Great first experience at Paladar trying Mexican-Cuban fusion. I had the Empanaditas which were really tasty. I have never had one with flakey wrapping like that, but it was delicious and held together really well. Each one had different shredded meat flavors and the serano dipping sauce was great for spicing up a bite! Kid ate the whole child quesadilla, so kid approved! It also cane with a side of black beans topped with queso fresco. Had a bite of the cuban sandwich and ate those unique fries which were so good...I need to get those again next time! The staff was very nice and brought a complementary cheesecake to celebrate a birthday for us, too! read more

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This place ROCKS! Yes... they had a great couple singing some great music... But the food! The FOOD! A Mexican / Cuban fusion cuisine! The food was amazing! The flavors and spices meld together so well. The pork sandwich I had (Lechon!) was the best I have ever had. So good! So tender! read more

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I was visiting San Antonio for work and next time I'm in town I would love to come to this place again. I walked in during their last hour of service so it was pretty empty except for one other table. The decor is nice, and they keep the lighting at a low level at night. It wasn't so bad that I couldn't read the menu though. The servers were super sweet and recommended I get the "mojito" mocktail, and I'm glad I listened! It was delicious! I started out with the tostones and they were AMAZING! They were pretty filling but I ate all of them anyway since I couldn't stop myself The empanaditas were well cooked and I loved the seasoning and toppings, but the filling was a bit salty. I also was pretty full from the tostones so I could only eat 1 of the 3 lol The chocolate tamale with ice cream was a great concept and had great flavor, but after cooling a bit the tamale got really tough and it was difficult to eat it. The ice cream helped soften it, but it was still hard and I couldn't get my fork to cut through it. In hindsight I should've switched to a knife by that point. I was consistently checked on and even the manager (maybe owner?) came by to ask what I thought of everything. I want to come back because the appetizer was so good that it makes me think the rest of the issues were a one-off. I'm suspecting the person that worked on prepping things ahead of time like the empanada filling and the tamale were the culprit (just a wild guess). I recommend you give them a try! read more

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Must Try restaurant! Very cool place. Very nice staff. Awesome flavors and dishes. TIP: they are BYOB. The risotto dish was really good. Would definitely get again and again. The empanadas were really good. The appetizer was awesome. Their salsa is SUPER spicy. Not my thing but could be your thing. Definitely will go again. Give them a try. read more

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Great experience once more. Hadn't been in over a year and man it was as great as the last time. Took my future father in law who moved from Charleston and he was blown away. We love the intimate ambiance and the set of waitresses who helped suggest some great food options. Always a treat to stop by, come check it out and be sure to make a reservation as there's not a lot of seating. read more

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An absolute home run. Everything was amazing! Portions were perfect and the food was awesome.

Wow! The reviews don't lie! I've been eyeing this restaurant since it opened, and I was not disappointed when I came here for dinner on a Saturday. There was no wait, and I was seated as a party of 1 at a high top table. The interior ambiance is romantic, making it a great spot for an intimate dinner with friends, family, or partner. It is byob, as they don't have a liquor license, but I came here for the food anyways. I got the congri con masitas as my main and the yuca al mojo as my side. Both were incredibly delicious! The flavors and cooking techniques were close to perfect. I'll definitely be back to try their other menu items! read more

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Tucked away in an unsuspecting shopping center, this top-tier Cuban fusion restaurant is a hidden gem. Intimate and cozy, the venue glows with candlelight and dim lighting -- the ultimate dinner date night vibe. The food was immaculate and quickly earned a spot in my top five favorite places in San Antonio. It's a shame they haven't been recognized by Michelin yet. Excited to come back and try more of the menu As for parking -- plenty! read more

Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Food was great and the service was exceptional. I thought the portions were just right. read more

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Great food and great vibes! Love the ambiance and also BYOB so no complaints! This is on my list of places I kick myself for not going more often! Definitely recommend! read more

Ambience was great. Their food is delicious and worth it. Service was warm and fast. As a Latina, I will definitely recommend this place. It's also upscale compared to many other similar restaurants. read more

Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba - Flautas De Lechón - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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This fusion restaurant was phenomenal for our dinner experience! The husband, son, and I were starving upon arrival, after only eating mini bags of pretzels on the flight (i only had an apple; my three year old had milk, and my hubby just had black coffee for breakfast!). Obviously we were going to order two appetizers, lol! The guacamole con masitas had Cuban pork bits atop with tortilla chips & Yukon chips - amazing! The Ceviche Tropical was outstanding & FRESH with red snapper, mango, kiwi, and lime juice. For the mains, my son had the kids Sincronizada, which was corn tortilla with cheese & ham with a side of black beans. My son loved it, but couldn't eat the beans due to the spicy level. I had the Empanaditas (three minis with lechon; chicken, and Ropa vieja beef), which was delicious & well seasoned. My hubby loved his Ropa Vieja (shredded beef) entree with rice & beans. All of the restaurant staffs were immensely friendly, including the male chef/owner that came to our table to chat with us, as well as the two female servers. The restaurant is intimate & on a smaller scale, but it does offer patio seating - great for dog families! I highly recommend this fusion restaurant. And we hit the jackpot by choosing this place as our first restaurant in San Antonio, for our visit from Las Vegas, NV. read more

Tucked just off Broadway, this quaint restaurant has not been on my radar till this morning when I had the sudden craving for some fried pork, Cuban style. With only about 10 tables inside, I could easily see that reservations would be necessary on a busy night. Since we came on a rainy Thursday evening, we had several options for sitting and the dining was less than full. The vibe was relaxed and would be a good place for an intimate dinner. The menu has a mix of interior Mexican dishes with some Cuban flair. The tostaditas appetizer was delicious with the avocado-tuna topping giving it some real life. I went with the Congri Con Masitas, or fried pork with red beans and rice without hesitation. When I added the spicy salsa paste, it not only got my attention, but it lit my taste buds on fire. Muy Calaente !! Wifey went with an unusual version of roasted pork dish which was 4 corn tortillas tacos floating in the sauce. Thumbs up for the creativity and for taste. The service was friendly and attentive which added to the experience. Overall, it's a strong 4 star with its only knock was possibly the overcharging for the side dishes which were small and a bit too costly. read more

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Super cute place! At first I was a little confused because the location was taking me into what looked like a motel complex but the restaurant was on the backside. I didn't have reservations but they took me in and it did not disappoint. The vibes were everything and even in a small space it made it feel so homey and intimate. The food was amazing! Loved it and love the fusion. Definitely had some uniqueness and had a little different flare. Prices were good for the quality of food that you get. I'd recommend! read more

Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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What went well? Absolutely everything!!! Awesome environment, excellent service and the food was divine. I came in for a soda but stayed for guacamole appetizer, Mezcal Pastel with a delicious mole sauce and my son had the Torta de Pierna. It all went down with refreshing watermelon Palomas. Thank you Nancy for taking such good care of us. read more

Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba - Guacamole Appetizer - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

2nd time to this restaurant I highly suggest you RUN not walk to this restaurant the food is outstanding you must have the Guacamole con Masitas!!! It's a Fushion of delicious flavor!! Also the congri with Masitas are also highly recommended! Our server is top tier her name is Alejandra she's super sweet very attentive very kind. I highly suggest this Hidden Gem. read more

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I love this amazing quaint and intimate restaurant in the Alamo heights area. This hidden gem is tucked away in a business park within a few minutes walk from Brakenridge park and the witte museum. We decided to have lunch on a Sunday afternoon right after visiting the Witte museum. I made reservations ahead of time just in case. The restaurant is pretty small, so I would recommend making reservations if you want to dine during a busy time. We were warmly greeted and sat at our table right away. The ambiance is very cozy and quiet. Our friendly server explained the menu to us and also gave great recommendations. The menu categorizes some dishes that are traditional Cuban and Mexican classics. For drinks they do not serve alcohol, but they welcome BYOB if you would like to drink with your meal. We started out with coffees before ordering appetizers, main dishes and sides. Everything tasted fresh, delicious and beautifully presented! You can tell the preparation with each dish is well thoughtout. Definitely not a dining experience you want to rush. I'm so happy to have found Paladar and can't wait to come back for dinner with a bottle of wine! read more

