The 28 hottest new restaurants and bars in San Antonio right now

Kura Sushi
255 E. Basse Road, #384, (726)208-0888, kurasushi.com
The highly anticipated wait for SA’s first conveyor-belt sushi bar, Kura, came to an end earlier this year. The sushi bar located at the quarry is now up and running serving their famed handmade sushi, ramen and deserts. Kura’s expansion into San Antonio marks the ninth store the Japan-based restaurant has in Texas.
Photo via Instagram / kurasushi_usa

Allora
403 Pearl Parkway, (210) 979-9950, allorapearl.com
Chef Robbie Nowlin’s newest project, Allora, a fine dining coastal italian restaurant opened its doors at the pearl in early March. Self-described on their website as a “distinctly Italian restaurant with uniquely Texan flavors,” Allora offers brunch, lunch and dinner menus.
Photo via Instagram / allorapearl

Arrosta
1803 Broadway St., #384, (210) 979-9950, arrostapearl.com
Arrosta serves up casual Italian dishes from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m daily, right inside the Oxbow building at the Pearl. The restaurant describes its offerings as “Italian street food” and emphasizes the quick casual counter service it offers.
Photo via Instagram / anncompositions

Hola!
603 S. Alamo St., (210) 236-5688, holatapas.com
In early May, chef-owner Rene Fernandez, who helms Southtown’s Azuca Nuevo Latino, expanded his restaurant empire via Hola!. The new contemporary tapas and wine bar opened its doors May 12, offering late night dining on Friday and Saturday nights as well as an exclusive Sunday menu. The restaurant boasts its sharable, family style dining structure encouraging patrons to share tapas.
Photo via Instagram / roxymoon83

Vintage Wine Bar and Specialty Foods
555 W. Bitters Rd., #112, (210) 267-1872, facebook.com/Vintage-Wine-Bar-Speciality-Foods-112259627892262
A new, highly anticipated concept from local chef PJ Edwards and his wife Lindsey arrived this spring: Vintage Wine Bar and Specialty Foods. The couple's wine-and-grocery concept is located at The Alley on Bitters, which also houses several other eateries, fashion boutiques and art galleries. The menu offers a range of French and Mediterranean staples and the store offers upscale retail items and wine for sale.
Photo via Instagram / vintagewinehcv

Free Roam Brewing Company
325 S. Main St., Boerne, freeroambrewing.com
Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeremy Affeldt’s buffalo inspired Borne based brewery opened in the old Boerne Liberty Stable in early March. Free Roam Brewmaster Jaron Shepherd was also at the helm for the previous Affeldt’s brewing venture, 21st Amendment Brewing in San Francisco. Free Roam Brewing currently offers 6 in house brews and also features 4 guest drafts.
Photo via Instagram / heroicmediastudio and freeroambrewingcompany

Reese Bros. BBQ
906 Hoefgen Ave., reesebrosbbq.com
After years of serving up barbecue at pop-ups in the south and west parts of the Lone Star State, San Antonio natives Nick and Elliot Reese decided to open a brick and mortar location of Reese Bros in their hometown. Open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays on the east south east side of town their new spot still features their famous sausage, turkey, ribs and 14-hour smoked brisket.
Photo via Instagram / reesebrosbbq

Shin-Dig
2250 Bulverde Rd., 726-444-0091, shindigsa.com
The new bar and lounge concept from the owners of the Angry Elephant brings an upscale feel with booths for private parties and a bar with granite countertops. Shin-Dig’s opening brings a boost to Stone Oak’s upscale nightlife, open every day from noon to 2 a.m.
Photo via Instagram / theshindigsa

Dash
1017 N. Flores St., (210) 222-1849, gwendolyngroup.com
Celebrated San Antonio chef Michael Sohocki's first foray into the lounge scene began this January in the loft space at the 5 Points Local building. The concept features “European classic cocktails with Japanese techniques,” and is open from Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Photo via Instagram / dashbarsatx

El Honky Tonk
316 N. Flores, elhonkytonk.com
San Antonio bar El Honky Tonk opened earlier this month serving up “Urban Cowboy Vibes,” cold beers, mixed drinks and country music near the Frost Tower. The bar will also feature culinary pieces from James Gonzaba Sr., father of El Honky Tonk owner James Gonzaba Jr.
Photo via Instagram / loridodsonphotography

