San Antonio has a lot of strip malls. While they may not be the prettiest sight, they harbor a lot of high-caliber restaurants you might otherwise miss.

These hidden gems span the continents, representing the cuisines of India, Morocco, Japan and many other far-flung places.

Sure, it’s doesn’t exactly set the mood to walk across a sprawling parking lot to a destination nestled between a T-Mobile and a supplements store. But once inside, the outside world disappears, and you’re transported to far away lands with delicious food and exemplary service.

Give these gems a chance. You can thank us later.

Best Vegan Restaurant Thai Topaz, 2177 NW Military Highway, (210) 290-9833, thaitopaz-sat.com Credit: Google Maps
India Palace
8474 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 692-5262, indiapalace-sa.com
Nestled in the corner of a strip mall in the Medical Center, India Palace holds it down with its authentic dishes. Specializing in North Indian fare, this humble spot features a lunch and dinner buffet with both vegetarian and meat dishes, as well as naan and samosas.
Credit: Facebook / India Palace
Mina & Dimi’s Greek House 7159 W US Hwy 90, (210) 674-3464, agreekhouse.com A drive out to the Far West Side and you’ll be able to dine in at Mini & Dimi’s for some delicious Greek bites. Complete with murals, this festive space features belly dancing and wine tastings, and of course classic Greek dishes such as mousaka, gyros, falafel and souvlaki. Credit: Photo via Instagram / agreekhouse
Tiu Steppi’s Osteria 9910 W Loop 1604 N, (210) 688-9885, tiusteppis.com Consider the exposed-brick digs a welcoming space for this decadent neighborhood Italian restaurant. With unique wood-fired pizzas, pastas, craft beers and wines filling the menu, this is a go-to spot for an authentic Italian dining experience. Credit: Photo via Instagram / tiusteppissa
Sichuan House 3505 Wurzbach Rd #102, (210) 509-9999, facebook.com/SichuanEats This humble spot may not look like much, but it serves up some of the best Chinese fare in the city. Stop by for Sichuan tapas, hot pots and more – like pork belly and Kung Pao shrimp. Make sure to order the dumplings! Credit: Facebook / Sichuan House
Myron’s Prime Steakhouse
10003 NW Military Hwy, (210) 493-3031, myronsprime.com
Myron’s will completely change your idea of what you type of restaurants you think belong in a strip mall and which don’t. Knock those preconceived notions out of your head treat yourself to some quality steaks and seafood at this contemporary chophouse. There’s also a sizeable bar and patio, so you’re in for a posh experience all around.
Credit: Photo by George Brothers via Instagram / myronsprime
Tripoli’s 1726 Alamo Ranch, tripolissa.com Tripoli’s Mediterranean Grill and Coffee Shop closed their Lackland-area eatery this spring promising a relocation on the far-West side at Alamo Ranch.The owners haven’t said when the new location will open. However, they encouraged fans to follow the restaurant on social media for updates. Credit: Photo via Instagram / tripolis_sa
John The Greek Restaurant 16602 San Pedro Ave, (210) 403-0565, johnthegreek.com With bright colors filling this strip mall space, John The Greek is a solid option for its traditional dishes of the cuisine – from gyros and moussaka to falafel and spanakopita. Oh, and there’s a patio, so what else could you ask for? Credit: Photo via Google Maps
18. Max & Louie’s New York Diner 226 W. Bitters Road, (210) 483-7600, maxandlouiesdiner.com “A true New York kosher style diner in San Antonio?? YES. Just take a look at the menu and I can confidently attest that the diner items are going to be terrific. I was impressed with the portions, ingredient quality, care in preparation, and the expansive menu. Everything we had was great and I can’t wait to go back. Beware, this place can be PACKED on weekends. Be prepared for a wait.” – Rich M. Credit: Google Screenshots
Ilsong Garden
6905 Blanco Road, (210) 366-4508, ilsonggardensa.com
With a primarily Korean menu and some Japanese dishes available, Ilsong Garden’s authentic tastes will have you wondering whether you’re really dining in a strip mall and not in Asia. Head to this quaint space for your fix of Korean BBQ or noodles, or both.
Credit: Facebook / Ilsong Garden
Frederick’s Bistro
14439 NW Military Hwy #100, (210) 888-1500, fredericksbistro.com
The space may be humble, but the flavors at Frederick’s are majorly delicious. With a large wine list to top off your meal, this bistro offers a broad menu of Asian-French fusion – like crispy calamari served over spicy Chinese noodles.
Credit: Photo via Instagram / fredericks_bistro
Noodle Tree
7114 UTSA Boulevard Unit 101,(210) 233-6371, facebook.com/noodltreetx At Noodle Tree, chef Mike Nguyen is serving some of the best ramen in the Alamo City. Show up early for the pork bao buns (they tend to sell out quickly). Sit down to a savory bowl of kimchi ramen, and treat yourself to flavorful specialties like edamame and chicken karrage.