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Well that was amazing!!! Visiting from out of state and wanted good Mexican food. My son found this place online and it had gotten great reviews. Now I know why... The restaurant itself is very nicely decorated and the staff are kind and inviting. We started with the guacamole which is up there with the best I ever had. The fried pork chunks on top were delicious! I got the Ceviche Tropical made with red snapper. I could eat that everyday. It was perfectly seasoned. My son got the Sandwich Paladar filled with marinated "piglet", ham, avocado and Oaxaca cheese with yuca fries. So good! The meats were tender and the bread was delicious. We each had a 'mocktail'. My mojito and his Paloma were delicious. I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant. Reasonably priced for such delicious, authentic Cuban/Mexican food! read more

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Came here on a date night and while we didnt have reservations (highly recommended) they were able to seat us outside immediately where we enjoyed some of the best food we've ever had! This place is a cute little spot you'll miss if youre not looking for it, tucked in the back of a small business park, but make the trip, its worth it! Everything was perfectly prepared and reasonably priced. Service was impeccable and we really felt like our business was appreciated. Come on down and get your fusion fix, you'll be happy you did! read more

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When googling directions to this place you might feel a little bit mislead. We almost missed it since it tucked back amongst what looks like a smaller motel row. Don't let the outside fool you there are amazing ingredients and people inside. Pro tip: call and make a reservation. This place got crowded fast after 6pm. Grab your favorite bottle of wine and bring that too. They don't have a liquor license but encourage you to bring a favorite bottle along to complement the meal. Food is stellar from the guacamole and ceviche appetizers to the mains like the flautas de lechon, shrimp tacos, and much much more. My kids loved the quesadilla plate and the plantains. Dessert is where the real show is. We tried the flambed flan topped with cinnamon and it was so good. read more

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This is a great dining experience. The food is outstanding and the service is over the top great. Love the cozy quaint dining, the friendly staff and guidance on the menu. They do not serve alcohol do bring your own wine if you like. I love the food, I had a snapper filet that was the best I've ever had. Can't wait to return! read more

Came here on a Sunday for early dinner & was able to get seated right away. However the restaurant is small so I would make a reservation, a lot of the tables had been reserved already. The server was very nice & gave information about the restaurant & recommendations. The food came out timely & was delicious! Good portions & fairly priced. Perfect for a nice date night. read more

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Wanted to find a Cuban place after church and did a search and this place came up. Decided to check it out and the place is small, cozy, and small place. We were seated right away and after a few minutes, the server brought some Yuca chips and took our order. We ordered the Cuban sandwich that came with fired yuca and Ropa Vieja with congri and sweet plantains and one Mexican coke. As dessert, flan was the top pick. NOTE: the first Yucan fritas is free and if you want another one, you will be charged $4 per refills. The server never mentioned to us that so we get asking to refill our chips. It wasn't until we got the final bills that I noticed they had charged me $8 for the chips. When I inquired about it, the serve said that "the first one is free but the second and on, they will charge $4 per chips refills." We told her that they need to state that when customer order a refill so that they aren't surprised when they look at the bill. Other than that, nice and small place to eat. Service was good and so was the food. read more

Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba - Ropa Vieja - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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This place is true a gem, is a small quaint place. So be prepared to wait if you don't have a reservation. The service was outstanding, it made me feel like I was part of the family. We had the pastel azteca (mole and chicken), the flautas and the ceviche. You must try it, my mouth is watering as I am typing this review. We will definitely be back. read more

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Fantastic! Went in on a whim and the food was outstanding. The ceviche was so fresh and delicious. We loved everything we ordered and will definitely be back. read more

Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba - Pastel Azteca - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

