The decade led to major changes within the food and drink scene. These restaurants were considerable stand outs among all the changes.

2M Smokehouse 2731 S WW White Road, (210) 885-9352, 2msmokehouse.com You don’t have to travel far for great barbecue, thanks to 2M Smokehouse. Pitmaster Esaul Ramos opened the BBQ joint in late 2016 with fatty brisket, tender ribs, smoky sandwiches and tacos, and has since garnered national praise from publications including Texas Monthly. Photo via Instagram / ashleahalpern
Kimura 152 E Pecan St #102, (210) 444-0702, kimurasa.com Ramen has come a long way in San Antonio since Kimura opened in 2013. Chef Michael Sohocki’s downtown spot offers a customizable approach to ramen — inviting guests to choose their broth and protein in addition to a soft-boiled eggs, fresh bean sprouts, seaweed and pickled mushrooms. Photo via Instagram / 2hungrygals
Pollos Asados Los Norteños 4642 Rigsby Ave, (210) 648-3303, bestpollosasados.com The restaurant – Pollos Asados Los Norteños — opened two years ago with its signature marinated chicken, charbroiled over a large wooden grills. Often imitated but never duplicated, Pollos Asados promises smoky, savory flavors and an incredible yet affordable dining experience you won’t soon forget. Photo via Instagram / brunchclubpa
Sichuan House 3505 Wurzbach Road #102, (210) 509-9999, facebook.com/SichuanEats Sichuan House has been highlighting Chinese cuisine since 2015, featuring an assortment of classic and San Antonio-inspired dishes like salt-and-pepper shrimp, crispy chicken dumplings, han shao bai pork belly and the spicy and savory tripas. Photo via Instagram / susiethefoodie
Rebelle 300 E Travis St, (210) 352-3171, rebellesa.com Since Rebelle opened inside the historic St. Anthony hotel in 2015, the restaurant has evolved to serve some of the best seafood in the city. You’ll find everything from chargrilled octopus to fresh East Coast oysters inside this beautiful eclectic restaurant. Photo via Instagram / s.a.foodie
Clementine 2195 NW Military Hwy, (210) 503-5121, clementine-sa.com Chefs John and Elise Russ launched Clementine in 2018, bringing fresh, exciting food to local diners. The restaurant’s contemporary take on Southern cuisine includes plates like the white mushroom salad, ricotta cavatelli and brick chicken. Photo via Instagram / bryanrindfuss
The Jerk Shack 117 Matyear St, (210) 776-7780, facebook.com/thejerkshacksatx A West Side gem, The Jerk Shack opened in 2018 with Caribbean classics such as the signature jerk chicken and braised oxtails. The eatery was named one of the best new restaurants in America by Eater in 2019. Photo via Instagram / joeyyeatts
La Boulangerie 207 Broadway St, (210) 639-3165, facebook.com/laboulangeriesa Master Boulanger Guillaume Boulard’s expertise shines inside this family-owned bakery, which opened in 2015, bringing flaky croissants, buttery brioche and an assortment of traditional pastries to downtown San Antonio. Regardless of what you choose, it’s sure to satisfy anyone with a savory or sweet tooth. Photo via Instagram / laboulangeriesa
Carnitas Lonja 1107 Roosevelt Ave, (210) 612-3626, facebook.com/Lonja17 This South Side pork paradise has few frills, but the restaurant makes up for it with incredible Michoacán-style carnitas and tortillas made from scratch. The eatery opened in 2018, and has already won national acclaim from publications including Eater and Esquire Magazine. Photo via Instagram / rubyrubeee
Signature 16401 La Cantera Pkwy, (210) 247-0176, signaturerestaurant.com Signature opened in 2016, marking chef Andrew Weissman’s return to the world of fine dining. Located at La Cantera, the restaurant offers a mix of coastal and Texas Hill Country influences in dishes such as roasted pheasant, pan seared sea scallops and Texas blue crab cake. Photo via Instagram / femme_foodie
