The Curve Restaurant, a family-owned Tex-Mex fixture at 4379 SE Military Drive on San Antonio's Southside, will close its doors in December 2026 after 51 years in business. Third-generation owner Misty Robles announced the shutdown on Facebook, telling customers the restaurant will keep operating until its final closure date, which has not yet been confirmed.
According to MySA, Robles said the news is sad and noted her family has owned the restaurant for 51 years. She did not say why the business is closing, leaving customers without a clear explanation for the end of a Southside institution that has served enchiladas, tacos and other Tex-Mex staples to generations of families, friends and familiar faces.
The Curve has operated at its SE Military Drive location since 1975, building a reputation as a reliable neighborhood stop on San Antonio's Southside. The restaurant's handmade flour tortillas and country sausage guisada taco earned a nod from San Antonio Express-News food critic Mike Sutter, who rated it a solid neighborhood option in his 2017 “365 Days of Tacos” feature.
A Celebrity Connection in the Display Case
Part of The Curve's local lore involves its ties to NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, who has dined at the restaurant at least a couple of times, and whose photos still hang in its display case. O'Neal graduated from Cole High School on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston in 1989 after leading the team to a 36-0 record and a Class 3A state championship, a connection to the city that MySA has reported drew him and his father to local eateries like The Curve over the years.
The Curve earned recognition as a commercial anchor on Southeast Military Drive when the Southside First Council spotlighted it in 2017 as part of its “Thriving Together” economic initiative aimed at driving investment across the Southside, according to the San Antonio Report.
Part of a Wider Pattern on the Southside
The Curve's closure follows a string of long-running, family-owned Tex-Mex restaurants shutting down across South San Antonio. Rolando's Super Tacos closed its Shasta Avenue location near SW Military Drive in August after 36 years. Similar closures have hit other corners of the city this year, including the sudden shutdown of Everybody Loves Raymonds on San Antonio's East Side.
Industry data helps explain why so many independent Tex-Mex spots are struggling at once. A Texas Restaurant Association survey of state operators entering 2026 found persistent financial strain tied to elevated food costs, lower customer spending per visit and ongoing staffing difficulties, as reported by WFAA.
For now, The Curve plans to keep serving its SE Military Drive regulars through December, even as the exact final day remains unconfirmed.
