Best restaurants in San Antonio

Nicōsi

★ Michelin$$$$Creative

Saving room for dessert isn't necessary at Nicōsi because this daring tasting menu celebrates the final course exclusively from start to finish. Nestled inside a dark, moody space hung with velvet curtains off Pullman Market, this theatrical experience is a true surprise, as there is a strict no photo or phones policy for all guests at the L-shaped counter. The multicourse meal tends to follow four themes—acidic, umami, bitter and sweet—and the team rarely repeats dishes from one season to the next. The creations are edgy and imaginative. Think mille-feuille of Fat Tailed Tomme cheese crackers

Isidore

★ Michelin$$$$American, Steakhouse

Located in San Antonio's historic Pearl District, Isidore is a stylish spot with a midcentury modern feel complete with an open kitchen and live-fire hearth. Named for the patron saint of farmers and laborers, there is a clear focus on Texas ingredients and local traditions, even incorporating Native American elements into the bread service. The menu is large, with items intended for sharing and a section dedicated to steak. Narrowing down your snack selection isn't easy, but the popcorn chicken, crispy fried with popcorn aioli and velouté, is a good bet. Cherokee tomato in a house-made kombuc

Mixtli

★ Michelin$$$$Mexican

This trailblazing restaurant is from the visionary minds of Chefs Diego Galicia and Rico Torres. The acclaimed duo has fine dining chops but it's a shared reverence for Mexican cuisine that is the real driving force behind this endeavor. Tasting menus shift often, focusing on a different part of Mexico and may offer up cutting-edge interpretations of Oaxacan specialties or a meal focused on the cuisine of "Tierra Caliente." Not content to restrain their explorations to the regional diversity of Mexican cuisine, the menus also draw from the culinary past or even pre-Columbian times. Expect cook

Cullum's Attaboy

Bib Gourmand$$French, American

Set in a little bungalow that’s as cute as a cupcake, this brunch-only, walk-in, counter-style bistro off the St. Mary's strip can do no wrong. Snag a seat at the counter and watch as the open kitchen dabbles in affordable French luxury with the likes of proper omelets and a whole lot of butter, hollandaise, truffles, and caviar offered at every turn. The menu is the right size. Think doughnuts dusted in powdered sugar that rival the best beignets or sandwiches stacked with smoked brisket, egg, and cheese served on beautifully bronzed rolls made in house. One unexpected sleeper hit is the brea

Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery

Bib Gourmand$$$American, Southern

Set within the historic Pearl brewhouse at the base of the Emma Hotel, Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery blends its industrial past with a lively, modern dining room. The expansive space draws a steady mix of locals and visitors, with the bar offering views into the working brewery. The menu reflects a Texas-focused approach, with Gulf seafood, Southern influences and comfort-driven dishes such as snapper throats with remoulade and the East Texas crawfish roll, served with spiced fries. House-brewed beers anchor the beverage program, rounding out a setting that is both relaxed and distinctly ro

Ladino

Bib Gourmand$$mediterranean

This welcoming San Antonio restaurant is a gem in the Pearl District. With an expansive terrace seating overlooking a verdant courtyard, the kitchen delivers creative, boldly seasoned dishes from across the Mediterranean. A wood-burning oven cranks out hot rounds of sourdough pita to pair with the likes of fire-roasted corn with labneh and sivri pepper or summer squash with grape-leaf chermoula. Seasonal fare figures prominently, and even Romano beans with fermented tomatoes pack far more flavor than you’d expect. Another must-order: Beef and lamb dumplings coated in a sauce of yogurt and smok

🕐 Mo-Th 17:00-22:00; Fr 11:30-14:00,17:00-22:00; Sa 11:30-23:00; Su 11:30-21:00

Mezquite

Bib Gourmand$$$Mexican, Regional Cuisine

In a city brimming with Mexican restaurants, Mezquite zigs while others zag. Don't expect the typical Tex-Mex here. Instead, this restaurant in Pullman Market with a sun-bleached, desert-inspired decor spotlights hyper-regional Sonoran cooking. The menu begins with seafood and ceviche along with a section devoted to tortilla y más. Offering an array of spreads like cebolla asada with grilled onion, chili toreado and black garlic accompanied by paper-thin flour tortillas. Pick a protein, perhaps the free-range chicken with pipian rojo, which comes with a flurry of sides sized for sharing. Rich

