Thinking about trying something new to eat in San Antonio? View these new restaurants that are guaranteed to excite your taste buds.
Kumo
From the minds that brought us modern-Mexican icon Mixtli comes Kumo, a seasonal Mexican restaurant with a strong Japanese influence. Kumo dinners feature up to 10 courses of chef-selected dishes — all served in a sexy, date night-friendly atmosphere. The pair of oft-awarded chefs bill the spot as an omakase, which in Japanese means “I leave it up to you.” That allows the kitchen to tailor the dinner based on the availability of fresh seasonal ingredients. Real talk: if there’s one culinary team we’d want to guide us through that kind of dining experience, it’d be this one. 5251 McCullough Ave., (210) 338-0746, restaurantmixtli.com/kumo.
Agave Azul
The menu at this Tobin Hill-area neighborhood star is chock-full of comforting Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes just like your abuela used to make. The monster-sized servings and bold flavors honor the legacy of co-owner Ismael J. Roldan, a 40-year veteran of the restaurant business. Roldan’s daughter Paola operates the business day to day, serving up savory stuffed poblano peppers, chicken mole and parrilladas along with equally delightful SA-approved lunchtime staples such as enchiladas and tortilla soup. 1626 McCullough Ave., (210) 507-2202, agaveazulsa.com.
Curry Boys BBQ
Curry Boys’ “Southeast Asian curry and classic Texas BBQ” tag may leave you scratching your head. However, dive into the eatery’s brisket curry bowl — smoked Texas brisket with complex green curry, jasmine rice, cilantro and fried shallots — and the fusion suddenly makes delicious sense. The new concept from the boys behind Pinch Boil House and South BBQ is a harmony of fresh ingredients, fun attitudes, casual atmosphere and, yes, expertly prepared brisket. 2334 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 320-0555, curryboysbbq.com.
The Magpie
This neighborhood bistro brings pasta and Korean-influenced plates to San Antonio’s East Side with a thoughtful focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients thanks to chef Jungsuk “Sue” Kim. The Magpie now offers boxed lunches and Sunday Brunch, but remains a special weeknight dinner destination.While the draw here is the comforting and sometimes fiery Korean influence, don’t miss the Vietnamese banh mi sandwich with crispy pork belly, house-made pâté, pickled radish and carrot, chile and cilantro. 1602 E. Houston St., Suite 106, (210) 389-1584, magpie.us.
Mi Roti
Owner Nicola Blaque made a splash in 2018 with local Jamaican food stalwart The Jerk Shack, and her newest venture the Pearl Bottling Department is drawing similar praise for its Caribbean flavors. Named for roti, a West Indian flatbread used to cradle savory street foods, Mi Roti takes customization to a new level, offering sophisticated wraps stuffed with components including jerk chicken, curry goat, rice, mango chutney, shredded kale and spinach. Don’t sleep on the hot sauces, which range from “slight heat” to “mouth on fire.” 312 Pearl Parkway, Building 6, facebook.com/miroti210.
Bunz Handcrafted Burgers
After two years of blood, sweat and renovations, Bunz Handcrafted Burgers has finally brought life to a long-vacant deli space on Houston Street downtown. Operated by partners Thierry Burkle of long-gone Alamo Heights French restaurant L’Etoile and local chef Edwin Salazar, diners can expect this spot to sate the cravings for freshly baked brioche buns (or should that be “bunz”?) and prime beef patties that are ground in-house. 122 E. Houston St., (210) 354-3555, tastybunz.com.
Southerleigh Haute South
The team behind lauded Pearl eatery Southerleigh Fine Food and Brewery introduced the city’s far North Side to its approach to Southern-style food this summer, offering the original eatery’s signature fried chicken plus fresh and expertly prepared seafood and a full oyster bar. The brewery’s inventive and well-crafted beers provide a fine accompaniment to the vittles, whether you’re posted up at the bar or on the sprawling patio. 5822 Worth Parkway, Unit 112, (210) 236-8556, southerleighhautesouth.com.