SUDDEN SHUTTERS

Go-to San Antonio Asian eatery pauses amid owner's medical scare

Asian Bite is on hiatus while its owner recovers from a stroke.

The San Antonio community behind a go-to Far North Side restaurant is rallying for its chef. Asian Bite at 21803 Encino Commons is temporarily closed as its owner recovers from a stroke.

According to the GoFundMe campaign page, Gunawan, the owner, bought the restaurant in 2024. The location, which is close to the family’s home, allowed him and his wife, Apriyane (Anne) Halim, to be more involved in the daily lives of their two sons, one of whom has health issues of his own.

Since Gunawan is the restaurant's only cook, Asian Bite was forced to close. Now the family is facing mounting medical bills in addition to lost income and challenges with caring for the boys.

“He is a devoted husband, father, and the primary provider for their family,” said Sylvia Prabudy on GoFundMe. “Anne and Gunawan are parents to two wonderful boys…Despite life's challenges, they have always worked hard and put their family first.”

Asian Bite has not shared how long it expects Gunawan’s recuperation to take, but it’s clear that his family is still at the top of his mind.

“Daddy’s biggest motivation finally came to visit today,” wrote the restaurant on Instagram. “The boys' hugs and smiles brought so much joy and encouragement. Keep fighting, Daddy.”

At press time, the fundraising campaign has raised $22,690 of its $30,000 goal, an outpouring that has heartened the family as it weathers the emergency.

“Thank you for helping us through one of the hardest times in our lives,” wrote Halim in the GoFundMe comments. “Your kindness gives us strength and hope each day.”

far north side asian cuisine closings

GRILL SKILLS

San Antonio high school smokes 74 teams to win national BBQ title

Photo by Dustin Tramel on Unsplash

The Central Catholic High School barbecue team scored big in its rookie season.

The San Antonio Spurs aren’t the only local team with a deep rookie bench. Central Catholic High School’s grilling crew, which has only competed since December 2025, has been named National Grand Champions by the National High School BBQ Association (NHSBBQA).

The Central Catholic Buttons have only been manning the pits since October 2025, debuting in competition a short two months later. The team placed 12th at the state level in May before scoring the highest overall point total at nationals in The Colony, besting 74 high schools from eight states.

"This team came together with heart, discipline, and a whole lot of fire," said coaches Adrienne and Chris Hancock in a release. "To go from a brand-new program to national champions in one season is incredible. These young men worked hard, supported each other, and proved they could compete with the very best in the country."

Central Catholic High School BBQ team The Central Catholic Buttons celebrate their national win.Photo courtesy of Central Catholic High School

In addition to the team win, several team members nabbed top spots in individual categories:

Third place, Dutch oven — Adrian Thompson
Fifth place, ribs — Matthew Hernandez
Seventh place, ribeye — Jake Hernandez
Eighth place, grilled cheese — Christian Castillo
Eighth place, chicken lollipops — Isaiah Seijo
10th place, pork butt — Matthew Hernandez

High school competitive barbecue is a growing category in Texas, with school-sponsored teams treating smoking and grilling as a coachable competitive skill alongside more traditional varsity sports. The NHSBBQA says that the programs promote leadership, career, and life skills while preserving the heritage of live fire cooking.

One of those careers can come from barbecue itself. Ernest Servantes and David Kirkland, the pitmasters behind Seguin’s lauded Burnt Bean Co., came from the professional competitive circuit, where purses can exceed $100,000. As for the grilling Buttons, they took home their own big prize — a $15,000 scholarship for each member.

city news barbecue high schools