San Antonio is known as one of the best food cities in the United States. With strong Mexican and Southwestern influences, as well as top chefs who have adopted the city as their own, this is a great place to live or travel to if you love food. Many new restaurants have opened here, while others have been serving locals for several generations. To help you navigate this exciting food scene, here are 10 of the best restaurants in San Antonio to get you started!
The Cove 
Credit: www.facebook.com Incredible burgers at The Cove
The Cove (Hotels nearby)
Not only is The Cove a sustainable and local restaurant in San Antonio, it is also a live music venue, a car wash, a laundromat, a dog hangout and a children's playground! Seriously, what more could you want? This is a wonderful place to eat if you are looking to live a healthy lifestyle, support local producers and have fun with great people. On the menu you'll find creative tacos, grass-fed beef burgers, kids menu and frozen treats. The Cove has over 50 Texas craft beers on tap, and there's something happening on the Cove's events calendar practically every day. This restaurant doesn't take reservations unless you're interested in holding tables for your party. Just stop in to eat from 11am to 10pm on Tuesdays through Thursdays, until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 9pm on Sundays.
Biga on the Banks 
Credit: www.facebook.com Meal at Biga on the Banks
Biga on the Banks (Hotels nearby)
If you're looking for a great dining spot on the Riverwalk with great food, look no further than Biga on the Banks. This restaurant serves New American dishes with creative menu touches on a regular basis, and is a favourite with tourists and locals alike. The kitchen is run by Chef Bruce Auden, who was nominated for the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Southwest. Appetisers start at $25 and include specialities such as gulf crab stuffed with American snapper, 13oz Angus beef steak and grilled venison and quail. There are also some tasty desserts on the menu, such as Grand Mariner soufflé and blackberry buttermilk panna cotta. Make a reservation for dinner every night of the week.
Cappy's Restaurant 
Credit: www.facebook.com Gulf crab and sunomono shrimp in Cappys
Cappy's Restaurant (Hotel nearby)
Another great place for eclectic American cuisine is Cappy's Restaurant in San Antonio. Come here for fresh seafood, regional specialities and steaks. Opened in 1977, Cappy's is open for brunch, lunch and dinner and is a short drive from downtown and the airport. It is a good idea to make a reservation at this restaurant and you can make one online. Popular specialities on the dinner menu include Allen Bros. ribeye, lamb loin, gumbo and Skuna Bay salmon. After dinner, save room for a caramel pudding or a slice of coconut cream pie. The bar here also has an excellent selection of bottled and glass wines and cocktails.
Iron Cactus Mexican Restaurant and Margarita Bar 
Credit: www.facebook.com Happy hour at Iron Cactus (San Antonio)
Iron Cactus Mexican Restaurant and Margarita Bar (Hotels nearby)
This San Antonio staple has been on historic 6th Street since 1996. It serves contemporary, redefined Mexican food and actually has three locations in Texas (the others are in Dallas and Austin). In San Antonio, the restaurant is right across the street from La Mansion hotel and has a relaxing private patio on the Riverwalk. You'll love the three-pound pork loin, tamale pork cubes, vegetarian enchiladas and queso compuesto. Also come here for happy hour at the bar!
Magnolia Pancake Haus 
Credit: www.facebook.com Breakfast at The Magnolia Pancake Haus
Magnolia Pancake Haus (Hotels nearby)
To start your morning in San Antonio, be sure to stop by The Magnolia Pancake Haus. This restaurant serves food made from scratch, just like grandma used to make. Besides pancakes, Magnolia also offers tasty waffles, omelettes, salads, soups and sandwiches. The restaurant opened its doors in 2000 and has since become one of the best breakfast places in town. It was also featured on Diners, Drive-In and Guy Fieri's Dives. More than 70 per cent of the menu here can be made gluten-free if you have a food sensitivity. It is open daily from 7am to 2pm.
Smoke Shack 
Credit: www.facebook.com Meal at Smoke Shack BBQ - Smokehouse
Smoke Shack (Hotels nearby)
The Smoke Shack in San Antonio serves great sandwiches and barbecue dishes with sides to help you embrace the spirit of Texas. This barbecue joint is open every day except Sundays from 11am to 9pm, and also has a food truck on Nacogdoches open for lunch. In fact, the restaurant started as a barbecue food truck and served customers for four years before the restaurant opened in town. Come here for brisket, pulled pork, fried chicken and frito pies to get the southern food fix.
Pasta Napoletana 
Credit: www.facebook.com Perfect Pizza at Dough Pizzeria Napoletana
Dough Pizzeria Napoletana (Hotels nearby)
San Antonio also has some great pizza restaurants, including Dough Pizzeria Napoletana. This restaurant serves authentic Neapolitan-style pizza in two locations in San Antonio (downtown and Blanco Road). The restaurant has been in town since 2007 and focuses on the delicious style of pizza that is specific to Naples, Italy and southern Italian cuisine. Try the Truffle Burrata pizza or the signature Pork Love pizza when you stop in.
Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery Credit: www.facebook.com Shrimps and a beer at Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery
Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery (Hotels nearby)
San Antonio breweries also offer tasty dishes, including Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery. Here you can get brunch, lunch, dinner or late-night dining. On the dinner menu, for example, you'll often find fried chicken, pan-fried pork chops, grilled red wolverine and oysters. Chef Jeff Balfour creates a modern take on cross-cultural Texas cuisine here. Also, be sure to try a pint of The Future will recognise us, In the Arms of Morpheus, or another local beer. Make a reservation online to secure your table.
Bliss 
Credit: www.facebook.com Bliss
Bliss (Hotels nearby)
For a special occasion dinner in San Antonio, choose Bliss. This new American-style restaurant is elegant and offers fine dining in a refined atmosphere. Come here for luxurious and impressive cuisine just south of the city centre. Popular items on the dinner menu to try are the prime beef tenderloin, duck foie gras, vegan platter and charcuterie platters.
Cured 
Credit: www.facebook.com Cured meats at Pearl
Cured (Hotel nearby)
We also love the Curato restaurant in San Antonio for creative cuisine and craft cocktails. This is Chef Steve McHugh's new restaurant in a historic building that focuses on handcrafted cured meats. It is open for brunch, lunch, dinner and happy hour. This is a great place to visit if you love charcuterie, with both small and large plates to make your mouth water.
