San Antonio Restaurants That Are Always Worth the Wait

By San Antonio Current Staff

Let's be honest, people really hate waiting. But with some restaurants, long lines and waiting a long time for a table are just part of getting your grub on. We rounded up some of the most popular restaurants that pretty much guarantee a wait and are totally worth it.

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Southerleigh Fine Food and Brewery
136 E Grayson St #120, (210) 455-5701, southerleigh.com
Though there isn’t always a wait, one is all but guaranteed on weekend nights and special holidays. Specializing in Texan cuisine with a focus on the Gulf Coast, this Pearl staple’s eatery and unique location (inside a microbrewery) will distract you from the time you waited for your table.
Photo via Instagram / southerleigh

Guenther House
205 E Guenther St, (210) 227-1061, guentherhouse.com
Nestled along the San Antonio River, the beautiful Guenther House is a classic spot for brunch and Instagram-worthy meals. While this spot often means a wait (usually longer on the weekends), your belly will be happy whether you go the American or Tex-Mex route.
Photo via Instagram / jennyeatssf

Max & Louie’s New York Diner
226 W Bitters Road, (210) 483-7600, maxandlouiesdiner.com
Though not always outrageously packed, this NY-style diner can get pretty crowded during peak times like weekend brunch. Whether you choose to play New Yorker on a late Sunday morning or visit during a less-busy time, these northwestern bites will have you practicing your best Brooklyn accent. But really, you’ll love the food here no matter how long you have to wait.
Photo via Instagram / the.weekend.foodie

Two Bros. BBQ Market
12656 West Avenue, (210) 496-0222, twobrosbbqmarket.com
Plenty of barbecue spots guarantee a long wait time, so you can definitely expect a wait when that barbecue spot is led by the revered Chef Jason Dady. This casual spot is well worth the wait for its cherry glazed baby back ribs (and pretty much everything else on the menu). Oh, and Two Bros. is super kid-friendly with a sizable play yard.
Photo via Instagram / twobrosbbqmarket

Boudro’s
421 E Commerce Street, (210) 224-8484, boudros.com
Having previously been named one of the best restaurants in the country by Esquire, Boudro’s attracts locals and tourists alike. Add the location on the River Walk in to the mix and you’ll be lucky not to have to wait without a reservation. Perfect for special occasions, a night at Boudro’s will be a night to remember even if that means being patient.
Photo via Instagram / boudrostexasbistro

Pollos Asados Los Norteños
4642 Rigsby Avenue, (210) 648-3303, facebook.com/polloslosnortenos
While most busy right after reopening (though the open-close flip-flop has become less frequent), Pollos Asados can still mean a bit of a wait on any old day. Think of it as working up an appetite, because trust us – you’ll forget about how long the line was as soon as you take a bite of that delicious chicken. To make sure you never complain about the wait again, add the green sauce and wait for your life to be changed.
Photo via Instagram / lathoma3

Cured
306 Pearl Pkwy #101, (210) 314-3929, curedatpearl.com
With as busy as the Pearl gets, it goes without saying that staples like Cured receive a lot of hungry visitors. Sure, you’ll have to wait during crazy busy times, but the New American fare and craft cocktails are a solid payoff for waiting. So kick back and enjoy all that this rustic-chic spot has to offer.
Photo via Instagram / curedatpearl

Schilo's Delicatessen
424 E Commerce St, (210) 223-6692, schilos.com
As one of the oldest restaurants in the city, it makes sense that Schilo’s has a lot of fans. Nestled in a 19th-century building, the eatery is all the more sought-out for it’s delicious sandwiches, soups and homemade root beer that’s gotten national attention and masses of tourists. Lunchtime on weekdays is undoubtedly its busiest time, but whenever you go you’ll be satisfied.
Photo via Instagram / schilosdeli

2M Smokehouse
2731 S WW White Road, (210) 885-9352, 2msmokehouse.com
When a local restaurant is named one of the best restaurants in the entire country, foodies will show up in big numbers just for a taste. Expect long lines and sell-outs over at 2M, but know that the wait is wholeheartedly worth it.
Photo via Instagram / 2msmokehouse

Magnolia Pancake Haus
Multiple locations, magnoliapancakehaus.com
While Magnolia has two locations, that hasn’t meant that the local pancake spot is any less busy. Gaining national attention from shoutouts on Food Network shows, Magnolia is a prime spot for brunch – both for its tasteful bites and simply beautiful aesthetic. Unless you reserve your spot on the Nowait app, expect to wait awhile on the weekend.
Photo via Instagram / magnoliapancakehaus