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Rainforest Cafe

2.5 (1k reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Rainforest Cafe Photos

Business Info

RAINFOREST CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Touristy
Casual
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - Rainforest Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

Tuki's Turkey Club  BLT, shaved turkey breast, Swiss cheese, mayo
Debbie S.

Ambiance - Started with elevator being broke. Having a stroller they thought it was a good idea to sit us on the 3rd floor. Had to carry stroller up stairs. Everying was very compact and not much room to walk around. Service - waitress was not good. took a while to get the drink order, then again for the food order, then again to get the check. - 2 out of 3 orders were wrong when they got to the table. 1 was made wrong, the other was the wrong dish completely. And she forgot the kids drink twice. No plates with the appetizer (chips and dip). Drinks were never refilled. Food - my sandwich was ok but not good. Very little bacon on a turkey BLT. Kid's meal was good (where the 1 start comes from). Will not go back and sorry i went this time

Flounder, vegetables, rice
Jason P.

Appetizer "AWESOME APPETIZER ADVENTURE" was actually good. We ate it all up. My main dish "JERK CHICKEN & SHRIMP PASTA" was spicy but tasty. One star taken due to my husband not liking his dish "Flounder, Vegetables, Rice". He mentioned it had no flavor and did not eat it after the first bite. We weren't sure if the waiter was new or not but he seemed to be flustered and we had a hard time hearing him. I mentioned to my husband that the automated animals were cool but it needed a little more lighting. But loved the cool concept of a rainforest. Cost was pretty okay.

Fish-N-Chips
Cherise B.

We all know the saying: Everything is bigger in Texas, and this restaurant is no exception. I remember visiting the Rainforest Cafe in Tempe in 2001 and maybe a couple years later. It's a fun experience, but nothing like this location. This building has three floors. I honestly couldn't tell you what's on the second floor because I was too busy taking pictures of all the jungle flora and fauna, but the first floor has the gift shop while the third hosts the restaurant. There are fish aquariums everywhere, with one sporting a ginormous tortoise. We were seated beside a different aquarium, which was no less ambient. There are also "rainstorms" every thirty minutes, adding depth to the immersive experience of roars, trumpets, whoops, and squeaks. Our server Samantha was prompt and patient as my husband and I both took in the animals and aquatic life. She also brought us water without us having to ask before taking our drink and appetizer orders. I forgot I'm not a fan of the spinach and artichoke dip, though I feel I can be forgiven since it's been over twenty years. It's not terrible, but I've had better. The chips are unsalted, and I don't want to say stale, but they don't have the airy, light texture I'm accustomed to in Arizona. I ordered the Amazon fajitas with chicken, which were pretty good. The black bean salsa threw me off but it wasn't bad. It also comes with the traditional cheese and sour cream with pico de gayo. And I ate as much as I could before bringing the rest home. My husband opted for fish and chips with the same story: great but couldn't finish. One thing that surprised us both though was the coleslaw with pineapple. It's one of the strangest foods I've eaten while being pleasantly sweet. Loved it and would order more. Or at least learn how to make it because that was good. Toward the end of our meal, a photographer came by to take our pictures and wish us happy Valentine's Day. This place is a little on the pricey side with nothing under $26 (mostly over $30), but it's worth it for the entertainment factor. We didn't buy anything from the gift shop, but it was a lot of fun to browse and reminisce about our young adult years and memories of Rainforest. There were things we commented on that we felt our kids would have loved when they were younger. I had a great time and might consider returning next year. The bathrooms cracked me up with posters of lions that read King and Queen of the Jungle.

In front of a baboon LOL
Joani O.

In town for work and walked over from my hotel for lunch. (The entrance is actually on the Riverwalk so you have to go downstairs.) The seating was on tbe 3rd floor of the restaurant. I sat by a baboon and an elephant. LOL There was a nice specials menu but it had no prices! The waiter said everything was $26.99. There were a few things that sounded good but I went for the bruschetta chicken with shrimp scampi and fettuccine Alfredo. It was a huge portion. I also had a hurricane which was super strong. I couldn't drink all of it. My waiter was very attentive and apologized for not being able to give me a to go cup. He did offer me one of the souvenir glasses but I didn't want to be walking around with it. I did have a picture taken and I bought it from the photographer as a nice memento. Overall it was a nice lunch.

Kids gluten free shrimp alfredo
Nicole V.

