Thai Red Chili's

Lil Rita's Grill House on East Tyler Avenue serves Thai food, despite the name. Texas Highways called it authentic Thai cuisine, and the restaurant takes orders online.

The Gremlin is a downtown McAllen beer garden and kitchen with about 100 beers, a menu that runs from pork belly tacos and poke bowls to lumpia, live music in the garden, and Sunday brunch.

The Moon Rock is an outdoor food truck park and bar on West Jefferson Avenue with live music and nine local trucks serving everything from birria and Thai food to burgers and shrimp boils, with $1 tacos on Wednesdays and Tejano Thursdays.

Aces BBQ on East Nolana serves brisket, pulled pork, ribs and sausage alongside Mexican plates, tacos and sandwiches like The Ace and a brisket torta. Other Aces locations are in Mission and Edinburg.

Altamar Seafood Bar serves aguachile, ceviche, seafood towers, grilled octopus and seafood pasta at its McAllen location on Expressway 83; the first Altamar is in Pharr.

Antojitos Mi Reynita is a family-owned spot on Loop 499 cooking Mexican breakfast and lunch, from migas and breakfast tacos to menudo, sopes and its Taco Loco.

Birdie Bistro on North Main Street serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner in a vintage European-style room with an outdoor terrace, with waffles, crepes, omelettes and breakfast sandwiches on the menu.

Black Diamond BBQ on North Bicentennial Boulevard has smoked brisket, ribs, pulled pork, chicken, turkey and sausage since 2018, with daily lunch specials, curbside pickup and catering.