5 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. 

Galveston chef-owner Jeff Balfour offers Southern comfort cuisine for lunch, brunch, and dinner, accompanied by draft beers brewed on-site in a custom brewery by Portland Kettle Works, reviving the tradition of brewing at the Pearl. The menu usually includes Southerleigh's famous fried chicken, deviled eggs, and Galveston Bay shrimp boil. Their weekend brunch features appetizers and breakfast plates of malted Belgian waffle and crab mac 'n' cheese. Dinner reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. The restaurant is on the first floor of the same landmark building that housed the original Pearl brewhouse.

Here expertly crafted croissants, cookies, muffins, macarons, rolls, tarts, and danish pastries are as delicious as they come. Heartier breakfast fare includes quiche lorraine, and seasonal French toast, while lunch features Cuban roast pork loin sandwiches and other sandwich options on their homemade breads. You can even take home fresh loaves of sourdough, whole wheat, and white bread. Other locations include 7738 Louis Pasteur Dr. at the Medical Center, 17503 La Cantera Pkwy. at The Rim, and 2800 Broadway St. at The Doseum.

This is Pearl's reimagining of a food court, an eminently casual spot featuring chef-driven stands. Choose from six vendors: Chilaquil, serving Mexican street food and namesake chilaquiles; Howdy Child, a smokehouse and delicatessen serving classic meats, sides and salads; Henbit, with made to order smashburgers and savory sides; Freight Fried Chicken, fried in a dry batter similar to what was fried in the 1800s; Park Bar, local Texas craft brews, cocktails, frozen drinks, and fine Texas wine; and Wonderslice pizzas, subs, and salads. The Food Hall was rebuilt from the ruins of a 2003 fire that claimed the structure originally built in 1894 as the bottling house for the original Pearl Brewery.