Credit: Photo via Instagram / noodletreetx
The Big Bib BBQ Multiple Locations, thebigbib.com Serving up meat by the pound and flavor by the mile, The Big Bib’s blend of herbs, spices and smoking woods make sure every bite is just as good as the last. Credit: Instagram / bigbibbbqnb
El Ceviche De Waldito 5526 Evers Road, (210) 681-8100, elcevichedewalditotx.com Though the storefront is nothing short of basic, inside this Evers Road restaurant you’ll discover a mix of Puerto Rican, Cuban and Peruvian dishes. Whether you stop by during the weekday lunch or not, you’re in for scrumptious bites that you convince you not to judge a book by its cover. Credit: Photo via Google Maps
1. Dough Pizzeria Napoletana Multiple Locations “Been coming here for years and it’s always great. The service is always top notch. The inside is designed beautifully. Great, chill patio. The pizza crust is the best. Soft and crispy. The ingredients are always fresh. Just a great place.”- Keisha R. Credit: Photo via Instagram / doughpizzeriasa
Best Wings
Wayne’s Wings, Multiple locations, wayneswingssa.com
Credit: Facebook / Wayne’s Wings
Wild Goji Revolving Sushi & Bar 7115 Blanco Rd #110, (210) 277-0638, wildgojisatx.com Though housed in a strip mall, Wild Goji is a sleek, modern space with a gorgeous aesthetic. Inside you’ll find a revolving sushi bar and a spacious dining room where you can enjoy Asian street food, ramen and more. Stop by during happy hour to taste a little bit of everything. Credit: Photo via Instagram / wildgoji_sa
Kungfu Noodle
6733 Bandera Rd, Leon Valley, (210) 451-5586, yelp.com/biz/kung-fu-noodle
If you judge a book by its cover, you may have a hard time believing that tasty noodles await you inside this Leon Valley spot. Venture inside and you’ll discover authentically-made hand-pulled noodles, dumplings and steamed buns. Yes, you’ll want to stop by immediately.
Credit: Instagram / Kung Fu Noodle
Umberto’s Italian Grill
7616 Culebra Road, (210) 684-4747, umbertositaliangrill.net
Don’t let the exterior fool you at this Italian spot. This strip mall space houses some tasty pasta, pizza and more – even steaks. Consider the wine list the ultimate cherry on top to this unassuming outpost.
Credit: Instagram / Umberto's Italian Grill
Clementine
2195 NW Military Hwy, (210) 503-5121, clementine-sa.com
Husband-and-wife team John and Elise Russ present their contemporary take on Southern dishes in this stylish space that just so happens to be in a strip mall in Castle Hills. For a unique dining experience, opt for the “feed me” option in which Chef John and his team create a menu especially for you based on the flavors of the season.
Credit: Photo via Instagram / clementine.sanantonio
Picnikins Patio Cafe Multiple locations, picnikins.com Both of Picknikins’ locations operate from strip malls, but based on how much of a hot spot it is for brunch, you couldn’t tell otherwise. On the weekends, camp out early to snag a table so you and your crew can enjoy sandwiches, soups and, most importantly, lots of wine. Credit: Instagram / picnikins
Moroccan Bites
5718 Evers Road, (210) 706-9700, moroccanbitestagine.com
After surviving Hurricane Katrina and moving to Texas, owner Latifa Ghafai decided to bring Moroccan cuisine to SA in hopes of sharing the beauty of the culture with the community. With the help of her children, Ghafai’s Leon Valley restaurant offers a variety of dishes from the cuisine, made with organic fruits and vegetables as well as halal meat.
Credit: Instagram / Moroccan Bites
La Luz Tortilla Factory
4120 Blanco Road, (210) 734-8523, facebook.com/laluztortillas
Although you can’t make your Mondays better with tamales from La Luz, you can make any other day of the week brighter with a dozen of the goods. This local tortilla factory knows what it’s doing — just take the tortillas and tamales (not greasy, but plenty filling) on deck here as proof.
Credit: Facebook / La Luz Tortilla Factory
Best Korean Restaurant KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, 12485 I-10, (210) 910-4494, thekpot.com/location/san-antonio-texas Credit: Facebook / KPot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot
Full Belly 27 N Loop 1604 W Suite 202, (210) 236-5374, fullbellysa.com Full Belly Cafe’s name is an accurate representation of what you’ll have after eating pretty much anything on their menu. Don’t sleep on the delightfully light and well-balanced Bloody Mary which features a seasoned salt rim. Credit: Photo by Nina Rangel

Stephanie Koithan is the Digital Content Editor of the San Antonio Current. In her role, she writes about politics, music, art, culture and food. Send her a tip at skoithan@sacurrent.com.