By: Jonathan Thompson | From: The Telegraph
When it comes to cuisine, San Antonio has been building quite a name for itself. In 2017 this Texan jewel was officially named a Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy, one of only two in the United States. Then, in 2024 the renowned Michelin Guide echoed the sentiment, recommending 12 San Antonio restaurants in its inaugural guide to Texas. Put simply, this is a city where the going is always good, the sunshine is abundant… and the eating is invariably excellent.
One of the most famous culinary offerings of the city is Tex-Mex. This fusion of Texan and Mexican cuisine, considered by many as the ultimate comfort food, was invented here in San Antonio, and is still served to spicy perfection in beloved local eateries like Rosario’s, where you’ll find life-changingly good nachos, and La Fonda on Main, with its shaded, hacienda-style courtyard and legendary enchiladas.
The simplest way to explain the difference between traditional Mexican food and Tex-Mex is to stop talking, sit down in one of San Antonio’s Tex-Mex favourites – the likes of Mi Tierra Café y Panaderia in the heart of the city – and focus on the food, the bold Texas flavours tangling up with the best of Mexico to create dishes of jaw-dropping tastiness, from breakfast til dusk and beyond.
A picture can paint a thousand words, but a mouthful of crispy tacos stuffed with prime Texan beef dripping with tomatoes and Monterey jack cheese and a pile of rice and beans on the side says everything that needs to be said about the spicy, delicious richness of flavours of quality Tex-Mex.
The good news is that authentic Mexican cuisine is equally well represented here in San Antonio, from vibrant cantina-style joints such as La Gloria, which specialises in elevated street food like tacos al pastor from Mexico City and cocteles de mariscos from Veracruz, to glitzy Mixtli, which was awarded its first Michelin Star in 2024. Mixtli, considered one of the finest Mexican dining spots in the country, offers a 10 course, prix fixe tasting menu that rotates seasonally, highlighting the flavours of different areas of Mexico. The only catch is its incredible popularity – you’ll have to make the reservation well before boarding your plane, although many would say it’s worth the flight alone.
Of course, this is Texas, and if there’s another type of food you’d expect to find here it's barbecue. San Antonio excels on this front and is home to a host of seminal smoke shacks. You’ll be utterly spoilt for choice, with leading options including Reese Bros Barbecue, with its ridiculously tender oak-smoked brisket, and 2M Smokehouse, which serves delectable pork ribs and incomparable homemade sausage, and its pork link with serrano peppers and Oaxaca cheese is also a must-try.
Meanwhile, those seeking upscale eateries while in town should make a beeline for Cured, a buzzy, rustic-chic restaurant serving charcuterie-focussed dishes in the Pearl District, San Antonio’s hottest enclave. Once a sprawling brewery complex, the Pearl is now home to some of the city’s most wildly popular restaurants and bars – seek out Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery for hot jalapeno cheddar grits, or Prost on the San Antonio River Walk, with its new Alchemy Bar, complete with cool mixologists and regular live music nights – as well as the achingly hip Hotel Emma with its two Michelin Keys, jaw-dropping bar and rooftop pool.
San Antonio’s status as the culinary capital of Texas can be attributed to many factors, from the agriculturally rich Hill Country surrounding it, a source of impeccably fresh ingredients, to the presence of the Culinary Institute of America campus, which serves up a steady supply of young, talented chefs. Intriguingly, diners can sample the work of these future superstars at Savor, the school’s full-service restaurant.
Perhaps above all, the secret to San Antonio’s comestible ascendancy lies in its sheer diversity and the fusion that inspires. Tex-Mex evolved here because the Tejano population brought their parents’ authentic Mexican cuisine to the city and married it with Texas flavours – and that willingness to experiment and blend has continued ever since. Across San Antonio today, award-winning restaurants are fusing all kinds of national dishes and flavours to perfection, from Indian barbecue style at Curry Boys BBQ to a little bit of everything delicious at free-spirited international bistro The Magpie.
The closest major city to the Texan border, San Antonio’s rich history of combining deep Spanish, Mexican and American influences has led to a cuisine as rich as its culture. This is a city on the fast track to becoming one of the most celebrated dining destinations in the country – and deservedly so.
Plan your trip to San Antonio at visitsanantonio.com