Summer is usually a busy season for San Antonio’s dining and nightlife scene, but the past few months have also brought plenty of painful goodbyes.
Since the beginning of May, a long list of local bars and restaurants have turned out the lights, ranging from longtime institutions to relative newcomers. The casualties include venerable Alamo Heights steakhouse the Barn Door, Government Hill’s Restaurant Claudine and the last remaining location of Full Belly Cafe + Bar.
Whether felled by rising costs, changing tastes or other challenges, each of these spots left its own mark on San Antonio’s food-and-drink landscape. Read on for a look at the bars and restaurants we’ve lost since May.
The Barn Door — This Alamo Heights institution closed on Mother’s Day after 73 years in business. The space is slated to become Soluna.
Mambo Seafood — The Houston-based seafood chain exited San Antonio when its Medical Center and City Base restaurants closed in early May. It had already shuttered its other area locations.
Grandma’s Greek Taste — This Greek and Mediterranean restaurant that took over the former Alamo Heights location of Pinch Boil House, but closed down in May after a rent dispute with the landlord.
Gen Korean BBQ — The out-of-town chain reportedly may sell off all of its restaurants and become solely focused on retail, according to a report in Nation’s Restaurant News. Its sole San Antonio location quietly closed in May.
Asian Bite — Family-owned Asian Bite in Encino Park closed in early June after the chef suffered a stroke.
Nick’s Tacos & Catering — This Southwest Side taquería shut its dining room in late June, although the business continues as a catering operation. Its owners reportedly want to find another location.
Restaurant Claudine — Carpenter Carpenter Restaurant Group’s restaurant devoted to elevated Southern cuisine closed in June after a four-year run. Mixtli chef Diego Galicia’s new Filleman House concept is taking over the Government Hill space.
Tiger’s Chinese Cuisine — The University Square restaurant quietly shut down in June, and Ping’s Sichuan Kitchen has since moved into the space.
Full Belly Cafe + Bar — Stone Oak — Owner Blade Haddock closed the last location of his homegrown concept in early July, but has said he wants to bring it back to life next year.
El Fish Demon — Chef Alex Paredes’ Mexican seafood restaurant permanently closed in July after a blink-and-you-missed it run. He opened it in the same spot where he operated Tacopolis.
Candlelight PourHouse — The St. Mary’s Strip institution closed in July after roughly three decades of service that included relocation and a rebrand. Owner Tammy Russell even told KSAT that accessed her retirement funds in a bid to keep the doors open.
Kuma — Bubble-waffle and Asian dessert business Kuma threw in the towel in July after sating San Antonians’ sweet cravings since 2017.
The Art of Donut — The St. Mary’s Street institution known for creative gourmet donuts closed in late July after 10 years in business.
Taco Blvd — The Rio Grande Valley-style taco concept permanently closed its Alamo Ranch restaurant this summer. Google still lists its Blanco Road location as temporarily closed on Google, although its new downtown space, dubbed Taco Blvd Cantina, is still serving customers.
Maple Street Biscuit Company — Two of this Nashville-based comfort-food chain’s three San Antonio restaurants closed as part of a broader restructuring. Only its Alamo Ranch location remains.
The Dakota East Side Ice House — The beloved East Side watering hole and community gathering spot permanently closed in early September after fundraising efforts failed to keep the doors open.
Gold Feather Birds & Beers — Park North. The San Antonio restaurant concept was locked out of its Park North location last month amid a rent dispute, MySA reports. The business is still around and operates LadyBird Beer Garden.
Zorbas Greek Mediterranean Grill — The long-running Castle Hills eatery closed in August after 18 years in business. The family behind it thanked customers and said they were “blessed” by the memories they built there.
Singhs Vietnamese — Lauded Vietnamese concept Singhs permanently shuttered its St. Mary’s Strip and UTSA-area restaurants in August after the owners first said they would take a brief hiatus.
Sushi Zushi — Lincoln Heights — The San Antonio chain quietly shut down its Lincoln Heights location without explanation in August, posting on the door that it planned to relocate it into another space. The remainder of its restaurants are still in operation.
Tu Asador Mexican Steakhouse — Encino Rio — The Mexican steakhouse expanded beyond its original Castle Hills location in 2024, but the owners told the Current that they made “the difficult decision to close” the second location last month. They remain dedicated to the original location, where “their roots run deep.”
Rolando’s Super Tacos — The long-running purveyor of monster-sized tacos temporarily closed its 36-year-old location on Shasta Avenue, and the building is currently listed for sale as of press time. The other Rolando’s Super Tacos on West Hildebrand Avenue is still up and running.
Stone Terrace Gastropub — The eatery closed after two years at Stone Oak address that’s been something of a revolving door for restaurant concepts.
Folklores Coffee House
Folklores owners Joel “Tatu” Herrera and Emilie Herrera closed their Beacon Hill location after a two-year run, dubbing the satellite a “leap of faith.” The original Government Hill location is still open, though.