The food was so very fresh and perfectly seasoned. The ambiance was relaxed and romantic. Our hostess was amazing - she takes care of her guests well. We had the Ceviche Tropical and Ropa Vieja. read more

Food was excellent, server accomplished and sweet, ambiance cozy and relaxed. We will definitely come again. Don't miss out! read more

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So delicious! Seems like all the high praises are true about this place. Lovely service, fair price point and perfect portion per dish. read more

Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba - Tuna Salvaje - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

We visited this restaurant after a recommendation from a friend and are so glad we did! The place is a little difficult to find so word of mouth is important for this restaurant - it's tucked away from the street but worth the adventure. We loved most of what we tried - Arroz Cremoso & Camarones al ajillo were the highlights and musts. The flan was also notably delicious! You're encouraged to bring your own bottle of wine without a corkage fee which is also nice. The only downfall in our experience was the tuna salvaje. Unfortunately my husband and I found it too salty and vinegary that it was ultimately unpalatable and inedible. We found it hard to distinguish between the components because of the overwhelming sourness. The place is tiny and you are sitting VERY close to other people so be sure to make reservations! read more

Wonderful food. Brought our own wine. No corkage fee. So I tipped extra. Everything on the menu looked delicious but we shared the Guacamole and the Ropa Viejo. I'd never had it before and with the Cuban rice, it's going to be hard to try anything else on the menu. But I want to try it all! The only negative was it's a little noisy read more

Paladar is owned and operated by a team of three restaurant veterans: Arturo Villegas, Ricardo Zamora, and Ian Sam. They also serve as the chefs for the restaurant, which features a Mexican-Cuban fusion menu. Where do I begin? 1. We were a private party of 15 on a Saturday evening. Did that intimidate the staff and kitchen whatsoever? NO! Our server Alejandra was immediately welcoming and attentive to our party. The kitchen staff banged out not only OUR orders but also orders for the remaining diners. At least 5 other tables by my count? They didn't miss a beat. Ambiance is a small setting with outdoor seating and overhead music, nothing too loud or obnoxious; the perfect mix. 2. It's a BYOB sitch and NO corkage. We conducted our own wine tasting and the staff prefilled water glasses before the start, left us ample bottles of water for refills and changed out glasses|provided more upon request without issue. 3. The food. Oh my gawd Becky....Each and every dish was FANTASTIC! Abundant serving sizes with plenty to share, flavor profiles that do the countries of Cuba and Mexico to shame. To shame I tell you. I've been to Cuba and to the Yucatán and hands down, the food here is incredibly more flavorful and a melting pot of all the right spices; sweet and savory! The guacamole comes topped with THE most amazing seasoned cooked chunks of pork. Drool worthy AND can totally serve as a meal by itself. That didn't stop me though. I ordered my entree of the tacos de camarón and the result; again the best I've ever consumed. Could I eat them all? No! And that's the beauty of leftovers. The pibil I've had in the Yucatán is zzzzzz. The cochinita pibil here is the most uniquely served dish, arriving in a bowl of hot, delicious cinnamony achiote sauce. Sauce? More like a "I wanna dip all the carbs in this broth-like substance!" Their plantains? Well, you know how some restaurants plantains can taste like banana, flavored cardboard right? Not these bad boys. Perfectly done, and flavorful. A perfect bite each time. I cannot attest to the other meals selected by our party, other than Alejandra and crew removed EMPTY plates. Dessert? Talk about dinner and a show! The flaming flan presentation is worth the order. Not your typical flan by any means. We also ordered the cake de chocolate, pineapple upside down cake and the chocolate tamal. While I don't care for pineapple or pineapple upside down cake, the most delicious and award winning dessert of the evening IMHO was the chocolate tamal! Oh and lastly? They were even gracious enough to allow us to sing karaoke. (Disclosure: we were the last party inside). We can't wait to return to try other menu items. It's a six out of five stars for me! Kudos to the folks at this restaurant. read more

