Spring has sprung for San Antonio’s culinary scene.

A wide variety of new bars and restaurants have made their debuts in the Alamo City so far this year, from newcomers to the scene to new locations of local mainstays.

Hook Land & Sea 875 E. Ashby Place, Bldg. 2 & 3, (210) 201-3027, hooksatx.com Seafood spot Hook Land & Sea made is debut early this year, becoming the second of five concepts to launch in north-of-downtown development The Creamery. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Hook Land & Sea
Amelia Social Lounge 875 E. Ashby Place, Ste. 1120, ameliasatx.com Intimate cocktail destination Amelia Social Lounge began serving at The Creamery development in February. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Amelia Social Lounge
Maíz 923 N Loop 1604 E #101, (210) 848-3284, maizsatx.com Chef-owner Maricela Rangel Trujillo opened Maíz in February to showcase food inspired by classic dishes of Central Mexico. Credit: Allysse Shank-Rivas
Ay Que Chula 1503 N. Main Ave., (210) 251-4902, instagram.com/ayquechula.tx Ay Que Chula — a brightly colored nightspot from Ricky Ortiz, the mind behind El Camino and Bésame food-truck parks — opened earlier this year in the former spot of Luther’s Cafe, a mainstay of the city’s LGBTQ+ nightlife district. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Ay Que Chula
Freight Fried Chicken 312 Pearl Parkway, Building 6, instagram.com/freightchicken In addition to her flagship The Jerk Shack, Chef Nicola Blaque brought her new fried chicken concept to the Pearl’s Bottling Department food hall in early 2024. Freight Fried Chicken draws inspiration from Black women known as Waiter Carriers who sold food to rail passengers traveling through Gordonsville, Virginia, in the years following the Civil War. The new joint serves chicken fried in a dry batter similar to the one used by the Waiter Carriers. Credit: A.J. Creative for Freight Fried Chicken
9. Full Belly Cafe + Bar Multiple Locations, fullbellysa.com “This is my go to breakfast spot for when people visit and we need to show off a good brunch place. The vibe is really cool. The staff is attentive. The portions are large. I typically get the shrimp and grits while my wife usually tries a hash and a gigantic waffle!” – Derek W. Credit: Sanford Nowlin
Mi Gente 5822 Babcock Road, (210) 267-5961, migenterestaurantandcantina.com Mi Gente opened in January inside the space that formerly housed Medical Center favorite Martha’s Mexican Restaurant. Some Martha’s menu items remained but restauranteur Javier Barron also added some contemporary items with a puro San Antonio twist. Credit: Sanford Nowlin
Burger Boy 2209 SW Military Drive, (210) 267-1977, burgerboysa.com Rapidly-expanding local chain Burger Boy opened its seventh store in January. The South Side spot is located in front of South Park Mall. Credit: Michael Karlis
Hops & Hounds 1119 Ave. B, (210) 259-8221, hopsandhoundsllc.com Roughly a year after closing its original Northeast SA location, dog-focused bar Hops & Hounds returned at a space in the Museum Reach district. Credit: Sanford Nowlin
Mixtli Progressive Mexican co-owners Rico Torres and Diego Galicia partnered with Mixtli chef de cuisine Alexana Cabrera to open Greenhouse. Credit: Sanford Nowlin
Biff Buzby’s Burgers Multiple Locations, biffbuzbys.com Biff Buzby’s new Nacogdoches location — which formerly housed Windmill Ice House — features plenty of patio seating, as well as a kids’ playground. Credit: Michael Karlis
Conversa Elevated 20327 I-10, Ste. 170, (210) 444-9568, conversaelevated.com This dual-level bar near the exclusive Dominion neighborhood opened early in the year. By summer it added food from chef Andreas Imhof. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Conversa Elevated
Milpa 419 S. Hackberry St., milpasatx.com Chef Kirk reopened their Milpa concept in a new location on the East Side at the very end of 2023. The restaurant’s menu showcases Pueblan street food such as taco árabes, quesadillas and pozole. Currently in its first phase, Milpa serves up its fare at the adjacent Dakota East Side Ice House at 433 S. Hackberry. Credit: Nina Rangel
Laika Cheesecakes 1430 Unicorn Ave., Ste. 105, New Braunfels (830) 359-5336, laikacheesecakes.com San Antonio-based Laika Cheesecakes opened a third location in March, this one in New Braunfels. The store is its first with a drive-thru window. Credit: Sanford Nowlin
Sunnyside Lounge 4518 West Ave., instagram.com/sunnysidesanantonio This tiki-inspired cocktail bar made its debut this spring in the former space of shuttered Balcones Heights bar The Texan Icehouse. Credit: Michael Karlis
Four Brother’s Venezuelan Grill 203 W. 8th St., (737) 206-9221 makereadymarket.com In January, this eatery focused on Venezuelan arepas opened in San Antonio’s Make Ready Market food hall. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Four Brother's Arepas
Kumi 17333 US-281, (210) 494-6688, kumibuffet.com Seafood-focused Asian buffet Kumi took over the Hollywood Park space that formerly housed China Harbor. It began serving in March. Credit: Nina Rangel
1. Box Street All Day Multiple Locations, boxstallday.com “It was honestly the best brunch I’ve ever had! We started with their donut, and it was unlike any donut I’ve ever had–SO delicious. For our main dishes, we had the strawberry cheesecake French toast and the smoked salmon mousse naan, and both were incredibly delicious. If you are looking for a unique and tasty brunch place, this is the perfect spot. Highly recommend and I’ll definitely be back.” – Tasha F. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Box Street All Day
Cool Crest Diner 1402 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 732-0222, coolcrestgolf.com Cool Crest Miniature Golf, a Deco District destination opened nearly 100 years ago, debuted an on-site diner early this year. Credit: Photo via Instagram / coolcrestgolf
Niche 8134 Broadway, (210) 320–4091, rebarsatx.com Bar-within-a-bar concept Niche opened this spring inside longtime Broadway drinkery Rebar, offering high-end craft cocktails. Credit: Photo via Google Maps

Additional Slideshows