Winner: Dr. Kara Tapangan, Sonterra Dental
255 E. Sonterra Blvd. #150
(210) 341-3222
Unlike most people, Harlingen native Dr. Kara Tapangan loved going to the dentist as a kid. "I didn't realize how much people hated it until I went into practice," said Tapangan, 30. "At Sonterra, we try to make it as comfortable and easy as possible." Tapangan enjoys working in dentistry because it's one of the few medical fields where same-day pain relief is possible. "It's really humbling to know that I have the ability to help people in that way," she said. "It's also really amazing to be able to give people full smiles or teeth to function with, which is really life changing." Last year, Tapangan exported her capacity to change lives by traveling to the Dominican Republic to provide free implants for patients. She's a member of the American Dental Association and Texas Dental Association, among other recognized dentistry organizations. "It's a beautiful practice," she said. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be."
2. Dr. Kaci Tibbetts, KLT Dentistry
3223 Thousand Oaks Drive #102
(210) 496-5422
3. Brook Hollow Family Dentistry
15068 San Pedro Ave.
(210) 494-7681
Services
Winner: Kim's Alterations
1155 Harry Wurzbach Road
(210) 821-6005
2. Wah Tee Tailoring
7700 Broadway
(210) 637-0785
3. Sunny's Alterations
19903 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 113
(210) 462-1683
Winner: Mike's Hair Lounge
258 Tarasco St.
(210) 313-4340
2. Puro Handsome Barbershop
228 E. Houston St.
3. Traveler Barbershop
Multiple locations
(210) 600-3344
Winner: Peterson Chiropractic
4230 Gardendale #201
(210) 864-5220
2. The Nest Chiropractic and Wellness
Multiple locations
(210) 323-2163
yoursanantoniochiropractor.com
3. Cross Timbers Chiropractic
14802 Jones Maltsberger Road, Suite 2201
(726) 245-2210
Winner: Alamo Plastic Surgery
19016 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 240
(210) 670-5302
2. Hill Country Plastic Surgery
9150 Huebner Road #162
(210) 658-3555
3. Dr. Christopher Micallef
18322 Sonterra Place, Suite 107
(210) 495-5771
Winner: CryoFit Alamo Heights
6486 N. New Braunfels Ave.
(210) 375-9087
2. Sweat Equity Infrared Saunas
809 S. St. Mary's St.
(210) 375-5319
3. Restore Hyper Wellness
Multiple locations
Winner: Dermatology San Antonio
Multiple locations
2. Alamo Heights Dermatology
131 W. Sunset Road #101
(210) 255-8447
3. Vista Dermatology
27511 I-10 West, Building 2, Boerne
(210) 698-0500
Winner: Five Star Cleaners
Multiple locations
With more than a dozen locations across San Antonio, we're guessing Five Star's convenience factor plays into its Best of San Antonio win. Beyond the chain's ubiquity, all its locations offer same-day service, and many also offer drive-thru and drop boxes as well. Five Star also offers a locker service where the cleaner brings the service directly to customers. Plenty of the company's five-star reviews also mention its friendly staff and dedication to service.
2. Comet Cleaners and Laundry
Multiple locations
3. Culpepper Cleaners
Multiple locations
Winner: Look Salon
7701 Broadway, Suite 139
(210) 826-5665
It was always a dream of hairstylist Damian Gonzales to open his own business. While he had experience working at other area salons, he wanted to manage and teach his own team. So, in 2018, he opened Look Salon. "It's something I always want to do, and I realized it was time," said Gonzales, 44. "I love making the clients happy on a day-to-day basis." Look's two "big-ticket items" are balayage and hair extensions, the former a technique where a stylist hand-paints highlights onto hair to create a natural gradation of lightness. Gonzales considers it an art form. "It's like you're painting a canvas," he said. A 1996 graduate of South San West Campus High School, Gonzales said stylists — besides knowing how to style hair — should bring a terrific personality to the job. That combination of know-how and personality may explain why he's booked six to eight weeks in advance. "You get to know people very well," he said. "You become friends with most of them."
2. Elena Salon Studios
2193 NW Military Highway
(210) 467-2562
3. Pretty Chic' Salon
238 N. Loop 1604 West, Suite 205
(210) 410-4684
