The Best Bars in Corpus Christi

Clear Springs Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (734) • $$

"Food- 4Service- 4.5Cleanliness- 3.5Overall- 4Waitress was excellent (Elisha?), food was yummy- onion rings bigger than expected for small appetizer, peach cobbler was really good, chicken fried steak was as large, coleslaw probably best, fried oyster and fried catfish worth writing home to mom about."

Paradise Key Dockside Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (808) • $$

"I am out of town with family for the weekend visiting Rockport. At first we were planning to go to another restaurant but noticed Paradise Key Dockside Bar & Grill was right across the way.Walking in the restaurant it was nice and bright since there are nice views of Aransas Bay. There is outdoor seating available.I decided to order the grilled platter which came with mahi mahi, grilled shrimps, crab cake and two sides, I chose the green beans and mac & cheese. The food is solid. I liked the mahi mahi because it is a "meaty" fish if you get what I mean. I did have an option to get blackened shrimp and that was a nice pick too. The crab cake was flavorful. The platter comes with one but it was enough. The mac & cheese did have some breadcrumbs to give it a nice crunchy texture. But one thing that made it a great experience was our server Salina.Salina was very friendly, respectful and welcoming. Very attentive and always checking on us. I was going to ideally give my experience 4.5/5 due to the random fly moving around but Salina's service made jt not too bad. She was soft spoken but provided great customer service throughout. I would like to be back with family. But it is not often we visit Rockport but the experience was pleasant. Besides the fly but it was a minimal inconvenience. You cannot miss the restaurant since it is a nice vibrating yellow color. But thank you again Salina for your work!"

The Hayden

★★★★☆ 4.2 (510) • $$

"Great food, VERY large servings, but very expensive. There's also an extra 2% fee for "Kitchen Love" added to every check.We've been here a couple of times. It's really good food. The serving sizes are VERY generous, but they can lower the prices by decreasing the serving sizes. Most of the people in here are taking half of their food to go. The prices are just ridiculous.The service is fantastic and friendly - no complaints there. However, it gets very noisy, especially on the weekends. It's not as bad for lunch on a weekday, but still kinda noisy.These prices are from the fall of 2023 and the spring of 2024:* Spicy Chicken Salad - OMG, the chicken is like crack. So moist and spicy. ($16.99)* Omelet - The eggs are kinda dry and lacking cheese. When the waitress asked how things were, we told her. The manager comped half off the price. ($14.99)* Single Pancake - Comes with compote and almond slices. ($8.99)* Shiner Bock Draft - $7 before 3 pm on a Monday.* Iced Tea - $3.49 on a Monday before 3 pm.* Side of Toast - $2.99.I was surprised with an extra charge on my bill. It was labeled "kitchen love." It was 2% of the total check. This might sound like a small cost, but it's not cool when you are surprised with this added cost. When I asked what the "kitchen love" fee was, the waitress told me it was for the staff in the back kitchen. She offered to remove it, and I said yes. (Kitchen love is 2%)The bottom line is that they have great food, and great service, but the prices are just insane."

Executive Surf Club

★★★★☆ 3.8 (537) • $

"I've been going here since the glory days of the Hotrod Gang. I even used to work across Chaparral at Tom Foolery's. It's a shining example of what Corpus has to offer in terms of good times, good food, and awesome music. Really, this is an awesome venue. No place is perfect, especially when you've been going there for over a quarter century. Sure, I've had some concerns in the past. But, somehow the people at this place keep addressing them without making a big deal out of it. My wife and I usually go for daytime food and fun on the weekend, when there is consistently a solo performer from noon-4pm (Sat/Sun). Also, the open mic with Rick on Wednesdays is great. I know they have a trivia night (Drinks with Geeks) on Mondays. They also host a lot festivals, and they supplement the other festivals downtown. I've met some cool local musicians over the years and I highly recommend this family and dog friendly place. They do have indoor and outdoor seating, plenty of good food options (no u-peel-ems though), a full bar, and a wide selection of drafts (that changes with the seasons and availability). Here's some pics from spring break 2024. Pro tip: Get the surf burger (has beans, Fritos, and salsa). If you get the salad, have the house dressing (it's a Walnut dressing)"

The Pumphouse Riverside Restaurant and Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (496) • $$

"Absolutely delightful! Traveling thru town and stopped for lunch. The staff we all very friendly and our waiter, Ethan, was super nice. We enjoyed sitting outside and had a yummalicious lunch!My husband had the meatloaf (and wiped his plate clean ) and I had the Fried Green Tomato BLT. Highly recommend and we will be back!"

