Online review site Yelp can be annoying when we see users pick apart places we love for reasons we just can’t understand.
Still, it can be a solid barometer when we’re looking to figure out whether restaurants we haven’t tried are worth a visit. After all, we can usually trust our fellow diners if enough of them say a place is too amazing to pass up — or, on the flip side, they tell us to stay away from a place that just isn’t measuring up.
That said, it’s worthwhile every so often to check out the most-recommended restaurants on Yelp, just to see which dining spots are winning over other San Antonio diners. Let’s take a look at the 25 they’re in love with right now.
25. Picnikins Patio Cafe
6901 Blanco Road, (210) 616-0954, picnikins.com.
“The atmosphere is cozy and the staff is friendly. I tried The Orchard, and it was absolutely delicious. The smoked turkey with bacon and creamy brie was perfectly balanced by the crisp apples and fresh field greens. The Vermont dressing added just the right touch of sweetness and tang, all served on a soft roll that held everything together beautifully.” — Sicily H.
24. Bilia Eatery
1900 NW Military Highway, (210) 530-1333, eatbilia.com.
“This is a nice solid place to visit that’s near the airport. There’s a front and back patio as well as plenty of indoor seating. You order at the counter, take a number, and they bring out the food to you.” — Gabi Z.
23. Postino South Broadway
2600 Broadway, (830) 310-5499, postinowinecafe.com.
“Oh my god I’ve never had a better experience than my time at Postino today. My servers Chelsea, Eri, and Gabe made my whole meal special. The food was wonderful and the management was attentive. Overall the ambiance combined with wonderful hospitality made for a 5 star experience.” — Augustus J.
22. La Frite Belgian Bistro
728 S. Alamo St., (361) 322-9504, lafritesa.com.
“Good food and wine selection. Tighter turn around on our table than I expected, but a very enjoyable meal.” — Angela H.
21. Boudro’s, a Texas Bistro
421 E. Commerce St., (210) 224-8484, boudros.com.
“Way better than I expected for a restaurant on a touristy area of the Riverwalk in San Antonio. The table side guacamole was fantastically prepared by our server. The wood grilled steak was perfectly seasoned at the perfect temperature. The wife had the tile fish, which was also wood grilled, was delicious. The atmosphere by the river this evening was also very pleasant. Overall a wonderful dining experience.” — Peter M.
20. Barnet’s Midnight Provisions
9903 Fredericksburg Road, (726) 242-7094, barnets-midnight-provisions.square.site.
“I love this place. I’m new from Mississippi so I have high expectations when it comes to soul food. They blew me away and did better than any restaurant out there, even my own aunties cooking. (Love you auntie but sorry it’s true.) This food tastes fresh and hot every single time.”
19. The Magpie
1602 E. Houston St., Suite 106, (210) 389-1584, magpie.us.
“As we are 18 year downtown residents, it’s great when we find a new gem … and oh did we find a diamond last night!” — Kenneth H.
18. Scratch Kitchen
607 W. Russell Place, (210) 630-2220, scratchsanantonio.com.
“The food was so good! I love that everything is made from scratch and that it is so flavorful! I liked the potatoes and the veggies especially. The two workers were so sweet and even told us about the biscuits which are made fresh! Very cute restaurant and plenty of seating while you wait or if you are eating with friends! — Sierra S.
17. Eat Wit Yo Eyez
427 Lombrano St., (210) 350-9992, lombranofoodhall.com.
“Wow, so much flavor! We devoured this food because it was so good. I ordered through Uber Eats for pick up and it was ready in about 15 minutes. We had the Crawfish Etouffe, Red Beans and Rice, Green Beans, and the Fish with shrimp combo. Everything was cooked well. The fish and shrimp were really crispy and flavorful. We will definitely be back.” — Laura F.
16. Pancake Joe’s
1011 Donaldson Ave., (210) 785-9007, pancakejoes-sa.com.
“This place is a staple breakfast spot I always take my friends to because the food is consistently really good. I usually order the banana rolls or French toast, and they’re a solid 10/10 every time — perfectly cooked and delicious.” — Deanna M.
15. Los Azulejos Restaurant
2267 NW Military Highway, Suite 101, (210) 281-4500, losazulejosrestaurant.com.
“VERY attentive staff and the food is amazing!!! Came here post golf as a birthday dinner gift from a friend and we’re were a party of three. They offer a happy hour as well. Very delicious and homemade food.” — Amy S.
