Inside Paladar, San Antonio’s New Mexican/Cuban Fusion Restaurant

By Sara Branstetter | October 16, 2023

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“A bit from both sides.” And an apt description of one of San Antonio’s best new restaurants, the Mexican/Cuban fusion restaurant, Paladar.

Marrying the spicy flavors of Mexico to the colorful and often bold flavors of Cuba, Paladar has absolutely nailed it in fashioning a delicious, unique menu that honors the flavors of both countries, while at the same time creating something brand new - especially for a city awash in Mexican food.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Branstetter has called San Antonio, TX home for the last 20 years. She’s a wife of a veteran, mom of four, and a cuddler of the world's best dog. The army brought her family to San Antonio years ago, and the city, its culture, and its food have kept her here.

Paladar’s menu does a bang up job of giving patrons a bit of everything. The menu is subdivided into neat little sections including appetizers, Cuban dishes, Mexican dishes, fusion dishes, and the requisite sides/drinks/desserts/kids stuff.

Familiar Mexican dishes such as enchiladas and tacos are available to those looking for some local comfort food, while Cuban dishes of sauteed shrimp and slow-cooked pork check the boxes of traditional Cuban cuisine.

During our visit to Paladar, we sampled the Cuban ceviche and the Sandwich Paladar, a mouthwatering blend of Cuban and Mexican flavors with marinated piglet and Oaxaca cheese.

Both dishes were outstanding. The ceviche, which is made to order, along with everything else at Paladar, was fresh and vibrant. The strong citrus flavor provided a great balance to the red snapper and avocado. The sandwich, on the other hand, was an absolute work of art with perfectly blended flavors and savory yucca chips on the side.

Paladar may be a bit different than what the typical San Antonio palette has come to expect, but that difference makes for a fantastic addition to the landscape of SA’s cuisine. Highly recommend making a visit and trying something brand new. It may sound like a risk, but if the rest of Paladar’s cuisine holds up to what we experienced, it’s actually not a risk at all.

Paladar is located across the street from the Witte Museum’s parking garage. While you can enter the parking lot from Broadway, it’s easiest to locate the restaurant from Avenue B, or the parking garage.