We made reservations for my son's birthday. In the notes i asked if we could be near the snake since he LOVES snakes. They NAILED it! He had the most amazing view of the snake all through dinner. The hostess when we first arrived was amazing and interacted with my kids so well! I wish I got her name she was so wonderful! Their kids menu selection is great! My 3 kids all enjoyed their meals. Especially my son who can't have wheat. They accommodated him and were able to give him gluten-free pasta with the kids meal. Our server wasn't as wonderful as the hostess. When i asked about accommodations for the kids meal that seemed reasonable based on previous restaurants, she just said they couldn't do it. I asked for another and she responded the same way. I asked if she could double check and sure enough the manage came over and assured me they could easily accommodate the request. We did not receive refills on water and only the kids received refills on their drinks. Service was slow and scarce. My food was returned twice. It came out barely at room temp. When the new food came out, it was just a bit warmer but the steak was cooked well done instead of medium rare. He took the steak back immediately and returned with a perfectly cooked steak. They did remove my meal from our bill without us asking. I'd have to say the worst part was the bathroom though... the floor was sticky and smelled like old urine. In my opinion it rivals some of the worst gas station bathrooms. All in all we had a good time! Thankful for the fun ambience and my kids enjoyed themselves.

Shrimp Sampler Platter
Nayra B.

You go for the experience. I've been to Rainforest Cafe a couple of times in my life and I'll admit, it's pretty fun if you can get into the vibe. This location's pretty neat as it's right on the RiverWalk, but its atmosphere is just like the others I've been to. I will admit that the animatronics here looked a little worse for wear if you actually give them a good look, but they're still entertaining all the same. I will note that 1) if you're not a fan of loud noises or flickering lights this place may not be for you and 2) this location's bathrooms are either very clean or very not. The food is simply alright. Think sports bar quality. Again you go for the experience, not necessarily the meal. Their drinks are normally decent, but this last time I went my party and I agreed that they were very much watered down. The Volcano was my favorite part of the meal, but then again I'm a huge fan of dessert in general. All in all I'd say that if you're in the area and interested, give it a go. I think you'll have some fun if nothing else. And thank you, Emily, for taking care of our large party!

Amazon Rainforest Burger
Eve M.

When we first checked in, we were told there would be a 45-minute wait. We decided to wait and explored the gift shop, but were pleasantly surprised when we received a text informing us that our table was ready after only a 10-minute wait. There is so much to see on your way to the table. I love the rainforest ambiance and the animals. After being seated and placing our order, our waitress told us we could look around the room. I really enjoyed that because there was so much to see. The service and atmosphere were excellent, but the food varied in quality. I ordered the Beef Taco Salad, which was a large portion and delicious. It had olives and corn at the bottom of the taco bowl; if you're not a fan of olives, you might want to ask for them to be removed. I've never had olives in a taco salad before, but I really enjoyed it. Another person in my party ordered the Amazon Rainforest Burger, which they said was okay but would prefer a burger elsewhere. I tried the fries, and they seemed to have been sitting out for a while. However, someone else in our group ordered the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger and loved it. Despite the one dish that was just okay, I would return because I really liked the ambiance and location on the Riverwalk.

Creole Mac N Cheese
Melody C.

Touristy, as expected. This Rainforest Cafe location is very touristy, which is expected given the nature of the chain and the area. The prices are very high but the portions are large. Prices are high especially if you get the novelty cups and accessories. We had no problems with our order. The food was good, but not spectacular. This place is huge. It's three floors of jungle madness. If you're willing to push past the cheesiness, noise, and long wait, you might really enjoy this. This Rainforest Cafe feels very dated and clearly hasn't been updated in the past three decades. If you have a kid yourself, they would probably love this place though. Our server was very attentive and really made our experience great. He was working hard during the evening rush when I came in. This is a fun place but there are some better local spots along the Riverwalk. If you come, don't forget to stop by the gift shop!

Quiana T.

My 7yr old daughter loved the atmosphere. Very kid friendly with lots of decor. The meals were a shareable size so I would recommend considering that. I have a shellfish allergy so my selections were limited. I was unaware so keep that in mind. But the meal options were plentiful and sounded like they were full of flavor.

Creole Mac N Cheese
Iliana H.

