For fans of all things salty and sour, there’s no better place to be than San Antonio. The 210 has reached peak pickle, and there’s no limit to what chefs are doing with the briny bites. From crunchy fried spears to a puckery version of a banana split, these trailblazing pickle snacks are Alamo City’s biggest dills.
Alamo Candy Company
No local pickle list is complete without the Beacon Hill OG. Squishing the Big Tex dill pickle in chamoy feels like home to anyone who grew up in the city. And, of course, the long-running shop gets no sour grapes for making its pickle balls, belts, and powder.
El Chango Loco
San Antonio snack shops have no chill, never letting levelheadedness stand in the way of invention. Still, this South Side frutería went full bananas with its pickle roll-up. The process involves taking a plump pickle, wrapping it in fruit leather, dusting it with Cheeto dust, and cutting it into sushi-like slices. How’s that for monkey business?
El Paraiso
This self-serve shop on Fredericksburg Road has brightened Alamo City summers since 1984, and the selection seems to grow every year. The pickle paleta is packed with craveable electrolytes, but load your cart with other sweet-tart flavors like tamarind, lemon, and mango con chile.
Oh, pickle bagels, why have you forsaken us?Chicago Bagel & Deli/ Facebook
Chicago Bagel & Deli
Consider this less a recommendation and more of a selfish petition. We couldn’t get enough of this bakery’s pickle bagels when it debuted in 2024. But if fans can return Arrested Development and Brooklyn Nine-Nine to TV through overwhelming social media pressure, so too can they coerce Chicago Bagel to bring back its brilliant idea. Consider it a civic duty.
Chiflada’s Cocktail Bar
It’s impolite to lecture anyone on nutrition. Sure, this West Side bar’s Piccadilly shot — a boozy take on San Antonio’s favorite pickle-Kool-Aid raspa — isn’t technically food. But there’s a pickle chunk at the bottom that will hold guests over until they make it to a late-night taquería.
Church Burger
In June, this Southtown food truck got mouths watering with the introduction of the Spuds Pickle Wing, fried with potato flakes and sprinkled with dill. Although the wings were a limited-time special, the owners hinted that it might be a regular thing. Grab one of its spot-on smashburgers next time you’re at Palamino and make sure they keep their promise.
Gold Feather’s fried pickle spears are stacked with flavor.Gold Feather/ Facebook
Gold Feather
Although this fast-casual joint is named for its chicken wings, locals flock to the fried spears. The dish gets the breading balance right, keeping the crispy cucumber edges exposed. Plus, the stacks can double as a Jenga tower should a dinner date need an icebreaker.
Ice Ice Baby
David Strickler is surely rolling over in his grave. The apprentice pharmacist who first scooped ice cream on a banana never dreamed of the pickle split. The messy miracle features a divided pickle topped with mangonada sorbet, Hot Cheetos, and candy ribbons that are sour enough to wake the dead.
Some hot messes are worth the trouble.Ice Ice Baby/ Facebook
Mattenga’s Pizzeria
Most pizzerias will build guests a pickle pizza, provided they have a jar of Claussens in the larder. Still, this popular mini chain took the cult pie in a weirder direction. The Triple P smacks the tastebuds with a triple punch of pickle chips, crispy bacon, and pineapple. Does it confuse the palate? Yes, but it also feels like a scientific discovery.
Tycoon Flats
This St. Mary’s Strip staple has never met an ingredient it can’t roll around in batter, but order the onions, mushrooms, and fresh-cut veggies for a midnight snack. Then, immediately dive into the fried pickle chips. Lightly breaded with a hint of sweetness, they’re best dipped in a metric ton of ranch.