72 Best Restaurants in San Antonio, Texas

Surprisingly, the concept of a French restaurant with Southern hospitality actually works here. That was the dream of the three Frenchmen founders from different regions in France (Strasbourg, Chartres, and Lyon) who met up in San Antonio; some of the dishes are a tribute to their respective grandmothers and meals shared around family tables. They have an all-day menu and a Sunday brunch menu, both featuring French comfort food (think Cheeseburger Mon Chou Chou, with Gruyère cheese and shallot sauce), salads, and sandwiches. Entrées include delectable creations of duck, Icelandic cod, milk-fed veal, and prime center-cut filet mignon. Luscious desserts include a berry-topped crème brûlée, mocha pot de crème, and more. The cocktail menu features Mon Chou Chou creations like espresso martini and banane Alexandre, plus a good selection of wines by the glass and bottle.

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.

This steak house reigns over the San Antonio skyline, perched at the top of the Tower of the Americas and rotating slowly and smoothly. Its predecessor was primarily popular as a destination for drinks, but Chart House serves up great steaks and seafood to keep you occupied for an entire night out while enjoying the view from the top. It's a short stroll from the River Walk and other downtown attractions, and then a high-speed elevator ride to the top of The Tower.

For a smallish place, Cheesy Jane's has a surprisingly varied menu, with big burgers, milk shakes and malts, and nostalgic decor dominating this throwback to old-time malt shops. Flavors for shakes and malts—made with Cheesy Jane's ice cream—include plain vanilla, peppermint, Dreamsicle, chocolate peanut butter, amaretto-espresso, and more. Ground-chuck burgers come in different sizes, with variations like a deluxe bacon burger with applewood-smoked, sugar-cured bacon; a Wurst burger topped with Kiolbassa sausage; and a bean burger with refried beans, cheddar, and Fritos corn chips. Adventurous diners should definitely try the Spicy Splinters—battered and fried slivers of onion and jalapeño peppers.

A San Antonio institution since 1977, Chris Madrids is synonymous with burgers. The six varieties of hamburger—which locals and tourists alike consider among the best anywhere—come in two sizes: the regular quarter-pound and the Macho half-pound. Options include fan-favorite Cheddar Cheezy, the house-specialty Tostada Burger, the Cheeseburger, Porky's Delight (bacon slices and melted cheddar cheese), the Old Fashioned (no cheese), and the Flaming Jalapeño Cheddar burger. Grilled chicken sandwiches, homemade hand-cut fries, nachos, chalupas (open-face tacos), and a kids' meal (10 and under) round out the menu. The place can be boisterous and bustling, but it's fun.

A French twist on the usual coffeehouse scene, with friendly staff, freshly baked bread and pastries in a hip, stylish location within a beautifully renovated historic home in Alamo Heights. They offer breakfast and lunch favorites like croissant béchamel and croque madame, while the robust beverage menu has signature and seasonal coffee and tea varieties. Enjoy your meal on the lovely outdoor patio.

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, sausage, and chicken. 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 all the offerings. 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 Dr.

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.

Chef Steve McHugh brings his love of regional ingredients and organic methods to charcuterie-focused New American cuisine in a historic setting. Dishes change seasonally, but the primary theme is always meat (non-red-meat options available). The restaurant's intriguing concept of retail groceries strikes just the right note: you can take home jars of bread-and-butter pickles, pickled okra, basil and mint mustard, smoked tomato jam, and more. The restaurant is in the Pearl's 1904 Administration building, one of the district's most recognizable structures. The interior is equally distinctive, complete with a glass case chock-full of house-cured meats, from which you can build your own charcuterie plate (with expert help if needed).

Since 1975, this family-owned restaurant has been a 40-year favorite for innovative Mexican cuisine. It's tough to choose from the ample menu, with standout specials like chicken mole, portobello mushroom enchiladas, and sizzling shrimp fajitas. Start with the botana (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 is 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; Howdy Child, a smokehouse and delicatessen serving classic meats, sides and salads; Henbit, with made to order smashburgers and savory sides; Freight Fried Chicken, fried in a dry batter similar to what was fried in the 1800s; Park Bar, local Texas craft brews, cocktails, frozen drinks, and fine Texas wine; and Wonderslice pizzas, subs, and salads. 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.

Chef-owner Frederick Costa marries French and Asian cuisine to create fantastic fusion dishes in this relaxing, romantic hidden gem. Seafood is a standout at both lunch and dinner, with options that include Scottish salmon with miso glaze or wild-caught fish of the day. Entrees from the land include a grass-fed veal strip loin, aged Black Angus beef tenderloin, and a baby back rack of New Zealand lamb. The ample dessert menu features ginger crème brûlée, rum(cake) euphoria, and chocolate pecan mousse cake. There is also an extensive wine list with reserve bottles and Frederick's preferred Bordeaux and proprietary blends. Dinner reservations are recommended.

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.

They call it an oldie but a goodie, with good reason. "Jo Street" is famous for dishing up steaks and whiskey since 1979 in an early-1900s building on the outskirts of downtown, Steaks come in all shapes and sizes, from a tasty chicken-fried variety to a 12-ounce Texas T-bone. For something different try the pork chops or liver and onions. Don't miss the baked-fresh-daily peach cobbler, for a belly-busting finish.