I hadn't been here in over a decade! I must echo the sentiment that you go for the experience over the food. There was a point where a server tried to bring us some food that wasn't ours. The appetizer sampler thing was good. They have fun drinks for the kids. My creole Mac was good, similar to the Cajun Alfredo at chilis. I do wish there was more of a "show" experience. Like maybe a song comes on and little light show. Idk just a little more interaction for the kids.

Nelly L.

Let's get to it, so obviously came here with my 2 year old who absolutely loved it and was able to be a kid and scream and enjoy the "rainforest". Service could be a tad better, friendly staff, but everything just seemed to be on slow motion and place wasn't even that busy. Food is was not good at all. I can't even compare it to anything. Possibly gas station on the go food. I would return for the simple fact that my kid enjoyed it, but we could come to order the very minimum like dessert or one appetizer and drinks.

3D mini animals, my son loves these. We bought total 40 :)
Oanh K L.

Kid friendly place. There are 2 aquariums on the second floor where we sat, my son kept asking to go there and look at the fish. Food were good, nice size portion but pricey too. We got a frog character drink for my son ( cha cha cherry drink), he loves it so much. Only my husband finishes his sandwich, 3 of us had small box to bring back. The gift shop is definitely a hit too, my son found 3D mini animal, and we ended up got a lot for him to play with. Definitely keep him occupied for quite a bit.

Taste of the islands
Samantha B.

I was...weirdly impressed by the Rainforest Cafe! As San Antonio local, we haven't been here since childhood but when searching for a place that might be open on Easter, for some reason all roads pointed here! We figured, why not, could be a fun story. The place was quite full considering the holiday, but we were sat right away on the top floor. Did I get immediately jump scared by an enormous snake? Yes. Did it stop my appetite? No. Propped right along a fish tank, our table got a server asap and our drinks as well as our appetizer was out in no time. Now here is where I became impressed, the Korean fried chicken wraps were crazy good! Not at all what I was expecting from a place like this. The taste of the islands was ok, but I think that was honestly just due to personal flavor preferences. We both ordered souvenir drinks which allow you to keep the glass cup and our server was kind enough to wash them out and wrap them up for us before leaving. They also recommended taking a stroll to the other floors to check out the decorations. I will admit, the thunderstorms and general noise level are...a lot. If you have sensory issues or prefer the quiet, this is not the place for you. But if you're willing to take a silly excursion and lean into the fun, I say it's a solid place to have a new experience! Also, a wildly random plus side for me and me alone, they have a penny press machine at the entrance. Not unique in itself, but one of the few left I have seen recently that still take quarter and your own penny rather than new machines that require a credit card and they force you to pay $5 for all 4 pennies. Takes away all the fun! So a little extra treat for me there.

Amazon Rainforest Burger

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SMELLS LIKE POOP!!!! If you sit by the hostess area/the tiger/the fish tank on the 2nd floor beware. Smells like mildew/feces/rotten eggs.

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Page 2 of 26

Rainforest Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Rainforest Cafe

Do they take Reservations?

Hello Linda, please call the restaurant directly to make a reservation. Thank you.

Is joining the Landry Select Club a good deal?

Hello, for more information on the Landry's Select Club please visit the provided link. Thank you. https://www.landrysselect.com/club-features/

Do you need reservations?

No.

Is the San Antonio on the river walk still open??? I have called multiple times to make reservation and no one answered the phone at all.

Yes.

Can anyone tell me the best/closest place to park if going to Rainforest Cafe? I'm going to be hard pressed to make it on time. Thanks

Outdoor lot across the street from Hard Rock Cafe.

Can you make reservations?I have tried to call the restaurant no one answers

I did my reservation physically

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Bohanan's - Filet and Lobster Dinner at Bohanan's

Bohanan's

4.3(1.3k reviews)
0.2 mi•Downtown
•$$$$

Some of the best steaks we have had. I recommend the scalloped potatoes for an accompaniment…read more Very delicious! Alejandro was a wonderful guide through our meal! We enjoyed the jazz band downstairs! The bar tender downstairs with the handlebar vintage mustache makes the best mocktail! Mine had sprite, blackberries, and some other delicious ingredients! The building itself is something to see. So beautiful! We had a great experience!

