Thai Bird, the San Antonio Thai-style chicken and wine concept from chef David Gilbert and partner Kristin Alvarez, is trading its original food-hall nest for a second storefront in Castle Hills. The new shop, at 2211 NW Military Highway, Suite 121, is expected to open in roughly six to eight weeks, the owners say. Gilbert, a James Beard-nominated chef, and Alvarez, who joined Thai Bird in October 2025 after a career in fintech, say the larger space will let them expand rotisserie and dine-in offerings while keeping their tight, gluten-free menu intact. The couple has also made community events, from a wine club to comedy nights and fundraisers, a core part of the concept.
Castle Hills Is The Next Step
The duo confirmed the Castle Hills expansion in an interview, describing the move as a natural next step after testing the concept in a food hall. As reported by San Antonio Current, the owners closed their River North kiosk and are relocating that operation into a full brick-and-mortar in Castle Hills so they can offer more spit-roasted options and full-service dining. The piece notes that the new location will give north-side customers easier access to the brand’s signature tenders and mini doughnuts.
From Food Hall To Neighborhood Shop
Thai Bird first launched inside River North’s Make Ready Market before expanding to a standalone spot in Alamo Heights, and that food-hall start helped the kitchen refine both its menu and its service. According to Make Ready Market, the food hall was an early home base for Thai Bird, and the restaurant’s site lists the Alamo Heights address at 6401 Broadway Suite 1. The shift to Castle Hills follows a familiar local pattern of food-hall vendors graduating to neighborhood storefronts once demand ramps up.
Chef Pedigree And The Wine Program
David Gilbert’s résumé includes time in Michelin-level kitchens and a James Beard nod. The James Beard Foundation 2013 semifinalist list names him among the Best Chef: Southwest semifinalists for his work at Sustenio. Local coverage also highlights Gilbert’s sommelier background and the way he curates an approachable wine program to pair with the menu. That focus on the bottle side has grown into a formal wine club and regular pickup parties that double as neighborhood events.
Community Events And Charitable Pop-Ups
Events are central to Thai Bird’s identity. The Alamo Heights calendar lists monthly wine-club pickup parties and live comedy shows, giving diners more reasons to stick around than a quick order to go. The restaurant’s event listings showcase those pickup parties and scheduled performances, and San Antonio Current reports the pair will host a Thai-omelet pop-up fundraiser later this month, with a portion of proceeds benefiting a surf camp for children with special needs. Those community ties are part of why the owners say they prefer deliberate growth over rapid expansion.
For Castle Hills diners, the new Thai Bird should mean more seats, a fuller rotisserie program, and the same focused, gluten-free menu built around bold flavors. Gilbert and Alvarez say they plan to keep growth measured, placing restaurants where their mix of food, wine, and community programming fits the neighborhood.
