While many cities are being consumed by cookie-cutter condos anchored by Pilates studios and chain coffee shops, neighborhoods still have an identity in San Antonio. This year's nominees for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards echo the unique character of the homes surrounding them.
Some have been converted from Craftsman homes, practically indistinguishable from their neighbors. Some reflect the sociable spirit of their young professional clientele. All offer space to connect as IRL moments vanish.
The judges have a difficult choice to make. All, no doubt, have a favorite everyday spot. Still, only one will nab the honor at our annual Tastemaker Awards ceremony, taking place April 10 at Briscoe Museum.
Read more about the contenders below, then get to know all the Tastemaker nominees through our special editorial series. Then, snag a ticket to our blowout tasting event. Early Bird tickets are on sale now for a discounted price of $60 for general admission and $99 VIP (which includes perks like early admission and a dedicated bar). However, be warned that tickets increase after March 12, and the party is expected to sell out. We wouldn't want you to get FOMO.
Here are the nominees for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year:
Beacon Hill Market & Deli
Owners Matt McLaughlin and Maray McChesney come from working-class towns, McLaughlin from Philadelphia, and McChesney from San Antonio. The deli's blue-collar touches — checkered sandwich wraps, canned sodas, and clamshell pasta salads — are far from affectations. The couple seems to have an innate sense of what will soften the daily grind, whether a sizzling cheesesteak or a giant cannoli. The guest's actual jobs may not be as labor-intensive as keeping a massive cold case stocked, but they all know where to spend their paycheck.
Bistr09
In the United States, French food has taken on a rarified air from a populous that forgets not all Parisians swoon over the frippery of haute cuisine. Damien Watel and Lisa Astorga-Watel's Gallic fare is more dishabille, usually adorned with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or a slick of brown butter sauce. The unstuffy atmosphere follows suit with wicker chairs and whimsical art. So what if occasionally the kitchen can't resist an airy tuile or architectural puff pastry round. No bistro is complete without a bit of je ne sais quoi.
Con Huevos Tacos
Con huevos, con picadillo, con slow-braised carne guisada with cheese. The order doesn't really matter at this Dignowity Hill taqueria. All the tacos come loaded on one of San Antonio's most pillowy tortillas and a side of the city's most electrifying salsa. Multiple TV appearances have increased the long lines on weekends. It's just as special on a harried Tuesday.
Cullum's Attagirl
A country cousin to Chris Cullum's more metropolitan Attaboy, this Tobin Hill hot spot is decorated with the shopworn clutter of a rural general store. Here, the chef's trademark nostalgia is thrown in a blender, building Paradise Garage in Mayberry. What would Aunt Bee think of Opie getting rowdy on a frozen piña colada and a plate of Nashville hot wings?
Full Belly Cafe & Bar
Plenty of all-day restaurants have opened in the past decade, driven by the nation's unquenchable thirst for day drinking. Still, owner Blade Haddock is too seasoned a veteran to copy his bedfellow's formula. Yes, the Olmos Park and Sonterra locations serve Benedicts, burgers, and affordable mimosas. But the improbable diner also makes room for black truffle mussels and Bananas Foster pancakes drizzled with crème anglais. Greasy spoon, meet polished fork.
Garcia Barbecue
This barbecue joint made its name as a pop-up, later settling into a food truck fixture of McIntyre's and Hops and Hounds. Perhaps the peppery brisket is best enjoyed without a sugary shot. Now, the spot feels more familial, both in front of and behind the counter. And older adults can now share the joys of smoked queso nachos with their niblings.
Luna Rosa Puerto Rican Grill y Tapas
In 2023, this Puerto Rican restaurant traded in its humble Brooks City Base storefront for the former Southtown home of Tex-Mex stalwart Rosario's. The postmodern tropicalia left over from the latter suits it. Suddenly, the spot's fare — a mix of classics like mofongo and new creations like Caribbean nachos — had a proper setting. While missing the salt air, Luna Rosa wisps its guests away to a tropical resort, proving that everyday dining can also be transformative.
Outlaw Kitchens
Some might think of Paul Sartory and Peggy Howe as maverick restaurateurs, but we prefer to think of the couple as San Antonio's most accomplished dinner party hosts. In 2017, the couple turned their Alta Vista home into Alamo City's most intimate restaurant. Since then, they have hosted their extended neighbors almost every night. Even the ever-changing menus seem pulled from a home cookbook collection, albeit one that would impress Julia Child.
Reese Bros Barbecue
It's probably best that this East Side joint is only open three days a week. Constant proximity to the poblano mac' n' cheese does no one's health any favors. Still, consider a Sunday feast of queso fundido sausage, pulled pork, and potato salad another kind of self-care. Weekends are for recharging. After a visit to Reese Bros, a nap is practically guaranteed.
The Hayden
Of all our nominees for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year, the two locations of this Jewish deli-inspired restaurant look most at home in the current year. The muddy colors, potted plants, and a Canva-bag of typography demand Tik-Tok documentation. Sure, snap it while it's hot. Then, pocket that phone to experience the graciousness of the hospitality, the easy comfort of the drinks, and the hearty embrace of the menu. Bubbles have social media accounts, too.
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The Tastemaker Awards ceremony is brought to you by Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water, PicMe Events, Audio Visual Consultations, and more to be announced. A portion of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, Culinaria.