In a state that doesn’t stint for competition, this barbecue upstart stakes a claim to smoked meat as storied as some of the most revered in Texas.

Website: 2msmokehouse.com

Address: 2731 S WW White Rd.

Phone number: 210-885-9352

Number of seats: 50

Entrée price range: $5-$20

Popular dishes: Brisket; pulled pork; serrano and Oaxaca cheese sausage link; brisket tacos; chicharoni macaroni.

What others say: “What price are you willing to pay for great barbecue? Standing in line? The prospect of the “sold out” sign? Thirty dollars for a beef rib? With the arrival of 2M Smokehouse, the time has come for San Antonio to pay that price.” — Mike Sutter, My San Antonio

Brisket tacos

Exterior

The vaunted Esquire Tavern made an innovative move by opening a covert cocktail bar with refined snacks that has become its own destination.

Website: esquiretavern-sa.com/downstairs/

Address: 155 East Commerce St.

Phone number: 210-222-2521

Number of seats: 82

Entrée price range: $6-$36  

Popular dishes: House-cured charcuterie; imported cheeses; oysters on the half-shell.

What others say: “The Esquire Tavern is listed as one of the oldest (if not the oldest) bars on the Riverwalk. A quiet (affiliated) bar downstairs called Downstairs is an old-fashioned speakeasy. Dark and quiet, rich, quality alcohol (the well is like top shelf), and cheese plates. They have drinks like Batman of Mexico and many other unique mixes.” — comment on Trip Advisor

Interior

Old Fashioned cocktail 

This local institution, in town since 1968, was given a total makeover by Esquire Tavern operator Chris Hill, who revamped aspects of the menu and the interior design without foregoing the soul that made it a go-to Mexican eatery for decades.

Website: elmiradorrestaurant.com/

Address: 722 South St. Mary’s St.

Phone number: 210-225-9444

Number of seats: 226

Entrée price range: $9.95 - $26.95 

Popular dishes: Enchiladas verdes with salsa tomatillo, crema Mexicana, queso fresco, arroz a la Mexicana and frijoles refritos; braised cross-cut beef short ribs with guajillo salsa, rajas de chile poblano, arroz a la Mexicana and frijoles a la charra; Fajitas: beef or chicken marinated in adobo with sautéed onions, rajas de chile poblano, arroz a la Mexicana and frijoles a la charra.

What others say: “I really liked the new ambiance here. I have to give it to Chris, the genius behind The Esquire Tavern. He renovated this place. Risky move, as this is an establishment in Southtown.” — comment on Yelp

Enchiladas

Interior

In the nearby town of New Braunfels, this newly presented cafe and beer hall destination is a recast take on a historic restaurant that opened in 1938 and, in its new guise, pairs German traditionalism and new Texas swagger.

Website: krausescafe.com

Address: 148 S. Castell Ave., New Braunfels, Texas

Phone number: 830-625-2807

Number of seats: 124 in the café, 350 in the beer hall

Entrée price range: $9-$25

Popular dishes: Hot Bavarian pretzel; Reuben sandwich with house corned beef, sauerkraut, Thousand Island and Swiss on grilled rye; Jaeger schnitzel with fresh whole Kitchen Pride mushroom medley brown sauce, whipped potatoes and Schumann’s red cabbage; bratwurst with sauerkraut and Schumann’s red cabbage.

What others say: “Krause’s Cafe is the resurrection of a family-run diner that operated in New Braunfels from 1938 until the early 2000s, but this time with an elegant, open-air biergarten under a modern quonset-hut canopy like a futuristic trade pavilion. Owners Ron and Carol Snider modernized and freshened the building from the polished concrete floors to the limestone columns to the gabled rafters, with a menu that pays homage to the town’s German heritage and also embraces cafe standards like fried chicken and burgers.” — Mike Sutter, My San Antonio

Interior

Rueben sandwich

The co-founders of the celebrated Bakery Lorraine took a turn full-circle toward donuts for a new venture among many others in a 5,500-square-foot food hall that opened in the historic Bottling Department building.

Website: bottlingdept.com/vendor/maybelles-donuts/

Address: 312 Pearl Pkwy.

Phone number: 210-562-9140

Number of seats: 94 inside food hall, 28 outside

Entrée price range: $2-$5

Popular dishes: S'mores doughnut; pistachio doughnut; raspberry hibiscus doughnut; glazed birthday cake doughnut with Bakery Lorraine sprinkles.

What others say: “Fried dough is universally good. Churros. Beignets. Sopapillas. Donuts. So Maybelle already knew it would be a success. Despite the donut competition in SA, I think Maybelle might be the champion because they taste as good as they look.” — comment on Yelp

Blackberry donut

S'mores donut