Winner: Wayne's Wings
Multiple locations
Wayne's Wings owner Dwayne Price has had a busy year, opening a second location in Northwest San Antonio while also operating at full steam at his newish location in the city's Northeast quadrant. Both spots excel at serving up tasty wings embellished with Price's signature sauces and dry-rubs, including garlic-parmesan and spicy ghost pepper. For something scrumptuous, if a little more on the conventional side, give the spicy lemon pepper wings a try.
2. The Jerk Shack
117 Matyear St.
(210) 776-7780
3. Tony G's Soul Food
915 S. Hackberry St.
(210) 451-1234
Previous Winners
Food & Drink
Winner: La Panadería
Multiple locations
Inspired by their family's legacy of selling baked goods in Mexico City, brothers José and David Cáceres opened their homegrown chain's flagship Alamo Heights location in 2014. Since then, they've opened two more San Antonio locations that expand their offerings beyond artisan baked goods to include breakfast, lunch and dinner service along with libations. Los Hermanos Cáceres' traditional Mexican specialties such as conchas and empanadas have clearly won over San Antonians, as has their innovative "croncha," a decadent cross between a donut and a croissant. As evidence of the business' connection to the community, La Panadería even offered curbside and delivery services to supply essential items such as bread, eggs and milk as grocery store inventories dwindled during the pandemic.
2. Bakery Lorraine
Multiple locations
3. Bird Bakery
5912 Broadway
(210) 804-2473
Winner: Tellez Tamales & Barbacoa
Multiple locations
facebook.com/Tellez-Tamales-Barbacoa-115721145123658
2. Rios Barbacoa
Multiple locations
3. Pepe's Barbacoa
Multiple locations
Winner: Smoke Shack
3714 Broadway
(210) 957-1430
A repeat winner from 2020, Smoke Shack may have started out, as its name implies, as a shack on the back of a trailer, but this purveyor of smoky goodness has certainly built from those humble beginnings. Indeed, the spot's name has become locally synonymous with succulent pork, chicken, sausage and ribs. Known for tender Wagyu brisket — which makes a cameo in grilled cheese sandwiches and gooey macaroni and cheese — this Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives alum has emerged as a dining spot that locals are willing to fight Broadway traffic to visit.
2. Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q
Multiple locations
3. Pinkerton's Barbecue
107 W. Houston St.
(210) 983-0088
Winner: Magnolia Pancake Haus
Multiple locations
Anyone who wants proof of how much San Antonians crave Magnolia breakfasts and brunches needs only to look at the business' rapid expansion since it started in 2000. Thanks to the recent addition of a new outpost in the Cibolo area, this perennial morning-meal favorite now offers its award-winning pancakes, waffles, hashes and omelets at three area locations. And the accolades keep rolling in. We suspect this locally owned favorite will remain a contender in both categories for some time to come.
2. Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
Multiple locations
3. Max and Louie's New York Diner
226 W. Bitters Road, Suite 126
(210) 483-7600
Winner: Las Palapas
Multiple locations
East Los Angeles transplant Ron Acosta opened his first Las Palapas in San Antonio 40 years ago, and slowly but steadily built it into a 20-store enterprise focused on the Alamo City market. Its win for Best Breakfast Tacos suggests the expansion hasn't cut the quality of its offerings, especially when it comes to SA's favorite way to start the day. Las Palapas fans rave about its fluffy flour tortillas, the quantity and quality of its fillings and the addictive quality of its roasted salsa. No wonder its restaurant drive-thrus are dependably packed at the beginning of each workday.
2. The Original Donut Shop
3307 Fredericksburg Road
(210) 734-5661
facebook.com/theoriginaldonutshop
3. Bill Miller Bar-B-Q
Multiple locations
Winner: Magnolia Pancake Haus
Multiple locations
Anyone who wants proof of how much San Antonians crave Magnolia breakfasts and brunches needs only to look at the business' rapid expansion since it started in 2000. Thanks to the recent addition of a new outpost in the Cibolo area, this perennial morning-meal favorite now offers its award-winning pancakes, waffles, hashes and omelets at three area locations. And the accolades keep rolling in. We suspect this locally owned favorite will remain a contender in both categories for some time to come.
2. Ida Claire
7300 Jones Maltsberger Road
(210) 667-2145
3. La Panadería
Multiple locations
Winner: Burger Boy
Multiple locations
San Antonio-born Burger Boy knocked longtime favorite Chris Madrid's out of the top spot for 2021, and there's a good chance the mini-chain's multiple new locations helped it rack up those extra votes. After all, the expansion means more residents are aware of its award-winning burgers, milkshakes and crinkle-cut fries. Should be interesting to see whether two more soon-to-come Burger Boys — one on the South Side and another in Live Oak — can help it rack up a consecutive win in the category next year.
2. Chris Madrid's
1900 Blanco Road
(210) 735-3552
3. Armadillos Texas Style Burgers
Multiple locations
Winner: The Jerk Shack
117 Matyear St.
(210) 776-7780
2. Puerto Koki
11395 Shaenfield Road
(210) 548-4650
3. Jamaica Jamaica Cuisine
Multiple locations
