San Antonio Express News' Best Restaurant

San Antonio Express News has one obvious advantage over your group chat: its food critics actually finish their plates. They’ve crisscrossed this town, from Riverwalk patios to parking-lot conquests.

We’re talking churro waffles at Domingo and wagyu that melts like a rumor at Isidore. The range spans Dick’s Last Resort’s $4 margaritas to Mixtli’s nine-course ceremonies.

That’s a lot of ground. (And a lot of carbs.

) The critics ate it all—including that beautiful, absurdly huge pretzel at Cappyccino’s. You’re welcome.

Here’s the list that ends your search for a decent dinner.

Cappy's Restaurant

Highlights
Mustang chicken: crispy, juicy winner
Potato Crusted Halibut kills
Cocktails and bread shine
Hometown favorite worth drive
Gumbo and crab cake please

Cappy's is the hometown hero that actually delivers. The mustang chicken arrives crispy, juicy, a golden fist of flavor. The potato crusted halibut kills. It kills softly, with butter. Cocktails arrive cold and confident. The bread shines like a mild celebrity. Gumbo and crab cake? They please. This is the spot you drive across town for. Worth it. Every mile tastes like applause.

You might also want to check out the best bbq in San Antonio.

Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba

Highlights
Fresh tuna ceviche
Ropa vieja steals show
Velvety flan finish
Exceptional, attentive service
Cozy, welcoming ambiance

Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba took my taste buds hostage. Fresh tuna ceviche arrives bright, acidic, alive. Then ropa vieja steals the show. Shredded beef, deep and savory, it performs a heist on my plate. Velvety flan finishes the crime. Service? Exceptional. Attentive. They refilled water like they could read my dehydrated thoughts. Cozy ambiance wraps you like a blanket made of warm spices. A perfect hideout.

You might also want to check out the best pizza in San Antonio.

Corinne San Antonio

Highlights
Service by Celine was stellar
Truffle bucatini steals the show
Fry bread is mandatory
Key lime pie finale wins
Valet parking feels like luxury

Corinne San Antonio understands luxury. Valet parking feels like being famous for ninety seconds. Then Celine appears. Stellar service, she anticipates my fork's desires. Truffle bucatini steals the show. Creamy, earthy, a pasta superhero. Fry bread is mandatory. Do not skip it. It's a warm, pillowy subpoena. Key lime pie finale wins. Tart, sweet, a zesty closing argument. I left feeling rich, full, and vaguely royal.

You might also want to check out the best burgers in San Antonio.

Down on Grayson

Highlights
Joe’s service was spectacular
Cod, fries, salad shine
Steak chimichurri ignites taste buds
Wife crowns fries supreme
Perfect business brunch atmosphere

Down on Grayson hits like a friendly business lunch. Joe's service was spectacular. He appeared like a benevolent ghost. Cod, fries, salad shine. Light, crisp, a symphony of simple. Then steak chimichurri ignites taste buds. Fire. Grass. Garlic. My wife crowns the fries supreme. I bow to her judgment. Perfect brunch atmosphere. Not too loud, not too quiet. Just right for discussing quarterly reports or secret affairs.

You might also want to check out the best brunch in San Antonio.

The Ridge at the Hill

Highlights
Huge portions, bold flavors
Live band, cool vibes
Counter service, fast pace
Worth the parking hassle

The Ridge at the Hill does not mess around. Huge portions. Bold flavors. A plate of pure audacity. Live band plays, cool vibes float through the air like good decisions. Counter service moves fast. Faster than my brain can process the menu. Parking is a hassle. A mild apocalypse. But you conquer it. You find a spot. You eat. And suddenly the struggle was worth it. A flavor victory lap.

You might also want to check out the best restaurants in New Braunfels.

Cappyccino's

Highlights
Veggie burger tastes like meat
White bean soup utterly delicious
Pretzel huge with sweet sauces
Service exceptionally attentive and kind
Quiet, comfortable, weekday-friendly vibe

Cappyccino's is a quiet miracle. The veggie burger tastes like meat. I checked for trickery. No trick. Just sorcery. White bean soup is utterly delicious. Creamy, warm, a hug in a bowl. The pretzel is huge. Ridiculously huge. It comes with sweet sauces that make me question my loyalties. Service is exceptionally attentive and kind. They noticed my existential dread. They brought more water. Quiet, comfortable, weekday-friendly. My new hiding spot.

You might also want to check out the best tacos in San Antonio.

Texan Sizzle

Highlights
Fresh quesadillas with tasty sauce
Juicy Texas steak dip sandwich
Quick service, reasonable prices
Friendly staff, worth the trip

Texan Sizzle sizzles, obviously. Fresh quesadillas arrive with a tasty sauce. A sauce that could run for mayor. The Texas steak dip sandwich is juicy. Dripping with beefy grace. Quick service. Reasonable prices. My wallet weeps with relief. Friendly staff. They seem genuinely happy I exist. Worth the trip. Absolutely. I would drive through a hurricane for that sandwich. Maybe not a hurricane. But a light drizzle.

You might also want to check out the best tex mex in San Antonio.

