Lunch is the main meal of a busy work day. Usually eaten between 12PM and 4PM, lunch normally consists of several courses, like soup, salad, a main dish and dessert.
Here are some great lunch spots in San Antonio’s South Side.
Agave Mexican Restaurant– 3294 Pleasanton Road- Family style, Tex-Mex restaurant. One of their menu lunchtime favorites is the Parrillada Mix, which comes with beef fajita, chicken fajita, shrimp, rice, borracho beans, guacamole and salad.
Angelica’s Mexican Restaurant– 3020 Commercial Avenue- Local Mexican joint serving classic eats on house made tortillas for breakfast & lunch only. They have daily lunchtime specials including their popular Angelica’s Plate, which features 2 cheese enchiladas, 1 bean and cheese chalupa, rice, beans and a drink.
B&B Smokehouse– 2619 Pleasanton Road- Family-run BBQ joint with a drive-thru turning out house-smoked meats, Texas-style burgers & sides. A big hit at lunchtime are their Barbecue Plate, which come with a choice of brisket, BBQ chicken, pulled pork, sausage or smoked turkey and a choice of 2 sides, which includes coleslaw, green beans, potato salad and Spanish rice.
Bill Miller Bar-B-Q- There are 6 South Side locations- 430 South Santa Rosa Avenue, 910 East Probandt Street, 2750 Bill Miller Lane, 3408 Southwest Military Drive, 3514 South Zarzamora Street and 5122 Rigsby Avenue- Laid-back Texas-based chain (founded in 1953) serving barbecue favorites, such as brisket, chicken, ribs & sausage and side dishes, including coleslaw, pinto beans and potato salad. Today, there are 75 locations throughout Texas, mainly in the San Antonio area.
Bobbie’s Café– 6728 South Flores Street- Long-standing, humble stop for country-style American breakfasts, lunches & dinners. Their menu is updated and changed daily, but popular items have included Chicken Dumplings, Chicken Fried Steak and the Soft Beef Taco Plate.
Casa del Kabob– 1027 Southwest Military Drive- Gyros, souvlaki, falafel & other familiar Mediterranean eats served in a funky, art-filled cafe. Lunchtime favorites include the Lamb & Beef Gyro, featuring Spicy marinated beef and lamb slices served with salad, pita bread & white sauce and the Chengeh Kabob, which features steak meat tips marinated in their special seasoning.
Chaba Thai Restaurant– 3154 Southeast Military Drive- Casual strip-mall outfit dispensing traditional Thai cuisine, in a sleek, contemporary environment. Menu favorites include their Shrimp Pad Thai, which comes with shrimp, stir fried Thai rice noodles, bean sprouts, green onions, egg, fried tofu and ground peanuts and their Tom Yum with Shrimp Soup, which is a spicy soup with lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, lemon grass and mushrooms.
Charley’s Philly Steaks– 2180 Reese Street, Building 1385 at Lackland Air Force Base- Counter-service chain offering a range of Philly-style cheesesteaks, loaded fries & lemonades. Their lunchtime menu features a choice of 4 Cheesesteak Sandwiches- Bacon 3, Jalapeno, Philly and Pepperoni.
Don Pedro Mexican Restaurant– 1526 Southwest Military Drive- Spacious, family-owned establishment serving Mexican & Tex-Mex favorites since 1968. They offer lunch specials Monday-Friday, including the Sizzling Fajita Skillet, which comes with a choice of beef, chicken, or combo fajitas served with 3 tortillas, guacamole, Pico de Gallo & borracho beans and the Carne Guisada Plate, which features beef tips cooked in their special blend of spices, simmered in their delicious guisada gravy and garnished with lettuce and tomato.
Griff’s Hamburgers– 2418 Pleasanton Road- Long-running counter-service chain offering classic fast food including burgers, fries & milkshakes. One of their most popular menu items is the Double Giant Cheeseburger Combo, which comes with French fries and a drink.
Hungry Farmer Steakhouse– 7015 South I-35- Laid-back eatery offering traditional American fare including steaks, seafood & chicken. A popular customer menu choice is the Texas Double Chicken Fried Steak, a 16-ounce specially breaded, deep-fried chicken fried steak that is topped with cream gravy.
Luby’s– 944 Southeast Military Drive- Family-friendly, cafeteria-style chain offering Texas-inspired entrees, like blackened tilapia, chicken fried steak and Texas ribeye steak, sides, such as macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and roasted mixed vegetables, as well as soups, salads and desserts. Founded in San Antonio in 1947, Luby’s currently has 75+ locations throughout Texas.
