As of Friday, San Antonio restaurants are able to open their dining rooms at 50% capacity under Phase 2 of Governor Abbott's plan to reopen the Texas economy.
If you're still worried about eating out at a restaurant right now, we've got you covered. We asked 15 chefs what local spots they've been ordering takeout from, and man, did they deliver.
The MVP: Sichuan House 3505 Wurzbach Road #102, (210) 509-9999, facebook.com/SichuanEats
The fact that five out of 15 chefs recommended Sichuan House is all you need to know. Some dishes that were specifically called out? The cumin beef, twice cooked pork and spicy & savory jumbo shrimp.
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s.a.foodie
Smack’s Chicken Shack 2222 N St. Mary’s St., (575) 637-5057, facebook.com/smackerelsa
If you’re having a tough time deciding, chef Leo Davila says “literally any weekly special sando” at Smack’s Chicken Shack will hit the spot.
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Sangria on the Burg 5115 Fredericksburg Rd., (210) 265-3763, sangriaontheburg.com
Chef Davila also says that “the tacos from Sangria on the Burg always hit the spot, and the crispy pata is a MUST.”
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Ceasar Zepeda, Chef/Owner of Sangria on the Burg and Alamo Biscuit Company & Panaderia sangriaontheburg.com
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Halftime Pizza Various Locations, halftimepizzasatx.com/#/
“Halftime Pizza pizza rolls and wings, of course,” says chef Ceasar Zepeda. “But the Asian Beef Salad… we order that every time we go there.”
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Tre Trattoria 200 W Jones Ave. #501, (210) 805-0333, tretrattoria.com
“Tre Trattoria’s Beef Bolognese, it’s home-cooked goodness,” said chef Ceasar Zepeda. “Man, it's my guilty pleasure.”
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Tim McDiarmid, Chef/Owner of Tim the Girl Catering, The Good Kind, and Ivy Hall in Southtown timthegirl.com
Photo Courtesy of Tim the Girl
Singh’s Vietnamese 2805 N St. Mary's St.,(512) 940-9662, squareup.com/store/singhsvietnamese
Tim McDiarmid shared a few go-to takeout spots: “Singh’s veggie rice bowl is my go to. Although I also love Sichuan House and Barbaro. We also had an excellent meal from Attagirl the other day. There are lots of great options!”
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Barbaro 2720 McCullough Ave., (210) 320-2261, barbarosanantonio.com
“Scrumptious,” “thoughtful,” and “always a win” are just a few descriptions these chefs used to describe Barbaro’s takeout situation. They’re also selling full bottles of booze to-go, so get on that.
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Pieter Sypesteyn, Chef/Owner of Cookhouse, NOLA Brunch & Beignets and Bud's Southern Rotisserie cookhouserestaurant.com
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Taqueria Cazadores 927 Rittiman Road, (210) 824-0175, facebook.com/BestMexicanRestaurantInNESanAntonio
Chef Pieter Sypesteyn also shared his favorite neighborhood Mexican spot: Cazadores Mexican Restaurant. An unassuming mom-and-pop shop in Terrell Heights, Cazadores boasts Mexican classics, margaritas and a comfy atmosphere.
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Fresh Donuts 1302 Austin Highway, (210) 988-3101, fresh-donuts-san-antonio-2.sites.tablehero.com
When Sypesteyn needs a morning pick-me-up, he opts for Boudin kolaches, and Vietnamese iced coffee from Fresh Donuts in Alamo Heights. “We stop in there a couple of times a week,” he said. “They're great people.”
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Damien Watel, Chef/Owner of Bistr09 bistr09.com
Photo via Instagram / Bisr09
Braza Brava Pizzeria Napoletana 7959 Broadway St. #300, (210) 320-2100, brazabravapizzeria.com
Damien Watel and Pieter Sypesteyn agree that Braza Brava is a spot you have to try. Watel can't live without Braza Brava'a hefty calzones, and Pieter Sypesteyn is all about their pies. “We love the pizza at Braza Brava,” Sypesteyn says. “Their Pizza Buffala is my favorite.”
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Losoya's Taqueria 13444 West Ave. #100, (210) 495-5999, losoyas.restaurant/
“We have tried to spread the love as much as we can,” said PJ Edwards. “Our local Taqueria Losoya has definitely gotten the most love, though.”
