Despite the many hardships that faced the bar and restaurant industry last year — thanks, COVID — San Antonio is now awash with brand-spanking new eateries that opened amid the global crisis.

We gathered up 25 totally different restaurants and bars that took the plunge and went into business in the face of a global pandemic. All of them are seriously winning — and some may be brand new to you.

Willa Eatery 106 Auditorium Circle, (210) 233-8288, willasa.com While this Tobin Center-area dining spot is largely vegan- and vegetarian-friendly, meat-eating guests can grab any of its sandwiches with seared pork belly or grilled chicken. Keep an eye out for brunch plans from the new spot. Photo via Instagram / willaeatery
Milpa at the Yard 5253 McCullough Ave., (210) 990-2349, facebook.com/milpaattheyard The mind behind the innovative cuisine at Ocho at Hotel Havana, Chef Jesse Kuykendall showcases the food of her childhood spent on the U.S.-Mexico border. The opening menu features items such as tacos arabes, asada, carnitas, quesadilla frita and elotito — and tacos that Texas Monthly deemed life-changing. Photo via Instagram / foodies210
Bruno’s Dive Bar 1004 S. Alamo St., (210) 225-9801, brunosdive.com Owners of neighborhood staple The Friendly Spot Steve and Jody Bailey Newman are breathing new life into a vacant space across the street in Bruno’s Dive Bar, which offers well drinks, an IPA on tap, games and a jukebox. Photo via Instagram / brunosdive
Project Pollo Multiple Locations, projectpollo.com In less than a year, this vegan sando outfit has opened six locations, with a goal to open 100 by 2025. Founder Lucas Bradbury aims to put Chick-fil-a out of business with a line of vegan burgers and chicken sandwiches that are as tasty as they are sustainable. Photo via Instagram / project_pollo
Tidy Ben’s 731 S. Alamo St., (210) 364-1678, tidybens.com SA’s gaining vegan-friendly options at lightning speed, including Tidy Ben’s Sloperia, a joint that serves up a meat-free take on the messy childhood fave the sloppy Joe sandwich. Housed inside Southtown comedy pub Jokesters 22, Tidy Ben’s specializes in multiple flavors of meat-free sliders that consist of a shredded plant-based filling tucked inside sweet Hawaiian-style buns or atop tater tots or Fritos. Photo via Instagram / tidybens
Glass and Plate 4212 McCullough Ave., (210) 864-7500, glassandplate.com Former professor at the Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio chef Justin Ward opened his new Olmos Park-area restaurant this spring, offering lunch and dinner daily, as well as weekend brunch and a sweet new happy hour. Don’t sleep on the $1 fresh-shucked oysters during happy hour, and specials on margaritas and frozen daiquiris. Photo via Instagram / fittravelingmama
Golden Wat Noodle House 111 Kings Court, (210) 320-8211, goldenwatnoodlehouse.com This Cambodian concept is co-owner Susan Sypesteyn’s culinary love letter to the dishes of her upbringing, offering comforting dishes packed with bold and traditional flavors such as lemongrass, ginger and mint. Make sure you inquire on the seasonal donut, which is typically just as gorgeous as it is delicious. Photo via Instagram / goodbitesa
House of Má 135 E. Commerce St., (210) 441-7229, houseofmasatx.com This new downtown spot has been a long-awaited concept from team behind the popular downtown-area eatery Singh’s Vietnamese. The menu of the brand new street-level spot features Cambodian Noodle Soup and Chicken Pho as well as a selection of signature cocktails, and provides its tiki-forward river-level counterpart, Hugman’s Oasis, with bar eats. Courtesy Photo / Giles Design Bureau
Amor Eterno 540 S. Presa St., instagram.com/amoreterno_sa Amor Eterno — a new venture helmed by local bar owners Brian Correa and Aaron Peña — is poised to bring puro flavor to Southtown, including SA-inspired, locally sourced fare from popular pop-up ¡Bucho! The space, which previously housed Don Martin’s Coffee Co., will boast one-of-a-kind wallpaper, cozy seating and moody lighting. Opening November 2020. Photo via Instagram / amoreterno_sa
Best Quality Daughter 602 Avenue A, bestqualitydaughter.com Food-focused dream team Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin and Quealy Watson — chefs and owners of Tenko Ramen, also at the Pearl — bring “New Asian-American” cuisine to the Alamo City with Best Quality Daughter. The restaurant balances culinary innovation with time-honored dishes and reflects the comfort food of Dobbertin’s youth as a first-generation Chinese-American. Photo via Instagram / bestqualitydaughter
Brasserie Mon Chou Chou 312 Pearl Parkway, Building 2, Ste. 2104, brasseriemonchouchou.com Unlike pricey, upscale French restaurants, Brasserie Mon Chou Chou aims to provide a more casual atmosphere where guests can enjoy a full meal or an afternoon snack of wine and oysters. The new spot offers an array of French classics from the kitchen as well as craft cocktails, wine and absinthe. Photo courtesy of Giles Design Bureau / Clayton & Little Architects Credit: Photo courtesy of Giles Design Bureau / Clayton & Little Architects
