A Foodie’s Guide to San Antonio’s Local Eats
Filling your vacation itinerary usually starts with lodging, then moves into all the exciting things you’re going to do throughout each day. However, a trip to a place as culturally rich as San Antonio means shifting some of that focus to food! San Antonio is a mecca for delicious cuisine — a foodie’s paradise hidden between historic sites, action-packed parks, and souvenir shopping.
After a full day visiting fun but exhausting attractions like the zoo in San Antonio, it’s time to find someplace to eat where there’s something for everyone’s picky palate. Here, we’ve put together a Foodie’s Guide to the best local eats in San Antonio.
Breakfast & Lunch
The most important meals of the day should be carefully selected! When you’re in San Antonio, be sure to visit Schilo’s, a staple in the area since 1917, giving it the honor of being the oldest restaurant in the city! Right next to the River Walk, Schilo’s serves breakfast and lunch only. Its founder, “Papa” Fritz Schilo, began it as a saloon, then started to serve his wife’s recipes, which are still proudly offered over a century later.
At Schilo’s, the atmosphere is friendly and laid-back, and the food is just like Grandma used to make. You get a variety of Texas and German food. Favorites like biscuits and gravy, pancakes, and eggs are always on the menu, as are more cultural selections like Potato Pancakes and Breakfast Schnitzel. For lunch-lovers, try the German Potato Salad, meatloaf, and signature Reuben Fritters. Follow your meal with traditional German beer or a Famous Root Beer made from cane sugar.
Dinner
With so many restaurants to choose from in San Antonio, the easiest thing to do is pick an area where you’ll be visiting anyway, and dine there. One of our favorite places to spend the day is the historic River Walk, and the hardest part about finding a good place to eat there is deciding which restaurant to try!
This area is pedestrian-only. It’s right in the center of downtown and was built to keep the San Antonio River from flooding the city. Now, the River Walk is full of shops, hotels, and dining establishments. With too many to pick just one, we’ll share our favorites:
- Saltgrass Steak House: This restaurant serves mouthwatering steak, along with other crowd favorites on its menu. Named after the famous Salt Grass Trail along the Texas Gulf Coast, the steakhouse includes a full offering of appetizers, surf and turf, barbecue, and desserts. Salads and soups complement the entrees nicely or are delicious on their own!
- Smoke Shack: What’s a trip to Texas without down-home barbecue? For the flavors of the South, visit Smoke Shack, a casual restaurant where you order at the counter and relax while you wait for your food at your table. Whether you’re in the mood for pulled pork, ribs, chicken, or brisket, you won’t be disappointed. Don’t forget to add your favorite sides: fried okra and macaroni and cheese are the classics, but their spicy cream corn and pinto beans are surefire pleasers, too!
- Rudy’s: Classic barbecue favorites are on the menu at Rudy’s. You’ll find a distinctly different flavor over Smoke Shack’s, but both are worth the mention (and the trip)! From brisket and turkey to cream corn and cole slaw, Rudy’s is a winner. Flavor, texture, and price are ideal for every family.
The River Walk hosts many other restaurants, so if you didn’t see one of our favorites that stands out to you, we suggest you give the area a try, anyway. There’s a good chance that what you’re craving is on the menu somewhere!
Dessert
Of course, dessert can be eaten any time of the day, but we’ll put it here as the last section just for style. Be cautious about checking the hours before you head to any of these “dessert” places, though — some, like the donut shops, close early.
Speaking of donuts, the Original Donut Shop is a can’t miss. The lines may be long, but don’t let that deter you. They go fast, and the donuts are worth the wait. Moist and tasty, their top sellers like the Apple Fritter are incredible. And, in true Texas style, they serve breakfast tacos alongside their donuts! Can’t decide what you’re in the mood for? The two counters share a dining room and patio, so everyone in your family can pick their preferred treat and dine together.
In the mood for a cold treat? Give Lick Honest Ice Creams a go! The owners use local ingredients and milk direct from the dairy farms in the area to make their creamy scoops. The River Walk location is one of many in the region. Lick Honest Ice Creams features an exclusive menu of eight regular local-themed flavors, four dairy-free options, and two offerings that vary by the season. Try Caramel Salt Lick and Goat Cheese, Thyme, and Honey. Trust us! You’ll be happy you did!
Another, just as amazing, ice cream parlor is Mr Ice Cream. Located across from Schilo’s, this sweet menu offers 37 flavors of sundaes, shakes, malts, and cones. Flavors range from standard to some that you won’t find anywhere else. Our favorite? Chocolate Peanut Butter Overload! But since you’re in Texas, give the Cookie Two Step a dance, and then get a lick of the Dr Pepper ice cream. Yes, it’s your favorite soda — in a creamy cone.
Your Days Are Full, and Your Stomach Will Be, Too
From breakfast to a bedtime snack, there’s plenty of regional, national, and international cuisines to put on your daily menu. You’ve already filled your day with the most exciting things to do in San Antonio, like the world-famous Alamo and San Antonio Zoo. Now, it’s time to decide which meal flavors will make your stomach happy! Mix and match a little Mexican breakfast (hello, tacos) with a steak dinner, sprinkle in some donuts as a snack, and end the day with a Texas-style ice cream. You’ll be doing plenty of walking as you explore, so why not splurge on your meals in this foodie paradise?