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Battalion 604 S Alamo St., (210) 816-0088, battalionsa.com
Edwards also recommends Thai Dee, a thai spot with a cult following, and Battalion. “We over order the greatness that is Battalion…an Italian Feast for about 8 people!”
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Alamo Biscuit Company & Panaderia 9630 Huebner Road #103, (210) 265-5585, alamobiscuitco.com
Alamo Biscuit Company & Panaderia is known for serving up super fluffy, buttery pillows of biscuity goodness. Edwards swears by the Brunch Pack, which includes buttermilk hotcakes, scrambled eggs, potato hash, salsa, house biscuits, bacon and biscuit French toast.
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Botika 303 Pearl Parkway #111, (210) 670-7684, botikapearl.com
The Dragon Dinner at Botika has become chef Geronimo Lopez’s go-to when he needs a meal to-go. The meal feeds four, and includes all of his favorite things: whole roasted chicken with anticuchero marinade & chimichurri, potstickers, egg rolls, steamed rice, corn salsa, salad and dessert.
Photo courtesy Geronimo Lopez
Max and Louie's New York Diner 226 W Bitters Road Suite 126, (210) 483-7600, maxandlouiesdiner.com
When chef Ernest Bradley needs a quick meal to-go, he lets his little lady make the call: “When we order in, we get it from Max and Louie's New York Diner. It's my daughter's favorite place.”
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Luis and Marsha Morales, Owners of Humble House Foods and Say Town Tacos humblehousefoods.com
Photo Courtesy of Humble House
Clementine 2195 NW Military Highway, (210) 503-5121, clementine-sa.com
When it comes to an elevated experience, Marsha and Luis Morales say Clementine is the way to go. “We've been fans of them for years, and I've yet to have a dinner that doesn't cause me to re-evaluate my perspective on one ingredient or another,” Marsha said.
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Godai Sushi 11203 West Ave, (210) 348-6781, godaisushi.com
“Sushi has always been my happy spot so I order from Godai Sushi,” said chef Rudy Martinez. “There is a lot of passion and soul put into the food that they create.”
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Teddy Liang, Chef/Consultant
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Hot Joy 1014 S Alamo St., (210) 368-9324, hotjoysa.com
Chef Teddy Liang says that he frequently orders from Sari Sari Filipino Restaurant, Market, & Bakery and Hot Joy. “I get their [crab fat] chicken wings and a six pack Upland Brewery Champagne Velvet (Pilsner).”
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Jerk Shack 117 Matyear St., (210) 776-7780, facebook.com/thejerkshacksatx
“Jerk Shack... their freakin’ Mac N Cheese! I would give up ramen secrets to know what’s in there,” said Nguyen.
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Sari Sari Filipino Restaurant, Market, & Bakery 5700 Wurzbach Road, (210) 647-7274, sari-sari-satx.com Nguyen also suggests Burger Boy, Kin Thai, and Sari Sari Filipino Restaurant, Market & Bakery: “get the adobo and crispy pata!”
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Stefan Bowers, Chef/Owner of Battalion, Playland Pizza and Rebelle at the St. Anthony Hotel battalionsa.com
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The Magpie 1602 E Houston St. Suite 106, (210) 389-1584, magpie.us
When talking about meals from Magpie, chef Stefan Bowers is highly complimentary. “Through and through solid and delicious,” he said. “By far some of the best handled, most delicately prepared and cared for food I’ve had in recent memory (pre and post COVID).”
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Lobo Provisions 27532 Old Blanco Road, (210) 580-6464, loboprovisions.com
“We actually order out for our staff meals 2-3 times a week from different restaurants,” said baker Megan Morales. “Some staff favorites so far have been Godai Sushi and Lobo Provisions.”
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Camille De Los Reyes, Owner of Sari Sari Filipino Restaurant, Market & Bakery sari-sari-satx.com
Photo Courtesy of Camille De Los Reyes
Pinch Boil House 124 N Main Ave., (210) 971-7774, pinchboilhouse.com
“I've really enjoyed the Pinch and South BBQ collaboration,” said Camille De Los Reyes. “They've done it twice, and both times have been outstanding! I hear they will be opening up a new concept together soon, and I can't wait!”
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The MVP: Sichuan House 3505 Wurzbach Road #102, (210) 509-9999, facebook.com/SichuanEats
The fact that five out of 15 chefs recommended Sichuan House is all you need to know. Some dishes that were specifically called out? The cumin beef, twice cooked pork and spicy & savory jumbo shrimp.
Photo via Instagram /
s.a.foodie
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