Stopped by Ácenar during happy hour for a quick bite and grabbed a seat overlooking the River Walk. Really nice atmosphere! The place was lively without being overwhelmingly loud, so you could still have a conversation at a normal volume. I ordered the fried oysters and alambre, and both were good. No complaints about the food! I also had a Tito's and soda, which was decent. Our server was friendly and attentive throughout the visit. There was a pretty large party dining at the same time, but that didn't seem to slow anything down. Service was still smooth and surprisingly quick. Overall, a solid experience. Good food, friendly service, and a nice spot to sit along the River Walk and enjoy the atmosphere. I'd definitely stop by again! read more

Acenar Mexican Restaurant - Alambres Mini Skewers - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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So many friends have spoken highly of this location, so I finally decided to give it a try. The experience started a little oddly. Since I was dining alone, the hostess asked me to sit at the bar. I would completely understand that on a busy night, but the restaurant appeared to be only about half full. The bar itself seemed understaffed. There was one bartender handling everything, and it took quite a while before she was able to get to my order. What made it more frustrating was watching three other employees standing nearby talking to her while she was clearly trying to keep up. My drink was much too artificially sweet for my taste. I ordered the chipotle chicken with spinach and corn, and the food was good. Nothing wrong with it, just fairly average compared with what I had heard going in. Given how many people have recommended this place, I am willing to chalk this up to an off day and give it another try. Sometimes one visit does not tell the whole story. read more

Acenar Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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The food here was very good, especially the bread pudding. I enjoyed the chips and salsa. Although the beans and rice are a little plain, the tacos were really tasty. Service was excellent and the restaurant is nice with a bit of a unique layout. read more

Acenar Mexican Restaurant - Bread pudding - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Excellent food. I had to goat dinner with beans and rice . It was the best I've ever had. The service was outstanding. They were right on the ball. Everything was perfect except our table was shaky needs to be leveled out. Everything else was Perfecto read more

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I think this place has the ability to be top-knotch, but a few issues are holding back the quality. The inside of the restaurant has clearly seen better days, it's disturbing how many spots have missing paint, scuffs, etc. it's like the inside is in the middle of a renovation, but no work is being done. It definitely changing the ambiance. The food was fine, but overpriced and the table side guacamole was underwhelming. Service was also slow and our buss boy was more helpful than our actual waiter. read more

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This was reccomended by hotel staf. We had a big group and they accomodated us perfectly. Everyone was nice and attentive. The food was delcious and hot. Enchildadas, Fajitas, Chipotle Chicken, entomatadas, Challuapas Compuestas etc were all delicious. The atmosphere was fun too. Street or Riverwalk entrance. The servers were all great and one was Gibby. We had a good time and laughs. We didn't park but is a short walk from most hotels. read more

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Cute restaurant close to the riverwalk. They gave bar seating, indoor and outdoor seating. It was a little cold so we chose to sit inside. Ordered a couple of drinks. Their margaritas with fresh lime and a mule. Both were tasty. For food, we had the nachos and the enchiladas. Appreciate that they had veg options. Portions are on the smaller side. Service was iffy and food a little expensive but overall pleasant. And their tres leches cake is to die for! read more

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I enjoyed my experience here during my weekend in San Antonio! I was craving chalupas and they did not disappoint here. They were loaded with all the works. I also ordered the watermelon mojito and the prickly pear margarita. The watermelon mojito was more candy flavored but the prickly pear margarita was perfect! It was so good that I came back two days later with my friends and to our surprise it was happy hour! This time I tried out the cucumber jalapeño marg and it was perfect for a spicy cocktail lover like myself. Would definitely recommend! There was also outdoor seating with heat lamps and a view of the river! read more

Acenar Mexican Restaurant - Chalk - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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So I was excited to go for dinner on the river walk for a work trip. We ordered chips and Guac and after eating a few chips a ROACH crawled out of my chips. ChatGPT said it was a juvenile brown banded roach which is an INDOOR breed. Needless to say we immediately left. I am still so disgusted and I would NEVER GO HERE AGAIN. read more

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My friend and I came in to grab a little something and see the end of a football game. We sat at a table in the bar area, and the bartender was busy, but quick to get to us. They do a late night happy hour starting at nine so we got snacks and drinks. I ordered the alambres and a glass of wine, she got the bean and cheese nachos and a cucumber jalapeno margarita. The alambres were freaking awesome. Tender beef kebabs on this fresh, spicy slaw. It exceeded expectations. Her nachos were ok, they don't come with salsa, just jalapenos. Also they charge for chips and salsa, I believe $5, if that is a deal breaker for you. Her margarita was reported as excellent and she was still talking about it the next day. We were staying nearby and our stop ended up being an excellent decision. I will be back in San Antonio in a week or so and plan to come back to try one of their meals. read more