Luna Rosa Puerto Rican Grill Y Tapas– 2603 Southeast Military Drive- Modern, family-owned eatery & bar that is known for serving tapas-style Puerto Rican cuisine. The restaurant was featured on the Food Network show- Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (Season 30, Episode 1). One of their lunchtime menu favorites is the El San Juan, a hot sandwich with smoked ham, salami, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, olives, sofrito mayonnaise and mashed sweet plantain.
Lung Fung Chinese Restaurant– 4503 Lakewood Drive- Enduring eatery offering familiar Chinese à-la-carte dishes & dinner specials in a no-frills environment. They have daily lunch specials (Monday-Saturday), featuring favorites like Beef with Mushroom, Moo Goo Gai Pan and Sweet & Sour Chicken.
Mad Mack’s Burger– 2933 Roosevelt Avenue- Restaurant that specializes in burgers made with freshly ground meat. One of their most popular menu items is the Mad Mack Burger, which consists of 2 grilled cheese sandwiches with double meat & cheese, bacon, onion rings and Mad Mack sauce in-between.
Maria’s Café– 1105 Nogalitos Street- Tex-Mex restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. Their lunch menu features an assortment of plates, which come with rice, beans, salad and 2 tortillas. A popular lunch plate is the Taco Loco #2, which features hot dogs, potatoes, beans, cheese and Pico de Gallo.
Mendez Café– 201 Bartholomew Avenue- Spartan, pint-sized eatery dishing up a selection of Mexican eats for breakfast & lunch. Two favorite tacos amongst customers are the Country Guisado Taco, featuring smoked sausage slices in a barbecue-like sauce and the Picadillo Taco, featuring ground beef and potatoes.
Nicha’s Comida Mexicana- 3119 Roosevelt Avenue- Family-run spot for Tex-Mex comfort food, from eggs & breakfast tacos to street tacos & entrees. A favorite menu item is the Nicha’s Enchilada Plate, which comes with 2 cheese enchiladas covered with chili con carne.
Olive Garden– 3147 Southeast Military Drive and 7811 South I-35- Lively, family-friendly, casual dining restaurant chain featuring Italian-American cuisine such as pastas & salads, with a full bar. Founded in 1982, Olive Garden currently has 890+ locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and 5 other countries around the world.
Patty’s Taco House– 2422 South Hackberry Street- Simple but festive haunt for familiar Mexican dishes, including tacos. A popular lunch plate, which is served with rice and beans, is the Don Juan Special, which comes with 1 beef or chicken gordita, 1 puffy beef or chicken taco, 1 cheese enchilada and 1 quesadilla.
Pollos Asados Don Jose– 563 Moursund Boulevard- They also have 2 food truck locations- 451 West Petaluma Boulevard and 4601 South Flores Street. A customer favorite at the restaurant is their Half Chicken Plate, which features 4 pieces of chicken, rice, corn tortillas, green and red sauces, lime, grilled jalapenos and grilled onions.
South BBQ & Kitchen– 2011 Mission Road- Oak-smoked Texas barbecue and creative sides in a funky Mission Historic District space. All of their meats, sides, pickles and sauces are made in-house daily. A big hit on their menu is the BBQ Plate, which comes with a ½-pound of meat, 2 sides, 2 tortillas and a 32-ounce tea.
The Big Bib BBQ– 8535 Mission Road at the Stinson Airport- Wood-smoked meats, hearty sides & classic desserts are the draws to this casual barbecue haunt. A popular lunchtime item are their plates, including customer favorites like baby back ribs, brisket, chicken, pulled pork and sausage.
TJ’s Hamburgers– 2323 West Southcross Boulevard- Basic take-out counter with some patio seating grilling up fresh, old-fashioned burgers, hot dogs & fries. Opened in 1973, their Facebook page has a rating of 4.6 out of 5, based on the opinion of 951 people. Menu favorites at TJ’s include their Bacon Cheeseburger and their Chili Cheese Fries.
Tommy’s Restaurant– 1205 Nogalitos Street- Family-style, Tex-Mex restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. A popular lunch combo at Tommy’s is their Old San Antonio Special, which comes with 2 cheese enchiladas, steak a la Mexicana, 1 beef gordita and served with guacamole.
