COMING ATTRACTIONS

Award-winning Thai chicken joint expands to Castle Hills

Thai Bird is headed to Castle Hills for a second location.

One of San Antonio’s top fast-casual restaurants is flocking across town. Thai Bird, known for its vibrant fried and rotisserie chicken, is opening a second location at 2211 NW Military in Castle Hills later in the spring.

Thai Bird first debuted as a kiosk in downtown’s Make Ready Market food hall in 2023. The concept marked the San Antonio return of David Gilbert, the chef behind the mourned Tuk Tuk Taproom and a James Beard nominee for his work at Sustenio.

The restaurant became an near-overnight success, especially among the celiac community, who appreciated its totally gluten-free kitchen. In 2024, CultureMap San Antonio readers voted Thai Bird the Best New Restaurant as part of our annual Tastemaker Awards.

In June of that year, the restaurant had outgrown its food hall home. Gilbert opened a second outpost in Rise Up’s former home at 6401 Broadway in Alamo Heights. Eventually, the chef closed the Make Ready Market stall. He now runs the growing business with fiancee Kristin Alvarez.

In addition to the Thai chicken, the restaurant serves snacks like chili crisp hummus served with puffed rice crackers and a chopped salad with kale, ripe mango, and crispy shallots. Vegetarians are well-served with kale slaw, chili lime fries, and red curry corn.

Thai Bird does not yet have a solid date for its Castle Hills debut. A request for a more exact timeline was not immediately returned.

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REOPENING ALERT

San Antonio's Burger Boy to finally reopen St. Mary's Strip location

Burger Boy/ Facebook

Burger Boy is days away from reopening its St. Mary's Strip flagship.

San Antonio’s original Burger Boy, at 2323 N. St. Mary's St., is days away from reopening. The beloved burger joint, one of the most popular spots for late-night eats on the busy nightlife strip, has been shuttered since August 2025, when a late-night blaze damaged parts of the building.

“Re-Grand opening date to be revealed VERY soon!” wrote the business on Instagram. “We’re excited to announce that our original St. Mary’s location is right around the corner!”

For local burger fans, progress on the building has been painstakingly slow. According to the San Antonio Fire Department, the flames first broke out in the kitchen before spreading to the attic, but the damage was hard to spot for passers-by.

Burger Boy San Antonio The St. Mary's Burger Boy has a new parking lot and a fresh coat of paint.Photo by Brandon Watson

Burger Boy's roots in San Antonio stretch back to 1955, when Frank Bates opened Whopper Burger, reportedly with just $500. Beating Burger King at the trademark game, the brand stuck around until 1983, when Bates passed away, and his widow sold the company.

His son, Carl Bates, opened the first Burger Boy on the St. Mary's Strip in 1985, where the iconic original sign still rotates. An investment group purchased the chain in 2017 and began slowly expanding the restaurant's footprint throughout the area.

The St. Mary’s original, with its distinctive rotating sign, A-frame building, and bold blue and orange color scheme, has continued to set the tone for the company’s branding. Those bones were still intact during a site visit. The main visible change was a newly paved drive-thru and parking lot.

Burger Boy has not revealed the exact date for the reopening, but fans can follow along on social media for updates. While waiting, locals can get Working Man combo meals and shakes at nine other area locations.

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