38 Best Southern Restaurants in San Antonio

“This a must see! If you’re staying at the Pearl or nearby and your bar is high, this experience is a must. I lived in San Antonio for years and took too long to go. The music is excellent, the food far exceeded my expectations, and the cocktails are delicately crafted. All the staff are detail oriented and friendly. Book early, I’ve sat at the bar and the regular tables and both were great. You might have a slight visual obstruction if you’re sitting at the far end near the restrooms but otherwise no bad seat in the house! A true gem at the Historic Pearl.“

“My husband arranged to have my birthday dinner here and it was the best food/ service we have had in all of San Antonio. I would not only recommend those to try a meal here, but I am currently making an inquiry to have this place be considered a Michelin star restaurant. It was that good. That attention to both flavor and ingredients were amazing, the food came out perfect and we were genuinely satisfied with our meal. The service was also stellar, our server was actually one of the chefs in the kitchen so hearing her recommendations made our dinner choices easier and much more enjoyable. Thank you for making my birthday dinner so much fun!“

“Had the pleasure of being treated here and it was amazing! From the friendly staff, great flavor, affordable cost and chill atmosphere it felt like eating with family. Even got the chance to get recommendations from a man who visited 5 times in last 3 weeks and was planning his next visit mid bite! Definitely recommend, you’ll leave away full with food left over!“

“Meadow is one of my favorite places on earth. The food is fresh and brilliant! They experiment with amazing new flavor combinations and breathe new life into traditional dishes as well. Their bar is as innovative as the kitchen, and if you want advice on the cocktails or extensive wine list, just ask because the staff... The STAFF!!!! ohh they will make you feel like you are at home (well... if you like your home. If you don't like your home you will like this place better). Truly a hidden gem“

“The food is always 🔥 Southern Grit is where it’s at!“

“Everyone LOVED the food! They all got seconds and thirds! There were no leftovers! I was pretty pissed about that part, I wasn’t planning on cooking the next day 😂 I Highly recommend!!!!“

“Love the chicken salad and the variety of salads that they have!!“

“Best fried chicken and fried cracklings!“

“Love it and enjoy supporting a black owned and operated Christian business.👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾“

“Excellent food that is EXACTLY what you want in southern food! Great prices and hearty plates! You won’t be disappointed!! Kids approve!!!“

“My brother, dad and I stopped in this afternoon for late lunch, it was our first time. We loved it! We sampled brisket, ribs, pulled pork, sausage, cream corn and mustard potato salad. The meat fell off the rib, the brisket was juicy and the bark was delicious! The sausage is spicy but great tasting. The pulled pork was flavorful as well. We will definitely come back, it is outdoor seating only and there isn’t a public restroom so be prepared. It is BYOB and they do have T.V’s outside to catch a game.“

“I love the restaurant the food is the best suzy was best Waitress very kind and always made shar that we had coffee and with a smilewas very nice can't wait to eat there again“

“It’s really good a little spicy , just a kick but the taste is delicious!!! Don’t like the fact there’s no free parking . First time I tried it got charged $10 more just for 5 min after the hr . Other than that it’s good. First time took like an hour to be served , this time about 20 min .“

“Hello, this post has been a long time coming and I can finally give kudos to this lovely dining experience and delicious food! My work team had our year end lunch here for about 17 people including two kiddos and the staff went above and beyond to accommodate even in a mom/pop size restaurant. We felt like one big family hanging out eating some great food (***** stew, oxtail, catfish and bomb sides). You can bring your own drink too (and act appropriately of course?). My company has also catered food with Momma Luvs and the food is just as great as dining in! Please come by and get your plate(s) and I’m sure you’ll be back because my coworkers and I have surely been returning customers!! Big up!“

“Found this place while visiting San Antonio and decided to give it a try. The reviews were right: this place if fantastic! The loaded baked potato with brisket was huge! Two people could easily share this! And while sometimes restaurants will serve up large portions to make up for quality, that’s not the case here. The brisket was excellent and the potato was cooked to perfection. The ribs were perfectly done as well. Very flavorful and juicy. We also had the Mac Daddy sandwich. Another excellent choice. Brisket and mac and cheese on a grilled cheese. So tasty! The food and service were both excellent! You won’t be disappointed!“

“Just good southern home cooked meals“

“Last week I was one in a group of twelve who had an amazing experience dining at Ida Claire. All agreed that the food was excellently prepared and tasty. Those of us who ordered bread pudding thought it was wonderful. The service was top notch, thanks to our awesome server King. King was not at all intimidated by the number in our party. He was personable, knowledgeable, attentive, and accurate. We would certainly go there again.“

“Had a great time at Tryst for dinner. Steven our server was awesome. The food was on point. Will be visiting again“

“Got there late on a Sunday night, very friendly & the food was FABULOUS!!! I highly recommend!!! Sad, that we are from Nebraska & won't get to come back here, but I definitely would if I could😋“

