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Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine

4 star rating
based on 31 reviews

Category: Mexican  [Edit]

5800 Broadway St
Ste 300

San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 822-6151
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Hours:

Mon. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Tue-Wed. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thu-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Parking:
Private Lot
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Lunch, Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar

31 reviews for Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine

Review Highlights   

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"I'm sure for a night out in Alamo Heights, this place hits the spot." (in 6 reviews)
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"During warm weather enjoy your meal at their patio." (in 10 reviews)
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"Lots of yummy dishes, but my fave is the enchiladas 09." (in 9 reviews)
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One of Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine's Favorite Reviews What's This?

Photo of Therese S.

Elite '09

35

227

Therese S.

Houston, TX

5 star rating
9/28/2009

Beautiful restaurant. Situated in chi-chi Alamo Heights, the restaurant offers real Mexican food with excellent service. My bf and I came here for a nice dinner in San A. San A is known for Mexican cuisine, it having previously been a Spanish mission, so I decided we should try Mexican cuisine here. And boy was I not disappointed!

Yelpers recommended this place and it looked a lot better, if not equal to a lot of the Riverwalk restaurant postings I saw. Plus versus Le Reve, we didn't need a reservation. Plus I wasn't in the mood for French cuisine: I wanted a nice homey atmosphere. And that is exactly what I got at Paloma Blanca. We got none of those screaming kids people were yelping about. We entered the lobby and saw this beautiful tree filled with paper doves. There was a man playing a guitar in the corner, a bit loud but very romantic. We opted to eat out on the patio; too late, after a while I was getting eaten alive by mosquitoes! Our server Moses was very accommodating and seated us at a table under a fan and near another one, telling the other servers to direct the food to our new table. The food itself was excellent: we had ceviche with saltines for an appetizer, while for entrees my bf had this chile relleno while I had this fish with rice and steamed vegetables, perfect. Dessert might have looked good with bunuelos among other things, but we opted out. We also had drinks: the bf a great "heights" margarita while I had a sangria. Excellent. I wouldn't mind coming back here. Yum.

People thought this was:

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Photo of Michelle G.

 

25

45

Michelle G.

San Diego, CA

5 star rating
7/10/2009

How much food can you eat in 5 minutes? Better yet, how much could you scarf down when you're worried about staining your shirt because someone is watching your every move and waiting for the smallest reason to call you a "dirty worthless piece of ****!!!!!"

What am I talking about? I'm referring to the horrors of boot camp.

It's bad enough that you have numerous people constantly yelling in your face but then you're forced to be anorexic because what grown adult can happily enjoy elementary cafeteria food???

It just can't be done!!

He lost twenty pounds and I thought "I need to get some pounds, I mean food in him STAT!!"

Mexican food is our weakness and after being separated from the city that provides some of the BEST Mexican food, he needed a little taste of home... Texas style.

I yelped places in advance and Paloma Blanca caught my eye because they have an awesome website! They have pictures of the  restaurant so you feel the place out a bit, also they offer the entire menu online which was very very helpful and you know what you're getting into. The reviews were solid but the website sealed the deal.

We arrived during lunch hour and the place was already packed! The server led us towards the back of the restaurant where the room was decorated with paintings of different colored hearts. Perfect room, perfect spot

I ordered the Mary Tierra 7 oz. grilled chicken breast covered with  Crema Chipotle, served with four grilled shrimp. My fiance chose the Tacos de Pescado: grilled fresh strips of talapia in two lightly fried, handmade corn tortillas topped with fresh cabbage, sliced avocado, tomato,onion and a SPICY Salsa de Mango y Habanero. (Yea that's right, I took the description off the menu!) YUMTASTIC

The chicken was tender, the shrimp was superb and the sauce almost made my body explode. Yes... It was that serious. The pinto beans had bits of bacon in it which is exactly how I like to eat them.

I couldn't eat the entire dish so I grabbed a to-go box. I ate my leftovers the next day and the chicken was still bomb!

I was so impressed by this place, I wished there was a location here in San Diego. The prices are beyond reasonable for the quality and quantity of food you get.

Most importantly my fiance was full, happy and I think gained a pound back =] My mission was accomplished!

This place is great for any occasion and it looks like it would be a really cute place to go for a date. I noticed there were tea light candles all over the wall and imagined how romantic it would be at night.

