Sure, San Antonio’s got Tex-Mex and barbecue on lock.
But beyond the enchilada plates and smokehouses, the Alamo City’s quietly built one heck of an international food scene. Thanks to a deep and diverse immigrant community, you can bounce from fiery Thai curries to Korean street food, Ethiopian comfort dishes, Afghan kebabs, Indian spice bombs, Vietnamese pho and standout Latin American fare without ever leaving city limits.
Here are some under-the-radar international spots proving San Antonio’s culinary game goes way beyond tacos and brisket. These places may not have fancy digs or James Beard nominations (yet), but they’re certainly serving up bold and invigorating flavors.
Madurai Mes
5152 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 524-8161, maduraimes.com.
This specialty of this strip-mall treasure is the fiery cuisine of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, though its menu also includes items from around the subcontinent. Perhaps the best way for first-timers to experience the region’s breadth of flavors is to order one of its lunch thalis, which offer a filling assortment of complex curries and fragrant rice dishes along with breads, fried appetizers and cooling yogurt concoctions.
Seoul Asian Food Market and Cafe
1027 Rittiman Road, (210) 822-1529, instagram.com/saseoulasianmarket.
A cafe serving up amazing noodle soups, bulgogi and kimchi fried rice is tucked into the corner of this Korean market. It’s a spot you won’t want to miss if you’re craving great fiery fare and flavorful grilled meats.
Azro Authentic Afghan Cuisine
2211 NW Military Highway #131, (210) 342-0011, azroafghancuisine.com.
This family-owned gem serves amazing Afghan and Mediterranean cuisine. The kabob-and-rice combos are hard to beat, and vegetarians should try the badenjan chalow, a rich and hearty eggplant stew.
Dallah Mediterranean Cuisine
5450 Babcock Road #112, (210) 233-9574, dallahsanantonio.com.
Dig into Dallah’s delicious take on Mediterranean cuisine while relaxing on the restaurant’s outdoor patio. Try the Gourmet Fiesta Plate for a sampler that includes spanakopita, hummus, baba ghanoush, dolmas and a whole lot more.
Singhs Cantina
15410 White Fawn Drive, (210) 979-9110, order.toasttab.com/online/singhscantina
An outgrowth of a successful Vietnamese food truck and restaurant on the St. Mary’s Strip, Singhs Cantina is serving up soulful Vietnamese fare next to Hills and Dales Ice House in Northwest San Antonio. Crowd pleasers on the menu include the Brisket banh mi and other crossover dishes.
Sichuan House
3505 Wurzbach Road #102, (210) 509-9999, sichuaneats.com.
Chef and restaurateur Kristina Zhao may have closed her fancier DASHI Sichuan Kitchen + Bar, but her original eatery Sichuan House is still turning up the heat. The digs may be simpler, but it’s hard to go wrong with anything on the menu, especially if you enjoy fiery flavors.
Luna Rosa Puerto Rican Grill y Tapas
1014 S. Alamo St., (210) 314-2723, lunarosatapas.com.
This family-owned Puerto Rican eatery is known for mofongo and paella, but the small plates on its menu are also flavorful and worth exploring.
La Marginal
2447 Nacogdoches Road, (844) 663-6646, lamarginalrestaurant.com.
This restaurant has been known to self-proclaim themselves as having the best Cuban sandwich in the city. And we just might have to agree with them. La Marginal serves up fresh and homey Puerto Rican fare that’s worth seeking out.
Amen Cafe Eritrean & Ethiopian Restaurant
5115 Fredericksburg Road, (512) 940-3349, amencafe.com.
If you’ve been craving good Ethiopian food, Amen Cafe is the answer to your prayers. The regional cuisine also has many delicious options for vegetarians. Expect large platters with a variety of sauces on a spongy, fermented pancake-like flatbread called Injera. It’s not just OK to eat with your hands here, it’s the best way to go.
