Food & Drink: Best of San Antonio 2019
Winner: La Panaderia
Multiple locations
Brothers José and David Cáceres grew up selling freshly made bread on the streets of Mexico City, aided by their mother's passion and home recipes. Together, they helped their mother's business grow to an industrial scale, serving companies throughout Mexico, before they decided to return to the classic recipes and flavors of their childhood. The brothers opened their dream business in San Antonio in 2014, bringing ensaladas, breakfast, coffee and classic bread to Alamo Heights. A second location opened on Houston Street in 2017, with fresh pan dulce, sandwiches and a selection of bubbles, beer and wine. Keep an eye out for more treats. The bakery is slated to open its third location at La Cantera Heights in 2020.
2. Bakery Lorraine
Multiple locations
3. Bird Bakery
5912 Broadway
(210) 804-2473
Winner: La Panaderia
Multiple locations
Brothers José and David Cáceres grew up selling freshly made bread on the streets of Mexico City, aided by their mother's passion and home recipes. Together, they helped their mother's business grow to an industrial scale, serving companies throughout Mexico, before they decided to return to the classic recipes and flavors of their childhood. The brothers opened their dream business in San Antonio in 2014, bringing ensaladas, breakfast, coffee and classic bread to Alamo Heights. A second location opened on Houston Street in 2017, with fresh pan dulce, sandwiches and a selection of bubbles, beer and wine. Keep an eye out for more treats. The bakery is slated to open its third location at La Cantera Heights in 2020.
2. Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia
218 Produce Row
(210) 239-9215
3. Panifico Bake Shop
602 NW 24th St.
(210) 434-9290
Winner: Rios Barbacoa
Multiple locations
facebook.com/riosbarbacoa2decodistrict
Not all barbacoa is created equal. Rios serves fresh, flavorful barbacoa that even your abuela will respect. That explains why this homegrown enterprise has set the standard for a San Antonio classic: steam-cooked shredded meat served on house-made corn tortillas and topped with spicy salsa and fresh avocado. Wash it down with a cold Big Red. If you're feeling homesick or under the weather, the friendly kitchen will put you at ease with a welcoming bowl of menudo served with lemon, beans and pico de gallo. Check out various locations for menu options and tamale availability. But plan to arrive early on weekends, since tortillas go fast when regulars show up.
2. Tellez Tamales & Barbacoa
1802 Bandera Road
(210) 455-0822
Tellez-tamales-barbacoa-factory.business.site
3. Sarah's Barbacoa
6330 De Zavala Road, Suite 103
(210) 263-9955
Winner: Smoke Shack BBQ
3714 Broadway St.
(210) 957-1430
Smoke Shack has come a long way from its humble 2014 beginnings as a food truck-turned-brick and mortar operation. Fortunately, it's let its flavorful Texas barbecue do the talking. Owner Chris Conger has taken a hands-on approach, smoking, cooking and cutting local favorites including ribs, brisket and chicken. But it isn't just the meat that's worth coming back for. The Smoke Shack Mac dresses up the cheesy side with the addition of brisket, while the spicy corn, Frito pie and sweet tea all measure up as well. Head to Smoke Shack's meat counter for sandwiches, sliders and an evolving lineup of house-cured smoked sausages.
2. Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q
Multiple locations
3. Two Bros BBQ Market
12656 West Ave.
(210) 496-0222
Winner: Bill Miller Bar-B-Q
Multiple locations
Even in a city with new taquerias popping up almost daily, San Antonians can respect local dining institutions such as Bill Miller Bar-B-Q. Though best known for its brisket sandwiches and buckets of sweet tea, the locally operated fast-casual chain began serving breakfast tacos at all locations in 2017, and its drive-through lines haven't been the same since. The menu features the standard choices: bacon and egg, carne guisada, bean and cheese and potato and egg, all served on the fluffy flour tortillas locals have come to expect. Bill Miller has upped the ante, however when it comes to catering to customer requests. In recent years, the company has introduced limited-time offerings like chorizo tacos to the menu in response to fan requests. And when it comes to toppings such as salsa and other random suggestions from Twitter followers, Bill Miller also goes above and beyond.