Acenar Mexican Restaurant - Alambres - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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I was practically starving when we came across this restaurant, and it ended up being such a great find. We were seated in about 15 minutes, and the place had a really nice atmosphere. Once we ordered, I got the cheese enchiladas and queso, my mom got the beef fajitas, and Emery got the short rib tacos. We all really liked our food--the flavors were great, and the beans and rice were super good. My mom especially enjoyed the beef fajitas, and the spicy sauce on my enchiladas was amazing. The only thing I didn't love was that the enchiladas themselves were a bit too firm; I had to put a lot of pressure on my fork just to cut into them. Other than that, everything tasted great. It did take a little while for our food to come out, and our waiter disappeared here and there, but overall, it was still a really good experience. I'd definitely come back. read more

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The staff and our waiter were friendly and helpful. You have easy access to the river and the vibe was pretty chill. The food... easily some of the worst Tex-Mex I have ever had. The carnitas needed seasoning and were dry. The flour tortillas felt store bought and were super chewy. Chips and salsa come at a cost. Cheese and sour cream are extra on a $30 plate. Overall, the food was just nasty and I'm mad that our concierge recommended this place. read more

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Wow! Was in San Antonio for business and was looking for a new place to try. After looking at Yelp and talking with local's Ácenar was our choice. My colleagues and I arrived around 5:45 on a Monday, we were greeted and seated immediately. The atmosphere was very welcoming and inviting. Once we were seated our server (Freddy) greeted us and ask if we had ever dined with them before. He made several recommendations from drinks, to appetizers and entrée. Needless to say he knocked it out of the park! Everything was delicious and the service was excellent. If you're in the area stop by, great TexMex! read more

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If you have to eat on the River Walk, this is a good choice. It's visually interesting, it's not a chain, the food is good, and the service is efficient. I had the Entomatadas, which were kind of like a flauta but with sauce on top. These had chicken and sweet potatoes inside and they were delicious. I also had the cucumber jalapeño margarita and it was the best non-sweet margarita I've ever enjoyed. Even with a cocktail, my bill, pre-tip, was about $30. For a downtown place this nice, that's a good deal. My only complaint was the noise level, as it got rather crowded while we were there. read more

Acenar Mexican Restaurant - Street level entrance - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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The food and service were great. Meal sizes were pretty good. The restaurant was located right off the River Walk. read more

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We were quickly greeted upon entry around 12 PM on a Thursday. Our server approached us and brought us waters. Our server took a little while to come back to take our order because she had a large party that she was working with. I didn't mind the long way because I was in company with my coworkers, but I was starving. We tried the Chicken Tinga Empanadas. They were sooo good but I totally forgot to snap a picture. My coworkers ordered enchiladas, they stated that they tasted great. I had the grilled shrimp tacos, they were immaculate! Now I'm not sure if it was because I was hungry or if they were truly good. But I will definitely come back to try more items on the menu and for happy hour! The interior of the restaurant was very nice and looked a little upscale. This restaurant was right on the Riverwalk, outdoor seating, but we chose to sit inside due to the humidity. The only thing with restaurants in downtown, you have to find a parking garage and pay for parking. But I found out that Thursdays after 5 PM is free parking in city owned garages... but I went for lunch time and paid $10 for parking... I wish this place did parking validation.. read more

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We went here for dinner on a Tuesday night. It was close to the hotel and we did not feel like driving anywhere, so we walked a few minutes and found this place on the Riverwalk. Yelp reviews were good so we felt confident in our decision. The menu is pretty big but as Mexican food experts we knew what to focus on. We started with drinks and my Mexican martini was very good. The orice was reasonable, $13.50, so I had two. For food, I had the tres enchiladas with mole and verde sauce. The mole was excellent and the verde even better. Both had deep, developed flavor. The pulled chicken was good quality. I would get that dish again and would recommend. The wife had Chile relleno which is deep fried. It was good but not great. Our server was very attentive at the beginning but as the patio filled up he obviously had his attention divided. Overall, service was fine. The ambience on the patio is very nice, overlooking the river. read more

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Drinks are over priced for their quality. Other downtown restaurants and bars are at least 4-5 dollars below the Acenar pricing. This recent price increase is puzzling since it is above $5-$10 . Tariffs are not solely responsible for this price increase. Looks more like a money grab.Hope Acenar reconsiders its drink pricing. Furthermore, Happy Hour doesn't run from the usual 5-7 . Ends at 5:30. Why ? Not serving the public well . read more