It was our 28th wedding anniversary and I wanted to treat my wife to a nice dinner. We normally go…read moreto Ruth Chris, but I wanted to try a different steakhouse this year. Once we arrive at the restaurant we were greeted like VIPs. We were asked a few times if we were there for a special occasion and I mentioned we were there for our anniversary. We were congratulated and that was it. No other "special" treatment or offers because it was our anniversary. The service, the food, and the overall atmosphere were great. No complaints at all. My only issue was this, as we were preparing to pay the bill, a couple (white couple) was seated next to us and they were asked if they were there to celebrate a special occasion, and she said, "it's our anniversary" and the waiter then offered them a complimentary bottle (or glasses) of champagne! Wait, what??? I thought to myself, nobody offered us (a black couple) any complimentary champagne. A different person came to the table to take my credit card and I asked him about it. He did apologize and offered to bring us a couple of glasses of champagne but it was too late. We were done eating/celebrating and it was time to go home. I was 3 weeks from recovering from heart surgery and this was my first time out in the public to eat since my surgery and I didn't want to let not getting a bottle or glass of champagne ruin my evening with my Queen. This incident it want led me to giving 4 stars instead of 5. How can one couple be offered complimentary champagne and another couple not offered any at all???

Photos
Bohanan's - Christmas Decor

Christmas Decor

Bohanan's - Freshness sourced from the deep blue.

Freshness sourced from the deep blue.

Bohanan's - Salmon at Bohanan's

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Salmon at Bohanan's

Ladino - Wagyu Denver steak

Ladino

4.3(368 reviews)
1.4 mi•Tobin Hill
•$$$

Came here for dinner with my husband; and we absolutely loved everything we ordered…read more Spicy Feta Dip - Super fresh and seasoned perfectly Beet & Fennel Cold Meze - Very tasty and more on the rich side Lamb Belly Ribs - The restaurant gave these to us complimentary and they were delicious; the sauce really ties everything together Shishbarak - Packed with flavor, comes with a lot of extra sauce Duck Urfa Kebab - These were our favourite, super tender and the pilaf was the perfect pairing for it The overall vibe of the restaurant was great, would highly recommend making reservations in advance!

Ladino is probably one of my favorite restaurants in the city by far!…read more I've had the privilege to visit Ladino maybe four or five times, and every time I come back, they keep getting better. They recently received a Bib Gourmand from Michelin for good quality and value. Frankly I think they deserve a star, but that's just me. Ladino is located at The Pearl and making a reservation through Open Table is a must! They book up days in advance, so I encourage you to reserve a table ahead of time. They specialize in small tapas style plates, so if you are coming with a group you can order a couple of items to share. They also have a few excellent main dishes, but my favorite is the steak. From the smaller plates I think I've tried almost everything and there hasn't been one I didn't love. However the hummus is a must and the feta cheese is always a winner when I bring new people to Ladino. The staff here is outstanding! The level of service they offer is unbelievable. They truly make sure you have an outstanding experience during your visit, and that level of service is hard to find. Whether you are looking to try a new place or celebrate an anniversary, do yourself a favor and make a reservation at Ladino.

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Ladino - Lush interior

Lush interior

Ladino - Pita in the background with the charred eggplant.

Pita in the background with the charred eggplant.

Ladino - An excellent Greek wine that paired well with out choices.

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An excellent Greek wine that paired well with out choices.

Four Brothers

Four Brothers

4.2(239 reviews)
0.1 mi•Downtown
•$$$

Another great meal! Our server Brahim provided the perfect service: attentive, thoughtful, kind…read more Really enhanced our meal. For a starter we shared the cornbread with another couple and it was plenty for 4 people. If you are from out of town and looking for some Texas-shaped vittles or just want something substantial to stretch your meal I recommend it! Very tasty and filling. For my main I had the scallops with creamed corn risotto. It was a dainty portion but the flavors were nice. My husband had the short rib tagliatelle which he loved. It was very rich and filling. We had the buttermilk pie again for dessert and this time it tasted sweeter than I remembered. It was good but we couldn't finish it. Idk if it was my tastebuds or if it was different. Anyways still a great meal overall and we will be back!

Great atmosphere, Great service. The price versus quality doesn't meet! My date had the lamb chops…read more The lamb chops were full of fat and untrimmed, this fat didn't add any flavor. They were cooked medium rare. I don't recommend the lamb. I had the red snapper filet. I was basically. The best thing about the entire meal was dessert! We shared a large slice of butter pie and ice cream. Other than that, the food was average to, not good I made the mistake of going to this tourist spot, inside of the la mansion hotel, $168 later, I can truly say that I would never recommend this restaurant!

