Female-Owned San Antonio Restaurants You Should've Tried By Now

Sari-Sari Filipino Restaurant
5700 Wurzbach Road, (210) 647-7274, sari-sari-satx.com
Originally opened by Imelda and Adam Valenzuela, the couple’s daughter, Camille De Los Reyes, now manages the Bandera and Wurzbach intersection favorite. It’s both a market and restaurant.
Photo via Instagram / stine.eats

La Botanica
2911 N St Mary's St, (210) 716-0702, vivalabotanica.com
Rebel Mariposa launched this St. Mary’s Strip fave in 2015, introducing the city to plant-based, Mexican-inspired dishes like oyster mushroom ceviche, empanadas and molletes topped with spicy cabbage tinga. Her restaurant also became a safe space for several San Antonio communities — LGBTQ groups, artists and activists.
Photo by pepperdaisuki via Instagram / labotanicasa

Lucy Cooper's Texas Ice House
16080 San Pedro Ave, (210) 462-1894, lucycoopers.com
The good times roll over at this ice house. Serving 21+ patrons, Lucy Cooper's is owned by lady boss Braunda Moody Smith. She obviously knows how to party since this drinking spot also serves delicious grub and offers fun events like naughty bingo and live music.
Photo via Instagram / sacurrent

Eastside Kitchenette
2119 I-35, (210) 507-2568, eastsidekitchenette.com
Years after keeping Brindles Awesome Ice Cream running and making locals fed with these cold treats, Jenn White decided to venture to a savory route in the food business. Alongside husband Jeff White, this local chef opened Eastside Kitchenette to mu ch acclaim in 2019.
Photo via Instagram / s.a.foodie

Bakery Lorraine
Multiple locations, bakerylorraine.com
Anne Ng, along with husband Jeremy Mandrell and business partner Charlie Biedenharn, has kept San Antonio happy with colorful and tasty macarons, beautiful tarts and perfectly laminated croissants through Bakery Lorraine’s growing presence across SA.
Photo via Instagram / bakery_lorraine

The Good Kind
1127 S St Mary's St, (210) 801-5892, eatgoodkind.com
An extension of TimTheGirl Catering, The Good Kind is the brick-and-mortar project of Tim McDiarmid, a well-respected James Beard fellow. She also oversees events at the Ivy Hall. Yep, Tim the Girl is a busy girl.
Photo via Instagram / goodkindsouthtown

The Jerk Shack
117 Matyear St, (210) 776-7780, facebook.com/thejerkshacksatx
The Jerk Shack, an instant SA favorite, is headed by Lattoia Massey and her husband Cornelius. The culinary couple met while serving in the military and ended up in SA when Lattoia studied at the Culinary Institute of America-San Antonio. Thank goodness she did, since that means San Antonio gets to enjoy flavorful Jamaican bites.
Photo via Instagram / natturaveragefoodie

Go Vegan San Antonio
14530 Roadrunner Way, (210) 729-5400, facebook.com/GoVeganSa
Tara Best has been letting San Antonians enjoy vegan-friendly bites that will have you wondering how it’s not the real thing. After she and her family adopted a vegan lifestyle, she and husband Akeem opened a food truck specializing in vegan twists on mac ‘n’ cheese and chicken & waffles. Made fresh with plant-based products and natural ingredients, consider Go Vegan your best bet to supporting this biracial family and eat tasty, yet healthy bites while doing so.
Photo via Instagram / govegansatx

Cake Thieves Bakery
Available around San Antonio, instagram.com/cakethievesbakery
Vegan desserts? Yep, it’s a thing — and these treats are brought to you by Lauren O’Connor and Kia Geronimo. The dynamic duo are co-owners of Cake Thieves Bakery, which serves up vegan desserts that are served at coffeeshops throughout the city.
Photo via Instagram / cakethievesbakery