“So, it was a cheat day. Mr C's Fried Chicken & Waffles was singing the Sirens song in my ear. Ive never been let down here before. That cornbread is amazing!!! (4 pieces) . Fried chicken skins - this the only place Ive seen them and you meant to tell me I get a plateful of my favorite part of the chicken??!! It was on point 9/10. Fried catfish, amazingly done. A voice inside said "oh they have red velvet cake, you should try that". I asked the waitress, on a 10 scale, she says 9. I take a slice home. Oh lawd. Ive always taken up for Red Velvet cake when the haters call it bs and made up chocolate, but it didnt have any love for me. Im a fat man, I will eat anything, even bad cake - but...I couldnt eat this. It was drier than the Sahara. I left it on the counter, and saw a trail of ants later."Hmm, maybe at least theyll eat it". Upon closer inspection, they were carrying ant water-pails to it to try to moisturize it. I threw it in my disposal and my disposal filed an OSHA violation against me. Would I recommend Mr Cs Fried Chicken & Waffles? ONly on days that end in -y. Would I recommend the red velvet cake? Im going to need a few therapy sessions first. 😃Please bring back the buttermilk pie.“

“Home away from home Fun and great music“

“Food and service were awesome“

“100 💯 percentage love the food last weekend on Saturday October 11 keep up the best restaurant work I'll be back in the month of 2 weeks and 3 weeks out of the month y'all are the best 😁“

“Always on the lookout for good chicken. In a town where there are any number of places that sell tenders, the chicken is average. The sides are one of the few things to set a chain apart and the sides are average. Where Slim's excells is in their desserts. Its not on the top of my list, but I'll definitely come again.“

“Excelente comida muy rico todo“

“Friendly service l, fun shopping trip and great food. Appreciate the early bird dinner specials!“

“Bread loaf was delicious, macaroni and cheese was to die for just wasn’t a fan of the brisket.“

“Excellent chicken meals..not one bit greasy ,tasty & enjoyable 😉... girls working there always have a great welcoming smile 😃...reasonable prices, especially for students that attend Harlan HS it's very convenient & close to the school 🏫 . My question and/or suggesting if Gift Cards are available for customers to purchase? Very friendly and relaxing atmosphere..outside and inside the cleanliness of it is outstanding 👌 💯 ➕️.“

“muy bien mmmmmmmmmmmmmm“

“Flavor is good and different.“

“We ordered the heat and serve Thanksgiving Feast and it was delicious! Curbside pickup was a breeze and the instructions were perfect. Everyone loved it!“

“Richie made our dining experience EXCELLENT!

Salmon muy savory w Bourbon Sauce & carrots sweet & tender

We've been going to Cheddars for several years tonight was our Very Best dining experience yet.

Mario Perez
Executive Chef“

“great food and great service“

“Oh my goodness! We had bbq, ribs and brisket along with Mac and cheese, collards, fries and pinto beans. Everything was delicious and we even got takeout out for the next nights supper (we are visiting from South Carolina). The bbq sauce is amazing! Highly recommend if you want some great food!!“

“This was my first time at Bush’s tonight, I was thinking about trying something new….
I’m going to tell you right now that it was worth EVERY PENNY.

My boyfriend got Little Caesar’s for his dinner, and that just didn’t sound good to me at ALL (Sorry not sorry). So I look across the street as we’re driving home and I see Bush’s.

I pull into the drive thru and I see that there are no speakers to take my order or anything like that, I thought that was a little odd but I was just there for the ride. One of the workers came out and she was SO NICE, so so sweet. Her name is Kaylee and let me tell you, that girl is an angel. I was looking at her little menu on her clip board and going over everything- One thing I will say is that the menu is not too overwhelming at all. Short and sweet, and to the point. I asked her for her recommendation and she told me about these Tender Rolls- Now if you put chicken and BREAD in the same sentence, you have my attention. She also CASUALLY mentioned that you can get them with buffalo sauce. I’m sold. So I took her recommendation and ordered that with a large sweet tea. She comes out with my food and drink and tells me it is only $9. I was expecting like $15 or something because the box was pretty big but I’ll take it for $9! The service was absolutely exceptional and it did not take long at all for me to get delicious hot food. So I go home and I open my box and my chicken still has steam rolling off of it and the buffalo sauce smells SO GOOD.

So now I have to talk about the food- the portion size is AMAZING! My chicken was huge and the order of fries I got was perfect!! The chicken had a realllllllly nice crunch on the outside and was so juicy on the inside, it was my favorite type of tender. The fries were salted perfectly and my Mac and cheese was so gooey and delicious- and the ROLLLSSS oh my gosh. They were so soft and warm, absolutely amazing; They really deserve a review on their own.

I will be eating at bush’s more often. Thank you Kaylee for the recommendation!“

“Best Cheddar's we've been to and we've been to several. Our server, Christina A. is fantastic! The place was packed but she made sure our drinks were never empty. She knew what we needed before we asked, more napkins, extra lemons, etc. The food was delicious, fall off the bone ribs and tender and juicy steak. We live about 45 min away but thanks to Christina and whomever the Chef is, we'll be back many times!“

“It was Sunday about 2:00pm. A 20 minute wait was reasonable. When we ordered they were out of the pot roast I requested. Changed my order to meatloaf, carrots and greens. Waited about 45 minutes for food. When it was delivered, I was told they were out of the greens and needed to choose a replacement. The wait staff were wonderful and did mention it had been a little slower than usual that day. Fortunately, this restaurant has not yet been ransacked and destroyed by the new remodel, though it is coming. My family has always enjoyed Cracker Barrel for many years. Good home style cooking and cozy atmosphere. We will miss it and will not be returning post remodel. We can get that atmosphere anywhere. Cracker Barrel will no longer be special, it will be gutted. I know there are many who will disagree and that's okay. I can only speak for my family.“