4 Best Restaurants in The Pearl District, San Antonio

For almost 90 years now, Earl Abel's has managed to stay as hip as ever thanks to their classic homestyle menu and loyal fans that have followed them to a new location in the Pearl. The top-notch comfort food is made fresh daily and includes everything you would hope to see on your family table: classic breakfasts, soups and salads, hearty sandwiches, Abel's famous meat loaf, house-roasted turkey breast with cornbread stuffing, chicken-fried steak, garlic fried rice, and much more, with homemade pie and cake for dessert. But the real star of the show is Earl's Famous Original Fried Chicken, available as an entrée or dinner box, or in a family meal package with two sides and two slices of pie. Earl's also serves classic cocktails, coffee cocktails, draft and bottled beers, wines, and mocktails.

You can't get too far in San Antonio without stumbling into a Tex-Mex restaurant, but when you need something that relays the authenticity of true Mexican cuisine, La Gloria is the place. Inspired by the street foods of Mexico, chef/owner Johnny Hernandez has created a vibrant taqueria-style restaurant celebrating the bold flavors and classic offerings you'd typically find with Mexican street vendors. Tacos Alpastor (marinated pork) and Tacos Torre de Mariscos (fresh tuna, Gulf shrimp, white fish) are top picks, but you can't go wrong with any of the selections from the fresh ceviche menu or with an order of quesadillas, tostadas, or enchiladas. Non-GMO corn tortillas are made daily in-house. Tequilas, spirits, and beer round out the beverage menu. 

Here excellent Asian-American fusion is served in a delightful, vibrant setting within the historic Mueller House. Chef/owner Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin created an innovative and regularly changing all-day menu including lunch specials, always with a unique blend of Asian-American and South Texas influences, plus touches of other cuisines. The menu is divided into Smallish, Family Style, Noodles and Rice, and Dessert. Plenty of vegan and vegetarian options are here, along with family-style chicken, seafood, and pork. The restaurant began life as a pop-up by Dobbertin with fellow chef Anne Ng and artist Jennifer Ling Datchuk, who curates a wonderful collection of art by Asian-American women and whose own art graces the host stand at the entrance. The restaurant name was inspired by a line in Amy Tan's book The Joy Luck Club.

Built within the 130-year-old renovated boiler house of the original Pearl Brewery, the Boiler House Texas Grill & Wine Garden is every bit as Texas-sized in flavor as it is in its expansive two-level space. Sophisticated yet casual, it enjoys a loyal following, many of whom settle in at the long bar for signature and seasonal craft cocktails. Menu items include everything from chicken to pork to seafood, accompanied by a myriad of local ingredients sourced from nearby farmers' markets. But the specialty is steak, with local beef sourced from family ranches in Texas. Prime-grade steaks are grilled to perfection and served with chipotle compound butter.