There’s no shortage of food in Texas! A Texan friend of mine actually once described it as “where diets go to die,” which I thought was funny because it’s kind of true! If you like Mexican, Tex-Mex or brisket, you’re in luck. But if you like a good variety of international foods and local favorites, you’re also in luck in San Antonio!

Yes, we ate at some touristy spots on the Riverwalk, but that’s what you do when you visit the main attractions in San Antonio! We also found some local gems, though, so keep reading and come hungry!

Market Square 

This is such a fun place to spend part of your day! It’s not on the Riverwalk, but it’s also not far. Check out San Fernando Cathedral and the Spanish Governor’s Palace on your way to or from the historic Market Square, and work up an appetite while you’re at it! There will be vendors selling street food and several restaurants to choose from (including a 24-hour spot). 

The best, however, were the vendors serving agua fresca! Choices ranged from cantaloupe to watermelon, and lemonade to horchata, which is a milk-based beverage. It really hit the spot on a hot, Texas day!

More here: What to Know Before You Visit San Antonio

La Margarita

This one, also at the historic Market Square, was recommended by a local, so we knew we had to try it. It’s a Tex-Mex restaurant with great outdoor and indoor spaces, plus amazing food. Steve ordered the Tex-Mex Burrito with beef, and I chose the fish tacos, with a tamale on the side. I kept reading about the tamales in San Antonio, but I wasn’t seeing them on any menus. When I saw that a tamale came as a component on a couple of the larger dishes here, I asked if I could get one to try, and of course the answer was yes! 

Keep reading: The Top 10 Things to Do in San Antonio without a Rental Car

Mi Tierra

Our third and final stop on our foodie extravaganza at historic Market Square was Mi Tierra, a 24-hour restaurant and bakery. We had a hard time choosing, but we got a few pastries to-go, which we decided were totally worth waiting in line for! Steve chose an eclair and a large cream puff with fruit; I opted for a tres leches cake and chocolate cream puff for myself!

Read next: The Ultimate Guide to Solo Travel in San Antonio

Tokyo Cowboy

Tired of Tex-Mex? Not to worry! Tokyo Cowboy has some very flavorful options for those with more of an international palate. I was a little disappointed that there was no sushi on the menu, but I didn’t stay disappointed. Not only was the food exceptionally tasty, we got to enjoy a balcony view of the Riverwalk! We highly recommend an outdoor table at this restaurant.

More here: The Top 7 Things to Consider When Booking Flights

Prost Haus

Excuse me: German food in San Antonio? It’s authentic! There actually is a significant German population in this part of Texas—and we noticed a significant number of German-speaking tourists here as well! This restaurant is located right on the Riverwalk, with a view, of course. We split the Reuben and Haus salad for lunch, and it was plenty to keep the both of us powered throughout the afternoon. 

Keep reading: What to Pack for a Week in Texas in Summer

Fiume Pizzeria

And Italian? Is that authentic? Actually, yes! And this is an amazing place for pizza. It’s a little on the fancy side, so we ordered a pizza to go because we were hot and tired by the time we needed some supper. I have to say, the prosciutto pizza with burrata cheese and rosemary honey was one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had—and we eat a lot of pizza when we travel!

Keep eating and check out my World Foods Page!

La Villita Cafe

I wanted this one to be charming and delightful, but honestly it was kind of “meh.” Everything else we ate was so flavorful, this one pales in comparison. It has such potential, with its location in historic La Villita, but it’s really just serviceable in a pinch, if we’re honest. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. 

Read on: How to Travel Solo When You’re Not Single

Casa Rio

This is one of the most “touristic” places in town, but it’s also the oldest restaurant on the Riverwalk, so there’s that! It’s the one with the colorful umbrellas along the riverside, so you’ll definitely be seeing photos of it in your trip research, if you haven’t already. This is self-reportedly a “high-volume restaurant,” meaning they can serve a LOT of food to a LOT of people at a time. Usually that means low-quality, but we really enjoyed our food here! 

We split the Deluxe Dinner and Taco salad between the two of us, but the real delight was the hot churros for dessert. One order one with four churros, and you can choose caramel- or chocolate-filled, or you can be like us and choose to have two of each! And if I’m totally honest with you, these were actually way better than the ones we had in Spain a couple of years ago. 

Read next: Staying at the Hotel Contessa in San Antonio, Texas

Schilo’s

Another German restaurant! In addition to that, this is also the oldest restaurant in San Antonio. It opened way back in 1917, and it’s a sister restaurant to Casa Rio, the oldest restaurant on the Riverwalk! We got breakfast there one morning, which was a great way to start our day. It came highly recommended by a Texan friend, and it did not disappoint!

Keep reading: 5 Steps to Become a Solo Traveler

La Panaderia

We found this incredible breakfast-bakery-coffee shop on our last day, and I’m so disappointed because I wish we’d found it sooner! It’s not on the Riverwalk, but it’s only a couple of blocks away, so it’s totally worth a few extra minutes to get there. Everything we had was amazing, from the French toast to the Mexican mocha! We will definitely be back on our next trip to San Antonio, and I hope you’ll get to enjoy it on your trip, too!

More here: How to Enjoy Eating Out at a Restaurant Solo

Want more? Get everything you need to know about San Antonio and Texas on my United States Page!

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