2. Tommy's Restaurant
Multiple locations
3. The Original Donut Shop
3307 Fredericksburg Road
(210) 734-5661
Winner: Magnolia Pancake Haus
Multiple locations
Magnolia Pancake Haus is a brunch-goer's paradise, serving up not just the expected array of sweet and savory pancakes but also delectable waffles, French toast and an almost infinite number of egg dishes. Since Chef Robert Fleming opened the original Pancake Haus in 2000, he's dazzled diners with an expansive menu with pancake varieties including chocolate chip, bacon, silver dollar and his trademark buttermilk. The restaurant has since grown to two locations and offers a drink menu with mimosas, beer-mosas and endless cups of coffee. The eateries tend to fill up quick — especially after Fleming's hotcakes were featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives — so make online reservations ahead of time if you're not willing to wait for a table.
2. NOLA Brunch & Beignets
111 Kings Court
(210) 320-1572
3. La Panaderia
Multiple locations
lapanaderia
Winner: Brew's Lee Tea Station
4009 Broadway St.
(210) 598-0068
Brew's Lee Tea Station is more than its glam and Insta-ready looks let on. Since Frances and Billy Lee opened the shop and introduced the city their delicious rose milk teas, refreshing Lychee Jasmine green tea and beautiful glowing bubble tea, they have pushed San Antonians to upgrade their tea drinking experiences. Stop by in the morning for vegan-friendly sweets to pair with your favorite cup, or visit at lunchtime for some of Mama Lee's flavorful house noodles. As masters of Taiwanese tea making traditions, the owners also show their commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility by serving all their drinks — even those with tapioca pearls — with biodegradable straws.
2. Bobalicious
4907 NW Loop 410, Suite 103
(210) 979-8040
3. Suck It: The Restaurant
7220 Louis Pasteur Dr., Suite 120
(210) 560-2113
Winner: Whataburger
Multiple locations
An icon in Texas's fast-casual dining culture, Whataburger serves up flavorful stacked hamburgers, crispy fries and creamy shakes (including a Dr. Pepper variety) that are sure to satisfy even the hungriest customers, 24 hours a day. With the company headquarters in San Antonio and budget-friendly prices, it's no mystery why Whataburger remains king, even as drive-thru options and out-of-state contenders like In-N-Out Burger and Shake Shack proliferate across the city. While the chain's ubiquity and quick service also account for much of the popularity, the real appeal is the food, which puts most fast-food rivals to shame. And for late-night diners, the deal gets even sweeter when the breakfast menu becomes available at 11 p.m. That means you can order the honey butter chicken biscuit, a classic salty-and-sweet combination bound to hit the spot, whether it's how you start or end your day.
2. Chris Madrid's
830 W. Hollywood Ave.
(210) 735-3552
3. Burger Boy
Multiple locations
Winner: Whataburger
Multiple locations
An icon in Texas's fast-casual dining culture, Whataburger serves up flavorful stacked hamburgers, crispy fries and creamy shakes (including a Dr. Pepper variety) that are sure to satisfy even the hungriest customers, 24 hours a day. With the company headquarters in San Antonio and budget-friendly prices, it's no mystery why Whataburger remains king, even as drive-thru options and out-of-state contenders like In-N-Out Burger and Shake Shack proliferate across the city. While the chain's ubiquity and quick service also account for much of the popularity, the real appeal is the food, which puts most fast-food rivals to shame. And for late-night diners, the deal gets even sweeter when the breakfast menu becomes available at 11 p.m. That means you can order the honey butter chicken biscuit, a classic salty-and-sweet combination bound to hit the spot, whether it's how you start or end your day.
2. Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia
218 Produce Row
(210) 239-9215
3. Jim's
Multiple locations
