Alamo City, otherwise known as San Antonio, is the most visited city in all of Texas. It is home to the Lone Star state’s most visited attraction, the Alamo. Each year, more than 2.5 million people make the trek to “remember the Alamo.”
In addition to popular tourist attractions such as the Alamo and San Antonio’s centerpiece, the River Walk, this city is also known for its variety of restaurants. Whether it’s along the stone walkways lining the San Antonio River or in the trendy historic area known as the Pearl District, those looking for a bite to eat can look forward to some excellent cuisine choices.
1. Savor
The Culinary Institute of America’s signature restaurant on their San Antonio campus is known for its global cuisine, highlighting the talents of its students. The campus is located in the Pearl District of the city. Diners at Savor can build their own three- or four-course meal. The school’s hospitality instructors and chefs oversee the students to ensure quality. The majority of the ingredients on the diverse menu are sourced from local farmers.
2. Southerleigh
Housed in what was once the Pearl Brewery, Southerleigh touts its menu as “elevated southern food served with a flourish.” The hearty menu offers dishes such as oxtail pie and steak. Those looking to try one of the dozen or so original beers brewed on the premises can pair it with a wood-fired pretzel or roasted beets.
3. Bottling Department
Also on the 22-acre site of the former Pearl Brewery is San Antonio’s first food hall, The Bottling Department. This revitalization brought about the opening of five new restaurants in just over two years. The food hall offers meal options for everyone with a range of local beers and wines.
- The Good Kind offers some healthy and not so healthy comfort food items such as free-range chicken stew, mac and cheese, cold press juices, and smoothies as well as classics such as hamburgers, hotdogs, and fries.
- Fletcher’s features a short rib, chuck, and brisket blend burger on a brioche bun. For the kids, they offer hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches.
- Bud’s Southern Rotisserie touts southern comfort food such as rotisserie chicken with a side of greens, mashed potatoes, or candied yams.
- Tenko Ramen serves bowls of hot, savory ramen. They are also proud of their “mouth-numbing battery acid chili.”
- Maybelle’s is the place to stop for that after dinner or lunch snack. Handmade donuts in unique flavors such as strawberry shortcake, key lime, and cinnamon roll, are accompanied on the menu by fried pies, coffee, and soft-serve ice cream
#4 Biga’s on the Bank
The breathtaking views and excellent shopping make San Antonio’s Riverwalk one of the city’s most popular places to visit. A great dining option on the river is Biga’s on the Bank. Eclectic contemporary American menu offerings such as grilled eggplant, apple-braised cabbage, and venison with grilled quail present customers with a memorable dining experience.
5. Ocho
A Latin-inspired menu and a stunning floor-to-ceiling glass wall make Ocho on the Riverwalk a great option for breakfast, lunch, brunch, or dinner. This Pan-Latin restaurant and bar serves a variety of dishes to include sweet plantain griddle cakes and Cubano con Huevo.
6. Alamo Street Eat Bar
It’s referred to as San Antonio’s first urban gourmet food park. The Alamo Street Eat bar features a variety of food trucks offering everything from sandwiches to burgers to tacos to sushi. Free parking is available. Grab a spot at one of the picnic tables and enjoy the Alamo Street Eat Bar open from Tuesday through Sunday, 5 p.m. through midnight, with extended hours until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
7. Church’s Chicken
Some 67 years ago, Church’s Fried Chicken To Go, located across the street from the Alamo, catered to visiting tourists. Since then, it’s grown into the fourth largest chicken restaurant in the country behind KFC, Chick-fil-A and Popeyes Chicken. Today there are more than a thousand Church’s Chicken restaurants across the country and more than two dozen locations in and around San Antonio.
8. Battalion
Looking for a little Italian food? Battalion in the heart of Southtown features a variety of handmade pastas. Located in a restored firehouse, diners get a kick out of the fireman’s pole. Parking is at a premium so arrive early to get a spot.
9. NOLA Brunch and Beignets
Those that enjoy a tasty brunch will keep coming back to the Nola Brunch and Beignets on Kings Court in San Antonio. The Nola Brunch Plate features scrambled eggs, grits, praline bacon, and fried green tomatoes. It is a classic New Orleans style brunch with beignets served coffee and live jazz music!
10. Bliss
Contemporary, classic cuisine is what you will find at Bliss in Southtown. Chef Mark Bliss is committed to his restaurant’s tagline, “Food is Bliss.” The menu constantly changes with specific dishes based on what ingredients are in season.
This article could have easily included 20 or 30 top places to wine and dine in Alamo City. Whether you’ve got a hankering for Tex-Mex, Asian Fusion, good ole fashion Texas barbeque or upscale Italian, there is a restaurant to fit your mood and your taste.
Written by: Carla Olivo
