Calling all otakus! San Japan is back for Labor Day Weekend, and there are plenty of ways to get your foodie fix, with or without a badge.
The event itself is taking place at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center from Friday, Sept. 4, through Sunday, Sept. 6. Several hotels nearby are offering up Japanese-inspired bites, but there are also a lot of locally owned restaurants and bars nearby for a true taste of San Antonio and San Japan.
The San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk
889 E. Market St., (210) 224-4555, marriott.com.
A popular destination for con-goers, the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk is transforming several of its on-site dining options into themed pop-ups for San Japan weekend only. Current & Craft, a relatively new addition to the hotel property, will have several comforting ramen bowls available to purchase, in addition to its regular Gulf Coast-inspired menu. The same ramen bowls will be available to enjoy at Cactus Flower, the hotel’s lobby-level restaurant.
There will be a konbini-inspired grab-and-go shop inside Cafe Carino, the hotel’s coffee shop. Options, which range from $7 to $12 max, include spicy tuna onigiri, a Japanese egg salad sando, Spam musubi and even a katsu sando. Out on Riverwalk Front Drive, chefs will grill up some Japanese street-style skewers in the hotel’s robatayaki pop-up. Guests can enjoy a quick pork belly, chicken thigh or shishito pepper skewer for only $4 apiece.
Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk
600 E. Market St., (210) 224-1234, hyatt.com.
Also located near the convention center, the Grand Hyatt will have several themed options during San Japan weekend. There will be a pop-up dining experience from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Tejas Lounge with bites like onigiri, fruit sandwiches, boba teas, pork belly ramen, and even pizza by the slice on Sunday. Once 6 p.m. hits on both days, the same pop-up will transform into a specialty hot dog stand. In addition to a classic hot dog, there will be a specialty Japadog with teriyaki, Kewpie mayonnaise, and furikake. The third specialty hot dog, the Kimchidog, will have sriracha mayonnaise, green onions and sesame seeds.
The hotel’s on-site coffee shop Spoonful Provisions will have several specialty desserts on display, including ube and vanilla gelato, Japanese mochi doughnuts and Japanese cheesecake.
Mexico Ceaty
849 E. Commerce St. Unit 150, (210) 607-6000, mexicoceaty.com.
Chef Jason Dady’s recent project Mexico Ceaty is right across the street in Rivercenter Mall, with sit-down Tex-Mex options, plenty of margaritas, a speakeasy, a panaderia and coffee shop, and grab-and-go options.
Brenner’s on the Riverwalk
215 Losoya St., (726) 215-8703, brennerssteakhouse.com.
Brenner’s on the Riverwalk is located within a half-mile walk, serving as an ideal spot for a hearty sitdown steak dinner after a long day of walking around the con. It’s a fancier establishment, so save a nicer outfit for this one after cosplaying at the con.
Paradise Unknown
238 Losoya St., (210) 436-1278, paradiseunknown.com.
Paradise Unknown, a lively tiki bar with Scooby-Doo vibes, is about a mile’s walk away. Who doesn’t enjoy a refreshing tropical drink and kitschy retro vibes?
Be Kind & Rewind
115 Alamo Plaza, (210) 951-1980, bekindandrewindsa.com.
Paradise Unknown’s sister bar, Be Kind & Rewind, is right next door and offers nostalgic nods to the ’80s, ’90s and early 2010s.
Ambler Kitchen & Cocktails
306 W. Market St., (210) 298-8040, amblersanantonio.com.
Ambler Kitchen & Cocktails at the Hotel Contessa definitely carries a true San Antonio ambience, particularly for those who dine out on the patio by the Riverwalk. The eatery has hearty options — there’s chicken-fried steak, blackened Gulf red snapper, sustainable salmon, Akaushi ribeye, and plenty of cocktails.
Pink Shark
203 N. Presa St., (210)-834-3372, pinksharkbar.com.
Pink Shark is another quirky San Antonio bar with the right kind of vibe for San Japan attendees — colorful drinks and bar bites, two bar areas, and best of all — a disco ball shark in the shark zone.
Perhaps in coming years, more nearby restaurants and bars will get in the spirit with their own themed menus for San Japan, much like the Gaslamp District for San Diego Comic-Con.
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