14. Maria Bonita
350 Northaven Drive, (210) 332-5504, mariabonita.tx.com.
“Maria Bonita is the best in town, the drinks and food are great and they have live music on certain days of the week.” — Nathalie C.
13. Best Quality Daughter
602 Avenue A, (210) 819-4236, bestqualitydaughter.com.
“Charming venue and excellent service, even with our high expectations. Great cocktails — very original! The bad boy alcoholic boba teas are particularly yummy.” — Jordana G.
12. Flying Tiger Thai Restaurant
2114 NW Military Highway, (210) 281-5521, flyingtigerthai.com.
“Wow! We came here with some friends of ours that live in the area and we’re blown away! The food here is fantastic and the service is even better! All your classic Thai dishes are here, and they have a good selection of imported beers that just made the overall experience great.” — Steve G.
11. Bobbie’s Southern Kitchen
1922 Goliad Road, (210) 957-1658, bobbiessouthernkitchen.com.
“Always a good experience coming here. We get ourselves on the waitlist expecting to wait at least 30-40 min because … well, the food is worth it!” — Jennifer W.
10. Max and Louie’s New York Diner
226 W. Bitters Road, Suite 126, (210) 483-7600, maxandlouies.com.
“Great ambiance, amazing service, and the ultimate comfort food. This is a favorite spot for meeting up with friends and enjoying a latte. And their desserts are divine!” — Sasha S.
9. Outlaw Kitchens
2919 N. Flores St., (210) 300-4728, outlawkitchens.com.
“Our first visit to Outlaw Kitchen absolutely lived up to the hype–and then some. The experience as a whole was fantastic: warm, attentive service, a beautifully restored house, and food that invites you to slow down and enjoy every bite.” — Darlene K.
8. La Panadería Bakery Café, Downtown
301 E. Houston St., (210) 592-6264, lapanaderia.com.
“Whether you’re looking to have a light breakfast, boozy brunch, or pastries to go, this is your spot! They have empanadas filled with guava, pineapple, strawberry, or apple deliciousness! I also got jalapeño and plain kolaches (they’re huge).” — Kalia A.
7. Nonna Osteria
401 S. Alamo St., (210) 224-8800, nonnasa.com.
“Food—Delicious! Authentic! Generous portions. Fresh ingredients. It was so very delicious. We came down from Austin to go see the Neil Diamond play. We made reservations and had dinner here. So very good!!!!” — Don W.
6. Ida Claire
7300 Jones Maltsberger Road, (210) 667-2145, ida-claire.com.
“The food was amazing. I had the Shakshuka and my friend had the chicken and waffles. The plates were sever hot and had amazing flavor. Service was friendly and explained the menu. Can’t wait to go back.” — Melissa B.
5. Chef’s Table Turkish Mediterranean Grill
1546 Babcock Road, Suite 102, (210) 664-5100, chefstableturkishgrill.com.
“Food is quality and fresh. The atmosphere is cozy. With tight household budgets and high prices these days, it is nice to leave a restaurant feeling the price was worth it. This place is a gem!” — Karen H.
4. Pinkerton’s Barbecue
107 W. Houston St., (210) 983-0088, pinkertonsbarbecue.com.
“Walking up hangry to a restaurant with a line out to the street at 6:30 pm on a Friday night screams ‘This is a bad idea,’ but this place was 1000% worth it. We waited about an hour and 15 minutes but one bite in we completely understood why.” —
Lonnie C.
3. Tlahco Mexican Kitchen
6702 San Pedro Ave., (210) 455-0135, tlahcokitchen.com.
“The servers are always so kind and attentive, the food is always delicious and extremely authentic. I usually come here for breakfast/brunch and I never regret it. I would recommend Tlahco to anyone wanting to experience authentic Mexican food in SA.” — Colleen W.
2. Comfort Cafe – San Antonio
6812 Bandera Road, Suite 101, (210) 501-9719, serenitystar.org.
“The food was amazing, our server Gina I think her name was, was amazing. Very calm environment, good coffee, fast service.” — Kelsseylean R.
1. Tokyo Cowboy
135 E. Commerce St., (210) 305-7075, tokyocowboy-tx.com.
“We came here to eat with friends and this was my first time trying it! I love the fusions of the food. The steak was so flavorful! Not pictured is the burger! We tried the dessert as well and I was so impressed with everything! Service was great and the vibes inside were more intimate I felt. It was a great meal and I can’t wait to come back and try more items on the menu!” — Katlyn P.