1. Candlelight
3011 N St. Mary’s, (210) 738-0099, candlelightsa.com
2. Magnolia Pancake Haus
Multiple locations, magnoliapancakehaus.com
3. Feast
1024 S Alamo, (210) 354-1024, feastsa.com
What makes them so special? Comment below.
1. Chris Madrid’s
1900 Blanco, (210) 735-3552, chrismadrids.com
A San Antonio favorite, Chris Madrid’s has been dishing out massive burgers with some serious fries since 1977. The famous tostada bean burger proves memorable, combining a juicy burger patty, beans and crisp chips with a whole lot of cheese. Madrid’s sweet mango margarita is a perfect pairing for any of the burgers, chalupas or nachos on the menu.
2. Chester’s Hamburger Company
Multiple locations
3. Big’z Burger Joint
2303 N Loop 1604 W, (210) 408-2029, bigz-burgerjoint.com
1. Golden Wok
Multiple locations, golden-wok.com
2. Hsiu Yu
8338 Broadway, (210) 828-2273, hsiuyu.com
3.Formosa Garden
1011 NE Loop 410, (210) 828-9988, formosagarden.com
What makes them so special? Comment below.
1. Local Coffee
Multiple locations, localcoffeesa.com
Serious about coffee, the neighborhood java brewmasters at Local treat bean roasting like an art. Self-admittedly “obsessed” with crafting the best cup of joe, baristas offer a rotating lineup of new coffee from different roasters around the country on a weekly basis. The sleek, modern space and relaxed ambience of all three locations, including the most recent (and much anticipated) spot at the Pearl, is perfect for catching up with friends or weeding through your inbox—this year Local was rightfully named “best place to work on your laptop,” too. Readers salute Local for keeping them not just caffeinated with damn good coffee, but with the direct-trade, organic kind of black gold we can all get behind.
2. Olmos Perk Coffee
5223 McCullough, (210) 858-2956, olmosperk.com
3. Halcyon Southtown
1414 S Alamo, (210) 277-7045, halcyonsouthtown.com
1. Say.She.Ate
(210) 446-8257, facebook.com/saysheatetx
2. Rickshaw Stop
(210) 902-9308, rickshawstop-sa.com
3. Where Y’at Food Truck
(210) 420-0069, whereyatsa.com
What makes them so special? Comment below.
1. Brindles Awesome Ice Cream
11255 Huebner, #210, (210) 641-5222
2. Justin’s Ice Cream Company
245 E Commerce, Ste 150, (210) 222-2707
3. SA Pops
3420 N St. Mary’s, (210) 736-2526
What makes them so special? Comment below.
1. Il Sogno Osteria
200 E Grayson, (210) 223-3900
2. Paesanos
Multiple locations, paesanos.com
3. Little Italy
824 Afterglow, (210) 349-2060, thelittleitalysanantonio.com
What makes them so special? Comment below.
URTH Juice Bar
5317 McCullough, (210) 272-0467, urthjuicebar.com
URTH Juice Bar packs pounds of fresh produce into each 16-ounce beverage. Smoothies are blended to order with soy, almond, coconut or whole milk and offer an even more filling meal replacement with around 250 calories per serving, versus the juices’ 180- to 200-calories. Drinks such as the customer favorite Grassy Knoll, a green juice with kale, ginger, spinach, apple, cucumber and parsley, or the Bada-Bing smoothie with banana, yogurt, flax oil, honey and blueberries, run between $7 and $8, with specials on multi-day cleanses. URTH is open every day, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. A Current fave? The Hot Lei, a spicy and power-packed green juice with kale, pineapple, ginger, apple, spinach, cucumber, parsley and cayenne. Don’t forget to return the glass bottle for 50 cents off your next purchase.
1. Ilsong Garden
6905 Blanco, (210) 366-4508, ilsonggarden.com
2. Koreana
2458 Harry Wurzbach #5, (210) 804-0019, facebook.com/koreanasa
3. Kiku Garden
4527 Goldfield, (210) 662-6699
What makes them so special? Comment below.
1. Paloma Blanca
5800 Broadway, Ste 300, (210) 822-6151, palomablanca.net
Paloma Blanca continues to be regarded as one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city, serving distinct but familiar dishes. For proof, just check out their gluten-free and paleo menus, which manage not to feel like dietary compromises in the least. Top shelf margaritas, flavorful ceviche and pancakes with Mexican caramel are just a few more reasons to visit for lunch, dinner or weekend brunch.
2. Rosario’s Mexican Café y Cantina
Multiple locations, rosariossa.com
3. La Fonda on Main
2415 N Main Ave, (210) 733-0621, lafondaonmain.com
