Best Of 2022

Best HVAC/AC

Winner: Caliente Plumbing, Heating & Air

16106 University Oak, Suite 2

(210) 330-3000 

calienteplumbing.com

The San Antonio heat can be brutal, so it makes sense that folks here would be particular about whom they call to keep their AC in tip-top shape. Locally based Caliente has racked up plenty of five-star reviews, which praise both the company's affordability and attention to service. Much of the praise also goes to the company's work crews for arriving in a timely manner, because — let's face it — spending any time in the Alamo City with an inoperable AC just isn't an option.

2. Jon Wayne Service Co.

Multiple locations

(210) 293-6700

jonwayne.com

3. Air Cantu

419 Utopia Lane

(210) 333-6838

aircantu.com

Services

And yet, we bloom, Corner of E. Houston and Navarro streets. Artist: Kat Cadena

Winner: Kim's Alterations

1155 Harry Wurzbach Road

(210) 821-6005

2. Wah Tee Tailoring

7700 Broadway

(210) 637-0785

wahtee.com

3. Sunny's Alterations

19903 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 113

(210) 462-1683

sunnysalteration.com

Winner: Mike's Hair Lounge

258 Tarasco St.

(210) 313-4340

mikeshairlounge.com

2. Puro Handsome Barbershop

228 E. Houston St.

purohandsome.com

3. Traveler Barbershop

Multiple locations

(210) 600-3344

travelerbarbershop.com

Winner: Peterson Chiropractic

4230 Gardendale #201

(210) 864-5220

petersonchiropractic.org

2. The Nest Chiropractic and Wellness

Multiple locations

(210) 323-2163

yoursanantoniochiropractor.com 

3. Cross Timbers Chiropractic

14802 Jones Maltsberger Road, Suite 2201

(726) 245-2210

crosstimberschiropractic.com

Winner: Alamo Plastic Surgery

19016 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 240

(210) 670-5302

alamoplasticsurgery.com

2. Hill Country Plastic Surgery

9150 Huebner Road #162

(210) 658-3555

hillcountryplasticsurgery.com

3. Dr. Christopher Micallef

18322 Sonterra Place, Suite 107

(210) 495-5771

Winner: CryoFit Alamo Heights

6486 N. New Braunfels Ave.

(210) 375-9087

mycryofit.com

2. Sweat Equity Infrared Saunas

809 S. St. Mary's St.

(210) 375-5319

sweatequitysa.com

3. Restore Hyper Wellness

Multiple locations

restore.com

Winner: Dr. Kara Tapangan, Sonterra Dental

255 E. Sonterra Blvd. #150

(210) 341-3222

sonterradentalcare.com

Unlike most people, Harlingen native Dr. Kara Tapangan loved going to the dentist as a kid. "I didn't realize how much people hated it until I went into practice," said Tapangan, 30. "At Sonterra, we try to make it as comfortable and easy as possible." Tapangan enjoys working in dentistry because it's one of the few medical fields where same-day pain relief is possible. "It's really humbling to know that I have the ability to help people in that way," she said. "It's also really amazing to be able to give people full smiles or teeth to function with, which is really life changing." Last year, Tapangan exported her capacity to change lives by traveling to the Dominican Republic to provide free implants for patients. She's a member of the American Dental Association and Texas Dental Association, among other recognized dentistry organizations. "It's a beautiful practice," she said. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

2. Dr. Kaci Tibbetts, KLT Dentistry

3223 Thousand Oaks Drive #102

(210) 496-5422

kltdentistry.com

3. Brook Hollow Family Dentistry

15068 San Pedro Ave.

(210) 494-7681

brookhollowfamilydentistry.com

Winner: Dermatology San Antonio

Multiple locations

dermsanantonio.com

2. Alamo Heights Dermatology

131 W. Sunset Road #101

(210) 255-8447

alamoheightsderm.com

3. Vista Dermatology

27511 I-10 West, Building 2, Boerne

(210) 698-0500

vistadermsa.com

Winner: Five Star Cleaners

Multiple locations

myfivestarcleaners.com

With more than a dozen locations across San Antonio, we're guessing Five Star's convenience factor plays into its Best of San Antonio win. Beyond the chain's ubiquity, all its locations offer same-day service, and many also offer drive-thru and drop boxes as well. Five Star also offers a locker service where the cleaner brings the service directly to customers. Plenty of the company's five-star reviews also mention its friendly staff and dedication to service.

2. Comet Cleaners and Laundry

Multiple locations

cometsatx.com

3. Culpepper Cleaners

Multiple locations

culpeppercleaners.com

Winner: Look Salon

7701 Broadway, Suite 139

(210) 826-5665

look.salon

It was always a dream of hairstylist Damian Gonzales to open his own business. While he had experience working at other area salons, he wanted to manage and teach his own team. So, in 2018, he opened Look Salon. "It's something I always want to do, and I realized it was time," said Gonzales, 44. "I love making the clients happy on a day-to-day basis." Look's two "big-ticket items" are balayage and hair extensions, the former a technique where a stylist hand-paints highlights onto hair to create a natural gradation of lightness. Gonzales considers it an art form. "It's like you're painting a canvas," he said. A 1996 graduate of South San West Campus High School, Gonzales said stylists — besides knowing how to style hair — should bring a terrific personality to the job. That combination of know-how and personality may explain why he's booked six to eight weeks in advance. "You get to know people very well," he said. "You become friends with most of them."

2. Elena Salon Studios

2193 NW Military Highway

(210) 467-2562

elenasalonstudios.com

3. Pretty Chic' Salon

238 N. Loop 1604 West, Suite 205

(210) 410-4684

facebook.com/prettychicsalon