It tracks that the Alamo City's pop-up scene has become one of the most exciting things happening in food right now — not because it announced itself, but because it simply showed up: at a wine bar on a Tuesday, in a brewery parking lot on a Saturday, at the Pearl on a Sunday morning before the city has fully woken up.
This year's 12 nominees for Best Pop-Up at the CultureMap San Antonio Tastemaker Awards are a globe-trotting bunch. They haul lobster rolls from New England, burritos from the border, and Thai comfort food from a grandmother's kitchen. They all make the moment.
Our expert judges will select the winner, who will be honored at our annual Tastemaker Awards ceremony and signature tasting event at the Briscoe Museum on May 14. A limited number of discounted tickets are still available for both general admission and VIP (which includes perks like early admission and a dedicated bar). Prices will increase soon, so act quickly.
After buying your ticket, meet our nominees through our special editorial series. Then, meet all 12 nominees for Best Pop-Up below.
Buddy's Big Trouble
Chef Javi Gutierrez is an underrated sandwich craftsman in San Antonio, but he lets his art shine at his first pop-up, Buddy's Big Trouble. The pop-up keeps its menu straightforward — if you want a hearty Texas Wagyu pit-smoked sandwich with the right fixings, this is the place to go. Gutierrez keeps the operation family-owned, running the joint with his wife, Jackie.
Burritos Frontera
Burritos Frontera is an homage to chef Jorge Flores's El Paso roots and his father, Angel, who passed away from cancer. The pop-up specializes in Juarez-style burritos. The style consists of hand-rolled tortillas cooked over a hot stove or grill, filled with pinto beans, handcrafted fillings like Chef Jorge's chicharron verde, and lots of love. Burritos Frontera even captured the attention of Texas Monthly, but it's Flores's dedication to his original mission, serving up burritos that remind him of home, that keeps folks lining up for more.
Crispy Bao Gang
Asian comfort food abounds with no BS at Crispy Bao Gang. Chef Rory and the Crispy Bao Gang crew excel in playing around with traditional Asian dishes — Korean-fried chicken, chow mein, pork katsu, and more have undergone creative evolutions in the hands of the Crispy Bao Gang. Of course, the pop-up thrives the most with its creative spins on classic bao. Past bao selections at Crispy Bao Gang pop-ups have ranged from hot chicken bao, sesame chicken, lemon pepper, chicken rangoon, and lest we forget, the baddie bao — beef, smoked garlic aioli, and pickled red onions, with a generous amount of cheese.
Death Burger at Little Death
What pairs well with Little Death's expertly crafted wine selection? Death burgers. Don't let the name fool you; each burger is guaranteed to give a slice of life. How? These aren't your typical fast food patties. Each death burger consists of aged short rib brisket with a Mornay Comte sauce on a bun from Extra Fine. Naturally, guests can add Roquefort cheese to their burger if they so desire. It's la petite mort with extra flavor.
Kin Khao Thai Food
If you've ever been to the Pearl Farmer's Market, you've likely run across and smelled the fresh menu selections from Kin Khao Thai Food. The pop-up doesn't just promise organic Thai cuisine — they deliver. Seasonal options such as Massaman curry and mango sticky rice stand out, while permanent menu mainstays like chicken fried rice and Thai omelette provide customers with a journey into the vibrant world of Thai cuisine by simply stopping by the Pearl.
Mala Suerte Food Lab
With a delicious touch of irony in their name, Mala Suerte Food Lab slices up late-night pizzas for the hungry masses. The team is dedicated to their craft — all the dough is hand-kneaded, with hand-shredded cheese (none of the store-bought nonsense). Thick crust, generous toppings, and a touch of rock n' roll are guaranteed in every slice.
Masshole Lobster Truck brings a taste of New England to San Antonio Masshole Lobster Truck/ Facebook
Masshole Lobster Truck
Masshole Lobster Truck, around in San Antonio since 2020, brings East Coast flair with lip-smacking good lobster rolls that don't require a plane ticket to Boston to enjoy. Founder Adam Bylicki brings his Massachusetts roots to every lobster roll on the menu — there's a classic Maine-style lobster roll, a Connecticut-style sandwich with butter-poached lobster, a Singapore-style roll, and more. Can't decide? Masshole has a lobster roll flight, so you can try three flavors.
Pony Boys
While the city is rife with taco options, Pony Boys stands apart with their trademark menu selection — golden tacos. Chi Chi Birds Hot Chicken chef-owner Caleb Lott is focusing on tacos dorados ("golden" in Spanish) for his innovative Pony Boys pop-up. Yellow corn tacos are sealed with a customer's choice of filling and deep-fried until golden. Past filling options at Pony Boys have included pork and chorizo, shrimp, and loaded potato.
Porc Slap
Buddy's Big Trouble chef-owner Javi Gutierrez ventures into the fine world of porcetta for his second pop-up. The classic Italian pork dish gains new life in Gutierrez's creative hands. Charcoal-fired porchetta plays a starring role in each sandwich offering at Porc Slap, with an innovative array of cheeses, spices, salsas, and pestos leading to a stacked sandwich you can't find anywhere else in the city.
Puro Pork
In the hands of Puro Pork, the notoriously fatty pork belly cut transforms into an artisanal dish that relies on masterful smoking techniques and proper seasoning for a satisfying dish. Puro Pork keeps it simple with its menu offerings: Their signature, El Ceviche, centers around their famous smoked pork belly with guac, pickled onions, tomatoes, and arepas. The other dish, Los Sliders, keeps the pork belly center stage, sandwiching it between toasted Hawaiian bread with spicy gochujang and carrots.
Tacos Cucuy
Chef Paul Morales is a certified taco veteran. With Tacos Cucuy (a playful nod to a spooky ghost in Mexican folklore), Morales plays around with traditional tacos and tortas, all crafted on heirloom tacos from his own brand, Ancient Heirloom Grains. With a deep respect for traditional tacos, Morales isn't afraid to play around with his own techniques — creating his own works of art like the Como la Flor taco, a loving nod to the Queen of Tejano.
The Fajita Lounge
Downright legendary in San Antonio pop-up culture at this point, The Fajita Lounge succeeds in simplicity. Founders Jacob Gonzales, Aaron Peña, and Matt Garcia aren't trying to impress anyone with their concept — the local restaurant stars in their own right, just genuinely love slinging up free fajitas for anyone who shows up. Even pouring rain couldn't stop the "hottest Tejano party" from continuing in 2025 during a Fajita Lounge showdown featuring local chefs — a testament to the love and genuine sense of community The Fajita Lounge has fostered since beginning in 2022.
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The Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored in San Antonio by NXT LVL EVENT, Maker's Mark, Lone Star Beer, Seedlip, Ritual Zero Proof, and more to be announced. A portion of the proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, Culinaria.
Masshole Lobster Truck brings a taste of New England to San Antonio Masshole Lobster Truck/ Facebook 