Bistr09 6106 Broadway St, (210) 245-8156, bistr09.com Located in the high-brow Alamo Heights, Bistr09 serves the community well. The classic French brasserie is the joint venture of husband-and-wife chef team Damien Watel and Lisa Astorga-Watel. Between the couple, the restaurant is their ninth restaurant contribution to San Antonio, offering a robust menu of French cuisine as well as an impressive wine list. Photo via Instagram / bistr09
Ming’s Noodle Bar 5253 McCullough Ave, (210) 564-9349, mingsthing.com Chef Ming Quian took her passion for Chinese cuisine to launch her catering company in 2012, followed by Ming’s Noodle Bar in 2016. Ming’s flavorful noodle bowls, soup, steamed buns and sandwiches have provided a foundation for more creative Asian dishes and regional specialties throughout San Antonio. Photo via Instagram / sacurrent
Cookhouse 720 E Mistletoe Ave, (210) 320-8211, cookhouserestaurant.com Chef Pieter Sypesteyn’s popular Creole and Cajun-inspired restaurant arrived on Mistletoe Avenue in 2014. The restaurant has since blessed us with countless servings of New Orleans BBQ shrimp, gumbo, beignets and Southern hospitality. Photo via Instagram / the_cookhouse
Tre Trattoria 200 W Jones Ave #501, (210) 805-0333, tretrattoria.com Chef Jason Dady technically opened Tre Trattoria in 2008, but the eatery found a new home — at the San Antonio Museum of Art — in 2018. Today, the Italian restaurant serves a variety of fresh pastas, salads, cured salumi and favorites like the Nutella x3 that keep patrons returning for more. Photo via Instagram / tre_trattoria
Cured 306 Pearl Pkwy #101, (210) 314-3929, curedatpearl.com Chef Steve McHugh opened Cured in 2013, bringing his farm-to-table approach to thoughtfully crafted dishes without pretension. The Cured crew has won acclaim for artisanal plates, craft cocktails and, of course, charcuterie. Photo via Instagram / curedatpearl
Hot Joy 1014 S Alamo St, (210) 368-9324, hotjoysa.com Hot Joy opened in 2014, breathing new life into San Antonio’s Southtown district. Since then, chefs John and Jessica Philpot have developed a playful rotating menu of flavorful eats and sweets, while head bartender Nick Ivarra serves creative, over-the-top tiki drinks that continue to make Hot Joy a true dining destination. Photo via Instagram / trphouston
Il Forno 122 Nogalitos St, (210) 616-2198, ilfornosa.com Since 2016, Il Forno has offered pizza, made-from-scratch, with fresh vegetables, housemade prosciutto, coppa and pepperoni. Always thoughtful and creative, Il Forno arguably delivers the best pizza in the city. Photo via Instagram / safoodnstuff
Bliss 926 S Presa St, (210) 225-2547, foodisbliss.com Chef Mark Bliss opened the restaurant in 2012 with a joyful, unpretentious approach to comfort food, serving charc boards and a rotating number of small plates, salads and New American dishes. Photo via Instagram / bryanrindfuss
La Gloria 100 E Grayson St, (210) 267-9040, chefjohnnyhernandez.com Chef Johnny Hernandez’s restaurants are poppin’ for a reason, and everyone wants to find out (or already knows what’s up and is coming back for more). If you head over to La Gloria, remember to order a margarita, it’ll help you unwind and give you patience for your wait – most notably if you’re dining in on the weekend. Photo via Instagram / lagloriapearl
Swine House Bodega 124 N Main Ave, swinehousesa.com Inside the shared space at Pinch Boil House and Bia Bar, Swine House brings a savory breakfast and lunch sandwich menu, made with freshly-baked breads and high-quality meats, including less common, yet delicious cuts like navel short ribs. Photo via Instagram / swinehousesa