The Jerk Shack

Bib Gourmand$Jamaican, Caribbean

West of downtown San Antonio, find some of the best Caribbean/Jamaican fare in the city. The industrial space features high ceilings, warehouse floors and colorful art on the walls. The menu offers a mix of traditional and playful dishes prepared with an elevated twist, but first timers should stick with the hands-on mixed plate featuring grilled jerk chicken and fried chicken. Both styles are carefully spiced and wonderfully tender, and it’s not long before you realize why there’s a thick roll of papers towels on the table. You’re unlikely to have any room at the end for dessert, but a simple

Garcia's Mexican Food

$Tex-Mex

Open since 1962, this venerable institution from the Garcia family remains a vibrant, proud part of the city’s dining fabric. At all hours, the squat building has people waiting outside waiting for a table and ready to dig into classic Tex-Mex cooking. The menu is expansive, and one could spend weeks trying to cover it. There are those who come to order eggs over easy, douse them in salsa, and scoop them up in warm flour tortillas. And then there are heartier appetites who launch right into the deluxe dinner, which features enchiladas, a tamale, chili con carne, and a hard-shell taco. Should y

Little Em’s Oyster Bar

$$Seafood, American

Cute as a button, this breezy seafood hangout is dressed head to toe in cupcake-pink and white frosting. A spacious patio deck doubles the size of the dining room and is shaded by surrounding trees. The menu matches the décor, starting with a revolving selection of oysters and moving into light and bright preparations of seafood and salads. It is hard to imagine stopping by and not ordering fish tacos or, even better, a lobster roll served with herbed fries. A glass of rosé completes this summery daydream.

Leche de Tigre

$$Peruvian

A ceviche bar, a cocktail menu full of pisco sours, and a cute patio? What’s not to like? This colorful hotspot is buzzing for good reason. Driven by the owners' time spent growing up in Peru, this little bungalow emphasizes seafood dressed up in bright, zippy, punchy flavors. Striped bass with ginger leche de tigre thrives with the clever addition of plantains and huacatay oil. Scallops set in a sharp parmesan leche de tigre are paired with capers and garlic chips. Tostadas come piled high with yellowfin tuna tossed with Nikkei ponzu and showered with crispy leeks. Break from the sea with lom

Reese Bros Barbecue

$$Barbecue

This spot near the stadium is only open Thursday through Saturday, and the line is long, even when you come early, but it's worth queuing up for a taste of brothers Elliott and Nick Reese's barbecue. They're turning out Texas-style meat and while brisket is their focus, don't sleep on the queso fundido sausage or smoked turkey breast. It's not all traditional, though, as they substitute house-made flour tortillas and salsa for the typical white bread, and their sides are given an interesting spin. Poblano mac and cheese, or beans with peppers, onions and okra, anyone? Round it all out with a s

Barbecue Station

$$Barbecue, Regional Cuisine

This place has been going strong since the early 1990s, and the name is fitting, as you'll certainly want to fill up at this former gas station. Step inside to these simple surroundings and take a good look at the board detailing the mouthwatering meats and delicious sides on offer. Thanks to post oak and mesquite, it's all good and makes decision making a tough task. All of the meat is cut to order; juicy turkey with a slight smoky flavor is a winner, but the brisket sandwich, with thick, marbled slices tucked between cottony white bread, is a favorite. Don't skip the sides, especially "Mimi’

2M Smokehouse

$Barbecue, Mexican

Led by pitmaster and owner, Esaul Ramos Jr., 2M Smokehouse is the real deal. There is usually a line to order at the counter and wait for your tray before sitting in their enclosed seating area or outside on the benches. Unlike some spots where you're relegated to one offering by the pound, it's all cut and weighed market style here, so have as much as you want of their terrific offerings. It's all good but make sure to try their juicy brisket or thickly sliced turkey breast with a citrus-pepper seasoning. Mexican influences, such as chicharrón macaroni, pickled nopales, and street corn, also

Signature Restaurant

$$$$American

There is a warm and inviting appeal about Signature Restaurant, set within La Cantera Resort & Spa. Seafood dominates the menu, though there are plenty of other choices, including venison, pork, and beef. If the large menu and comprehensive wine list have you stumped, the attentive staff will keep you on track. Begin with an appetizer such as the Spanish octopus, grilled to a tender and crispy finish, served over an avocado puree and sided by confit potatoes, Spanish chorizo, and a salsa verde. Next, consider the venison, deftly cooked and accompanied by a cherry jus, baby carrots, and potato