The San Antonio restaurants that we miss the most
The food business is tumultuous, which means San Antonio's culinary landscape is always in flux. Every year, we say goodbye to a wave of restaurants that just didn't make it — even if their food, service or ideas were great.
While time heals many wounds, some closures leave irreparable holes in the local dining scene.
For a variety of reasons, these 20 San Antonio restaurants are no longer here to satisfy our cravings. But one common thread connects them all: we won't stop missing them, no matter how long they've been gone.
Scroll down to view images
Bryan Rindfuss
The Monterey
1127 S. St. Mary's St.
The Monterey was a renowned eatery that captured the essence of modern American cuisine with a creative twist. Its innovative menu featured locally sourced ingredients, uber-knowledgable staff and an impressive sherry selection. It's often credited with bringing San Antonio's attention to the beauties of fortified wines.
Photo via Google Maps
Mr. and Mrs. G’s Home Cooking
2222 S. W.W. White Rd.
William Garner and his wife Addie opened this spot in 1991, focusing on family recipes and old-fashioned hospitality. It quickly became a staple of the city’s East side and remained open for more than three decades before closing in July of 2022.
Photo via Instagram /
labotanicasaLa Botanica
2911 N. St. Mary's St.
Though Texas' first 100% vegan restaurant and full bar survived the initial wave of COVID-19 closures in 2020, the local favorite was denied a new lease by its landlord and was fated to close in the fall of that year. From its opening in 2015, La Botanica had served the community thoughtful, nutritious vegan eats and drinks and had provided a safe, inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly event space.
Photo via Google Maps
El Mirador
722 S. St. Mary's St.
Southtown mainstay El Mirador closed its doors in November of 2018. Four years after purchasing the restaurant from the founding Treviño family, Chris Hill decided to sell the property to restaurateur Lisa Wong, who operates Mexican mainstays Rosario’s and Ácenar. Wong demolished the El Mirador restaurant building and built the new flagship Rosario’s location in its place, which opened in Spring 2023.
Photo via Instagram /
betosaltmexBeto’s Alt-Mex
8142 Broadway
Due to a 40% rise in operating costs over the past year, longtime Broadway eatery Beto’s Alt-Mex closed in March 2023 after 25 years. However, Beto’s owners indicated they hope to maintain the brand by creating a cookbook and potentially collaborating with stores like H-E-B on pre-packaged meals.
Photo via Google Maps
Santikos Bijou Cinema Bistro
4522 Fredericksburg Rd.
This Balcones Heights movie theater offered food alongside indie flicks — a concept ahead of its time — and closed abruptly in April 2022. The Woodlawn Theatre is set to take over the space under the new name, Wonder Theatre, in late 2023.
Photo via Instagram /
notesonlife2012Madhatters Tea House and Cafe
320 Beauregard St.
Madhatters owners Joey and Gina Cuellar had been planning to retire even before the pandemic hit, which provided a unique opportunity for restaurateur Roger Herr to acquire the building. Herr has since opened a new concept in the space, Bar Loretta, which offers modern takes on classic Texas dishes as well as a small market.
Sanford Nowlin
Pig Stand
1508 Broadway
After 101 years of service, the iconic downtown-area diner Pig Stand announced the sale of its Broadway building to a land developer in February and confirmed its permanent closure in March of 2023. San Antonio’s Pig Stand was the last in a nationwide chain which flourished in the mid-20th century.
Photo via Google Maps
Jacala Mexican Restaurant
606 West Ave.
West Side institution Jacala burned down in March of 2022, marking the end of a chapter for one of the oldest restaurants in the city. The five-alarm fire burned almost everything in the restaurant and was declared a total loss by fire officials as they arrived at the scene.
Photo via Google Maps
The Luxury
103 E Jones Ave.
Crack fries and craft beer — that’s what Luxury is made of. Chef Andrew Weissman’s popular Museum Reach eatery closed in January of 2020. Elsewhere Garden Bar & Kitchen now occupies the space.