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Four Brothers
Four Brothers
Four Brothers

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J-Prime Steakhouse - Parilla

J-Prime Steakhouse

4.6(738 reviews)
12.8 mi
•$$$$

I recently dined at J-Prime with my husband to celebrate his birthday. We have been here numerous…read moretimes since relocating to San Antonio in 2021, and unfortunately, this was the worst. While the food was very good as usual, our overall experience was disappointing because of the customer service we received from the primary female waitress. Her attitude came across as dismissive and unwelcoming throughout our dinner. Her tone and interactions made us feel like an inconvenience. This was very disappointing because we were there to celebrate a special occasion, as we've done numerous times. I want to recognize the male waiter who assisted us throughout the evening. He was wonderful, attentive, and professional. He assisted with our wine and food delivery and provided the level of service we've experienced before and appreciated. Good food is important, but the service and hospitality are equally important to the overall dining experience. I hope management will take my concerns regarding the primary waitress seriously while also recognizing the excellent service provided by the male waiter. We want to continue dining at J-Prime in the future, but hope our next visit reflects the quality of food and service we have come to expect from the restaurant. Thank you for taking the time to review my concerns.

If you are looking for an amazing place to celebrate, I suggest you go to J-Prime Steakhouse. I…read morehave celebrated anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays at J-Prime and it has always been amazing and special. Their staff and the service that they offer is by far the best in town. The setting is beautiful, I love the wine wall, the candlelight and the specialized cards they offer along with the dessert for each special occasion. In addition, the food is always phenomenal. Their steaks are perfectly cooked, their raw oysters, appetizers and their sides are delicious. The wine and drinks are top-notch as well. I have been to so many steakhouses and lovely five star restaurants in town, but J-Prime remains my favorite.

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J-Prime Steakhouse - This is the main dining room with the celebration balloons that the birthday person takes home with them.

This is the main dining room with the celebration balloons that the birthday person takes home with them.

J-Prime Steakhouse - Shrimp delicious

Shrimp delicious

J-Prime Steakhouse - Bone marrow

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Bone marrow

The Barn Door

The Barn Door

3.8(609 reviews)
6.3 mi•Oak Park/Northwood, Uptown Loop
•$$$

As I reminisce on my final (?) meal at The Barn Door earlier today, I have difficulty expressing…read morehow sad I feel to lose a landmark that has served as a second home for generations of San Antonians. For 73 years, The Barn Door has been more than a great restaurant; it has been an inexorable piece of San Antonio history. Last week, The Barn Door announced on Facebook that its final day of service will be Sunday, May 11th (Mother's Day). The Barn Door has been an outstanding steakhouse in the truest sense. They've never relied on gimmicks or culinary trends--they've relied on the tried-and-true flavors that have maintained a loyal clientele for decades. I'm taking about hand-cut, primal cuts of beef grilled over real mesquite, delivering that unmistakable South Texas char. I'm referring to plump, wild-caught shrimp from the Gulf Coast, the famous yeast rolls, and tubs of homemade salad dressings. If you've been there, you know how special the overall experience has been. I've read many heartfelt comments on social media asking why such a successful institution would cease operations. Well, dear reader, I have a unique insight into why. Randy Stokes has poured his heart into the restaurant, but he merely leases the building--not the land--from the Straus family. Approximately seven months ago, Mr. Straus decided to sell the dirt beneath the "Barn" to a real estate developer. The plan? To raze this historic site and erect modern condos. It's a familiar story of urban expansion, but it doesn't make the loss any easier to swallow. But before we close the door on "The Barn" forever, a glimmer of hope looms on the horizon. Randy Stokes and his team aren't necessarily hanging up their aprons for good. According to a reliable anonymous source, the team has expressed a desire to reopen The Barn Door at a new location, with eyes set currently on the city's North Side. I hope the promise of a new location comes to fruition, but even if The Barn Door closes forever, I will cherish all the wonderful memories of dining there with my parents and grandparents over the years. I will remember the ingratiating staff, the unique ambience, and the hundreds of delicious meals I've crammed down my gullet.

We had to squeeze in a visit before they closed their doors. And I am so glad we did. We got to…read morewatch the Kentucky derby while sitting in the back 40, and it was great. Just the decor and amount of history on the walls, you could just walk around for hours. The staff was full of Texas hospitality. The food was delicious... need I say more. We will miss you.

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The Barn Door
The Barn Door
The Barn Door

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Rainforest Cafe - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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