Good food. Liked the idea of their enchilada sampler plate. Able to taste each of their enchiladas. Their tacos were also great. Beans and rice could have used a bit more flavor read more

Acenar Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Food was awesome! Our waiter, Ben was very prompt and very knowledgeable of the menu and made some great recommendations! Great experience all around. We will definitely be back! read more

Acenar Mexican Restaurant - Margarita, appetizer plate - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Good location oversea the river. Love the outdoor seating. There are lots of birds singing. Would be perfect for dinner with friends. Service is great. Food came quickly. I would skip the ceviche. Shrimp taco was flavorful with very light shell. read more

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Maybe the worst restaurant I have ever been to. Started with a mango margarita and table side guac. Marg just wasn't good, and the guac was flavorless, no other notes other than avocado. Chips brought were stale and had no salt. Put order for food in for a table of four, waited 30 min before waiter came back and asked about another drink. 20 more minutes pass and wrong drink was brought. Waiter than asked if we wanted food, realizing after our answer that we ordered an hour previous. Waiter never put it in! Staff and manager did nothing to remedy the situation and tried denying drink brought was right one. Saw manager arguing with other customers, food brought to other guests also seemed to take forever and portions were small. Avoid this place at all costs read more

Acenar Mexican Restaurant - Stale chips and flavorless guac - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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This place was recommended by our hotel so we headed here, it was a nice day so we ate outside, there is signage not to feed the birds but they come anyway and find food. The area was large and even had an upstairs patio section outside. You enter at street level and that is the bar and waiting area, you walk downstairs to the host stand and they seat you. Our host was friendly and fast, also I wish I still had our waiter's name the guy was easily the best one we had the whole trip, friendly, took time to explain things, checked up on us without being overbearing and was fantastic. We ordered chips and salsa and he brought an extra bowl of Salsa to make sure we had enough! I got a fajita meal that I have never seen an option for before, it had two kinds of meat, chicken, sausage, and shrimp. It was a amazing mix and all of it was good, the chicken being the weakest which is a surprise as I usually prefer chicken in fajita's. The only weak part was it was one shrimp and one part/piece of Sausage so if you want to mix and match your meats that could work and I may if we return but if you wanted to try a shrimp fajita you were out of luck. A minor issue. The tortilla's (flour for me) were plentiful even for one and I was full after. Shana got crab tacos, she was branching out and trying something she had not before. She loved them and the sides were all pretty good. The rice may have been the weakest but still good. The drinks were solid and as the restaurant wasn't busy when we arrived we enjoyed a slow lunch and the view overlooked the Riverwalk. There really isn't much bad to say which I am happy to report. I do want to add we did return for dessert and a drink, my wife has Raynaud's which they of course don't know but we wanted to sit outside due to that as the inside was very cold which normally would be great but causes pain and flare ups. They said for dessert and drinks we had to sit at the bar and as we didn't want to cause a scene we just left and went somewhere less cold or that would let us sit outside. Again a minor issue but it did sour my thoughts on the place a bit. Still the food, service, drinks, and bird entertainment was otherwise all excellent. read more

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Acenar Mexican Restaurant - Love it; great Tex Mex food. The Crispy Carnitas were phenomianal. The menu has many great options. Food came out hot and quick. The Mixology behind the bar deserves calling out - best margaritas - very good time! We came back the next afternoon for a table of 10 and they quickly accomodated us. Everything was great! read more

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We were treated to a work dinner. It's a great restaurant with a beautiful view of the River if seated outdoors. We were seated indoors on 1st floor. It's a pretty large restaurant. From the outside, it doesn't appear as big. My favorite part was walking in and being greeted by the bartender, as the bar is the first approach!! Loved it!! You can also enter from the River Walk which is very cool. It was a work dinner and it was fabulous. The service and food were amazing! We weee a group of 16 .We were definitely the waiter's priority. He was right on it. My main entrée was the fresh gulf fish with cilantro rice. It was delicious!! I ate the entire dish. Music was great. I had wish I could have heard it downstairs. Had a great time! I would recommend this business. read more

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I stopped by Acenar Mexican Restaurant and ordered the shrimp fajitas. The shrimp were cooked well, flavorful, and arrived sizzling as expected. The portions were generous, and the fresh tortillas and accompanying sides made for a satisfying meal. The restaurant's location along the River Walk adds to the experience, offering a nice atmosphere whether you're taking a break from sightseeing or looking for a casual dinner spot. Service was friendly, and the food came out promptly. I enjoyed my meal and would recommend Acenar, especially if you're looking for reliable Tex-Mex in a convenient location. The shrimp fajitas were a solid choice and something I would order again. read more