The Beignet Stand
312 Pearl Parkway, thebeignetstand.com
The Pearl Farmers Market staple The Beignet Stand began began its brick and mortar era at the Broadway corridor on April 20, 2022. The French donut kiosk announced in October of last year that it would begin selling its unexpected beignet fillings and sauces — think honey-butter, white chocolate-orange-rum-marmalade and matcha-cherry blossom — in the space that formerly housed Baby Taco Garage.
Photo via Instagram / thebeignetstand

Bexar Kolache Co.
819 Fredericksburg Rd., bexarkolaches.com
Bexar Kolache Co. founder Emily Stone opened her second shop in mid-January, adding to her San Antonio-style kolache mini-empire. The shopfront at 819 Fredericksburg Road offers a dine-in space where pastry fiends can sample her take on the Czech and Slovak finger food, which pairs flaky pastry with sweet or savory fillings.
Photo via Instagram / bexarkolaches

Sushi Haya
226 W Bitters Rd., (210) 370-9332, sushihayaus.com
All-you-can-eat concept Sushi Haya has been in the works since last November, according to its social media accounts and opened its doors in mid-march. Sushi Haya's extensive menu offers bento boxes, rolls, sushi and sashimi, along with Japanese and hibachi entrees. The all-you-can-eat offer holds guests to a few standard rules, including a two-hour time limit.
Photo via Instagram / sushihayasa

Witness
7280 UTSA Boulevard, #101, (206) 329-0248, facebook.com/witnessbar
UTSA Boulevard has gained a new bar and nightclub this month: Witness. The recently-opened concept is helmed by the owners of other popular night spots La Roca, Green Lantern and Box Car. UTSA-area spot Study Space closed in March to make way for the swanky new venue.
Photo via Instagram / witness_satx

Cake Thieves
1602 E. Houston St., facebook.com/cakethievesbakery
After years running a commissary operation and dropping off its sweets at other local dining spots, vegan pastry outfit Cake Thieves Bakery has its own brick-and-mortar storefront. Tucked between Credit Human and Korean-influenced eatery The Magpie at Hackberry Market, Cake Thieves is open 7 a.m. to sell out or 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or sell out.
Photo via Instagram / cakethievesbakery

Hanamaru Cafe
7460 Callaghan Rd. #333, instagram.com/hanamarucafetx
Japanese food newcomer Hanamaru Cafe held its grand opening in April offering sweet and savory versions of the popular fish-shaped snack. Taiyaki typically features a Japanese pancake or waffle batter filled with red bean paste, custard, chocolate, cheese or sweet potato.
Photo via Instagram / hanamarutx

Panfila Cantina
22250 Bulverde Rd #114, (210) 455-0702, facebook.com/PanfilaCantina
This new Northeast SA eatery offers fare inspired by Mexican street food for brunch and dinner daily alongside cocktails such as the Cazuela de Tamarindo, with reposado tequila, tamarind soda, fresh citrus and chamoy. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Photo via Instagram / panfila_cantina

Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet
12858 Frontage Road, (210) 251-2124, dimassis.com
Fans of falafel, tabouli and hummus will be able to tuck into those — and dozens of other items — at Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet's second San Antonio location, which opened in March.
Photo via Instagram / dimassis_buffet

Time to 8
9390 Huebner Rd., instagram.com/timeto8restaurant
The space that formerly housed Medical Center eatery Thyme for Lunch reopened last month with a new concept serving up ramen and sushi under a similarly pun-prone moniker: Time to 8.
Photo via Instagram / timeto8restaurant

Old Fashioned Sticky Buns
2317 Vance Jackson Rd., instagram.com/oldfashionedstickybuns
Balcones Heights’ new dessert spot Old Fashioned Sticky Buns offers a plethora of delicacies, both savory and sweet. Sure, sticky buns are the star at the new spot, located at 2317 Vance Jackson Road, which even offers a build-your-own cinnamon bun bar. However, those who lean to the savory side can choose between a trio of sandwiches and soups for lunch.
Photo via Instagram / oldfashionedstickybuns