Viva Villa
905 Dolorosa, (210) 987-8482, vivavillatacos.com
La Familia Cortez, the family behind Mi Tierra, Viva Villa and more, have made their mark in San Antonio’s culture. But Chef Cariño Cortez, a third-generation family member, has made a mark all on her own. She currently serves as the project manager for La Familia Cortez Restaurants — and she’s a hell of a chef.
Photo via Instagram / chefcarinocortez

Brew’s Lee Tea
4009 Broadway St, (210) 598-0068, brewsleetea.com
Frances Lee and co. have been busy whipping up house-made bubble teas at this Boardwalk on Broadway hot spot since it opened in 2017. Since then, the cozy tea shop has also added small Asian bites to its menu. Lee is also a passionate baker, illustrator and designer.
Photo via Instagram / brewsleetea

The Friendly Spot Ice House
943 S Alamo St, (210) 224-2337, thefriendlyspot.com
Southtown’s Friendly Spot is only as friendly as its leading lady, Jody Newman. She and husband Steve also operate B&D Ice House and Hills & Dales Ice House. So yep, she knows how to manage a solid watering hole.
Photo via Instagram / skylinedronetx

Pharm Table
106 Auditorium Cir, (210) 802-1860, pharmtable.com
Vegetable-forward, Ayurvedic and inventive, Pharm Table is the brainchild of Elizabeth Johnson, a former Culinary Institute of America instructor and perennial boss lady.
Photo via Instagram / marcelafreeman

Luna Rosa Puerto Rican Grill y Tapas
2603 SE Military Dr #106, (210) 314-3111, facebook.com/LunaRosaTx
After a teaching career, Chef Iris Ornelas decided to go into the food business. Consider it a blessing that she did, since the Puerto Rican woman opened up this South Side gem. The Caribbean Nachos are all you need to try to know that Luna Rosa is the real deal.
Photo via Instagram / hungrytravelingmama

Ming’s Thing
5249 McCullough Ave, (210) 570-6318, mingsthing.com
A few years after her husband landed a gig as an instructor at the CIA, Ming Qian she launched a new business, years after owning a restaurant in Beijing. The aptly named Ming’s Thing operates a catering company, a pop-up food stand at the Pearl Farmers Market and a noodle bar in Olmos Park.
Photo via Instagram / stephenseating

Bird Bakery
5912 Broadway St, (210) 804-2473, birdbakery.com
We’ll call her by her name, any time. Elizabeth Chambers, a San Antonio native, actress and wife of actor Armie Hammer, opened Alamo Heights Bird Bakery in 2012. The cute-as-can-be shop has grown to include Dallas locations. Peep her Instagram, where she’ll share photos of her visits to the bakery.
Photo via Instagram / the.weekend.foodie

Clementine
2195 NW Military Hwy, (210) 503-5121, clementine-sa.com
Alongside husband and chef John Russ, Elise Russ brings her longtime love for desserts to Clementine, where she serves as an owner and pastry chef. She brings years of experience in the food biz both in the Alamo City and beyond.
Photo via Instagram / clementine.sanantonio

Crawfish King
15879 I-35 Frontage Road, Selma, (210) 444-9343, facebook.com
Anyone who loves crawfish will want to get acquainted with this Selma spot. This food truck, which is also available through Favor, has all sorts of seafood and is brought to you by owner Ashley Chanthadara.
Photo via Instagram / 210culturesa

Miss Chickpea’s Bakeshop
8065 Callaghan Road, (210) 993-0748, misschickpeas.com
A new vegan food wave has arrived in San Antonio, and chefs like Tatiana Martinez of Miss Chickpeas Bakeshop are leading the way. She’s all about delicious and beautiful pastries without using animal products.
Photo via Instagram / misschickpeasbakeshop

5 Points Local
1017 N Flores St, (210) 267-2652, 5pointslocal.com
Opened by Lisa Avestas, 5 Points local has been sustainable, gluten-free, veggie friendly fare with a side in-house yoga since 2016. Avestas is also the mastermind behind the quirky, yet delectable gem that is The Cove.
Photo via Instagram / contessaafowler