72 Best Restaurants in San Antonio, Texas

You'll know this drive-through spot by its lime-green structure that practically glows in the distance, guiding you to what some are saying is quite possibly the best burger they've ever had. The menu is wonderfully simple: burgers, fries, and shakes, but it does it all very well. Don't be put off by the "wet" sauce option on the burgers—it's just au poivre, or peppery French steak sauce, for $1.50 extra. The fries are hand-cut and perfect, and the shakes are thick and cold. The place gets very, very busy.

A unique restaurant concept owned and operated by the San Antonio satellite location of the Culinary Institute of America, NAO features a rotation of resident chefs under Executive Chef Geronimo Lopez covering a whole perspective of Latin-American flavors. You'll find a fusion of Latin-inspired dishes with flavors from Peruvian causa potato purée, to Argentine roasted cheese with tomato and oregano, and Corbullon, a Caribbean-style cioppino. The beautiful South American-inspired architecture of the spacious dining room couple with excellent service make this a top destination at The Pearl.

Its name means oyster in Spanish, and you will find them plenty fresh here, chilled on the half shell and served with mignonette or chipotle cocktail sauce. The oyster bar also serves up crabs, shrimp, and ceviche. Other premium offerings are blackened redfish, grilled ahi tuna, and filet and lobster tail. The nonseafood menu is limited, so ask the server for suggestions. It's open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner at a lovely spot on the River Walk, housed in the luxury Mokara Hotel & Spa;  Dinner reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends.

This deservedly popular spot at a bend on the River Walk melds fine Italian dining with a Mediterranean approach. The range of foodie-friendly dishes includes the signature Shrimp Paesano, a delicate and flavorful, lightly breaded and baked concoction accented with lemon, butter, and garlic, available as an appetizer or as an entrée. Other standouts include wood-fired pizzas, eggplant parmigiana, and Snapper Paesano. Paesanos has another location at 555 E. Basse Rd.

The famed Palm chain was acquired by Landry's Inc. in 2020, but thankfully it is honoring the Palm's long tradition of sophistication and impeccable service. Dinner faves include lobster gnocchi, Sicilian salmon, prime porterhouse, Wagyu filet, and more. Distinguished but not stuffy, the first thing you notice is the walls covered with hand-drawn caricatures of local and international celebrities, sports figures, politicians, and others who have dined at the Palm over the years. The dark, quiet bar area is a great place for conversation and cocktails.

A warm, almost clubby atmosphere lets you know to expect more than the typical Tex-Mex fare at this Alamo Heights mainstay since 1997. Tempting offerings as varied as enchiladas verdes (covered in green tomatillo salsa), tacos de Cameron (grilled shrimp), and pollo con mole (chicken breast in authentic mole de xico sauce) are sure to please. For dessert, the tres leches cake alone is worth the trip.

On a mission to reinvent health food into something more flavorful and inspiring since 2015, Pharm Table's chef-owner Elizabeth Johnson takes a plant-forward approach to anti-inflammatory cuisine. The restaurant uses locally sourced produce with no dairy, refined sugar, or processed foods anywhere on the menu. To that end, they also  incorporate smaller portions of clean animal proteins with an emphasis on nutrient-dense foods.

A longtime popular Southtown mainstay, this vibrant, colorful, contemporary space is just one of the restaurants launched by notable restaurateur Lisa Wong. Dubbed Rosario's "Forever Home," the 25,000 square-foot indoor/outdoor dining areas feature the popular made-fram-scratch Mexican favorites that have delighted locals and visitors alike since 1992, including chicken chipotle, enchilidas, tender tips of beef tongue, fresh fish tacos, and some of the city's best margaritas. Check out the restaurant's 24x69-foot mural by Chilean-born artist INTI.

What looks like an old gas station is actually home to some of San Antonio's favorite barbecue. The wait to place your order is worth it once you bite into some tender brisket (their original "sause" is on the side) or smoked turkey dry-rubbed with flavor and cooked in wood-fired pits.

A cute place with top-notch gelato and panini; fresh and handmade are the best words to describe the items here, from the gelato to the pickles and mayonnaise. They import their meats and cheeses from Italy and so far have created more than 125 flavors of gelato, although they only rotate 20 flavors a day. You'll just have to keep coming back to try them all.

If you've never had a breakfast taco, this is the place to try it in San Antonio. Newbies may pause at the number of possibilities, including chorizo and egg, chilaquiles, and migas (eggs scrambled with fried tortilla strips, cheese, and peppers), but first-timers really can't go wrong with a basic potato and egg taco. Breakfast plates, appetizers, soups and salads, and substantial lunch plates round out the taco extravaganza. Don't be afraid of the long lines out the door, as the morning crowds move quickly.

This Alamo Heights standard has served fresh, healthy food since 1981. Regulars and visitors love it because it's a neighborhood spot with a tempting bakery case and a varied menu for breakfast and lunch, including some Mexican favorites. The atmosphere is relaxed, friendly, and a bit quirky. Breakfast is a special treat with a good assortment of omelets, including vegetarian, cowboy, and vaquero (Mexican cowboy), plus Mexican favorites like chilaquiles, migas, and even tofu rancheros. Lunch offers homemade soups and freshly made salads and sandwiches. Brunch is served on Saturday only.