28 Best Restaurants in San Antonio, Texas

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. 

Nationally acclaimed Hot Joy has an eclectic menu that occasionally calls for an adventuresome spirit. You can try a Mexican twist on Asian fare like migas fried rice or pozole verde ramen, or go for the consistent standouts like the twice-fried crab wings—chicken wings fried in crab fat. The authentic Spam fried rice is a surprise hit (although not to anyone from Hawaii). Wait times can be long, but you'll have the surroundings to entertain you. There's a wonderful cocktail menu and a good selection of beer. Ramen Monday is very popular, a good way to try various dishes at an affordable price. 

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.

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.

Galveston chef-owner Jeff Balfour serves up a Southern comfort–style all-day menu paired with 15 different craft beers brewed on-site in a custom-manufactured brewery designed by Portland Kettle Works, bringing brewing back to the Pearl. The menu changes seasonally, and if you can't decide, choose selections from the chef's For the Table menu to share—options usually include Southerleigh's famous fried snapper throats, deviled eggs, South Texas antelope tartare, fried frog legs, and Galveston Bay shrimp boil. Besides the snapper throats, other popular dishes include pressure-fried chicken, cracker-crusted Gulf redfish, and crispy Gulf snapper Americaine. They also have a weekend brunch menu. Dinner reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. The restaurant is on the first floor of the same landmark 1894 building that housed the original Pearl brewhouse.

Part of the Alamo Quarry Market shopping complex, this upscale spot may make you wonder whether you're going to dinner or a wine tasting. Well, why not have both? The selection of vintages is overwhelming, but the sommelier will help you make the right choices to pair with a small menu of entrées ranging from Stilton-stuffed chicken breast to a NY strip. This is also a great place to wind down from a day at the boutiques with dessert and a glass of port.

Big and bold contemporary design creates a lively atmosphere for this exciting collaboration by restaurateurs Lisa Wong of Rosario's fame and Pete Selig, known for Biga on the Banks. The nouvelle Tex-Mex spot sits astride a less-traveled section of the River Walk and offers excellent margaritas (many made from exotic ingredients, such as pear cactus), guacamole made table-side, and fresh ceviche. For the main course, move onto fish tacos (grilled or fried) or a host of seasonal fare, all with a fresh, contemporary flair. The outdoor dining area is small, but worth the wait for views of the river. Reservations aren't required, but think about getting them for busy weekends or holiday times. 

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 excellent Asian-American fusion is served in a delightful, vibrant setting within the historic Mueller House. Chefs/owners Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin and Quealy Watson create an innovative and regularly changing all-day menu, plus lunch specials, always with a unique blend of Asian-American and South Texas influences, plus touches of other cuisines. The menu is divided into Smallish, Family Style, Noodles and Rice, and Dessert. Plenty of vegan and vegetarian options are here, along with family-style chicken, seafood, and pork. The restaurant began life as a pop-up by Dobbertin with fellow chef Anne Ng and artist Jennifer Ling Datchuk, who curates a wonderful collection of art by Asian-American women and whose own art graces the host stand at the entrance. The restaurant name was inspired by a line in Amy Tan's book The Joy Luck Club.

The name sounds stuffy, but the dining room is everything but at this European-inspired location far removed from downtown's urban closeness. Views of the forest through large windows and comfortable seating prepare you for a greatest hits approach to continental cuisine, with some unexpected twists such as ostrich fillet. Savory sauces drape chicken, prime rib, and rack of lamb. The on-site bakery serves up fresh breads and pastries. Outdoor dining is plentiful, but beware mosquitoes after dark.

Since 1975, this family-owned restaurant has been a favorite for innovative Mexican cuisine. It's tough to choose from the huge menu, with standout specials like mole enchiladas, tenderloin chipotle, and red snapper in a tequila sauce. It's also tough to choose between the beautiful, festive dining room and the garden-lush outdoor dining patio. Start out with the botano (sampler) platter to get a taste of all the flavors.

Nuevo Mexican and traditional Tex-Mex flavors collide at this family-owned restaurant, a much-loved King William–district mainstay since 1967. Owner Dona Marie's mole enchiladas shine here, with the extra-sweet but smoky sauce designed to be sopped up by homemade corn tortillas. Shrimp and fish play a major role, bringing new life to tacos, nachos, and chiles rellenos. And if you've never had a breakfast taco, this is the place to try one in any of almost a dozen ways. A full bar during dinner and an outdoor dining patio seal the deal on a quintessential San Antonio eating experience.

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.

The open and airy spaces of La Fogata's rambling, hacienda-style indoor dining areas plus its lush, tropical outdoor patio put you in the mood for the menu of authentic Mexican dishes to come. A top-shelf, hand-shaken margarita helps you relax and enjoy an enormous selection of options ranging from chicken mole to a rich, flavorful calabacita con carne de puerco (pork stew with fresh squash and corn). The expected Mexican cornucopia of tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and everything in between is kicked up a notch with made-on-the-premises tortillas. Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend dinner. 

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).

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.

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. 

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.

On a mission to reinvent health food into something more flavorful and inspiring, Pharm Table's plant-forward cuisine uses locally sourced produce with no dairy, wheat, refined sugar, or processed foods anywhere on the menu. To that end, Pharm Table incorporates smaller portions of clean animal proteins with an emphasis on nutrient-dense foods. Their approach must be working—they've been featured everywhere from the New York Times to USA Today. 

A fitting gateway to Southtown, this vibrant, colorful spot has contemporary decor enhanced by striking paintings from local artists. Since 1992, Rosario's has been serving authentic, crowd-pleasing Mexican favorites like chicken chipotle, enchiladas, and tender tips of beef tongue. Many consider their margaritas some of the best in the city, and they are available to-go in both single-serve and half-gallon sizes. Rosario's has another location at 9715 San Pedro Ave.

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.

This sleek pre-Prohibition-style craft cocktail bar has became the place for the see-and-be-seen crowd in central San Antonio. Though happy hour is hopping with the post-work crowd, the late night crowd brings a nervy allure to the place. While much of the menu is seasonally inspired, you'll find a solid list of classic cocktails with everything from Old Fashions to Corpse Revivers. Small bites and snacks are available. Late night reservations are strongly recommended.

A household name in barbecue with several locations in Texas and one in Albuquerque, the Country Line is famous for its barbecued ribs, smoked brisket, and related fare. The barbecue here is dry-rubbed, with the sauce on the side, and the various combo platters and family-style options let you sample from smoked turkey and sausage, brisket, beef and pork ribs, and more. They even provide recipes for sides on their website. The atmosphere is rustic-casual, so don't be afraid to put your elbows on the table. There is a second location at 4334 Hyatt Place Drive.

This turn-of-the-century home at The Pearl is one of the new hot spots to discover the pleasure of slow-smoked meats and barbecue. A counter-service barbecue joint by day and a brew pub and full-service restaurant serving globally-inspired barbecue plates by night, the Granary is for those with a Texas-sized appetite for meat. On any given day you'll find anything from house-made pastrami to thick-cut Niman Ranch smoked pork butt on the menu here. Soulful sides include crispy grit fritters and a version of Texas Toast griddled with a smear of beef tallow and served with a side of butter infused with drippings straight from the smoker. The house beers are pretty good as well, especially the Belgian-style Rye Saison and the dark and stormy Brown Ale. And you can't beat a cold mug of homemade root beer made with pure cane sugar and sarsaparilla.