Hops & Hounds — Restaurant in San Antonio

I pass this location often since it’s not far from where I live and it’s been a few different businesses before Hops and Hounds. I had seen the Now Open signs when driving by and I just recently adopted a 1yr old dog from the shelter so was curious about the place since it advertised both dog park and drinks. It’s right down the street from McAllister Park, on Jones Maltsberger, in between Starcrest and Thousand Oaks (next to the Golf place). I wanted to see how my dog would do around other dogs since I haven’t taken him to a dog park before. I went around 8pm and after spending 10 minutes in the parking lot trying to get my dog to calm down we made it inside where one of the owners was standing, and he gave me the “quick tour”and pointed out the small and large dog areas where the dogs could play off the leash, the outside area where there were several picnic tables with people sitting at them with their dogs, and the inside part of the restaurant where people could eat and drink but you couldn’t take your dog because of Health Dept codes (service dogs are ok though). It seemed like a pretty big place. You can order food and drinks at the different windows outside and if you ordered food they would bring it to your table but there isn’t really table side service. I sat at one of the bar stool tables (under fans!) in front of the ordering windows because I was pretty certain it would be a disaster trying to navigate down to the table area with a drink in one hand and the other hand holding the leash of an overly excited Labrador/terrier mix dog. I didn’t order food because I had already eaten, (they have a limited menu at the moment apparently?), but I did have the Mango Margarita which was fantastic. The overall vibe of the place was very laid back and family oriented, there were several couples & friends, and of course dogs of all breeds and sizes. You can bring your own water bowl and fill it up there or they’ll bring you a pail of water for your dog if you ask. I really liked the place, once my dog calmed down from being so excited to see other dogs and people he did great. We made new doggo friends and human ones too and it turned out to be a real positive in seeing how he would interact with other dogs. I definitely plan on going back because it’s a good neighborhood place where I can take my dog for entertainment and have a cold margarita while I’m there. I absolutely would recommend this place...

Obviously, this restaurant is geared toward people who want to bring their dog, so we were more than happy to oblige. The patio is huge and is thoughtfully equipped with water misting fans, although shade is a bit hard to find. They have three dog parks on-site, but food is not allowed in any of them. As you would expect, the attitude towards dogs is very relaxed and you would see them both on and off-leash, but every dog we met was extremely friendly and nice and even our skittish little guy was perfectly comfortable.

The restaurant itself is counter service. We ordered the Browned Brussels Sprouts. A caveat, we hate brussels sprouts and would normally avoid them, but had some at another restaurant that were slathered in a delicious sauce and we loved them. These were similarly drenched in sauce, although savory versus the other restaurant's sweet, so we wanted to give them a chance. They were not as good as the other restaurant, but they were better than we expected. The sriracha aioli was particularly good. The Loaded Fries were also good and came topped with a fried egg, which I don't remember seeing elsewhere. The Fajita Nachos were particularly interesting, since the dish consists of literally 12 tortilla chips, each individually topped with all the fixings. You can choose beef, chicken, or both. We got both but, contrary to our expectation, both preferred the chicken. This was because the beef wasn’t strong enough to overpower the taste of the beans.

They also have "meals" for dogs, which was just a side of the same beef and chicken that was on the nachos, but in a pretty good-sized portion for a dog.

Overall, the food was fine. It was not good enough to come here for that alone, but it was also far from bad and the whole dog atmosphere is one of a kind, so would definitely be worth the trip if that’s what you’re looking for. I don’t know why anyone would come here without a dog. It’s the equivalent of a food truck parked next to a dog park.

P.S. - I didn't realize until we were on our way home, but we ordered (and paid for) an order of Mac and Cheese that...

My pup and I love Hops and Hounds! It’s truly a place designed with dogs in mind. The food trucks offer amazing options—delicious food and great service all around. The bar can get a bit slow when it’s busy, but the friendliness and overall service more than make up for it.

The atmosphere is one of the best things about Hops and Hounds. There’s plenty of seating, water bowls for the pups, and lots of fans to keep everyone cool, which is a big plus. I especially appreciate the pools they provide for the dogs during the hot summer months—such a thoughtful touch! The dog parks are also divided into two sections, which is great for keeping things safe and fun for dogs of different sizes.

One of the things I love most is the regular breed-specific meet-up days. It’s a great way for dogs to socialize with others of their kind, and for owners to connect with fellow dog lovers. The regulars at Hops and Hounds are amazing—they’re responsible, friendly, and always keep an eye on their dogs, which adds to the positive environment.

The dog parks do require a membership—whether daily, monthly, or yearly—but it’s honestly worth it. The cost tends to filter out those who might not take their dog’s safety seriously, and as a result, the environment is much more enjoyable. Plus, there’s always an attendant on duty in the dog park, which is a fantastic feature!

A couple of suggestions: It would be great to have TVs or screens on the other side of the park so that people with dogs can also enjoy movies or other events. Additionally, it would be nice if drinks could be delivered to the dog park area. This way, people wouldn’t have to constantly leash up their dogs to grab a drink or ask someone else to keep an eye on their pup.

Overall, I highly recommend Hops and Hounds for anyone looking for a fun, safe, and welcoming place to spend time with their dog. We always look forward...