new offerings are on the table, just one reason that reservations are highly recommended. The clean, modern interior is warm and comfortable. The outdoor dining has the same uncluttered feel, surrounded by greenery.  

An Alamo Heights casual but upscale staple since 1977, Cappy's features exceptional menus of innovative dishes against a warm, two-level modern backdrop of brick architecture, tall windows, and pleasant outdoor seating. Well-prepared and presented dinner entrées include potato-crusted halibut, Wild Isles salmon with lobster mashed potatoes, and beef tenderloin with roasted fingerlings. They have an extensive wine list and craft cocktail menu, plus dozens of varieties of scotch and bourbon. Weekend brunch is a treat, with starters like jumbo lump blue crab cake and New Orleans gumbo. An ever-changing gallery of art showcases local artists. 

For a smallish place, Cheesy Jane's has a surprisingly varied menu, with big burgers, milk shakes and malts, and nostalgic decor dominating this throwback to old-time malt shops. Flavors for shakes and malts—made with Cheesy Jane's ice cream—include plain vanilla, peppermint, Dreamsicle, chocolate peanut butter, amaretto-espresso, and more. Ground-chuck burgers come in different sizes, with variations like a deluxe bacon burger with applewood-smoked, sugar-cured bacon; a Wurst burger topped with Kiolbassa sausage; and a bean burger with refried beans, cheddar, and Fritos corn chips. Adventurous diners should definitely try the Spicy Splinters—battered and fried slivers of onion and jalapeño peppers.

Chef-owner Frederick Costa marries French and Asian cuisine here to create some fantastic fusion dishes in relaxing, romantic surroundings. Seafood is a standout at both lunch and dinner, with options that include Scottish salmon with soy glaze and sweet Thai chili barbecue sauce or wild-caught Alaska halibut with lemon butter and fennel. Entrees from the land include a grass-fed veal chop, an aged Black Angus beef tenderloin, and a baby back rack of New Zealand lamb. An ample dessert menu features ginger crème brûlée, rum(cake) Euphoria, and chocolate pecan mousse cake. There is also an extensive wine list with reserve bottles and Frederick's preferred Bordeaux and proprietary blends. Dinner reservations are recommended.

This Texas roadhouse is famous for dishing up steaks and whisky since 1979. In an early 1900s building on the outskirts of downtown, "Jo Street" is decidedly casual and friendly. Steaks come in all shapes and sizes, from a tasty chicken-fried variety to a 12-ounce Texas T-bone. Those looking for something different can opt for pork chops or liver and onions. The ice-cold domestic and craft beers and full bar are to be expected—what isn't is the baked-fresh-daily peach cobbler, for a belly-busting finish.

It may feel like you're walking into a centuries-old hacienda at this enormous outpost just outside Texas Loop 1604, but the tacos, nachos, and enchiladas have a modern twist. If you can't decide what to choose, hedge your bets by going for the enchilada assortment—five delectable takes served with refried beans and guacamole salad. Entrées include beef steak ranchero and El Mofofo Grill, a specialty combination of marinated beef and pork cooked on the grill for two people or more. Wednesday night is margarita night from 3 pm to close. With lots of space and outdoor dining, there's no doubt that this popular restaurant was built by a family business with families in mind.

In the heart of Market Square, here you can sample Mexican fare or oysters or both while surrounded by Spanish tile and light music. Try the fajitas, enchiladas, or puffy tacos, seated inside or on the patio under colorful umbrellas with a great view of the square. If you want to try a bit of everything, go for the Fiesta San Antonio appetizer plate for yourself or to share with friends over a fantastic array of margaritas—it's what the restaurant is named for, and the moniker is justified. There's plenty of live entertainment, and mariachis will serenade your table upon request (and please do tip).

This is a popular old-school neighborhood Mexican bakery. Their pastry-laden cases contain Mexican pan dulce staples like conchas, empanadas, and campechanas, plus cupcakes, cookies, donuts, apple fritters, pink cake, and fresh bread. They also take orders for weddings, quinceneras, and other celebrations. They open at 6 am, and if you have favorites it's best to get there early, especially on weekends. Call with any questions, as they have no website or social media.

Located in the thick of things right on the San Antonio River, this upscale national seafood chain is a pleasurable oasis from the area's hustle-and-bustle. A variety of fresh fish prepared in a number of ways include Chilean sea bass and almond-crusted mahimahi; top steak cuts appease those who prefer turf to surf. Or you can have both with Reef & Beef, a lobster tail with rib eye. The atmosphere is classy yet relaxed. There's a large wine list, a capable bar, and a prompt and knowledgeable waitstaff.