First time in San Antonio so we picked this restaurant as our first dinner. We arrived and opted to sit inside due to the heat and they promptly sat us in the back room where it was quiet, no loud music. Until the chairs started scraping on the floor as it echoed in the small room. It was so loud with every cleanup and new arrivals. The chips and salsa were good but the salsa was not spicy and they apparently don't have anything spicy, not even hot sauce. However, I enjoyed the Acenar combo and my husband enjoyed the enchiladas so the food was good. The service was excellent. I just wish they had hot sauce and sat somewhere else. read more

Acenar Mexican Restaurant - Enchiladas Verdes - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Annamarie was wonderful. She was extremely efficient as well friendly. It was a mere 10 minutes to add another vehicle to our existing car insurance. She also explained the policy in easy terms. Could not have been more pleased. read more

Go for Happy Hour specials, stay for the excellent food. Had the blood orange margarita and the queso for starters then the spare rib tacos for my entree. Service was top notch! David, our server was very attentive and had a fun sense of humor. The vibe was upscale but welcoming. read more

Acenar Mexican Restaurant - Spare rib tacos and blood orange margarita - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

We came here on a Monday evening because of a recommendation by hotel staff. The place wasn't busy and our server was training someone. Our food came quickly but we ordered fajitas and got carnitas instead. Perhaps it was for another patron but we were kind of famished. Also, someone else dropped off flour tortillas and we prefer corn. We were busy visiting with each other so it wasn't worth the hassle of telling our server or any of the staff they didn't get our order right. I guess I should have wondered why they didn't ask what kind of meat or tortilla we wanted. The Mexican Caesar salad with shrimp was really good though. read more

Was recommended this place by my hotel. Went in on a Friday around 5:30.... Wasn't too busy. First clue about the service happened quickly. After getting seated it took roughly ten minutes for a waiter to show up with water and a menu. Ordered a tequila old fashioned which he recommended. Took ten minutes to show up after ordering. When it did I ordered my dinner which came out in a reasonable amount of time. When it did I ordered a beer which took another ten minutes or more to arrive as I nearly completed my meal before it did. Then..... nothing. After nearly 30 minutes I asked the waiter helping the table next to me if I could get my check. My original waiter finally showed up with it after several minutes. I was leaving cash so I sat another ten minutes or so waiting for him to come back. Wow. It's a service industry. I think they forgot that part. Good food and drink. HORRIBLE service. Don't waste your time. read more

Great place on the River Walk with a big flagstone patio overlooking the canal. The chicken mole enchiladas were awesome, and more than enough food even if you're very hungry. The coffee was surprisingly good too. Gibby, my server provided excellent service, so shout out to him! Vibrant atmosphere and very cool setting to accompany the great food and drinks! read more

Acenar Mexican Restaurant - Chicken Mole Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

A stop at a Tex-Mex restaurant was on our itinerary and this one didn't disappoint. The Appetizer Sampler to Share was a good portion and definitely worth trying. All the entrees we got--the Ácenar Combo, the Pechuga de Pollo, the Entomatadas, and the Cabrito--were all well balanced and had tender pieces of meat. Recommend stopping by! read more

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Really enjoyed my time at Acenar! I sat on the patio just above the riverwalk. My server was Rob and he was the absolute best!! Warm, friendly, very helpful! Had the Alambres and they were sooo good!! Thanks, Rob! read more

The food is good. The location is good. The service is okay. You have to pay for chips and salsa. That is typically free at most Mexican restaurants I go to. It is priced high for a Mexican restaurant. read more

We ate dinner here on New Year's Eve in 2018 and when we returned to San Antonio for New Year's Eve 2025, we decided to go again because we enjoyed it so much the first time. Acenar and our waiter, Jason, did not disappoint. We sat on the patio overlooking the Riverwalk, enjoyed the Tres Enchiladas (queso, verde, and mole) with rice and refried beans immensely, as well as the Mousse de Chocolate Mexicano for dessert. We were so pleased to discover upon our return visit after six years, Acenar is still serving up delicious food in a lovely atmosphere by wonderful waitstaff. This is definitely one of our favorite San Antonio restaurants. read more

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The food is a little on the pricier side but by far the best we had so far. We sat next to the river on a giant patio and it was very relaxing having a nice atmosphere. The service was great and we got all are food orders correct. read more

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this place is GOOD LOVE THAT they have vegan options Also, the outdoor patio is nice My company does lots of business meetings here too for out of towners Solid choice for Mex food on river walk PSA I really don't like most river walk restaurants, but this is a winner. read more

Food, Service and Ambience were great!! We will surely come back here again when in San Antonio! read more

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