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It’s not every day that a San Antonio chef is listed as a semifinalist of the prestigious James Beard Awards’ emerging chef category, especially when said chef is a female in a male-dominated industry AND said chef is Asian-American.

Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin, a second generation Chinese-American and San Antonio native, is that chef, and Best Quality Daughter, her restaurant located in the Historic Pearl, has been featured in The New York Times, Esquire, and Eater.

Celebrate!

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary there, and our meal was a standout. We sat outside on the covered patio and were served by a knowledgable, attentive waitperson, who guided our selections.

Since my husband is vegetarian, we opted for a variety of small plates that we shared: marinated young bamboo, a house salad, mochi cheddar hush puppies, impossible pot stickers, roasted Brussels sprouts, and super garlicky noodles. Each dish was a taste sensation, but if I only had to choose one, I’d go with the roasted Brussels sprouts. HEAVENLY.

Visual feast

If you do sit outside the little pink house (cue John Mellencamp), be sure to walk inside before leaving. The wallpaper alone is worth the visit. Local artist Jamie Stolarski created a Chinoiserie homage to San Antonio in the bar area that features the Tower Life Building, Woodlawn Lake, Sunken Gardens, Fort Sam Houston, Hemisfair Tower, the missions and more! Each inside dining area is Instagram-worthy, so reservations are a good idea.

More fabulousness

After eating so much that we felt like we were going to pop, my husband and I decided to stroll over to check out the nearby Pullman Market that features specialty groceries (bakery, butcher/fishmonger, produce, wine/beer), four restaurants, five eateries, floral and speciality shops. It was hopping, and it is yet another jewel in San Antonio’s crown.

Best Quality Daughter, located in the historic Mueller House at 602 Avenue A in the shadow of the McAllister Freeway, is open daily from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been her home ever since. Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to curate a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!