NEWS YOU CAN EAT
El Paso chilaquiles and The Magpie's new coop nest in San Antonio restaurant news
Buen Dia will bring tacos, burritos, and chilaquiles to the former home of Earl Abel's.
San Antonio’s food news comes in trickles and spurts. Some weeks earn the city its reputation as the biggest small town in Texas; this week is overflowing with exciting new culinary developments and reports of a still-booming restaurant scene.
Openings
The Pearl-area space left vacant by Earl Abel’s finally has a new tenant. El Paso-based Buen Dia is renovating the 1639 Broadway spot in preparation for their San Antonio launch. Open during brunch and breakfast hours, the casual eatery focuses on chilaquiles with a few American morning staples thrown in.
East Side favorite The Magpie has nested downtown with a new fast-casual restaurant. According to an Instagram post, Golden Goose is now in its soft opening phase in the Inspire apartments, operating with limited hours Tuesday through Sunday, 11 am to 9 pm. The initial menu features Magpie standbys like spicy pork bulgogi, a meatloaf patty melt, and yuringi (pepper fried chicken).
One national chain is hoping to clear the vines of San Antonio’s fast-food jungle. Arizona-born drive-thru chain Salad and Go has opened the first of three planned locations at 2810 SW Military Dr. in Brooks. The franchise specializes in customizable bowls with a choice of protein. Unlike national upstarts like Sweetgreen, it keeps the price point in line with more calorically heavy competitors like McDonald’s and Taco Bell.
Apparently, arid weather creates the perfect environment for imagining fast-casual concepts. Mesa-based Hooked Boil House is also making its first foray into Alamo City, opening at 12485 W. I-10 #109 on February 17. The offerings are mostly Cajun-inspired, with classics like crawfish étouffée, shrimp and grits, and po’boys rounding off the seafood boils.
How many Brazilian steakhouses can one city support? Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse will soon know the answer when it joins the skewer club in June. The first San Antonio storefront of a Houston mini-chain will be in the former home of Los Cabriteros at 17660 Henderson Pass, far away from downtown’s picanha epicenter. Otherwise, the eatery isn’t much different from like-minded concepts like Fogo de Chão. Northerners can look forward to meat-brandishing gauchos and a mammoth salad bar.
Other news and notes
Robbie Nowlin has parted ways with Allora and Arrosta. In a social media statement, the chef thanked the group for the opportunity, tagging his chef mentors who have helped along the way. The post hinted at future plans to be announced soon but offered no further details.
Pink Shark is now offering both the cause and cure for hangovers. The downtown bar is now open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 1 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm for breakfast service. The offerings include coffee, smoothies, bagel bites, and pastries paired with classic brunch cocktails. Remote workers are encouraged to bring their laptops.
Palestinian pop-up Saha is returning to Little Death for a one-day-only engagement on February 18, marking the first anniversary of the concept. The mains include grilled chicken skewers and mujadara (a rice and lentil dish) with various mezze for accompaniment.