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I've been wanting to try @paladar for a while now and finally made reservations to have dinner with Belinda there. I was curious about the Fusion Cuban Mexican cuisine. We started off with the Mojito Mocktails. We shared the Empanaditas and Ceviche Tropical. Both were tasty. I had the Flauta de Lechon and Belinda had the Camarones al Ajillo. We had leftover to bring home. The music was my favorite part of the meal. It made you want to dance! Very lively! The food was good. read more

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Awee such a cute little spot. It's byob btw ! We loved the Cuban coffee and the plátano frito. The service was very polite, such sweet girls. Can't wait to come back here. Hidden little gem read more

Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba - A little hidden - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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The food and service were top notch. Would go back again. Since they do not have a liquor license they allowed us to take our own bottle. read more

We found Paladar after looking for a new Latin restaurant. I'm glad we made a reservation because it's very small and they were setting up for a large party. The staff were friendly and attentive. The ceviche tropical was fresh the congri con masitas was outstanding. We decided on flan and espresso for dessert. The flan was flamed which made a great presentation but the flavor and texture are the reason for 4 stars rather than 5. The flan was exceptionally firm and dry. More like quiche in consistency. read more

Wow! This was an amazing dinner from the drinks and appetizers to the plates. Started with the tuna salvaje and platano frito. The tuna was plenty and served with greens, avocado, and sauce on mango. Amazing, deep flavor with super soft texture. They have palomas and mijotos, but you bring your own wine for them to open. For dinner, we each tried a different dish. The arroz cremoso was super creamy with a little spice and flavorful chicken. The torta had really soft bread filled with pork and avocado, served with a chili ancho sauce ... solid chili flavor in the sauce. The empanadas had three different meats, and each was amazing. The side salsa has some serious heat. The location is small and intimate. I recommend reservations. The service was very nice and helpful as it was our first visit. It won't be our last! read more

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My wife and I came here on our anniversary and the we were blown away by everything. We went around 11AM when they first opened so we were the only ones in the restaurant. Our server was so amazing, her food suggestions were on point. We had the plantain bowl ceviche for our appetizer and that was PHENOMENAL! The drinks were amazing and the chef really did his big one with our food. Everything is made to order, so we understood if it took a little longer to prepare our food. They have seating on the outside, so if you decide to at night, they have lighting outside. Definitely one of the best restaurants we've been to. Hats off to the chef, the servers and everyone working at this restaurant. Also, the chef gave us a free dessert since it was our anniversary. 1000/10 would definitely recommend checking out read more

Paladar Fusion Mexico Cuba - Plantain bowl appetizer - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Lunch today and brought a friend from Puerto Rico. It was a hit!! Service was great and the weather for outside dining great. Come one come all!! read more

We came here for a very very early dinner (430pm) and had a wonderful meal here. It was my wife, me, and our 5 year old daughter. Service was very efficient and friendly. The restaurant itself is beautiful inside, cozy, and very clean. Our waiter was great and gave us some good suggestions. We ordered: Appetizer: Guacamole con masitas- best dish of the night! Perfectly made guacamole with just the right amount of citrus bite, chunks of avocado, tomatoes, and cilantro. Topped with wonderful pork bites and two types of chips. Delicious!! Flautas de lechon - deep fried, crunchy, and with a wonderful complex flavor. The plantains on the side were beautifully carmelized and soft Sandwich Paladar- delicious sandwich of pork with a side of chips. The bread was perfect for this, soft and tasty but strong enough to support the filling. We also tried the malta soda which was yummy, with a sweet molasses flavor with a hint of bitterness. Overall every dish was stellar, my only suggestion would be for both entrees to include a small extra side to balance them out. Like the flautas could use a tiny bit of rice maybe to offset the bold flavors of the rest of the dish. For the sandwich, it came with chips but just a few pieces of lettuce or something on the side might add a way to lighten the palate a bit if that makes sense. I would definitely come back here! What a great meal! read more

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We tried this place and the food was so good, we went back again for the exact same food we had the first time and it did not disappoint! The restaurant is small inside, so prepare to feel squeezed in and make reservations if you can. The employees are very kind. read more