Hyderabadi Spicy Matka
7080 Bandera Rd, (210) 600-3338, hsm-sanantonio.com.
Hyderabadi Spicy Matka celebrates the cuisine of Hyderabad, the capital of southern India’s Telangana state. The restaurant’s masala dosa, a regional specialty, is a huge and beautiful crepe made of a rice-and-lentil batter and served with flavorful chutneys. The eatery also prides itself on employing the traditional method of cooking its food in clay pots, which imparts an added earthiness.
Ilsong Garden
6905 Blanco Road, (210) 366-4508, ilsonggardensa.com.
With a primarily Korean menu and some Japanese dishes available, Ilsong Garden’s authentic tastes will have you wondering whether you’re really dining in a strip mall and not in Asia. Head to this quaint space for your fix of Korean barbecue and a whole lot more.
Credit: Instagram / Kung Fu Noodle
Kungfu Noodle
6733 Bandera Road, (210) 451-5586, instagram.com/kungfunoodlesa
If you judge a book by its cover, you may have a hard time believing that tasty noodles await you inside this Leon Valley strip mall spot. Venture inside, though, and you’ll discover authentically-made hand-pulled noodles, dumplings and steamed buns.
Sawasdee Thai Cuisine
6407 Blanco Road, (210) 979-9110, sawasdeethaicuisinetx.com.
This menu, largely vegetarian-friendly, offers plenty of Thai options for lovers of the cuisine as well as curious newbies. The weekly lunch specials are hard to beat, and the curries are complex and comforting at the same time.
Tasty Modern Asian Kitchen
9502 I-10, (210) 888-1190, tastymodernasiankitchen.com.
If you drive by this restaurant on the I-10 corridor, scope out the number of cars in the parking lot. That’s a good sign. The place serves up expertly executed Cantonese fare including dim sum, or Chinese small dishes such as steamed dumplings and buns.
European Dumplings Cafe
2211 NW Military Highway, Suite 131b, (736) 219-2483, europeandumplings.com.
Ukrainian food in an SA strip center? Sure, why not. The borsch here isn’t spelled with a “t” at the end, nor does it contain beets, but it’s topped with sour cream and brimming with cabbage, shredded carrot, sliced cabbage and lots of other goodies. The pork-filled dumplings are subtle, but tender and delicious.
Selda Mediterranean Kitchen
9955 I-10 West Colonnade III, (210) 236-5230, seldamediterraneansatx.com.
“Mediterranean” can mean a lot of things when it comes to restaurants, and the speciality here is the food of Turkey, including its famous doner kebabs. Don’t snooze on the other stuff, though as the grilled halloumi cheese, grilled pistachio meatballs and a variety of salads are also top notch.
Kain Na Filipino Cuisine
9323 Perrin Beitel, Unit 101, (210) 455-2414, kainnasatx.com.
“Main Na” means “Let’s eat” in Tagalog, a native language of the Philippines. And that’s good advice at this place, which specializes in homestyle food. From addictive Pancit noodles to hand-rolled lumpias, this place gets both the flavors and the hospitality right.
Leiah Venezuelan Food
12066 Starcrest Drive, (210) 819-3232, instagram.com/leiah_ venezuelanfood.
Leiah serves up big, homey flavors in a simple setting. The empanadas and arepas, both made with un-nixtamalized cornmeal flour, are the attraction here, and they can be stuffed with a variety of fillings that deliver on flavor.
Mian Noodles and Dumplings
19141 Stone Oak Parkway, (210) 267-1711, miannoodlesdumplings.com.
Not only can you order house-made Chinese noodles and dumplings at this stripmall treasure, you can actually watch them being made in a special area of the restaurant. This place is the real deal. Go for the Shanxi Stewed Lamb for a delicious house specialty.
Thai Curry 8210 Broadway, Suite 1, (210) 888-1155, thaicurrysa.com.
Check out the Thai Larb with ground chicken, the pumpkin curry and the tamarind-sauced stir fry available with the meat of your choice.