12 Best Restaurants in San Antonio (2023)

In recent years, San Antonio has drawn attention for its increasingly impressive culinary scene. Once correlated only with the Alamo and expansive riverwalk, this up-and-coming gastronomical city offers much more than the classic Tex-Mex that might be expected (though it has amazing Tex-Mex to be sure). In this guide, we outline our top recommendations for the best restaurants in San Antonio, specifically chosen to provide you with a true taste of the diversity of this South Texas city.

SEE ALSO: 11 Best Mexican Restaurants in San Antonio

12. Sandwiches: Gino’s Deli @ Stop & Buy

On days when a cold lunch will not do or the day just ends in “y”, Gino’s is the perfect place to alleviate whatever slump you’re in. Their signature philly cheese steak makes the northeast proud with its greasy cheesiness but has a distinct freshness thanks to added veg that makes this sandwich irresistible. The Smoke Stack is also a must-try, as are their craft burgers. The menu has plenty of creativity to keep you coming back to try another warm, melty sandwich that is sure to put the pep back in your step and get you to the weekend.

11. Ramen: Kimura

Kimura is a Japanese eatery with the best ramen in town. Their broth, which is simmered for hours, is rich and smooth, and the noodles have the perfect bite. Their pork-based tonkotsu ramen is a hands-down favorite with the chicken-soy shoyu a close second. The mushrooms are well caramelized and slightly sweet, and the pork is perfectly fatty and charred on the outside. We love experimenting with a spoonful of this and a chopstick grab of that with the different add-ins to create a unique flavor experience with each bite. The red bean paste-filled pancake is a great sweet treat to share at the end of your meal, and the chashu don rice bowl is a perfect take-away for lunch the next day.

10. French American: Maverick Texas Brasserie

Sitting along S. St. Mary’s Street on the edge of San Antonio’s Southtown neighborhood lies Maverick, a chic Euro-Texan eatery offering wholesome, French-inspired eats in a warm, contemporary space (think velvet banquette seating and exposed brick walls). Maverick has quickly climbed its way onto our list of the best restaurants in San Antonio for its ambiance, service, and diverse menu. Bring a date for an intimate, candlelit evening and order the duroc porkchop to share. It’s incredibly tender and eats like a steak. Or book a patio table for brunch and try something new, like the citrusy brown buttered pork schnitzel or the Grand Marnier orange battered brioche french toast.

READ NEXT: The 12 Best San Antonio Bakeries

9. Tex Mex: Panfila

Panfila serves Mexican food that is just as delicious as it is beautiful. Their menu of traditional, elevated favorites hits the spot and is a welcomed reprieve from the monotony of Tex-Mex in the city. Their tortas are juicy and flavorful with the addition of pan-fried Oaxaca cheese, and their omelets make a satisfying and hearty meal any time of day. Panfila has done the best job of breathing new life into beloved traditional Mexican dishes and definitely deserves a spot on our guide of the best restaurants in San Antonio.

8. Southern: Southerleigh

Among many other San Antonio restaurants, Southerleigh is tucked in the heart of the Pearl and is located adjacent to Hotel Emma. This culinary jewel is housed in a historic but recently revitalized brewhouse. Their food is meant to share, so grab a couple of sides to fill the table gaps between entrees. We recommend the chicken cracklins, wood-fired pretzel, and jalapeño white cheddar grits. Their menu changes often, but the snapper and famous fried chicken are regulars and both are excellent. Southerleigh is a perfect nod to creole-American southern cuisine and one of the best restaurants in San Antonio.

7. American: Bliss

Bliss is a Southtown staple, churning out consistent high-quality upscale comfort food. Their braised beef short ribs will absolutely chase bad dreams away and pair great with the Mexican street corn fritters. Their menu has a solid base of offerings with a strong showing in seafood and well-done accompaniments like celery root puree, pepper jack cheddar grits, and cilantro risotto. You can’t go wrong adding their sashimi tostadas or Mahi Mahi ceviche to your meal. Bliss is a perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or to share an amazing dining experience with a favorite person.

