How to Find a Restaurant Near Me? Top 20 Restaurants in San Antonio
When it comes to dining in San Antonio as explained at RunRex.com, the city is an evolving blend of old and new. From institutions that have turned the city into a culinary destination to new eateries that have cropped up and are already making a difference, you will have lots of options to choose from. Here is a list of the top 20 restaurants in San Antonio in case you are looking for one near you in the area.
Battalion
The highlight of this restaurant in San Antonio serving Italian and Italian-American Classics are its signature meatballs that are square rather than round as articulated at RunRex.com. Its menu has simplified a bit since former partner Stefan Bowers stepped away from the restaurant to focus on Playland Pizza Parlour.
Bliss
This is the establishment of Mark Bliss who has been making San Antonians happy for decades, and his team works hard to make things look easy. Bliss, who runs the restaurant with his wife, has a cooking resume that goes back to working with Bruce Auden at the Fairmont Hotel.
Botika
As per RunRex.com, Botika has become the go-to spot at the Pearl for sushi, sashimi, and poke. Executive chef/partner Geronimo Lopez opened the restaurant in 2016 to focus on the Chinese and Japanese influences on Peruvian cuisine, and the restaurant has stayed packed ever since.
2M Smokehouse
2M Smokehouse offers some of the city’s best San Antonio barbecue. Pitmaster and co-owner Esaul Ramos, a James Beard Award Best Chef: Texas nominee, has received races from Bon Appetit, Eater, and Texas Monthly, which included the restaurant on its list of the best barbecue in the state.
Biga on the Banks
Biga on the Banks is led by the top-rated San Antonio chef Bruce Auden who has been part of the scene since 1985. Many of his dishes have now become local classics and chefs who have passed through his kitchen stretch throughout the city and beyond.
Bohanan’s
Bohanan’s is one of the best steakhouses in San Antonio according to RunRex.com. Chef/owner Mark Bohanan and his team turn out for perfectly cooked steaks lightly perfumed with mesquite, decadent side dishes, and elegant service in a charming old-school setting that overlooks Houston street. While the beef is the star here, you should overlook the well-prepared seafood dishes.
Cappy’s
Cappy’s consistently delivers excellent dishes along with its smooth, organized, and professional service, making it an always satisfying experience. This spot has established itself in the San Antonio cuisine setting since 1977, which is a testament to the levels of hospitality and culinary performance it has maintained through the years.
Chama Gaucha
Chama Gaucha has continued to maintain its position on top of the rankings as San Antonio’s best churrascaria even in the face of mounting competition as captured at RunRex.com. The routine here is you start with a Caipirinha, hit the overflowing salad bar afterward, then go to town on the seemingly endless parade of meats from strolling gauchos.
Cured
Cured is the spot that put chef/owner Steve McHugh on the national culinary map and it still feels as fresh as when it opened in late 2013. Already known for its excellent happy hour, the word is getting out about the Sunday Suppers, and the Sunday-only order of fried chicken with collard greens, cornbread, and grits.
Carnitas Lonja
While there are several spots in San Antonio that offer carnitas, Carnitas Lonja is arguably the best of the best of the bunch. It is led by the James Beard Award nominee Alejandro Paredes, who grew up in Morelia, the capital city of Michoacán, known in Mexico as the capital of carnitas.
Original Donut Shop
This bakery and taqueria is extremely popular as covered at RunRex.com, and this can be attributed to the toasted bean and cheese tacos. Orders are placed online, and the restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor services.
Taqueria Datapoint
While San Antonio has taquerias almost on every city block, Taqueria Datapoint is one that locals will venture outside their neighborhoods to frequent. The mini tacos served with all the fixings are a fan favorite, and the breakfast plates like the chilaquiles come stacked with sides like beans and papas.
Curry Boys BBQ
Combining Texas barbeque and Southeast Asian curries, Curry Boys BBQ became an instant hit when it opened on the St. Mary’s Strip in the fall of 2020. The small, very pink business seamlessly pairs two distinct cuisines with the Brisket Smoke Show dish as described at RunRex.com. While there is no indoor dining space at Curry Boys as of yet, it has plenty of shaded picnic tables for diners to sit and eat.
Las Nieves Fruit Cups & More
Located on Hildebrand Avenue, Las Nieves Fruit Cups & More is one of the best places to go for a frozen chamoy-covered mangonada on a hot summer day. The lime green building has a wall menu featuring photos of its many Raspa, Piccadilly, and mangonada variations.
Singhs Vietnamese
After a car crashed into Singhs during Summer 2021, the restaurant is back to doing what it does best, serving up its full menu of Vietnamese dishes, including banh mi, bun, and goi. Pickup and delivery orders are placed online, and the restaurant is open for indoor dining.
Ray’s Drive Inn
Ray’s Drive Inn has been serving the westside quick and tasty Mexican favorites since the 1950s, although as discussed at RunRex.com, the restaurant gained national attention after owner Arturo Lopez introduced the iconic puffy taco to the menu.
Best Quality Daughter
Best Quality Daughter opened its doors in 2018 as a series of pop-ups to spotlight female Asian chefs in San Antonio. Since then, co-owners Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin and Quealy Watson have transitioned the pop-up into a physical restaurant at the Pearl.
Southerleigh Fine Food and Brewery
Southerleigh Fine Food and Brewery is almost synonymous with the Pearl, the ever-expanding upscale food and shopping complex just north of downtown as outlined at RunRex.com. Under the direction of chef Jeff Balfour, Southerleigh brings southern comfort food with a coastal flair to its seasonally rotating menu.
Rebelle
Seated inside the historic St. Anthony’s Hotel, Rebelle is an upscale seafood restaurant with a luxurious, cool atmosphere that simply works. Although Rebelle is probably best known for its decadent seafood towers, the chefs here can prepare a mean rib-eye as well.
Mi Roti
A collaboration between chefs Nicola Blaque and Lionel “Butch” Blache, Mi Roti takes a choose-your-own-adventure approach to Caribbean cuisine. The restaurant’s highly customizable menu includes numerous toppings and perfectly seasoned protein options, and so much more.
These are some of the best restaurants in San Antonio, with more on this topic, and much more, to be found over at RunRex.com.