Formerly a convent, this historic pink building now offers an eclectic, something-for-everyboy menu that includes sourdough pizzas, homemade fettuccini, and hearty entrees like pot roast and grilled salmon. The bar has seasonal cocktails, wines, and draft beer in bottles and cans. Reservations are recommended for weekend brunch.

Staying true to their name, this company states that 73% of their ingredients come from local farmers and artisans, and they use as many organic ingredients as possible, making every single batch of ice cream by hand in Austin. Their everyday flavors are heavenly—think caramel salt lick, coffee with cream, dark chocolate with olive oil and sea salt, roasted beets with fresh mint, and more, while seasonal flavors include candied pecan-bourbon, Hazel's pumpkin pie, red velvet, and Too Hot Chocolate. Their homemade waffle cones use local cage-free eggs, butter, cane sugar, vanilla extract, and wheat flour. Lick is sensitive to special diets and will gladly answer questions about their ingredients. Dairy-free/vegan flavors include cinnamon apple, no egg nog, chocolate chocolate (made with coconut milk), and caramel oat bar. They even offer a vegan, gluten-free ice-cream sandwich. Other locations are downtown at 639 Hemisfair Boulevard and 17635 La Cantera Parkway at the Rim. 

Housed in a limestone structure built in 1847, this rustic restaurant was originally the residence and store of German immigrant Otto Bombach, and now it's a spot to enjoy traditional German fare and music in a historic River Walk setting. A highlight is the Bavarian Beer Room, an Opera Haus–style space with live entertainment at selected times. Starters include deviled eggs and Prost fries topped with pork belly, scallions, pickles, and bier cheese. Handhelds (sandwiches) include a classic Reuben, a brat dog, a chicken schnitzel club, and burgers (either beef or veggie), plus sides of sauerkraut and potato salad. The terrace dining reminiscent of a biergarten gives diners scenic views of the San Antonio River. It's a historically protected site that was once a boarding house, a private school, and reportedly a hangout for desperados. 

Chef Diana Barrios Treviño—a frequent guest on TV food and talk shows—oversees the kitchen at this family-run restaurant, known for its authentic gourmet Mexican dishes. Eat in the relaxed, casual patio dining atmosphere with lots of light. Try the Mexican dinners of enchiladas, pork chops Mexican-style, or the classic chile relleno. There's a full bar with tequilas, bourbons, Scotches, rums, gins, and vodkas, as well as top-shelf margaritas. 

You'll know this drive-through spot by its lime-green structure that practically glows in the distance, guiding you to what some are saying is quite possibly the best burger they've ever had. The menu is wonderfully simple: burgers, fries, and shakes, but it does it all very well. For dessert, you can sample the Belgian chocolate chip cookies and key lime pie. Don't be put off by the "wet" sauce option on the burgers—it's just au poivre, or peppery French steak sauce, for an extra $1.50. They also have nitro cold-brew coffee, craft and domestic beers, and wine. The fries are hand-cut and perfect, and the shakes are thick and cold. The place gets very, very busy. They have another location at 3910 McCullough Avenue. 

A warm, almost clubby atmosphere lets you know to expect more than the typical Tex-Mex fare at this Alamo Heights mainstay since 1997. Tempting offerings as varied as grilled fillet of red snapper, enchiladas verdes (covered in green tomatillo salsa), posole (shredded pork and hominy), tacos de Cameron (grilled shrimp), and pollo con mole (chicken breast in authentic mole de xico sauce) are sure to please. Weekend brunch serves up traditional huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, and migas a la mexicana. For dessert, the tres leches cake alone is worth the trip. Don't feel like cooking this week? Choose from their Pounds, Quarts, and Pints menu of handmade tortillas and enchiladas by the dozen; pounds of beef, chicken, or shrimp fajitas; and quarts and pints of rice, beans, or guacamole.

What looks like an old gas station is actually home to some of San Antonio's favorite barbecue. The wait to place your order is worth it once you bite into some tender brisket (their original "sause" is on the side) or smoked turkey dry-rubbed with flavor and cooked in wood-fired pits. Or try some chicken, sausage, baby back ribs, pork ribs, or their special chopped brisket, turkey, and pork combination in "sause."  Sides are creamed corn, beans, potato salad, and coleslaw, with peach cobbler for dessert. Outdoor picnic-table seating completes the picture.

A cute place with top-notch gelato and panini, fresh and handmade are the best words to describe the items here, from the gelato to the pickles and mayonnaise. They import their meats and cheeses from Italy and so far have created more than 125 flavors of gelato, although they only rotate 20 flavors a day. You'll just have to keep coming back to try them all.