This restaurant is a definite WIN

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Photo of Sybil D.

 

33

70

Sybil D.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
5/24/2009

Mmmmmmm.

Always cap off my hometown visits with a meal here.  Love the ambience- it's large, casual, and fun.  Nice-sized bar/lounge area and charming patio.  Staff is friendly and accommodating, and service is generally great.

The food is really good Tex-Mex.  Love the tableside guacamole and queso to start.  Lots of yummy dishes, but my fave is the enchiladas 09.  They have all kinds of margaritas; of course, I prefer the peach.

Te extrano, white dove.

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Photo of Joy -.

 

0

18

Joy -.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
10/1/2009

On a recent trip to San Antonio, my husband and I ate here twice (lunch and dinner).  Both times, we were served beautifully plated, incredibly tasty food.  And both times, the food was completely gluten-free.

Paloma Blanca has a complete gluten-free menu - not just a few items they can adjust to be gluten-free.  The menu has a number of different types of food, from tacos to enchiladas, and from salads to soups.  

In short, Paloma Blanca was a huge treat for me.  I wish we had one at home.

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Photo of Jacob S.

 

3

64

Jacob S.

Houston, TX

4 star rating
7/28/2009

Most Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurants have the same menus and the same themes.  You get a selection of enchiladas, fajitas, and some deep fried items.  The restaurants are either made to look like cantinas or old and run-down.  This is not one of those places.  

Paloma Blanca is a good restaurant and a refreshing change of pace.  The place was clean and had a sophisticated atmosphere.  The menu selection includes not only your standard fare (i.e. fajitas, enchiladas, etc.) but some not-so-standard seafood and chicken dishes.  Thankfully, the menu was not limited to 50 different varieties of enchiladas, margaritas, and tacos.

I ordered the snapper with cilantro cream sauce.  It was good.  It didn't make my body quiver like some other Yelpers, but it was good enough to order a second time.  The kitchen took a few minutes to prepare my dish, but I took it as a sign of care.  

Overall, this is worth trying.  If you like dingy Mexican places, you might not like this.  If you prefer to frequent restaurants in tank tops and flip flops, you might not like this place.  However, if you like a nicer atmosphere with good food, you will probably enjoy Paloma Blanca.

Photo of Brad S.

 

4

123

Brad S.

Universal City, TX

4 star rating
6/18/2009

Paloma Blanca is a reasonably-priced restaurant in the affluent Alamo Heights region of San Antonio that offers a welcome atmosphere and some good eating to boot.

It was quite busy on the Saturday afternoon when we visited, but we were seated quickly by the friendly staff. While we decided on what to order, and while waiting for said decision to arrive, they have a server whose sole purpose is to carry around chips and salsa and refill tables which have run empty.

My lunch consisted of puntas de puerco en chile, which is essentially pieces of pork covered in a chile sauce. The pork was fall-apart tender and delicious. The meal came with rice and borracho beans, and while I don't recall much about the rice, the beans were considerably flavorful.

In retrospect, I wish I would have ordered a more complicated dish - I was very happy with what I ordered, but I can only imagine what other gems lie within the menu. I look forward to discovering them.

Photo of Elliot C.

 

0

8

Elliot C.

Austin, TX

5 star rating
6/27/2009

Fancy, but when you open the menu the enchiladas reasonably priced at about 12 bucks.  The environment is amazing...it's a great setting for a date or to celebrate.  There is also a neighboring wine bar that shares a patio, so you can make an entire night of it.

The food is very good (nothing to write home about, but very good), but it's the atmosphere that earns the rating.

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Photo of Vanessa J.

 

17

22

Vanessa J.

NY

4 star rating
5/20/2009

The BEST shrimp cocktail in San Antonio!!!

ok, now that I have that out of the way - onto the other stuff ;)

My sister and I were in town visiting our parents and the four of us debated endlessly about where to go to dinner.  Eventually, Paloma Blanca won, and after dinner, we were all glad it did!  

The restaurant was bustling with life, both indoors and out.  It being a perfect May night, we chose to sit outside.  Our waiter was delightful, even though we ran his tail off!  Our food came out slowly, giving us time to enjoyed our conversation and margaritas (possibly the best in the city)!  

