San Antonio Suggestions?
The San Antonio Riverwalk, photo by Jim Nix
Next week I’ll be traveling to San Antonio, Texas for the first time. The trip is for work, but I should be able to squeeze in at least a couple of good meals. Since I don’t have much time to research, I’m looking to you for dining suggestions!
Have you been to San Antonio before? Any stand-out meals while you were there? Please let me know where I should go!
The last time I was in San Antonio was when I was on a 6th grade trip, so I have no suggestions to offer, but I cannot wait to hear about your trip when you go. I’ve heard there are some really great places along the Riverwalk.
http://mitierracafe.com/
I went to some places that I would NOT recommend… haha.
Then maybe you should list all of them for me so I DON’T go there! ;-)
Rosario’s Mexican Cafe Y Cantina and Biga On the Banks. Make sure to walk around the river walk. Lots of good people watching. Have fun! We took MANY a trip there.
Oh I just got done going to San Antonio at least once a month for almost a year for work, so I have some recommendations! Are you staying near the Riverwalk? If so, I’d recommend Luke or Boudro’s. Luke if you can only pick one. It’s a John Besh restaurant and I’ve yet to have a bad meal there. It is a bit noisy inside the restaurant though, so be forewarned of that if you’re going with business associates.
We also liked Beto’s on Broadway for casual tex-mex, and its close to the airport.
I never made it there, but always heard great things about Silo in the Quarry area as well.
Others that we liked were Soluna (tex-mex, also on Brodway) and Zinc (wine bar, sister restaurant to Boudro’s). Hope this helps. There is tons of great food in SA, so you’ll have a fabulous time!
Thanks for all the ideas Jill!
be sure to take a stroll on the Riverwalk…just don’t eat there. i was in San Antonio for work several years back, and virtually every restaurant on the Riverwalk was a chain. some were chains in disguise, but chains all the same.
i was only there for a couple days, but i did enjoy a meal at Mi Tierra. it’s very casual & fun with live music. they’re open 24 hours. my memory is fuzzy, but i believe there’s some touristy/traditional shopping (open air) nearby, where i bought the best vanilla extract i’ve ever had.
So many people have chimed in on Mi Tierra! Guess it must be on my list :-)
Howl at the Moon on Riverwalk is pretty fun. La Fogata has awesome tex mex.
And Lüke is amazing.
Agreed with Amanda. Don’t eat on the Riverwalk. I’ve made that mistake too many times. Of course, the one great Tex-Mex meal I had in San Antonio was on a college choir trip, and I’ve never been able to find the place again. It was near the Riverwalk but not on it. Ever since they renovated the old Pearl Brewery, I’ve been wanting to check that out. It looks gorgeous and like there are some good restaurants there.
I’m guessing Riverwalk is to San Antonio what 2nd Ave is to us? ;-)
Boudros texas bistro, amazing fresh made guacamole
bohhannans for steak, top restaurant in San Antonio
acenar for tex mex fish tacos are outstanding, they also make fresh made guacamole
Zocca Italian food, one of my favorite Italian places, the talagiellete is my favorite dish
Gunter house, breakfast, old pioneer mill
Sip, lunch pannini and sandwich bistro
La margarita, authentic Mexican food
Blanco cafe, breakfast tacos. A San Antonio favorite
Mi terra, located in the market square has the best Mexican bakery
For more great choices visit:
http://Www.visitsanantonio.com
Wow, this is awesome! Thanks for giving me so many options!
I am a San Antonio native. I can tell you that the locals do NOT eat at the Riverwalk. I highly recommend Los Barrios for puffy tacos. They originated there and are divine! I also recommend La Fogata. They have marvelous margaritas. If you have time, stop at the Liberty Bar. Also worth the trip is a stop at the Delicious Tamale Factory. The name says it all. Try the pork jalapeno tamales. Get a couple of warm ones to snack on and then get a couple dozen frozen to carry home because you don’t get tamales like that anywhere else. I am a tamale snob and only eat tamales from San Antonio. Also, you HAVE to have a breakfast taco somewhere – just about anyplace will do. My faves are potato or refried beans. If you there over a weekend go to a taco shack and grab some barbacoa. Most places only serve it on the weekend. If your adventurous, (lol) try cabrito or lengua. Cabrito is roasted goat and lengua is cow’s tongue. Or get a side or main dish of fideo. That is vermicelli noodles that are browned in oil and then simmered in a tomato sauce. It is al dente perfection and some places add the meat of your choice and make it a main course. All are excellend at Los Barrios and La Fogata. My other suggestion is Tip Top. You have to try the chicken fried steak with cream gravy which is a south, central Texas tradition. Also, if you get a chance for brisket, don’t turn it down!!
Let me know what you think of my city! :)
Hi Kristina! I didn’t realize you were from San Antonio. This is great advice!! I will definitely hunt down some of these places and will also travel back to Nashville with some frozen tamales!
Ugh, I apologize for my typos. That’s what I get for typing an epic reply from a smart phone…..
Mi Tierra in their Market area downtown, for fun drinks–go to V Bar at the Valencia Hotel on St. Mary’s & Houston St.
Breakfast-Sheraton on Houston St.
Check out the Majestic Theater to see if there are any broadway shows or comedians in town.
An of course–the riverwalk is great! Every restaurant on the riverwalk displays their menu for people to view before sitting down, have fun!
Lots of votes for Mi Tierra, so it has officially been added to the list! V Bar looks interesting too, so will be getting a cocktail there :-)
We love Budro’s on the River Walk. Sit outside. Tableside guacamole is nice. It’s been a few years, but we remember it well.
Boudro’s on the Riverwalk has been a long-time favorite.
I travel to San Antonio quite a bit for work and it has become a bit of a challenge to find consistent, non-chain, great food. We learned the hard way after less than mediocre food to stay away from the Riverwalk. The two places that have become standbys are —
Dough (doughpizzeria.com)
Luce Ristorante e Enoteca (http://lucesanantonio.com/)
Sadly not what you think of for traditional San Antonio food but great none the less.
Happy Eating.
paesanos italian restaurant! it is amazing you MUST order the shrimp paesano. There are 2 locations, go to the one NOT on the river walk
I’m from Texas and we’ve vacationed many times in and around San Antonio. I recommend for a traditional Tex-Mex go to The Alamo Cafe, it is a unique restaurant. If you are looking for steak, you cannot beat The Red Barn Door, great family steakhouse and has been around a long long time, so long the neighborhood grew out and around it. Great place, hope you enjoy your time in San Antonio.
The only thing I know about San Antonio is that one must eat a puffy taco
Beth – you are going to LOVE San Antone! if you can get up the road to Austin, I hope that you will. That’s my home town. These are great suggestions, and I have to put in that you must do the tourist thing and ride the floating boat tour. Totally worth it. Enjoy!!!!
Sheryl