BKK thai kitchen + bar

★★★★☆ 4 (372) • $$

"We came here for dinner the day after thanksgiving. We decided that we were going to order a bunch of apps to go with our drinks because we had been eating so much throughout the day. The firecracker shrimp and the chicken satay were definitely the highlights of the evening. I also got to try some of the fried rice that one of the diners got and it was probably one of the best Thai rice that I have had outside of Asia. I really enjoyed the ordering experience. We were a large party (I think maybe 8 people) and the server looked a little overwhelmed but once she got the order going, she was friendly, knowledgable, and whenever she was unsure about something she would verify and confirm with us. I would love to come back and try the full dinner menu the next time I am in town."

Texas Pride Barbecue

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (477) • $$

"We've been gone for several years and moving back we kept seeing posts that Texas Pride was no longer good and had completely changed. Let me tell you this couldn't be further from the truth and the food was excellent, service was fast and the atmosphere screams Texas BBQ. Don't listen to the haters, this is the best BBQ in the area. Brisket is tender and moist, Turkey flavor is excellent, and the peach cobbler is to die for! If you want authentic Texas BBQ, this is it!!!!!"

The Haven Southtown Mexican Restaurant y Cantina

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (482) • $

"Parking in the back of restaurant. Got seated right away, order Ed specials of menudo and barbacoa taco and soda. . Waiter was very nice and attentive."

Casa Garcia's

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (518) • $$

"Love this new location! I've been going to the OG for years & they are my favorite Mexican restaurant in the whole world! The food is soo delish like your family recipe always consistent, you get free chips & salsa that is to die for. Sandra was my server she was super kind & attentive to detail as I'm a bit of a picky eater I like to exclude some typical toppings. Everything was perfect & came out fast as well, lovely location closer to us now very clean & organized layout with beautiful paintings to look at while you converse with your guest."

Republic of The Río Grande

★★★★☆ 3.9 (259) • $$

"Strong, creative cocktails, interesting entrees, good service and a fun, social place, inside or outside. I can't actually remember what my drinks were called! But one was a Serrano pepper infused margarita and the other more of a mezcal margarita. The tuna ceviche was top notch, and the kebab shrimp were very rich and filling. Which didn't stop me from ordering some kind of taco dessert, also yummy! Fun place!"

Phoenix Saloon

★★★★☆ 3.7 (238) • $$

"Stopped in while shopping downtown to grab a beer & a small snack. Braeven was our bar tender and she was super friendly and answered our questions about the history & about the menu. We'll definitely come back and askfor her!! We ordered 2 draft beers from a decent selection of taps.. IPAS to light beer selections. We also shared a small nacho plate with the Texas Red (mild version) chili and it was really good! It was daytime, so the music was at a good level. We were able to sit at the bar and talk. It appeared to be some locals and maybe a couple groups of tourists. Mixed group. We'll be back!"

Tantra

★★★★☆ 4.1 (188) • $

"Every time I order a drink from Tantra, I'm always a bit let down. Not even their iced latte seems worth it to me, as their prices are a bit high for what you get. This last time I ordered a Paris Fog tea, which is black tea, whole milk, and vanilla syrup. It was okay, nothing special but something about it tasted a bit off -- I totally think that's my fault though because I asked if they could use sugar-free vanilla syrup instead. Rookie mistake. I do have to say though, their hibiscus tea sweetened with agave syrup is pretty good.I love this place more for shows than the menu. They have a lot of cool local bands that come to play, not only from San Marcos but also the NB and Austin area. The shows are (usually) free and it's always nice to sit outside (when the weather is merciful) and catch up with friends."

Restaurante Pico de Gallo

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (305) • $$

"A staple of San Antonio for nearly a half century, Pico De Gallo is a great spot to entertain family and friends. I went there yesterday to celebrate my birthday and Pico De Gallo didn't disappoint. Our waitress was fantastic. Our food was great and there were no complaints all around."