We ordered the tacos al pastor and shrimp cocktail for appetizers.  The al pastor was good, but needed more pineapple.  You already know my opinion of the shrimp cocktail. ;)  For my main course, I ordered tacos de camaron in soft corn tortillas instead of crispy - DELICIOUS!!!  I just wish I'd had more room for them in my stomach.  I wish I still lived in SA so I could go back more often.  Yummy!

After dinner, my sister and I checked out the new wine bar next door.  Very cool place!

Photo of Pablo C.

 

3

3

Pablo C.

San Antonio, TX

4 star rating
9/29/2009

One of my favorite restaurants.  The caldo talpeno is amazing, a very spicy soup with vegetables and big chunks of chicken.  My other favorite dish is Puntas de puerco, spicy but very tasty.  This place rarely disappoints, my only knock Is that they don't have a great bar...  The service last night was phenomenal, friends from Houston were happy with this new find...  I didn't taste it, but they mentioned the flan had too much cinnamon...

Photo of J. J.

 

591

786

J. J.

San Antonio, TX

4 star rating
5/29/2008

It's been awhile since I've eaten here but I do remember that the atmosphere and set up was really nice here.  The chips and salsa were good and so was my dish: Mar Y Tierra.  Which was basically grilled chicken with shrimp covered with one of their signature sauces.  Muy bien!

Only thing lacking a bit was service.  Where my girls and I were sitting at was a bit off the beaten path and I guess he just forgot about checking on us in between the times we were waiting for our food and then waiting for our check.  If I had been on one of my ghetto days, I would've figured dinner was on him...

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Photo of Liam T.

 

5

5

Liam T.

Leon Valley, TX

2 star rating
2/27/2009

HYPE......I went with my girlfriend and was thoroughly disappointed. It's one thing to be another Mexican restaurant, but all this unsubstantiated praise is relatively grating for  me. If you like tepid food, this place is great. That is to say, although my dish was no where near hot, it tasted ok. Don't go if you're under thirty, they treat younger customers like junk.

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Photo of Leigh M.

 

69

317

Leigh M.

Austin, TX

4 star rating
5/13/2008

**This is really more of a 3.5 star place, but I'm feeling generous today.**

Save room for tres leches or you'll be totally missing out!

The space here is probably the best part. The inside is cozy and hip and the patio is very chill with a fountain and lots of plants. You'd never know it was in a shopping center.

We had the guacamole made table side (yum!) and some enchiladas. Nothing magic (except the tres leches!), but totally solid.

My sister ordered some sort of flavored margarita (mango, I think), and it was a lot syrupy for my taste.  

We had kind of absentee service, so I'm glad we weren't in a hurry, but  I'm it hoping was a fluke.

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Photo of Lindley E.

Elite '09

306

817

Lindley E.

Boston, MA

2 star rating
3/26/2008

A frequent traveler to San Antonio suggested that I run, not walk, to the upscale glory that is Paloma Blanca on a recent business trip. This particular traveler had done well by me before, and I promptly made reservations for my party, which was a smart thing as when we arrived on a Friday night, the place was already a 45 minute wait.

And filthy with screaming teenage girls. That's right. Girls who were sucking down virgin daquiris and chomping on tortilla chips and eating queso fundido with nary a parent in sight. Had mom and dad dropped them off at this eatery and then gone off for 'date night' at a more 'adult' spot? Or were mom and dad and friends seated at another table? Although we were there for several hours, that question was never answered.

So the atmosphere was a bit...loud. And shreiky. With girls screaming at the top of their vocal ranges at every bit of teenage gossip shared between the table.

And the food? The food. Where to start?

So it isn't a typical Tex-Mex eatery in that it's a bit more upscale and offers lots of items you'd never find on a more authentic menu - lots of flour tortillas, various dull versions of chicken breast, lots of melted queso dishes...and steaks and everything else you'd expect from a Mexi-lite restaurant catering to a wealthy (and lacking in knowledge about authentic Mexican cuisine) clientele. Nothing was great. Everything was passable. And unmemorable. The margaritas, alleged to be some of the best in the country, weren't nearly as good as those I've had at any of Rick Bayless' better known, and more authentic Chicago-based eateries, Frontera Grill and Topolobampo.

I'm sure for a night out in Alamo Heights, this place hits the spot. But for an out-of-town visitor from a city where authenticity and ambience go hand-in-hand (Frontera Grill in Chicago makes this place look like Chili's), Paloma Blanca is a must-miss.

