Best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in San Antonio
Check out these 10 hole-in-the-wall restaurants in San Antonio for the best tacos, pizzas, breakfast, and more that you might’ve never known about.
Texas has some of the best food in the United States, and that’s all but fact. Sure, taste is subjective, but anyone who’s ever lived in or visited our fair state can confidently say that we throw down equally on the grill and in the oven. This is especially true for our beautiful city, which boasts eateries from countless cultural backgrounds. That’s why so many people center their days around where and what they’re going to eat, including the best places to stop, shop, and savor along the San Antonio river walk.
That said, a lot of hole-in-the-wall spots can get overlooked, so we’re taking a closer look at the best hidden-gem restaurants in San Antonio. We scoured social media and reviews to find top spots recommended by locals that everyone should try at least once, and ultimately found 10 that are climbing our must-try list. Here they are, from underrated sandwiches and tacos to pizzas and breakfast.
1. French Sandwiches
Address: 8448 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78229
Hours: Monday-Friday: 8 am-5 pm; Saturday: 10 am-5 pm
French Sandwiches may not have a website, but it does pack serious flavor into its dishes, becoming one of the best underrated restaurants in San Antonio. Located in The Oaks strip, this French-meets-Vietnamese eatery fuses the two cultures in its dishes, combining unique flavors and preparations for fun, indulgent results.
In a discussion about the city’s best hidden gems, one Redditor wrote that French Sandwiches has the “perfect amount of food and great service.” If that weren’t enough, the shop’s bread is made in-house, and you can get cream puffs and French onion soup to complement your meal. Voila! It’s no wonder this restaurant has a 4.6-star rating on Google.
2. Umberto’s Italian Grill
Address: 7616 Culebra Rd, San Antonio, TX 78251
Hours: Monday: 3 pm-9 pm; Tuesday-Thursday: 11 am-9 pm; Friday: 3 pm-9 pm; Saturday: 12 pm-9 pm
Located in the Crown Meadows shopping mall, Umberto’s Italian Grill has everything you could want from an Italian eatery, from eggplant parmesan and minestrone soup to pappardelle with vodka sauce and mouthwatering tiramisu. One Redditor threw Umberto’s out as their top pick for one of the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in San Antonio, and many others upvoted and commented on their contribution in agreement.
It’s easy to see why, too. On Google, Umberto’s has a 4.6-star rating, with reviewers loving both the service and the food. “Umberto’s may be tucked into the center back of a strip mall, but don’t let the location fool you—there’s plenty of parking and the food makes it more than worth the stop,” one reviewer shared. Sounds like a date!
3. Little Taco Factory
Address: 1510 McCullough Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 7 am-2:30 pm
Looking for a perfect hole-in-the-wall spot for brunch? Little Taco Factory might just be your next favorite stop. Little Taco Factory is hailed as one of the best restaurants in San Antonio because of its unparalleled carne guisada (stewed beef), with Redditors mentioning that they go back time and time again for it. “My favorite breakfast and lunch. Carne guisada and eggs,” one user wrote, while others added that they love the carne guisada tacos and plate. Little Taco Factory’s Google rating sits at a lovely 4.5 stars, so it must be doing something right!
4. Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant
Address: 3975 Perrin Central Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78217
Hours: Monday-Friday: 5:30 am-9 pm; Saturday: 6:30 am-9 pm; Sunday: 6:30 am-4 pm
Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant is another great restaurant in San Antonio if you’re looking for delicious Latin dishes. One brief mention of this establishment’s name left a few Reddit users cheering. One called it their “main taco spot,” while another wrote, “You must be a local, not too many people know about that little hidden gem.”
What’s all the buzz about, you ask? Like Little Taco Factory, Las Carretas serves up excellent breakfast food in addition to savory staples for lunch, with the latter also extending into dinnertime here. You can have a twist on traditional American breakfast plates with refried beans served with your potatoes and sausage, or you can go classic with the best sizzlin’ fajitas in the area. Overall, this restaurant’s 4.4-star Google rating seems to come to it earnestly.
5. Yaghi’s New York Pizzeria
Address: 5910 Babcock Rd #104, San Antonio, TX 78240
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 10 am-9 pm; Friday-Saturday: 10 am-10 pm; Sunday: 10 am-9 pm
If you’re looking for a hot slice instead, check out Yaghi’s New York Pizzeria. Its name is a big claim, but locals on Reddit think it’s well-earned. “As someone who grew up around actual New York pizza, Yaghi’s is close enough to the real thing to remind me of home. Best pizza I’ve had since moving to the south,” one guest proudly wrote.
