48 Hours of Gluttony: Best Restaurants in San Antonio

I went to Texas, y’all! I was on my own this time but on a mission to find the best restaurants in San Antonio.

Discover America reached out to me to participate in an Instagram program, sending me to Texas for 5 days to share what I ate on Instagram.

I hit San Antonio first and ate for 48 hours straight at some of the best restaurants in San Antonio.

I liked the city so much I created a downloadable PDF with my favourite finds.

San Antonio is More than the Alamo

Sad as it may be, my only reference for San Antonio was an obscure reference to the Alamo and the recent appearance on the Bachelorette (shh don’t tell anyone).

But so many people told me that they adored San Antonio.

Sixty percent of the population is Hispanic, which I loved because you can see the influence everywhere from the food to the decor.

What captured my heart was the Southern hospitality, everyone is so nice, friendly and polite.

My Picks: Best Restaurants in San Antonio

Mi Tierra

Anyone who’s been to San Antonio will tell you to go to Mi Tierra. It’s like a loco Mexican diner complete with a Mariachi band.

Food is good but you come for the experience.

Located in Historic Market Square you’ll see lots of tourists because it’s famous but it’s also 24 hours and the best bet for late night eats.

Mi Tierra Bakery and Cafe

Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery

The Pearl district (or Pearl as locals refer to it) deserves its own day of sightseeing. Start downtown and take the River Walk to Pearl. 

Located on the ground floor of a historic brewery, Southerleigh is one of the new gorgeous restaurants in Pearl with its own on-premise brewery.

Led by Chef Jeff Balfour, the food represents a modern interpretation of the diversity of Texas and coastal Texan fare.

If you’re from away like me, you’ll find all the Southern comfort classics and incredible craft beer.
 
 

Cured

Chef/owner Steve McHugh is originally from Wisconsin but arrived in San Antonio to open John Besh’s Luke and left to open Cured when the Pearl district of the city began to redevelop.

A charcuterie focused menu with an emphasis on local and whole-animal cooking, it’s located in a beautiful restored historical building. 

Go for lunch and splurge on the charcuterie board as you’ll want one of everything.

Bakery Lorraine

If you need a break Bakery Lorraine has great coffee, Mexican sodas and is known for its French pastries. 

My macarons were a bit soggy but nonetheless delicious. It’s a great cafe to take a load off, connect to wifi and plan the rest of your day.

Alamo Beer Co.

Revived in 1997 Alamo Beer Co. is the place to be Sunday afternoon as groups of friends, couples and families gather here to listen to music and drink local craft beer.

For “beer pansies” or hops-fearing drinkers like me, the Alamo Golden Ale, is a lighter style ale perfect for sunny days.

For craft-beer fanatics there are also more serious options like the Pilsner and German Pale Ale.

Technically there is no food at the Alamo but food trucks park outside.

The Best Tacos in San Antonio

San Antonio is known as one of the best places to visit in the US for tacos. And of course why wouldn’t you visit a city just for tacos.

If you also travel for tacos you’ll want to check out the top 25 tacos in Los Angeles.

Toro Taco Bar

One of the new taco joints was also one of my favourites. A pair of local chefs left the city for a while and returned to launch this cantina.

While they have crazy items like goat pop tarts, I really loved the pickled vegetables on the regular tacos.

It’s only a short walk from the Alamo Brewing Co. and I had a great afternoon visiting them both.

Taco Taco Cafe

While many cities have tacos, San Antonio is home to the breakfast taco.

The most famous here is the Taco Norteño, stuffed with beans, cheese, avocado, and grilled beef or chicken. It’s also gigantic.

Taco Taco Cafe has been lauded by everyone from bon appetit magazine to Rachael Ray.

I wouldn’t call it the best but it’s very tasty and the staff here are so polite and friendly it’s worth a visit.

Rolando’s Super Tacos

For taco pilgrims, Rolando’s not too far from Taco Taco so plan to hit both for breakfast or lunch (they both close at 3pm).

Rolando’s claims to have the best tacos in town, you must try the puffy taco, which originated in San Antonio, corn or flour tortillas are deep-fried until they puffy and then topped with filling.

Roland’s Super Tacos

Local Mentions

There’s only so much time to check out the best restaurants in San Antonio and I couldn’t eat at all the San Antonio taco joints out but these come recommended by people I trust.

Puffy tacos: Ray’s Drive In, Los Barrios, Teka Molino.
Tacos: The Original Donut Shop (separate drive thru for tacos and donuts!), Tito’s, Rosa’s.

Best Restaurants in San Antonio That I Missed

Hot Joy

Also started as a pop-up, Hot Joy has a menu of extreme eats inspired by Asian cuisine, by a chef who’s proclaims he’s never been to Asia. T

hat admission opens up a new world of interpretation like tater tot chaat or ramen with toasted guajillo miso.

Hot Joy

Restaurant Gwendolyn

Running a restaurant like it’s 1850 there are no appliances or freezer, the walk-in fridge was mandated by the department of health.

Rejecting the industrial world, this is a local menu like no other.

Restaurant Gwendolyn

Mixtli

Book in advance! Only 12 guests per night, 10 courses, with free wine and beer pairings, use modern techniques with indigenous ingredients.

Mixtli

Walk it Off – San Antonio River Walk

You cannot miss the River Walk in San Antonio, a long walkway beside the river dotted with businesses and attractions beside the river.

Many things are easily walkable but it can get hot.

As the river is below street level it is significantly cooler so walk along it when possible and be sure to bring water and lots of sunscreen.

If you’d prefer not to walk there are River Walk boat tours as well as the Rio Taxi Boat with 39 stops, a ride is $5 but a 24-hour pass is a bargain at $10.

Where to Stay in San Antonio

I stayed at the Omni La Maison del Rio.

One of the Historic Hotels of America, it is located overlooking the river walk so you get a great view and are only a short walking distance to everything.

Read Reviews on TripAdvisor or Book on Expedia

Remember the Alamo!

Considered to be the shrine to liberty in Texas, San Antonio de Valero, also known as the Alamo, is much smaller than you would expect.

It’s also right downtown, which makes it easy to visit.

Free for visitors, there’s an interesting exhibit explaining its history and importance in the turn of Spanish and American empires.

Once a mission, it’s now vying to become a UNESCO heritage site along with San Antonio’s four other Franciscan missions.

If successful, it will be the first World Heritage site in Texas and the 22nd UNESCO heritage site in the United States.

What best restaurants in San Antonio did I miss? Where should I go next time? Let me know because I definitely want to return to San Antonio.

Pin It: Best San Antonio Restaurants

• 

• 

• 

• 

Casa Rio Image (c) Matthew LeJune,neoclassical architecture (c) Adan Guerrero,