Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Corpus Christi / McAllen

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Corpus Christi / McAllen? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

SALT

4.8

4.8 (1403)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

McAllen

About the restaurant

SALT-New American Table, brought to you by the owners of McAllen’s house.wine & bistro. and Salomé on Main, Chef Larry Delgado and his lovely wife Jessica Delgado. The chef driven menu features local, organic and sustainable products, and a full service bar that boast beautiful, boutique wines, craft beers, and high end spirits!

Top review

Irene

Dined on Jun 27, 2025

Service was friendly and fast. Drinks were very good. Food quality was great and delicious.

Santa Fe Steakhouse and Cantina

4.8

4.8 (631)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

McAllen

About the restaurant

Santa Fe's Steakhouse & Cantina is famous for it's award winning steaks, fine wine & handcrafted cocktails. Don't miss out on the Orange Roughy, a favorite. High-end destination serving steaks & seafood backed by a massive wine list, plus live music nights.

Top review

Anabel

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

Santa Fe is always delicious and the service is second to none. I recommend to everyone always.

Tortuga's Saltwater Grill

4.8

4.8 (830)

$30 and under

Seafood

Port Aransas

About the restaurant

Welcome to Tortuga's Saltwater Grill! The premier seafood & steak restaurant of Port Aransas

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

Shrimp and Grits is the most savory meal! Great service, fabulous food, and chocolate cake to go! Amazing! Highly recommend Tortuga’s!!!❤️

Discover more

Gabriela's Seafood + Tapas

4.8

4.8 (277)

$50 and over

Seafood

Rockport

About the restaurant

Located off the water in Rockport, TX, Gabriela's Seafood + Tapas brings you the freshest seafood sourced locally with various delicious tapas to choose from. Enjoy sweeping views of the waterfront from our 2nd story, chic and cozy dining area while enjoying fine latin-infused cuisine made fresh daily.

Top review

ScottVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Baby back rib special was way too much for one person and ribs were overcooked and dry. Gumbo had too much sausage but is usually much better with some seafood. not your usual gumbo. Rest of the food to our table was excellent. It is a great place to go and stick with the regular menu. All desserts are wonderful.

The Republic of the Rio Grande

4.7

4.7 (169)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

McAllen

About the restaurant

A sumptuous, indoor-outdoor bar & grill serving Southwest menu, including steaks & pizza.

At the Republic of the Rio Grande, our attention to detail and the way we present a platter tells you that dining here is going to be special, no matter the occasion. We strive to create a sumptuous and exciting dining experience for all of our guests

Disclaimer: For Friday and Saturday reservations please call the restaurant directly. We recommend giving us up to a 24 hour notice if you would like to book with us due to possible low availability.

Top review

DennisVIP

Dined 3 days ago

The food was outstanding and the staff attentive. We woll definitely return on next visit.

BOND Cocktail Lounge

4.7

4.7 (37)

$31 to $50

Lounge

McAllen

About the restaurant

At Bond Cocktail Lounge, our focus is on delivering an elevated experience where every detail matters. From our expertly crafted cocktails to our thoughtfully curated dishes, we aim to blend innovation with timeless elegance. Our menu highlights fresh, premium ingredients and global influences, while our bar program is designed to push the boundaries of mixology. Whether you’re joining us for a refined evening or a social gathering, Bond is dedicated to creating a space where exceptional flavors and impeccable service come together.

Top review

Joshua

Dined 7 days ago

Service and ambiance is always superb here. Maria, Miguel, and the DJ were awesome.

Discover more

Experience

Tequila & Taco Tuesday at Bond Cocktail Lounge

Experience

Wine & Dine Wednesdays at Bond Cocktail Lounge

Felice

4.7

4.7 (30)

$30 and under

Italian

Weslaco

About the restaurant

Felice is the newest concept from the Garcia Brothers in the heart of Downtown Weslaco. From the family that brought you Teddy’s Barbecue. Traditional handmade pastas, creative pizzas, and delectable desserts make up our menu.

Top review

Herman

Dined 3 days ago

An enjoyable experience that needs to be shared with someone. Strongly suggest a reservation for an optimal experience.

Liam's Steakhouse - South Padre Island

4.6

4.6 (1265)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

McAllen

About the restaurant

Alfonso Salazar, better known as “Dirty Al” originally started shrimping as a young man with his father and 6 brothers. In 2003, he and his youngest son, Cameron, who graduated from Culinary School, transformed his bait stand into a restaurant where together they have been known for having “The World’s Best Fried Shrimp”! In 2005, his other two sons returned home to help grow the business. To this day, they now own 7 restaurants on beautiful South Padre Island and across the valley and continue to bring only the “best” Gulf Seafood to each customer’s table.

Top review

Rosario

Dined 2 days ago

Sonny our server was great and our food was delicious and fresh!

Moon Restaurant Mixology

4.6

4.6 (33)

$50 and over

Global, International

McAllen

About the restaurant

Discover a World of Flavor: Fine Dining Awaits. Get ready to go to the Moon and dine amongst the Stars!

WE ACCEPT WALK INS!

Top review

monika

Dined 3 days ago

Great experience and great food! Will definitely go back soon!

Landry's Seafood House - Corpus Christi

4.5

4.5 (1079)

$30 and under

Seafood

Corpus Christi

About the restaurant

As the home to some of the Gulf Coast's most beautiful beaches and unique landmarks, Corpus Christi is the ideal location for Landry's Seafood House. From Landry's picturesque location, an actual boat docked in the harbor, diners enjoy beautiful waterfront views, fresh Gulf seafood, succulent steaks and the sweetest desserts. Guests also enjoy seasonal live music on our deck which offers a limited menu and waterfront bar.

Top review

GaryVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Gathered for lunch with extended family to visit. Service was very good with consideration given to not interrupting our lively conversations. Food was very tasty. A good time was had by all.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Corpus Christi / McAllen

Explore more Diners' Choice lists

Steak