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Photo of Ronnie S.

 

0

12

Ronnie S.

San Antonio, TX

4 star rating
4/17/2009

Nice yuppy alamo heights restaurant with nice outdoor area and big leather couches. Great salsa and margaritas.

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Photo of Kristen F.

Elite '09

94

621

Kristen F.

Austin, TX

5 star rating
3/10/2008 6 photos

I loved this place.  Once upon a time I had a magical experience at Casa Orozco in Livermore, California, and this restaurant totally topped it.

We were recommended it by a friend as one of the places we should go in SA on our trip.   We got here with perfect timing, a little early for dinner, but we were hungry, and it worked out perfectly, because we had no wait, and we got one of the last spots on the street.  Valet is available, though, if you get there a little later.  We sat outside and near a heater, which wasn't so close it made us sweat.  Perfect.

The other reviewers are right though - there are a lot of kids running around.  Two pre-teen girls sat near us on a little brick wall and observed my husband and I, then whispered to each other.  I gave them my teacher look and they went away, back to running in the parking lot (what's up with parents these days?!?!) and beating up a little brother.

Our server, Holly, was A+.  I usually don't go so nuts for restaurants, but everything was perfect here.  The chips were amazing, people.  The chips.  I've never even noticed chips before.  My husband ordered the "irreconcilable" enchiladas divorciadas, and I got enchiladas verdes.  Delicious.

They even served my beer in a fancy little glass that I had previously only had for juice or prosecco.  It made my beer taste fancier, I swear.  Why don't I always drink beer that way?  The plants are beautiful, the atmosphere is wonderful, and we got out of there with a much lower bill than I expected.  Love this place.

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Photo of Jen L.

Elite '09

10

171

Jen L.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
2/19/2009

Cozy on the inside and the patio is adorable and a great spot to sit in good weather. The chips are amazing and I also love the ceviche. Make a reservation during peak times though, it does get quite busy on weekends.

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Photo of Travis D.

Elite '09

63

404

Travis D.

Palo Alto, CA

5 star rating
2/2/2008

Great food from interior mexico that is a nice alternative to the more homogeneous Tex-Mex and taquerias that populate much of San Antonio's restaurant scene. Being in Alamo Heights, the crowd on the weekend can get a little annoying as wealthy families get together to eat dinner while their kids run around (i don't really want to hear about who's dating the quarter back at Alamo Heights HS while im out trying to eat dinner). Usually going there during the week will prevent this from happening and there will be less of a crowd.

Breakfast is also incredible and reasonably priced, i highly recommend it. Outdoor seating is great on a nice night.

Supposedly, this is one of Tommy Lee Jones' favorite places in San Antonio.

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13

28

christy r.

Italy, TX

4 star rating
8/15/2008

Beautiful patio, good food, generous and friendly bartenders and wait staff.

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Photo of Becca D.

 

6

23

Becca D.

San Antonio, TX

4 star rating
9/22/2008

Pretty much great food, and such a great atmosphere. definitely a stop for the mar y tierra. totally worth it!

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Photo of D B.

 

0

7

D B.

San Antonio, TX

4 star rating
8/10/2007

Good neighborhood place.  Every time I go, I see someone I haven't seen in years.  Always full of nice people, staff included.  Some nights there's a wait, but a friendly bartender, great mojitos, and a welcoming seating area makes it bearable.

Food is great.  Queso is nice and thick, chips hot and fresh.  Usually get the cheese or chicken enchiladas, but tried the mushroom enchiladas last time.  Excellent.  Looked quite different than they tasted, but wonderful.  Guacamole is fresh and doesn't have that pre-made, fizzy taste.

Great to take out of town guests.  When family comes to town, this is always on their list.

Photo of laura w.

 

16

81

laura w.

IL

4 star rating
5/27/2008

Ahhhhh....nothing better than some good ol' tex mex once I am back home in the Great State!!  There are always so many good choices of tex mex, so it is hard to know where to go 1st!  Paloma is little upscale than most of your typical tex-mex eateries.  A great place to go on a date or to celebrate something special....this occassion for me was just being home...ahh home....I can still see the great Texas Sky!!!  Margaritas are muy excelente here as well as the chips and salsa.  They have great enchiladas and if it isn't 100 degrees out side, they have a nice outdoor patio.