The establishment has been open since 1999 and carries a cumulative 4.5-star Google rating. Oh, and its menu is full of specialty ‘zas that sound like dreams come true, including the lasagna pizza, gyro pizza, and spinach roasted garlic chicken pizza. Is your mouth salivating, too?
6. D&N Kitchen
Address: 2303 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78203
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 11:30 am-7 pm; Saturday: 11:30 am-5 pm
Now, we can’t talk about the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in San Antonio without mentioning D&N Kitchen. This beloved restaurant is an institution to many, who come repeatedly for soul food that’s so good you can’t find it anywhere else. “Oh my goodness this food was amazing. It was fresh, hot, and seasoned. The portions were large and inexpensive,” one reviewer shared on Google, where the restaurant has 4.8 stars.
Much of the menu is fried, and that’s precisely why it’s so delicious. Here, you can tour the South by tasting delicacies like country fried steak, fried fish, fried shrimp, fried riblets, and more. Did we mention that D&N Kitchen is so true to its roots that it serves homemade banana pudding and thick slices of chocolate cake? Life doesn’t get much sweeter than that.
7. Grumpy’s Mexican Cafe
Address: 18817 FM 2252, San Antonio, TX 78266
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 7 am-2 pm
Grumpy’s Mexican Cafe might be situated in a small building that you could easily miss, but you should definitely seek it out. With 4.6 stars on Google, this is one of those restaurants in San Antonio that only locals tend to know about, and it’s a great haven for community—in addition to delicious food and drinks, of course.
According to the restaurant’s reviewers, there isn’t a bad dish at Grumpy’s. Folks rave about everything from the burgers to the chicken and waffles and the breakfast tacos. The loving ambiance doesn’t hurt, either. “From the time you walk into the door to the time you pay and leave, this homestyle Mexican palace makes you feel quite welcome and at home,” one visitor shared in their review. Aw!
8. Mina & Dimi’s Greek House
Address: 7159 W US Hwy 90, San Antonio, TX 78227
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 11 am-8 pm; Friday-Saturday: 11 am-9 pm
Many great hole-in-the-wall restaurants in San Antonio have jaw-dropping food, but if you specifically desire Mediterranean flair, you need to head to Mina & Dimi’s Greek House, which has a whopping 4.8-star Google rating. One review called Mina & Dimi’s dishes “hands down best Greek food I have ever had,” while another Redditor took it a step further, calling the eatery “one of the best restaurants in the city, and absolutely worth the drive from wherever you happen to live.” That’s how you know this restaurant is serving some seriously good eats.
On the menu, you’ll find Greek staples like spanakopita, gyro meat served in a variety of ways, and hummus. Some folks also specifically recommend the most seductive item on the menu: The One & Only Better Than Sex Cake. It’s got notes of honey, sweet cream, and chocolate. What’s not to love?
9. The Dogfather
Address: 6211 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78216
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 11 am-12 pm
If you guessed that The Dogfather is all about curated hot dogs, you’d be correct. This is one of the most detail-oriented restaurants in San Antonio, with each menu item being carefully crafted to create a unique experience despite all being dogs. There are even vegan options. Some fun flavors include the elote dog, a German-inspired bratwurst dog topped with sauerkraut, and vegan chili and cheese.
On Google, The Dogfather has earned a 4.6-star rating, and the reviews show that even folks who don’t normally gravitate toward hot dogs adore this restaurant’s creations. “Small joint with friendly people and amazing hot dogs. We don’t typically eat hot dogs but we’ll definitely return when in San Antonio again,” one new fan wrote.
10. Sherry’s Texan Seafood Restaurant
Address: 109 Crane Ave, S Flores St, San Antonio, TX 78214
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 10 am-8 pm
Thousands of Google reviewers have given Sherry’s Texan Seafood Restaurant a 4.4-star rating, and its menu makes it clear why. Sherry’s seafood is always fresh and high-quality, and you can get it any way you like, from fried seafood baskets served with thick Texas-style toast to jumbo shrimp surfed steak for a convenient surf-and-turf meal. Oh, and Sherry’s fries up some of the best chicken in the city—because what can’t this restaurant do?
“Very busy place, but the food is worth it,” one reviewer shared. Another wrote, “Food was fresh, hot and tasty. Service was friendly, and it just felt homey.” Altogether, this seems like one of the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in San Antonio, whether you’re dining solo or with the whole family.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
