OPENING ALERT

San Antonio's first Middle Eastern roastery opens on North Side

Alzer's is now open on the North Side. (Photo for illustrative purposes only.)

As Yemeni cafés continue to rise in popularity across San Antonio, a new business in the Silk Road Cultural Heritage District is bringing a different Middle Eastern tradition to the city. Alzer's Roastery — a one-stop shop for coffee, nuts, and sweets — has opened at 9871 I-10 W.

Although there are plenty of local caffeine purveyors that roast their own beans, Alzer’s is San Antonio’s first mahmasa, or Middle Eastern roastery. The word shares a root with mahmas, a long-handled metal pan traditionally used to toast coffee over open embers.

The shops, an evolution of the souk stall tradition, can be found throughout the Arab world. Especially popular during Ramadan and Eid, the roasteries offer coffee ground to order to the customer’s preference and mkassarat (literally “things you crack”) — the seeds and nuts that are essential to any gathering.

In addition to the roasted items, Alzer’s sells kunafeh (a popular Middle Eastern dessert made from crispy shredded pastry), gourmet chocolates, specialty teas, and has a counter for on-the-go iced drinks. And it is one of the few spots in town to sell halal gummies.

The shop realizes the concept might not be familiar to all of its neighbors. In a social media video, it has a little fun with customers coming in looking for rotisserie chicken.

Guests who avoid that fowl play can let their nose lead the way to The Colonnade shopping center. Hours are Monday-Thursday, 10 am-9 pm; Friday-Saturday, 10 am-10 pm; and Sunday, noon–8 pm.

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OPENING ALERT

Azúca chef debuts new deli and market in San Antonio's Hemisfair

Parkeats.co

510 @ Park brings panini and salads to one of Hemisfair's most historic addresses.

San Antonio’s dean of Nuevo Latino cuisine is stretching out from Southtown to Hemisfair. Rene Fernandez, the chef behind Azúca Nuevo Latino and Hola!, will open Park @ 510 Deli & Market in the historic Pereida House at 510 S. Alamo St. on October 7.

Fernandez has been a fixture of San Antonio’s dining scene for two decades. He first opened Azúca in 2002, followed by Hola! in 2022. 510 @ Park is a departure from his previous projects, offering a more casual mix of salads, charcuterie, and seafood dishes like poke and ceviche.

However, the pressed-to-order panini are the star of the show. As usual, the chef incorporates global flavors into the menu with hot choices such as pork-stuffed Cubans and Tex-Mex chicken with barbecue sauce. Cold sandwiches include classic lox and avocado toast drizzled with nutty salsa macha.

During a San Antonio scorcher, locals can also pick up juice blends and protein smoothies — or a mango, watermelon, grape, or mango cup from the frutería. All of the menu items are affordable, with prices hovering below $15. The one exception is a $38 charcuterie board loaded with four cheeses and four meats.

The market part of the operation stocks gourmet snacks, artisan gifts, and home accents, much of it made by local purveyors. A bar serving wine, beer, and mocktails may help loosen the wallet.

Park @ 510 replaces Künstler Tap Haus, which bowed out of the location in October 2025 due to South Alamo Street construction. Since then, all the pylons have disappeared, and the area is entering a new phase of growth with the proposed Spurs sports and entertainment district.

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