Photo of lauren m.

 

19

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lauren m.

San Antonio, TX

4 star rating
4/22/2008

Good food and margaritas. Very chill.

Photo of Valerie P.

 

7

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Valerie P.

Pearland, TX

5 star rating
4/11/2008

Wow, what a place.  First of all, the interior (and exterior) is FABULOUS.  Very modern inside and the patio area is of a more Spanish style and very, very relaxing.  The food is rather wonderful, too, and is different from the other places around here.  I usually get some a la carte tacos and have never been disappointed.

Photo of Nichole E.

 

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6

Nichole E.

San Antonio, TX

3 star rating
12/18/2007

For the price, I expect way more than cold mexican food! The atmosphere is nice and the drinks are good, but not the food.

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Photo of Shawna E.

 

2

15

Shawna E.

San Antonio, TX

5 star rating
8/14/2006

Great food, great service, very nice atmosphere.  Great for dinner with friends or a romantic dinner for two.

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Photo of Jaime Patricio M.

Elite '09

55

524

Jaime Patricio M.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
1/5/2008

Paloma Blanca a great place to go for a sit down Mexican meal.  I love the environs - very comfortable and exactly what you want for an authentic Mexican meal in San Antonio.  I had the Mole Poblano enchiladas and they were well done; the sauce was thick and rich.  The margaritas were superb and not shy on base ingredient.  I appreciate a simple meal like this on a beautiful winter evening in San Antonio--great comfort food.

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Photo of Jay K.

 

154

152

Jay K.

Spokane, WA

5 star rating
12/24/2005

More upscale but still decently priced Tex-Mex restaurant in "old money" Alamo Heights.  Decor is modern.  During warm weather enjoy your meal at their patio.  Food is OK.  I'd go more for their atmosphere.  Evenings on occasion have a live mic-ed Spanish-guitar troubador whose music is piped inside and out.  Large array of margaritas.

Photo of andrea n.

 

1

11

andrea n.

San Antonio, TX

2 star rating
8/8/2008

Paloma Blanca would have you believe that it is an experience that all San Antonioians must partake in.  I say... Meh... it's alright but the food and the service do not make the wait, the horrible parking situation and the cost of the food worth the trip.  The chips are too thick, the salsa is good, the food is your typical tex mex junk, the servings are average and the drinks are a little on the small side.  The service is not that great and the clientele appears to be comprised of the high school kids and their -think they are way more important than they really are- parents.  The parking is my biggest pet peeve.  Expect to park a few blocks away and suffer through a steamy walk to the restaurant where you will be advised that the wait is 30-60 minutes ---and you can wait outside.   I say skip it and find a Chilis... it's the same damn thing for a whole lot less.

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Photo of Claire M.

 

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46

Claire M.

San Antonio, TX

5 star rating
8/29/2007

It was storming, I mean raining so hard and flooding everywhere and I stumbled into Paloma Blanca looking for someplace to get out of the rain and eat lunch.  The food was incredible, the service fast and the people were super nice.  I have heard there can be quite a wait at dinner but if you are looking for a nice place for lunch but where you dont have to get all dressed up then this is probably the place for you!

Photo of Trey E.

 

9

45

Trey E.

Alamo Heights, TX

5 star rating
2/10/2008

I've eaten at Paloma Blanca well over 100 times and have had only one experience that wasn't top-notch (and that waiter was fired shortly there-after).  They make the best margaritas bar none, make sure and ask for the 09 or the Cantina Meltdown.  They have weekly specials with chef's specialties and everything is fresh.  There are two salsas, the roasted one is better than the bright red one but both are tasty.  I typically order the beef fajitas, the pollo chipotle, or the talpeno soup (with a "t," I didn't type-o jalapeno).  If you've room for dessert, the mango sorbet or the tres leches cake are both quite good.  The wait staff is the best in the city and the clientle fits the decor.  Fantastic patio, but leave your kids at home and if you have to bring them, don't let them play in the water, it's really annoying.  They have nice private rooms if you're having a graduation party or something.  Brunch is good if you like brunch.

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7

Raji H.

San Carlos, CA

5 star rating
3/20/2007

We loved this restaurant!  The service was great, the food was good and the price was reasonable.  We would eat here again.

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