Diner and burgers$$alamo-heightsDaily, breakfast and lunch
Cullum's Attaboy is chef Chris Cullum's retro diner near Alamo Heights, serving breakfast, a champagne brunch, and one of the best burgers in town.
Order: The smash burger, champagne brunch and a malt.
Tip: Weekend brunch fills the small room fast. The smash burger and the champagne brunch are the reasons to come.
Seafood$$$southtownDinner, closed Monday
Little Em's Oyster Bar brings a proper raw bar to Southtown, with Gulf and East Coast oysters, a seafood tower, and Louisiana-leaning plates.
Order: Gulf and East Coast oysters, the seafood tower and gumbo.
Tip: Happy hour is the value play for oysters. The gumbo and the seafood tower are the kitchen's standouts.
Texas BBQ$$downtownLunch until sold out, closed Monday
Pinkerton's Barbecue brought Texas brisket downtown; get there at opening before the beef rib and brisket sell out, and order by the pound to a nearby bench.
Order: Brisket, beef rib and jalapeno cheese sausage.
Tip: Get there at opening; the beef rib and brisket sell out. Order by the pound and take it to a downtown bench.
Texas BBQ$$south-sideLunch until sold out, Thu-Sun
2M Smokehouse on the South Side smokes brisket and chicken with Mexican-influenced sides, a Michelin-recommended pit open Thursday to Sunday until sold out.
Order: Brisket, the smoked chicken and Mexican-influenced sides.
Tip: Open Thursday to Sunday only, and it sells out. Arrive within the first hour for the best of the brisket and ribs.
Texas BBQ$$alamo-heightsLunch and early dinner daily
The Smoke Shack grew from a food truck into a Broadway BBQ joint near Alamo Heights, smoking brisket and pork ribs and piling them onto loaded baked potatoes.
Order: Brisket, the mac-daddy stuffed baked potato and pork ribs.
Tip: The mac-daddy baked potato is a meal on its own. Order at the counter and grab a patio table when the weather is good.
Mexican$$north-sideLunch and dinner daily
El Mirasol is a north-side Mexican kitchen where the chiles rellenos and enchiladas are the orders to make and the weekday lunch specials are the value play.
Order: Enchiladas, chiles rellenos and tableside guacamole.
Tip: The chiles rellenos and the enchiladas are the orders to make. Weekday lunch specials are the value play.