Pronounced kape'h—the Mayan word for coffee—this charming gem of a coffee shop/art gallery/boutique is housed in a cozy homestyle building across from Madison Square Park. Owner/artist Laura Lopez and owner/chef Rudy Lopez created a simple but diverse lineup of flavorful dishes like tomato and feta scramble, salmon toast, and delectable sandwiches on house-made bread. Perfect for a relaxing breakfast or lunch, Kapej has indoor and outdoor dining.

La Fogata's rambling, hacienda-style indoor dining areas plus its lush, tropical outdoor patio put you in the mood for the authentic Mexican dishes to come. A top-shelf margarita helps you relax and enjoy an enormous selection ranging from spicy shrimp enchiladas to a rich, flavorful calabacita con carne de puerco (pork stew with squash and corn). The expected Mexican cornucopia of tacos, enchiladas, and quesadillas is kicked up a notch with fresh ingredients and attentive service. 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. Try the enchilada assortment—five delectable takes served with guacamole salad. Entrées include El Mofofo Grill, a specialty combination of marinated beef and pork and served on a grill for two or more diners.

In the heart of Market Square, you can sample Mexican fare or oysters or both while surrounded by Spanish tile and lively ambience. 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).

This is a popular old-school neighborhood Mexican bakery. Their pastry-laden cases contain Mexican pan dulce staples like conchas, empanadas, and campechanas, plus cupcakes, cookies, donuts, apple fritters, pink cake, and fresh bread. They also take orders for weddings, quinceneras, and other celebrations. They open at 6 am, and if you have favorites it's best to get there early, especially on weekends. Call with any questions, as they have no website or social media.

At this restaurant focused on Texas heritage and place—primarily sourcing its ingredients locally and regionally—an evolving menu, naturally, changes with the seasons. As sleek, comfortable, and contemporary as the Thompson Hotel it's housed in, the restaurant has River Walk access where guests can stroll up directly from the river level without having to go through the hotel. When making reservations, ask for seating at the K-Bar for a close-up look at the Grillworks wood-fired grill and a chance to watch the chef at work.

Located in the thick of things right on the San Antonio River, this upscale national seafood chain is a pleasurable oasis from the area's hustle-and-bustle. A variety of fresh fish prepared in a number of ways include Chilean sea bass and almond-crusted mahimahi; top steak cuts appease those who prefer turf to surf. Or you can have both with Reef & Beef, a lobster tail with ribeye. The atmosphere is classy yet relaxed. There's a large wine list, a capable bar, and a prompt and knowledgeable waitstaff.

River Walk dining at its most elegant and romantic, this three-level restaurant is known for its sophistication and romance and has one of the most relaxing and beautiful outdoor dining areas on the River Walk, with graceful palm trees and soothing views. The menu is a celebration of refined American cuisine that combines locally sourced ingredients in chef-inspired dishes. Creative, flavorful dishes of note use products from local farmers and artisans, such as Lockhart quail and veal tenderloin. The finest handmade margaritas on the River Walk can be found here. 

Formerly a convent, this historic pink building now offers an eclectic, something-for-everybody menu that includes sourdough pizzas, homemade fettuccini, hearty pot roast, grilled salmon and late-night bites. The bar has seasonal cocktails, wines, and draft beer in bottles and cans. Reservations are recommended for weekend brunch.

Staying true to their name, this company states they use as many organic ingredients as possible, making every single batch of ice cream by hand in Austin. Their everyday flavors are heavenly—caramel salt lick, coffee with cream, dark chocolate with olive oil and sea salt, and more. Their homemade waffle cones use local cage-free eggs, butter, cane sugar, vanilla extract, and wheat flour. Lick is sensitive to special diets and will gladly answer questions about their ingredients.

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 a variety of live music in a historic River Walk setting. Starters include deviled eggs, Prost jumbo chicken wings, Kraut balls and more. Handhelds (sandwiches) include a classic Reuben, a brat dog, a chicken schnitzel club, and burgers (beef or veggie). One house specialty is the Jaeger Schnitzel, a handbreaded pork cutlet with bacon cabbage and buttermilk smashed potatoes. The terrace dining reminiscent of a biergarten gives diners scenic views of the San Antonio River.

This is a pleasant hangout with excellent products and a good vibe. They have a great selection of coffees and teas and a small healthy food menu with selected pastries made daily from Full Goods diner. They are committed to sourcing locally as much as possible.

Chef/author 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 since 1979. Try the enchilada dinners, beef steak ranchero, or breakfast chilaquiles.

A much-loved breakfast institution, Magnolia prides itself on dishes made from fresh and wholesome ingredients. The fluffy buttermilk pancakes are a mainstay, but for something different, try the Bodega Bay omelet or Oma's puffed apple pancake made with Granny Smith apples and Haus secret spices, served with powdered sugar and European-style whipped cream. Breakfast is served all day, but at lunchtime a diverse selection of Haus-made salads, soups, burgers, and deli "sammies" round out the menu. No reservations are allowed, so be prepared to wait at this very popular spot.

Near the Alamo, the River Walk, and the Menger Hotel, this branch of the Morton's steak-house chain is appropriately elegant and contemporary. Fabulous steaks range from prime rib eye to prime New York strip, and are matched with exquisite wines and service. Other options include cold-water lobster tail. Signature sides are lobster mac 'n' cheese, smoked Gouda and bacon au gratin potatoes, and truffled ream corn.