Yola Cocina Mexicana

★★★★☆ 4.2 (172) • $$

"A lovely setting! I had the enfrijolados, and as someone who's half Costa Rican, I eat vegetarian beans, and these were flavorful. They also have beans with pork if you prefer (which I unfortunately tasted on my first trip despite specifically asking for vegetarian beans--make sure to repeat yourself if you have dietary preferences). Their rice also contains chicken stock, so keep that in mind too if you're vegetarian. I decided to give this restaurant a second chance and I'm glad I did because the staff is genuinely kind. However, I had to lower the number of stars for service because serving someone meat after they very specifically request vegetarian food is bad service. While my first meal which I didn't eat completely once I found the pork bacon - was comped, I don't want a free meal--I want my food prepared correctly, and I want the restaurant to pay attention to all requests, whether for allergies or other dietary needs. You know why? Getting a meal right isn't just a courtesy--it's essential, especially if someone has an allergy. If honoring requests is too much, restaurants should be upfront instead of serving food incorrectly. Todo bien. We can eat elsewhere. I gave them a 2nd chance and my meal was prepared vegetarian - that was nice - thank you! I must tell you they serve an interesting tres leches cake - the first I've ever had with NO leche! It's more of a DRY tres leches cake with no condensed milk sauce, just whipped cream served alongside it. It's paired with warm pineapple and strawberries. I enjoyed it dry, and it's certainly a lighter option with fewer calories. See my picture for reference. The staff is nice both over the phone and in person. If you believe in supporting local as I do - YOLA is an option."

Sammy's Burgers & Brew

★★★★☆ 4.2 (135) • $

"Found myself in Beeville for a DMV appointment. Originally wanting to try the local sandwich shop in town but it was closed. Sammy's was a quick stop on the way out and it didn't disappoint. I had a satisfying crispy chicken sandwich on a sourdough bun. The sweet tea washed it down. Definitely better than any fast food places and easy on/off the highway."

Jetty Shack

★★★★☆ 3.8 (150) • $$

"Every time I come I enjoy myself here! The entire wait staff is so friendly and kind, always ready to accommodate and make conversation. The burgers are great as well! I love the mushroom swiss burger and banana pudding :)"

Chuy's

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (172) • $$

"Good eats here! Came in for dinner and started in the bar. HH so had a margarita and HH appt of beans/guac/salsa and chips $5 bucks. Darn good chips.Stayed in the bar 2nd margarita and chicken soft (flour) tortillas beans, rice and guac. The chicken tacos are fajita style marinated in Shiner Bach and cooked on chargrill. Delicious. HH goes to 6pm, nice quiet with an outside patio. Definitely recommend."

Wurst Haus

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (180) • $$

"Not sure why I haven't reviewed this place before, it's our go-to when we are in Lake Jackson. Large selection of beers with frequent rotations, always something good! There are a lot of taps on the wall, but I don't think there are quite that many beers available. No matter, we always find something we like. Salads are large, fresh and have a nice variety of fixings. The wings are amazing, burgers are big and juicy and the flat breads are awesome. Have heard great things about the steaks and German foods, as well. We are kind of creatures of habit and stick to our basic selections. The waitstaff and bartenders are awesome, friendly and take great care of the guests. Our favorite place in town."

The Exchange - Corpus Christi

★★★★☆ 3.6 (119) • $$

"In the culinary wasteland that is Corpus Christi, this is a shining gem serving up awesome New American goodness. Here's what makes this place standout. Food. High quality and consistent. Diverse and also very creative. Good cocktails as well. Service. Consistently conscientious. Management stays on top of things, and that helps drive a culture of good service. Waitstaff genuinely care about your dining experience. Location. Pretty cool downtown area. Located on the end corner of Mesquite Street. Atmosphere. Modern. Cool. Not overdone, cheesy, pretentious or cheap looking. Right on for what they're trying to be. They have an aesthetic and identity they proactively achieve. In my opinion, this is one of the best restaurants in town. If we have out of town visitors, we usually take them here."

Nancy's Steak House

★★★★☆ 3.5 (119)

"Ordered the chopped steak with a salad for $12.99 as a lunch special. The staff seemed not very friendly or happy to be at work. The salad bar was pushed against a wall making it hard to reach items at the back.The salad bar had a good variety and I like that they had pineapple as an option.Cool rustic cowboy decor inside.Metal utensils, ceramic plates and paper napkins.Chopped steak had brown gravy and grilled onions and mushrooms on too and was quite good. Portion size was good.I would come back again"

El Vaquero Mexican Diner

★★★★☆ 4 (67) • $$

"Been coming here for years and never disappointed! The drinks are amazing and the food is great! They recently updated there menu's"

Sharkies On The Beach Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (109) • $$

"Great food and drinks on the beach! OpenBasement bar that has live music! Great people watching and place to hang out!"

Greek Bros. Oyster Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (64)

"We went here for a birthday party back in September and had a BLAST.They had brought in Roger Craeger and then Greek Bros catered the entire event (with Bar service). The food, drink and service was top-notch.It really impresses me when one of the owners walks around and asks you how everything was, even in a small town like El Campo, TX.The genuine care and customer service earned a 5-star rating from me."