Domingo Restaurant

Highlights
Riverwalk’s quiet, sophisticated charm
Staff kindness and spot-on recommendations
Delicious Mexican-inspired breakfast bites
Churro waffles and Mexican corn
Lovely outdoor seating atmosphere

Domingo Restaurant sits on the Riverwalk with quiet sophistication. No chaos. Just charm. Staff kindness is overwhelming. They recommended the churro waffles. I owe them my life. Mexican corn arrives, bright, zesty, a summer party. Breakfast bites are delicious. Small, mighty, full of soul. Outdoor seating is lovely. You watch the river. You forget your problems. A serene escape. I never wanted to leave. I almost moved in.

You might also want to check out the best steak in San Antonio.

The Eatery

Highlights
Fresh, colorful, cozy atmosphere
Watch your meal get made
Huge, delicious salad portions
Polite, considerate staff
Great price for quality

The Eatery is exactly what it says. But better. Fresh, colorful, cozy atmosphere. You watch your meal get made. It's theater. Edible theater. Salads arrive huge. Delicious. A mountain of greens that could hide a small dog. Portions are generous. Prices are fair. Polite, considerate staff. They treat you like a favorite cousin. Great price for quality. A no-brainer. I left with a full heart and a full stomach.

You might also want to check out the best breakfast tacos in San Antonio.

Shiro Japanese Bistro

Highlights
Authentic sushi, riverview patio
Staff anticipates every need
Truffle crab croquettes perfection
Imports tuna straight from Japan

Shiro Japanese Bistro is a masterclass. Authentic sushi from a riverview patio. You sit. You watch the water. Then the staff anticipates every need. They are psychic. Truffle crab croquettes are perfection. Crispy, creamy, a flavor explosion. They import tuna straight from Japan. You can taste the ocean. The journey. The excellence. This is sushi for people who know. And for those who want to learn. A serene, delicious education.

You might also want to check out the best tamales in San Antonio.

Isidore

Highlights
Oysters with buttermilk bacon
Red snapper crudo excellent
Popcorn chicken outstanding
Wagyu absolutely incredible
Slaw reminiscent of childhood

Isidore is a discovery. Oysters with buttermilk bacon. Salty, smoky, a briny dream. Red snapper crudo arrives excellent. Clean, bright, citrus-adjacent. Popcorn chicken is outstanding. It makes my childhood self weep. Then wagyu. Absolutely incredible. Rich, buttery, melts like a rumor. The slaw reminds me of childhood. A nostalgic vegetable hug. Every dish has personality. The staff knows it. They let the food brag for itself.

You might also want to check out the best fried chicken in San Antonio.

Mixtli

Highlights
Rotating nine-course Mexican menus
Chef narrates each dish
Bar’s margarita is superb
Sommelier Hailey’s perfect pairings
Staff celebrates your special occasions

Mixtli is a journey. Rotating nine-course Mexican menus. Each course a chapter. Chef narrates each dish. You feel smarter with every bite. The bar's margarita is superb. Cold, tart, with a salty kiss. Sommelier Hailey pairs wines perfectly. She reads my palate like a book. Staff celebrates your special occasions. They brought a sparkler for my friend's birthday. The whole room applauded. This is not a meal. It's a ceremony.

You might also want to check out the best margaritas in San Antonio.

Delicious Indian Cuisine & Bar

Highlights
Five-minute walk from Alamo
Flaky samosas, packed flavor
Chef’s Special Curry shines
Garlic naan steals show
Staff gives parking passes

Delicious Indian Cuisine & Bar is conveniently close to the Alamo. Five-minute walk. You can see history. Then you eat it. Flaky samosas arrive packed with flavor. A crispy, spiced miracle. Chef's Special Curry shines. Complex, warm, a liquid hug. Garlic naan steals the show. Buttery, fragrant, impossible to stop eating. Staff gives parking passes. They think of everything. A thoughtful gesture. A delicious ceasefire in the parking war.

You might also want to check out the best chicken fried steak in San Antonio.

Dick's Last Resort - San Antonio

Highlights
Insults served with a smile
$4 margaritas that slap
Personalized insult hats included
Staff cheers your bathroom hike
Perfectly crispy fried shrimp

Dick's Last Resort is chaos. Beautiful chaos. Insults served with a smile. They call you names. You laugh. $4 margaritas that slap. They slap hard. Personalized insult hats included. I wore mine with pride. Staff cheers your bathroom hike. A long journey. They applaud your return. Fried shrimp are perfectly crispy. Golden, crunchy, a savory beacon. This place is absurd. Delightfully absurd. I never wanted to leave.

You might also want to check out the best mexican restaurant in San Antonio.

Bar Loretta

Highlights
Perfect intimate birthday evening
Phenomenal drinks, excellent service
Inventive cocktail pairings abound
Charming Southtown neighborhood favorite
Attentive staff, delicious food

Bar Loretta is a neighborhood treasure. Perfect intimate birthday evening. Drinks are phenomenal. They invent cocktails. Pairings abound. Creative, surprising, delicious. Service is excellent. Attentive without hovering. Charming Southtown vibe. You feel like a regular. Even if you're not. Food? Delicious. Small plates that punch above their weight. We celebrated. We laughed. We lingered. Bar Loretta made my birthday feel like a movie. A really good indie film.

You might also want to check out the best coffee shops in San Antonio.