Kumo 5251 McCullough Ave., restaurantmixtli.com/kumo From the minds that brought us Mixtli comes Kumo, a seasonal Mexican restaurant with a strong Japanese influence. Kumo dinners will feature up to ten courses of chef-selected dishes, including tacos, ceviches, tostadas and small bites. Kumo will be BYOB but will offer pairing suggestions on the website prior to each dining experience. Opening November 2020. Photo courtesy of Kumo
Hello Paradise 520 E. Grayson St., facebook.com/HelloParadiseSA Dara and Kusol Maknual, in-laws of local craft cocktail trailblazer Jeret Peña, will join forces with their son-in-law to introduce a new Thai restaurant in the building most recently occupied by Jason Dady’s Shuck Shack. The team has been hard at work renovating the front patio to include a huge deck for outdoor imbibing. Opening Fall 2020. Photo courtesy of Hello Paradise
Little Em’s Oyster Bar 1001 S. Alamo St., littleemsoysterbar.com This bright and airy Southtown joint will offer a huge array of seafood, despite the specificity of the name. In addition to oysters, the new venture’s menu will include ceviche, lobster rolls and salads, as well as non-seafood options such as burgers and filet mignon. An extensive wine list, local craft beers on draft and ample patio seating round out Little Em’s amenities. Opening November 2020. Photo via Instagram / littleemsoysterbar
Black + White Creamery 4011 Broadway St., facebook.com/BlackWhiteCreamery/ This high-end ice cream concept from chocolatier Mary Collazo features “puro San Antonio” flavors, mingled with some international twists and turns. Inspiration for the frozen treats will come from popular truffle flavors at Chocollazo — the adjacent chocolate shop also helmed by Collazo. Black + White Creamery opened its doors October 13. Photo via Instagram / blackwhitecreamery
The Dooryard 4503 De Zavala Rd., Ste. 108, thedooryardsa.com This northwest-side spot features 30 taps loaded with self-serve beers, seltzers and wines, allowing guests to sample a variety of beers without committing to a full pour. Expect a full food menu, outdoor seating for up to nine tables and a kids play area in the coming weeks. Photo via Instagram / thedooryardsa
The Hayden 4025 Broadway St., thehaydensa.com The long-awaited neighborhood cafe with a Jewish twist opened its doors October 13 — a bit behind schedule, but locals aren’t splitting hairs. Guests already rave about the pastrami sandwich and salmon burger, and the cocktails look like something out of a dream. Photo via Instagram / thehayden_sa
Curry Boys BBQ 2334 N. St. Mary’s St., curryboysbbq.com The phrase “Texas BBQ and Southeast Asian curry” may leave you scratching your head, but menu items like the Brisket Curry Bowl — smoked Texas brisket with green curry, Jasmine rice, cilantro and fried shallots — sound downright delicious. This new concept from Pinch Boil House and South BBQ is slated to open October 23. Photo via Instagram / curryboysbbq
Jollibee 5033 NW Loop 410., jollibeeusa.com Construction is currently underway for the Filipino fast-food chain’s first San Antonio outpost. Expect to see classic items like jolly spaghetti and hamburger with pineapple on top in the coming months. Photo via Facebook / Jollibee
Southerleigh Haute southerleigh.com/location/southerleigh-haute-south As the latest concept from the Southerleigh Restaurant Group, Southerleigh Haute South is expected to open at The Rim later this year with fried chicken, biscuits, oysters, craft beers and a full bar. Photo via Instagram / southerleighhautesouth
Truth Pizzeria 1602 East Houston, (210) 600-3211, facebook.com/truthpizzeria The long-awaited pizza restaurant recently opened to Eastside San Antonio with delicious 12- and 16-inch pies, all prepared with a classic wood-fired oven. The eatery is currently operating as to-go only. Photo via Instagram / truthpizzeria
Ming’s Thing 914 E Elmira St Suite 101, facebook.com/MingsThingByQmCuisine Chef Ming Qian is preparing to open her second San Antonio restaurant — Ming’s — with a mix of modern Southeast Asian inspired dishes, future brunch events and Texas flair. Photo via Facebook / Mings’s Thing
Hops & Hounds 13838 Jones Maltsberger Rd., facebook.com/Hops-Hounds-113122597047363 If you’re looking to spend more time outdoors, look no further than this new dog-friendly joint in Northeast San Antonio. Hops & Hounds specializes in classic American bites, adult beverages and space for the little ones and pups to play. Photo via Instagram / hopshoundssa
Tutti’s: A Place for Foodies 318 E Cevallos St., (210) 530-1313, tuttisforfoodies.com Housed inside a 100 year old Southtown bungalow, this new, dog-friendly neighborhood spot recently opened with comforting dishes like chicken and waffles, ratatouille and a variety of fresh pastries and beverages, prepared daily. Photo via Facebook / Tutti’s A Place for Foodies
ReRooted 210 623 Hemisfair Blvd. Ste. 106, rerootedwine.com San Antonio’s first-ever urban winery made a splash on the scene with its state-of-the-art draft system for pouring seven inaugural house wines — 100% Texas wines, at that. The new venue takes advantage of the enhanced walkability of the newly redeveloped Hemisfair complex and its open-container rule, giving visitors the option to take their vino-on-the-go. Photo via Instagram / rerooted210