Los Asados

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (104) • $$

"We were there for a graduation celebration, party of 22. This restaurant appears to be very experienced in large parties. We were seated with tables ready with chips and salsa, ordered 4 botanas for the tables and everyone had rave reviews for the quality of food. Fajita meat was tender and well seasoned, Tortillas were delicious, hot and fresh!! We had zero wait time from ordering drinks to getting our food. I was extremely impressed with this restaurant being apart of such a big party! On a busy Sunday morning they didn't skip a beat!! I highly recommend this Place!"

BKK thai kitchen + bar

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (63)

"Must try the wings, shrimp egg roll, curry rice with pineapple, and the panacotta. Great atmosphere! They were able to accommodate a party of 30+ people."

Chili's

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (100) • $$

"Food was great! Service was impeccable. We were at table 22 & the trainer & trainee were perf! I'll definitely return. Nicest Manager."

Senor Cactus Mexican Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (46)

"A group of colleagues and I in town for a few days for business. This was suggested and was only a minute walk from our hotel. Score! Three of us ordered margaritas on the rocks and one a beer. Then we each ordered our dinner. I had sweetbreads which were fabulous! I seriously haven't been able to find these in years. I definitely recommend this place."

The BWB Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (32)

"We visited here while we were on vacation. I had the oysters and they werent any good, they had a strong fishy taste so i didnt finish my order. The service was mediocre at best"

Franklin’s Backyard Bayou

★★★★☆ 4.1 (27)

"What a great find on our way from Corpus to Houston. We are definitely adding this to our return list."

Hacienda San Miguel

★★★★☆ 3.6 (35) • $$

"I was quite skeptical about this little hole in the wall as I pulled up And especially when I walked in and saw only two servers on a Saturday afternoon for lunchtime. I walked out of there so surprised.....the food was actually super homemade was not Tex-Mex and quite well served for the price of lunch specials my Monday through Saturday 11:30 AM to 4 PM for 7.99!!! I got the flautas lunch special it was certainly a hefty bed of lettuce with sour cream rice and beans and a side little bowl of chicken soup. All day margaritas for 3.00 and the free tostadas and fresh queso was a bonus! I will definitely return with my family as long as the food continues to meet our expectations and is well served all for the price. Well done Hacienda San Miguelito!!"

El Jalisciense Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (35) • $

"This is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants here in Corpus. It's newly remodeled but I'm only there for the food and flavors. Today I got the beef fajita plate. It was very delicious, included a good guacamole salad with fresh tomatoes and onions. However the star on the plate was the meat. Very flavorful and tender. Flour tortilla were very fresh, and hot, just properly cooked. You can tell that the cook cares about what he / she is putting out there. The food is probably cook and nicely seasoned."

Jalisco's Mexican Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3 (50) • $

"This restaurant had all the standards on a menu that one would expect at a Mexican restaurant. The location was super convenient, right off the main interstate, and the service was good. We had just had some amazing food on the main street in town the day before, so by comparison this was just so-so. Prices were very reasonable and they offer plenty of parking out front -- and always seem to have lots of visitors!"

Agave Jalisco Mexican Restaurant & Bar

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (61) • $$

"Stopped for breakfast! Coffee all around good and hot. I had the Barbacoa plate with over easy eggs and refried beans. The tortillas were good. My companion had French toast with over easy eggs and requested that the eggs and French toast did not touch each other so they brought them in different plates. The sausage patties were tasty."

Casa Vieja Jalisco Mexican Restaurant & Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (40)

"Update: Decided to upgrade my review from 4 star to 5 stars. I caught myself salivating a river running out my mouth as I salivated on the memories of the plate I had at this new restaurant. This place is grossly underrated and deserves a way hire rating. I highly recommend checking this place out. Old review: Came in during the peak of dinner on a Thursday evening and there was plenty of open tables. If this review was based on the beans alone, this review would be a perfect 5 star! Portion size was hefty and service was decent. All around a good TexMex restaurant. Highly recommend checking out this new restaurant."

La Tequila - Corpus Christi

★★★★☆ 4.3 (21)

"It would appear that all of my belly aching (pun fully intended) on Yelp about the lack of legitimate "Tex-Mex" restaurants in Corpus has somehow translated into prayers, thus delivering La Tequila Jalisco to town. At least that's the story in my head, and I choose to believe it.Hyperbole aside, this place is the real deal. I feel qualified in making this assessment as I believe I have expert first-hand experience on evaluating Tex-Mex based on merit. If you want to just take my word on it, just peruse my reviews.La Tequila is new to town. When it first opened, I thought we were getting another high-end taqueria. While you could arguably say it fits that bill as well, my assessment is that it is Tex-Mex.I have been here several times recently. I have thoroughly enjoyed every experience, from food to service quality. You can tell they are really trying, which is why I will continue to support them as long as they keep it up."