DON’T MISS: 6 Best Riverwalk Restaurants (2023)

6. Bakery: Lorraine

Bakery Lorraine has been the queen of bakeries in San Antonio for many years and for good reason—they have mastered the art of lamination (repeatedly folding and rolling butter into dough to create super-thin layers). The perfection of the butter-layered dough gives their pastries the most delectable flavor, texture, and chew. Even the simplest croissant here is a masterpiece, and we can’t get enough. The kouign amann, handmade poptarts, and cinnamon rolls are also to die for, and their bread makes for amazing sandwiches. Bakery Lorraine’s three locations in the city make the gluten-y goodness accessible no matter where you are, but their downtown location is the most versatile for indoor and outdoor seating.

5. Italian: Battalion

Serving high-quality Italian food in one of the most unique atmospheres in the city lands Battalion a spot on our guide to the best restaurants in San Antonio. Battalion offers a careful, well-balanced menu that is ideal for sharing. Fresh, creative small plates, like the tomato watermelon salad, pair beautifully with larger, rich entrees like the milk-braised pork shank. Expect classic Italian-American favorites and be surprised by more unique dishes like their must-try spinach dumplings. Battalion is housed in a renovated firehouse downtown and is one of our favorite San Antonio restaurants to visit with friends and family.

4. Pizza: Dough

One of our absolute favorite spots in the city for pizza that’s also one of the best restaurants in San Antonio is Dough Pizzeria. The crust has outstanding flavor and texture and the toppings are fresh, well-balanced, and complement each other beautifully. The menu at Dough changes with the seasons, but their crust, sausage, mozzarella, and sauces are all house-made and always set the perfect tone for whatever combinations they are offering. Dough is a member of the Association of Neapolitan Pizzaioli, or VPN (the Italian governing body that teaches the art of Neapolitan pizza making and certifies adherence to authentic procedures), so you know they’re doing things right.

SEE MORE: 15 Best Breakfast and Brunch Spots in San Antonio

3. BBQ: Pinkertons

All the smoke, juice, and tenderness you would expect from great barbecue plus clean and sophisticated flavor profiles can all be found at Pinkerton’s. Every item on the menu here is top-notch and so, so flavorful. This is the best place in the city for pulled pork – it’s perfectly tender without being mushy, dry, or drenched in sauce. They just get it right. The brisket is rich, luscious, and has a peppery bark that bites back. The ribs have a little more texture, killer smoke flavor, and come right off the bone. Pinkerton’s sides are also phenomenal. We love the nostalgic-feeling jalapeño cheesy rice that is akin to cheesy rice casserole and the potato salad (tangy, leans mustard-y, a great balance of creamy and crunchy). Room for dessert? The bread pudding is a knockout—ultra-creamy with a sweet and tangy berry sauce. In summary: You. Cannot. Go. Wrong. with a single thing on this menu, making Pinkerton’s our top pick for the best barbecue in San Antonio.

2. New American: Cured

If you’re looking for a unique dining experience featuring the highest quality food, Cured is the place to make it happen. Cured is one of our favorite restaurants in San Antonio for good reason – their forte is their house-cured meats – but their exceptional level of quality and attention to detail touches everything on the menu. Ordering a charcuterie board at Cured is an absolute must, and have full confidence in building out the rest of your meal with whatever strikes your fancy from the selection of seasonal small plates (everything is always outstanding!) for a diverse and outstanding upscale dining experience.

1. Innovative American: Clementine

In the past few years, Clementine has cemented itself into the San Antonio food scene and into our guide to the best restaurants in San Antonio. The food is upscale American yet unintimidating and dynamic. The menu changes frequently and carries great variations to favorites like chicken and dumplings and steak frites. The small plates and sides never fail to complement the meat-forward main dishes – the beet salad with herbs, no grain-ola, and cocoa nibs is a tried-and-true favorite. Their pastry chef never fails to sway even the fullest belly to say yes to dessert. The layered strawberry shortcake, Clementine crunch bar, peach hand pies, and rhubarb and almond tarte are just a few of their most beloved desserts. Dinner at Clementine is simply a culinary delight and is one of our favorites to share with family and friends.